Changing the River of Time

Chunin Exams!!

They're much stronger than we were. Not to mention they're all friends now and their teamwork is through the roof. Sakura is an amazing medic and sparring with the boys really stepped her taijutsu game way up. She's even started figuring out Tsunade's techniques on her own. Sasuke is way friendlier- well, to Team 7 and people he knows. He doesn't carry much hate in his heart anymore and he's much stronger because of it. And Naruto is leagues ahead of where I was, probably thanks to proper training and food for a longer amount of time. I think they should take the exams.

But Orochimaru.

He had trouble with us before. Imagine his surprise at them now.

It wouldn't hurt to have backup plans. A way to intervene just in case. And a way to reach Sasuke if he gets the Curse Mark.

Aki sighed, nodding his head outwardly and gaining quite a few strange looks. He ignored them, instead flashing right to Kakashi just as the jonin neared Hokage Tower. With a grin, Aki waved. "Hey, Kashi. Are we registering the kids for the exams?"

"Those little monsters will make us proud."

Aki grinned, nodding easily. "Also, sign me up as a Procter for the second phase?"

Kakashi spared a 'why?' look towards the Uzumaki before nodding. "Great! I'm gonna go find the brats and let them know. Ja ne!"

He flickered to the tree Gaara and Sasuke sat in, each of the kids unaware of the other people in the tree. He watched Sasuke's 'cool' entrance, but before Gaara's entrance, he made several shadow-clones- enough for a small crowd- and henged them into random, forgettable people. They stared, whispering and pointing as Gaara made his presence known.

He watched the exchange with fondness in his heart, flickering in front of his team just as the Sand turned around.

He didn't miss the way Gaara tensed, whirling around faster than he ever saw the child do in Aki's time. "Who are you."

If he didn't know better, he'd think Gaara looked like a cornered animal. As it was, he knew the look he got was Gaara for 'You are my next prey. Run.'

He grinned, looking over his shoulder and allowing a little bit of his chakra to leak out, enough to make Shukaku pause. He let his features warp thanks to Kurama, letting a genjutsu keep anyone else from noticing. "Out of your league," he said, Kurama's voice mixing with his own to create a chilling, undeniable voice. "My name is Aki Uzumaki, and these are my kits. We'll see you in the Chunin exams."

With that, he let everything fade and turned back to his kits, a smile still on his face.

"Why were you looking for us, anyway, Aki-nii?

The red-head looked back at the smaller Uzumaki, thoughtful look on his face. "Now what was it...?" He shrugged, smile playing on his lips. "It couldn't have been too important, so... Who wants ramen?"
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"I'm sure Aki already told you you've been recommended to take part in the Chunin exams-"

Glares from three different kids found the Uzumaki, a pointed voice saying, "No, he didn't."

The Uzumaki in question, however, only snapped, light returning to his face. "So that's what I was doing!"

Team 7, minus Kakashi, sweatdropped, falling to the floor comically. "How could you forget?!"

Aki only laughed, hand rubbing the back of his neck. "Oops?"

That didn't save him from the full-force glares sent his way, making his spine crawl with his sins.
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