In The Leaves | A 'Naruto' fan story | SasuNaru

Curse mark

Team 7 ran into Orochimaru, an S-rank missing ninja from Konoha, who used to be Lord Third's pupil. 

Sasuke ended up with a curse mark on his neck by Orochimaru and was in pain from it.

Naruto was badly injured from the fight they went through, and turned his head to look at the condition Sasuke was in. "You don't...look so good there...S-Sasuke." 

Sasuke hissed at the pain. "S-Shut up loser...you're worst than me." 

"Both of you look like crap." Sakura said. 

Sasuke continued to groan and Naruto chuckled. They soon passed out and Sakura took care of them both. 

Naruto woke up and looked around to see Sasuke still asleep. "Sakura-chan?"

Sakura wasn't in the cave with them. 

Naruto looked at Sasuke. "Who knew you looked so peaceful while sleeping?" Naruto's eyes trailed over to Sasuke's curse mark. "I'll kill him for giving you that. I don't believe you'll go to him willingly to search for power. He's just trying to get to us..." Naruto hesitated before brushing a strand of hair from Sasuke's face. "But I won't let him get to you." 

Naruto retracted his hand and blushed. "I didn't mean to do that." Naruto sat up. "I'll go find Sakura, if I stay here any longer. Who knows what i'll do?" 

He saw Sakura fighting ninjas on her own and quickly joined her. 

After fighting for a few minutes, Sasuke awakened and intervened. 

He dislocated Zabu Abumi's shoulder, and the curse mark started to take effect, and Sasuke was in a state of insanity and murderous intent.

Before he could do any more damage to anyone else, however, Naruto grabbed him from behind and started shouting. "Sasuke! Don't! You worked too hard to be a shinobi! You already did enough!" 

Sasuke tried to struggle out of Naruto's grasp. "Let me go Naruto!" 

"Sasuke please!" Naruto tightened his grip on Sasuke. "Don't...do it." 

Sasuke stopped struggling. "It's a wonder how you can stop me." Sasuke ended up gaining control over the curse mark and relaxed. "You can let me go now Naruto." 

Naruto let go of Sasuke and backed away. "Glad you're okay Sasuke." 

Sasuke's cheeks turned a light pink. "Y-yeah." 

Sakura clapped Naruto on the back. "Thanks Naruto!" 

Naruto almost fell forward but caught his balance. "T-Thanks Sakura." 

Naruto looked at Sakura, who had cut her hair earlier to free herself from their grasp, and thought about his attraction towards her. "When did I lose interest in her?" 

~

The preliminaries was next and Naruto was pumped to win. 

Seven teams managed to pass, which was more than twice as many as had been expected. To cut down the prevailing genin from the second exam, a preliminary round was staged before the third and final stage of the Chūnin Exams. 

Sakura, at first, attempted to tell the examiners that the cursed seal that Orochimaru had placed on Sasuke was seriously weakening him, but Sasuke stopped her, and told her to mind her own business. 

At that point, Naruto stepped in to stand up for Sakura, but was swiftly silenced by Sasuke, who acknowledged Naruto by declaring that he was one of the people he wanted to fight.

Sasuke always found a way to remind Naruto that they were always rivals. 

And that helps rile Naruto up for a good match. 

"Like wise." Naruto responded with determination in his eyes. He was going to win without using the Nine-Tails. 

A chakra that was given to him but will one day change his life for the better.