A/N: Okay, so I think this is a pretty fast update. I hope it is a pretty fast update.

"Ah, Uzumaki-san! You are quite pretty... But I wonder if I am being too forward in saying that." Omoi, a.k.a the one hugging-read strangling-Naruto, mumbled almost inaudibly to himself. "But it is true, he has such vibrant eyes. And his hair! It's so nice and soft, what a color too! I mean we have blonds in Kumo, lots of 'em, but they were never a golden shade like his... As a matter of fact I wonder if it's natural... Dyed? A wig, perhaps? Maybe he's actually bald!"

"Hey, who you calling bald, jackass!! How the hell did you get to that conclusion anyways?! And stop talking like I'm not here!" Naruto cried, pausing in his struggles to stare at his captor in disbelief.

In Karui's memory, he could make out Omoi's basic features: hair, skin tone, etc. But up close, like Naruto involuntarily was, he could better see his finer details. Like the fact that he had very smooth skin, for a ninja. Or that his face still held some baby fat, and that his eyelashes curled up at the tips. All in all, he was pretty handsome and Naruto couldn't blame Karui for dating him...

Wait. A. Minute. He did not just check out his opponent. No he did not!!

"Hold up! Omoi is affected?" A petite young woman, with extremely fair hair, exclaimed. She, like the rest of the Kumo team, had been shocked into a stupor by the apparent "betrayal" of one of their own. She, however, managed to regain her bearings faster, trying to assess the situation.

Wearing a black kimono that was cut off at the knees, the woman looked to be pretty frail. If, that is, she didn't have Tsunade-worthy sized boobs on her chest. She also had a ninja-to strapped to her white obi and the deadliest, non-kekei genkai eyes Naruto had ever seen. Narrow and slanted, there was bloodlust hidden behind her pale blue orbs. Informing Naruto that, no, he wasn't going to get mercy from her either. Well, shit.

"It would seem so." Karui replied through gritted teeth.

"But, isn't he dating you?" The woman inquired, blinking confusedly.

Another vein popped in Karui's forehead, her hand reaching for the handle of the sword strapped to her back. She growled. "Not anymore."

Sakura, who had been thrown to the side by the force of Omoi's tackle, rose to her feet again. She tightened her gloves, an expression of fury embedded in her features. "Let go of Naruto!"

"Oh, I see! Your hair is so silky, soft, and golden because it's not human hair! You're an angel aren't you?" Omoi muttered, ignoring the pink-haired kunoichi as he held the writhing Naruto closer.

"I said..." And before any of the Kumo ninjas could move, Sakura lost it. She rushed at Omoi and punched him square in the jaw. He was sent flying, crashing into a tree with a sickening thump. "Let go of Naruto!"

"Yeah! And give him another one for good measure!" Kamui cheered on from the sidelines, shaking her fist.

"Kamui, no matter how mad you are at your boy--I mean ex, you can't cheer on the enemy." The woman beside her reprimanded.

"Shut up, Samui! I didn't ask for your opinion!"

Sakura didn't send the arguing kunoichis a glance as she knelt beside her teammate. She helped him stand, gazing at him worriedly. Her medic sense told her nothing was wrong. His chakra was fine, though half of his reserves were gone. The oddest thing is, she didn't know where that other half disappeared to. When the Kumo ninjas ambushed them, he was all set and ready to go but now... And as far as she knew, he didn't do anything strenous, so... Thankfully, his vitals were fine, and he didn't seem to be hurt. That was good. Still, she couldn't help but ask.

"Naruto, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Believe it!" Naruto replied, in a weak attempt to sound reassuring. "Don't waste your time over me, Sakura-chan. We got enemies to fight!"

With that the jinchuuriki turned his attention to the Kumo ninja. The Kumo ninja stared frostily back, their kunoichi leaders finally settling things out. It was then that a random thought floated into the blond's ramen-filled skull. He couldn't help but wonder how odd the Kumo chuunin vests were. Samui was the only exception since she wasn't wearing a uniform. The others, however, all fell for the same fashion faux pas. A white zip-up vest except it only had the left strap. The right strap was gone, creating a rather big hole for the majority of the right side. It gave the vest more of a "messenger bag" feeling than a big, bad armor for ninjas.

But even if their uniform wasn't very pretty, their own fashion sense still sucked. Kamui was wearing a tight fitting blouse with a long skirt that ended right below her kneecaps. All colored black though a couple of shades darker than her own skin. Omoi had a weird sweatshirt and jogging pants ensemble, also all black and the same shade as Karui's. Both were wearing the weird chuunin vest on top and both attires, in retrospect, were rather inappropriate for battle.

But he probably shouldn't be saying anything conisdering his own orange and black outfit. Maybe he should've gone on that shopping trip with Sasuke last week...

