Steps (Gaara x Reader)

Chapter 6

Amaya's POV

Act normal, act normal. I repeated in my head multiple times as I didn't look at Kabuto. Thinking rationally he will likely come to me later and have a word about how the mission is so far, but what's his gain for coming here? He's not destroying the leaf too is he? "Oof." I muttered out as my hand went to touch my braids.

My eyes snapped to the front as I watch the loud bunch come straight through the door, or more like the blonde being loud and the pink head following behind trying to keep him quiet. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, it was adorable in all honesty. I closed my eyes to ignore the scene in front of me, they had seemed like such sweet kids. I turned away towards the wall when suddenly gasps hit my ear, I spun around to see Kabuto on the ground his glasses shattered. My amber eyes widened at the scene, never had I ever seen Kabuto on the ground before, he was always the one winning the fights. Unless, he just wants it to seem that way.

A huge man walked in at that exact moment and I almost jumped at his demeanor. He stood firm and tall before the entire place, his eyes scanning and catching the fight that was taking place. I scoffed knowing the results of this playing out. After scolding all of them for fighting and threatening to take them out of the exams themselves if they did it again without being allowed to. He continued to go on about how the first exam will be a test.

We followed him to a room that was huge and there were so many seats for all the kids to seat. We had been given seats and I followed to find where my seat was. I sat beside the blonde headed kid and he was looking as nervous as ever. His eyes glancing around the entire room, my heart went out to the kid who was struggling. He must not be good at tests, "Are you okay?" I whispered under my breath to him, he faked a smile and nodded his head to me but I could tell it was a lie.

"Quiet!" His voice boomed out among the room, my lips sealed shut after that and I turned my attention to the front to listen to the rules, "You are given ten points each from the start, the written test has ten problems overall. Each problem is one point. . ." As the man continued to go on about the rules I began to snooze off as his instructions drowned on. Suddenly I felt sand roll on my arm, I gasped at the sudden feeling causing me to jolt awake. I looked around to see everyone had begun to test, I must have slept longer than I was suppose to. I glanced down at my arm to see sand hanging out around it, must have been Gaara. I turned my head around a slight degree and mouthed a thank you to the boy who was further up.

I looked down at the paper and began writing down answers, this is not that hard at all. I smiled at the questions, they weren't the easiest but they weren't hard either. I answered the questions within in minutes and then proceeded to rest my head on the table, my eyes shifting to the blonde who sat beside me. He had noting written down on his paper and he looked like he was really trying. I sat up and preformed some hand signals, I connected my mind and the blonde kids mind with my own.

I then began speaking in my head to the blonde, my jutsu is known where I can speak to others in my mind and they can speak to me. It's good for when I'm in a fight, but also when I'm relaying information. 'Hey you.' I spoke within my mind, I eyed the blonde head beside me and he looked confused and worried. 'Don't speak out loud, speak only in your mind.' He glanced around when his eyes caught mine, I smiled softly and continued to speak to him.

'I notice you're struggling a bit at the test, do you want some help?' The boy previously had said no to the girl beside him but maybe I can convince him. I didn't want his team getting disqualified because he couldn't figure out at least one answer.

"Why would you help me." He whispered out, my eyes snapped forward to see if anyone had noticed, throughout the entire time the guys watching from the side have been calling out teams, which ultimately makes all the teams lose.

'Say it in your mind, I can hear you. But I want to help you because I know where you're coming from.' I honestly felt where he was coming from, I remember when I started training. I couldn't comprehend a thing, grant it my training was different then his, but still. I know three different elements. One is Lightening, the other is Earth, and my last one is wind. Orochimaru forced me to get them all. I might be young but I've learned quite a bit because of it, which has made me stronger.

'I-I don't need help.' I watched as he continued to look around in worry, I sighed underneath my breath and rubbed my temples. 'Please? Can I at least give you one answer.' I watched his eyes debate and finally he muttered, 'Okay.'

Just as I was about to read off the first answer a sudden voice cut my jutsu off. My eyes shot forward as he began speaking. "It has been 45 minutes, so I'll start. Alright! Here is the tenth question!" Just as he was about to bring on the tenth question the door was pushed open. I turned around and looked towards the one who entered. Kankuro walked in all cocky like with a smirk on his face, when did he leave? "It looks like playing with the dolls, wasn't a waste after all." I smirked when Kankuro's face dropped in disbelief. "Anyway sit down."

I turned back to the front when the guy began to speak again about question ten. "First, you guys will have to choose. Whether or not you will take the tenth question, if you choose not to take the exam your score will be zero. In other words you will fail!" Multiple gasps filled the room and traveled to my ears. I narrowed my eyes at the man who stood in front of me, why would he do this after all that time. "And of course the same goes for the others in the same group."

I glanced over to the blonde who looked as nervous as ever, he looked like he wasn't going to just drop the exams but he still looked nervous. "If you choose to take it and are unable to answer it correctly, then you will have to. . . relinquish your right of taking the Chunin exams ever again!" At this point the entire room broke out in complaints and anger. It didn't affect me since I didn't really need this exam anyways but it still hit my heart. That's just crazy in my opinion that he would do that in the slightest.

"Those who will not be taking it, raise your hands!" I glanced around the room to see multiple hands begin popping up nervously. I shook my head at the sight as more began to do the same, many apologizing to their teams as they did so. I turned to the blonde who was looking as if he was close to raising his hand. Just then the boy raised his hand slowly, I sucked in my breath as my heart went out to him.

Suddenly his hand went and slammed on the table, "Don't underestimate me! I won't run! I'll take it, but even if I'm stuck being a Genin forever... I will become a Hokage no matter what it takes!" A smile graced my features as the boy who was so nervous earlier came out strong. He wants to be Hokage? I could see it, if the leaf lasts that long. The man continued to pressure to see if anyone else would quit but the blonde came back with an instant response, "I'm not going to take back my words, that is my ninja way!" I watched as a surge of confidence went through the rest of the room, at that moment I could tell no one else was going to step down.

"Then for the rest of you who stayed, the first exam... You have passed it!" My lips formed an O as I comprehended what just happened, that sneaky little. I couldn't help but laugh to myself, I watched as many of the kids jump out of their seats in joy. I continued to sit down, enjoying each an every moment of what was happening. In that moment a lady jumped through the window and looked around the room. I tuned her out as I turned around to catch the expression of Gaara, his face was stone faced with no emotion like usual, not even joy. I turned back around to the front to see the woman Anko introducing herself and telling us to meet her at the Forest of Death tomorrow in the morning.

Within seconds she disappeared and people began clearing out. "Hey!" I turned around to catch eyes with the blonde boy. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm going to be Hokage someday! What's yours?" I smiled at him softly, "My name is Amaya Himura, it's great to meet you." I held my hand out for a handshake and he instead went for a high five low. Interesting, I laughed at the interaction and pulled my hand back.

"Thanks for trying to help." He muttered almost embarrassed, I threw my hand behind my head and smirked down at him, "Anytime Naruto."I finally had a name for the boy, Naruto it suit him. I waved goodbye to him when his team came up beside him, I walked out the door at the exact moment and caught eyes with Gaara.

"Hey Gaara, wanna walk back together?" I received no reply from him so I assumed that was a yes. I ran up to beside him and we continued down the road in silence.

A/n Hope ya'll liked this chapter! <3