Fading Light

Chapter 8: Gaara of the Desert

After a few more weeks of training Asuma told us about the upcoming Chunin Exams. He wanted us to register and obviously Shikamaru didn't want to bother with the effort but I thought it would be a good opportunity to see how much as a team we'd grown. 

"I think we should." I said to them as we headed back towards the village. "It'll be a good test of our abilities as a team." I smiled at them. 

"This isn't going to be cakewalk, we could die in the process." Shikamaru countered. 

"You're right, we could. But I still think we should do it." I stopped and looked up at the sky, several birds flew by, the wind blowing my hair around lightly. 

"Why?" I frowned as I thought about how everyone in my clan had perished by one of it's own.  I wasn't sure why the memory came to me, but it did and it was there, haunting my mind as I thought about why I would want to force Shikamaru and Choji to do this. 

"I...I'm not really sure why...maybe I'm being selfish, but I want to prove that my existence is worth something." The two stayed silent as I looked back at them. I could see the wheels turning in both of their heads. "Itachi left me alive for a reason...I want to know that my existence means something more than just being pitied by him."

"Amaya, you are worth more than what he did." Shikamaru stated carefully. I knew he was worried he would offend me, but I never saw it that way. Him and Choji were always looking out for me to make sure I felt as if I belonged.

"Maybe...but even still, I have to know for sure. And to do that I have to keep getting stronger." As we turned the corner we saw three people harassing Sakura, Naruto and some of the kids from the academy. They wore clothes that were unfamiliar to the leaf village but what really struck me was the kid in the middle, with red hair and a gourd on his back filled with sand if I had to take a guess. Sasuke was standing in a tree, annoyance written across his face as he had to bail his teammates out of another problem. 

"Temari, Kankuro let's go." The kid said, no emotion portrayed in his speech. 

"Temari..." I muttered, as the only girl of the group turned I felt my heart stop. I knew her. It was a long forced back memory but I had seen her before when I was a child. When she saw me, her body went rigid as well. Did she remember me as well?

"Amaya Uchiha? Its been a long time." She stated a small smile coming across her face. 

"Temari, it has been."

"Wait you know these clowns?!" Naruto yelled. I rolled my eyes. 

"Their father was a friend of my mother. I'm surprised you remember me, we only met once after all." 

"How could I forget, that Sharingan of yours was so impressive. Mastering it at such a young age." I frowned and looked down. I knew Sasuke was looking at me now. I had never spoken of my use of the Sharingan. I never wanted him to know. 

"Thanks..." 

"My condolences to your mother and father." She muttered, seeing the sad look on my face. 

"Thank you, I take it you're here for the Chunin Exams?"

"That's right." 

"Are these your brothers then?" I looked at the two boys finally, the taller of the two looked annoyed that Temari was wasting their time by talking with me, but the other was more intrigued by our conversation it seemed. 

"Yeah, that's Kankuro and Gaara." I smiled at both of them. 

"Its nice to meet you both."

"Temari, quit wasting our time. These brats are starting to get on my nerves again."