"Naruto? Naruto!"

Sakura's voice snapped him back to reality and he grinned sheepishly. "Oops, sorry. What was that?"

Sakura growled in frustration. "I'm happy you're back to you're old ADD self but we are in a bad situation here! Keep up!"

At this, Naruto remembered all he had learned in his little stint as Karui. He remembered half of the team was more or less sent back to Kumo because they were males. He also remembered that they were all dead tired from travelling non-stop in order to catch up to them. That could only mean, that for one thing, they were bluffing about the size of their platoon. Clones, in other words. A simple one too considering their chakra drain, and since they had pretty much very little chakra, they were, in other words, easy pickings!

Naruto grinned. Oh yeah, and who says he wasn't a genius? He wasn't called Konoha's most suprising ninja for nothing! He promptly related all he had learned to Sakura, who looked at him weirdly.

"Are you sure, Naruto?" She asked. "I mean, how do you even know about that?"

He grinned. "Trust me, just... Trust me!"

Sakura swallowed. "Okay. I trust you. But can you stand?"

"I'll be fine! Now let's take on these jokers!"

Seperating himself from Sakura, he leapt high into the air. His teammate took this as her cue and promptly punched the ground with as much force as was necessary. The earth split open with a thunderous crunch, causing the Kumo shinobi to loose their balance. Some retreated to the air, where they were met by Naruto and his army of his clones. Since he was exhausted as well, his army wasn't as big as it could be, but it was certainly more than enough. The others, as Naruto predicted, disappeared in a muffled poof, revealing their true nature as simple clones. An illusion.

Karui and Samui, along with five other kunoichi managed to escape both their attacks. In their possesion, the tied up Hinata and Ino.

"Bastards! Have you forgotten our deal?! Make one wrong move and their lives are forfeit! Now you've done it!" Karui cried, whipping out a kunai and poising it over her head in preparation to stab Hinata through her throat.

"As if! Sakura, now!" Naruto cried, landing on the ground before launching himself forward.

Sakura leapt into the air herself, gaining some height as she used gravity to add more weight into her next punch. The effect was instatenous. A large fault robbed the Kumo kunoichis of their foothold and they immediately fell, loosing their grip on their bargaining cards. Naruto had been waiting for this, and in a burst of speed, he tackled his friends from midair all the way to the other side of the fault. The trio landed horribly, the blond tripping and rolling, taking the Ino and Hinata with him. But at the very least they were safe.

These combination of attacks between him and Sakura took all the years they had together to perform. Countless drills initiated by Kakashi, who had valued teamwork above all else. They all paid off in the end, and Naruto had never been so grateful to his silver-haired sensei. Once he was free from the enchantment, he would give the man a big hug!

Now was not the time to be reminiscing, however, and he quickly untied his two friends. Relieving them of their bonds and gags, they both gasped for breath.

"You two... Can you fight?" Naruto asked, worriedly. Shooting furtive looks at the enemy getting back on their feet.

"I-I'm sorry, Naruto-kun. B-B-But those were ch-chakra draining ropes. I'm afraid--I'm afraid I have little chakra left." Hinata stuttered in between deep lungfuls of air. "S-S-Sorry."

Chakra draining ropes. Of course. As if the enemy was going to ambush them unprepared. It figures. If they lost their hostages, they still wouldn't be able to fight. Thus, cripling them. Very smart.

"How bout you, Ino?" He inquired, worriedly.

"Ah, I have less chakra than Hinata does. She still has a bit left, I'm about to die of chakra exhasution!" Ino groaned.

"I... see."

The soft sounds of footsteps drew Naruto to the fast approaching Sakura. Her worried gaze was answered by the bowing of his head, and she frowned.

"Injuries." She stated crisply."

"Ch-chakra exhaustion." Hinata replied.

"And maybe some rope burns. God, would it kill them to buy silk ropes? I mean, really? Hemp?" Ino complained.

Sakura rolled her eyes, trying to hide a smile. Ah, Ino. "Have some soldier pills, it'll keep you awake at the very least."

Reaching into her pouch, she offered the two a case of pills in which they greedily took. The pink-haired medic looked at them worriedly, trying to assess just how bad their state was. As she helped rejuvinate the two, Naruto was watching their enemies struggle to their feet. Tired or not, they were still half a platoon. And obviously, with very good leaders and all potentially grave threats. None could be below an experienced chuunin, if Naruto was to hazard a guess. Bad news.

They, on the other hand, were only two people. One half-exhausted chuunin and one medic. Ino and Hinata would not be able to fight, and thus they were outnumbered, overpowered, and handicapped.

"Uzumaki-san!" Cried Omoi.

Let's not forget his new rabid admirer. Let's just not.

"Guys, We have to run." Naruto announced through gritted teeth. His pride was incredibly hurt. He was Uzumaki, no, Namikaze Uzumaki Naruto. Son of the Fourth Hokage, and soon-to-be Rokudaime-ttebayo! He did not run!

But still...There was no other option. If it was only him fighting, he'd slug it out till the last one fell. Exhaustion, pain, meant little to him when the going got tough. But it wasn't only his life on the line here. He had his teammates to worry about, and he wasn't about to risk their lives for something as idiotic as pride. They needed to buy time, just enough until the enemy all burned out. The question is, who would burn out first. The enemy or them. Sakura, while strong, did not have too high a stamina. Naruto, while a stamina freak, had lost half of his energy to the stupid bracelet. It was a gamble, the blond knew. But he must be good at poker for a reason!

"Alright." Sakura nodded. Seeing their enemies and coming to the same conclusion as Naruto. "I'll take Ino, Naruto take Hinata."

"Roger." With that, the jinchuuriki slung Hinata frightfully limp arm over his shoulder whilst Sakura did the same with Ino. The two shared a gaze, Naruto careful to avoid his teammate's eyes, before taking off into the foliage of the trees above.

"They're getting away! After them!" Samui cried from below. They both increased their pace.

"Uzumaki-san! Did I say something wrong? Oh no! I knew I shouldn't have put mayonnaise on my fries! That's it, isn't it? My breath smells like mayonnaise, doesn't it?" Omoi shouted worriedly, his voice nearer than all the rest.

Naruto increased his pace to a frightening degree.

"Wait up!" Sakura cried. "Idiot! We have to conserve our energy! Yours especially! Slow down!"

"Sorry." Naruto muttered in reply.

"N-Naruto-kun." Hinata whispered, clinging unto the blond for dear life. "Th-there's a little space beneath that tree. R-Right over there."

The timid Hyuuga pointed shakily towards a nearby tree. Her byakugan actived causing Naruto to look at her with concern.

"Don't try so hard, Hinata-chan. You're almost out of chakra." He chastised worriedly.

"B-But I'd rather n-not be a burden." Hinata replied, complying nonetheless and deactivating her doujutsu.

Naruto shook his head. "Hinata-chan, you are never a burden. Good job though, and thank you." He flashed her one of his heart-warming smiles before turning to Sakura. "Hey, there's a place we can hide for awhile! C'mon!"

"Alright." Sakura replied, motioning for her teammate to lead the way.

The jinchuuriki sped up even more, his chakra reserves quickly depleting. He expected to soon feel the burn of Kyuubi's malevolent youki but was horrified to realize there was no such help. Even so, he pushed on stubbornly. He was almost there!

"Uzumaki-san!"

Diving into the hole between the roots, it was undeniably a tight fit. The space was barely able to accomodate four people. At the sound of the approaching footsteps, however, none of them complained.

"Guys! Hide your chakra!" Sakura ordered in a hushed whisper. The other three sent her a look and the pink-haired kunoichi smiled sheepishly. She ammended her statement. "Well, what's left of your chakra."

"We have just enough chakra to pass off as a disabled civillian, I don't think he's going to notice." Ino retorted, frustrated at her own weakness.

"Uzumaki-san!" Omoi called out once more, silencing the four.

His feet appeared in view of the entrance to their hideaway. They simultaneously held their breath. Tension was high in the nook they were packed into, to the point where they were almost choking on it. For the enemy's part, however, it wasn't quite the same. For Omoi, there was a clear confusion yet a heady clarity. A mixture of muddled thoughts that left him standing awkwardly in a clearing, staring into space.

Omoi had been knocked unconcious by Sakura's super-powered punch. He managed to jolt awake at the faint rumble of the earth splitting beneath his feet. The tremors from the newly created fault shaking him from his sleep. His attention was naturally drawn to the source of all the commotion, which was the battle. The battle, of course, had Naruto and his clones as the main component. And the moment Omoi's eyes landed on the blond...Poof! The enchantment previously broken by he enemy's punch, returned with a vengeance.

And thus, Omoi began chasing th sweet angel.

His thoughts had taken a rather interesting turn from a respectable and talented strategist, for he worried a lot for a reason (always thinking about possibilities and what ifs), to a bumbling, perverse fool who kept on wondering if Naruto's skin was as soft as it looked. In other words, his mind went A-Wall.

But now that Naruto was not in his immediate sight, the enchantment began to wane. He slowly started to regain control of his thoughts and all memory of being under the spell gently vanished. Though, he still had the most peculiar feeling in his gut. A trained shinobi worthy of his rank as a jonin, Omoi could clearly sense chakra. And there was definitely a strong chakra source nearby, somewhere very close, that pulled him towards it. A strange power that compelled him to move in a certain direction, lording over his limbs and bringing him to a... tree?

No, under it. Yes, under it. Beneath the roots.

As Omoi approached closer and closer to their position, Naruto and the others grew increasingly anxious. What to do? What to do?! Sakura, as the team captain, desperately tried to get her act together. She was a chuunin, an apprentice of the legendary Tsunade, and a member of Team 7! She would never forgive herself if she lost her cool here! Taking a deep breath, she combed through the facts.

One jounin. Two chuunin capable of fighting. Two chuunin out of commission. One target. Naruto. Technically they outnumbered him. If all went right, they should be able to overpower him. But what if they couldn't? What if Naruto's chakra ran out in the middle of battle? What if Omoi is just way out of their league? What if, what if, what if? There was just too many vairables not too mention there was still Ino and Hinata to think of.

"I know you're there. C'mon out, it's useless to hide." Omoi beckoned, rapping the tree trunk for good measure.

Sakura bit her lip. The others tensing. There was no more time. She needed to make a decision now. So she did. "Naruto." She began, clearing her throat. "Take Hinata and Ino. Suna isn't too far away, if my estimate is right. You could probably make it into their territory."

"What about you Sakura-chan?" He asked, already seeing where this was going and denying it all the same.

"I'm going to stay here and stall him!" She announced defiantly.

"No!" The other three chorused.

"Think about it guys! I'm the only one with a decent amount of chakra and-!"

Sakura was cut off when Naruto rudely interrupted. A scowl was on his face. "And! You are our only medic! What's the rule of being a medic nin?"

"A medical ninja should never be hit by the opponent's attacks. When you face an opponent's attack, evasion is the first priority." Ino immediately parroted as comprehension dawned on her face. She then sent a pointed look at Sakura. "This is because if the medical ninja were to die, who's there to treat the team members?" (1)

Sakura looked dumbfounded. She was silent and Naruto took this oppurtunity to jump in. "Sakura, we have two teammates in need of your skills. I can't let you fight him. I'll go."

"But-But that's illogical! I have more chakra, more strength-" She reasoned frantically.

Again she was cut off by Naruto. "You also have more responsibility. Listen, I'll distract him. You take Ino and Hinata. Like you said, Suna isn't too far, right? You definitely would make it there!"

"But-But-!"

"Guys, I'm going to get tired of waiting." Omoi proclaimed.

"Trust me, Sakura. Please. I'm asking as your friend to please trust me."

Sakura looked at Naruto's deep cerulean eyes and found herself succumbing. That determination, that stubborness. You just couldn't win. Although that didn't change the fact that this was a really stupid idea. As team captain, it was her job to go with what she felt was the smartest decision. And this was not it.

A soft hand touched her arm and she was jolted from her thoughts. She looked up at the hand's owner and found purple-white eyes staring back at her. Hinata smiled.

"Trust him, Sakura." She stated simply.

The pink-haired kunoichi groaned. They were double, no if she read Ino's expression right, they were all ganging up on her. That settled it. "Fine." She murmured. "But if you die, I'll kill you!"

"As if I'm gonna die before I become the Hokage!" Naruto smirked, moving towards the entrance. His face turned serious once more as he motioned to the others. "Okay, five sconds after I exit, you guys take your leave. Get as far away as possible. Right?"

"Right." The girls answered.

The blond sent them a reassuring smile before bursting out of the hole. Omoi was caught off gaurd. He never actually expected them to attack him outright and was thrown off his feet. He hid his face behind his arm, several wood chips whizzing past and tearing his sleeve.

"Oi, bastard." There was a cracking of knuckles as the dust cleared away to reveal a rather angry Naruto.

It was like a switch. One moment, Kumo shinobi ready for battle. The next--"Oh, sweet angel! My love burns for you with the passion of seven suns...Ah, that's still to forward."

The blond's eyebrow twitched. "You want me, jackass? Come and get me!"

His challenge broadcasted, he took off. His legs pumping faster than he had ever thought possible. His chakra was getting burned out faster than he thought too. But, he figured, he'd deal with the chakra problem later. Right now, he had to get Omoi as far away from the girls as possible.

Vanishing deep into the denser parts of the forest, the blond ran with Omoi hot on his trail. No sooner had he done so, did Sakura and the others crawl out. The pink-haired kunoichi looked in the direction he fled to, her whispered prayer carried by the midnight breeze.

A/N: And next time on The Bracelet, our favorite Suna nins make their appearance. And hey guess what? If all things go alright, this story should end in, four more chapters. give or take.

(1) This is a honest-to-goodness quote from Chapter 270 pg. 09-10