Toph walked back up there stairs. She was exhausted. She had just finished her battle with Aang, which she won with difficulty. Aang had become very good in earthbending, but she was better. She also learned some non-earth techniques, like a disappearing technique called Invisibility Jutsu. When she reached the top floor, she immediately felt Rin jump and hug her.
"TOPH-KUN, TOPH-KUN!!!!! YOU WON!!!! YAY!!!!!" cheered Rin. Toph grinned wearily and turned to look at Zuko.
"Great job. You did excellent. I gotta say that Invisibility Jutsu you did was flawless." he said like he always did, calmly. Toph smiled wider. Zuko certainly hadn't been so calm when he won his battle against his own sister, Azula.
"TOPH-KUN YOU ROCKED OUT LOUD!!!!" Naruto screamed. Toph nodded at him and went to go watch the match. She felt Gaara stare at her. She had heard his voice in the crowd, cheering her. That had motivated her. She stood at the sidelines waiting for the next match to begin. All that was left was Gaara's battle against Sasuke, who still wasn't there. She felt Gaara's hand wrap around hers and squeeze it.
"Great job. That was amazing. You certainly are an amazing shinobi. I hope your father realizes this." he whispered. Toph smiled at him.
"Thank you for cheering me. I bet that your siblings thought you were crazy." she whispered back. Gaara shrugged his shoulders dismissingly.
"I honestly don't give a damn about their opinion. Besides, there were tons of other people yelling. NO one else heard me except you. If they did, they would have looked in my direction, which no one did." replied Gaara. He looked around to see if no one was watching and when he thought no one was looking their way, he leaned over and gave Toph a light kiss on the cheek, causing Toph to promptly blush. Unknown to them, Zuko, Kankuro, and Temari saw this little exchange of affection.
"What the hell? Don't tell me Toph's fallen for that bastard from the Sand Village. Or maybe that bastards not only a merciless killer with a selfish attitude, but also a womanizer." thought Zuko in shock.
"Ah! I guess Gaara really does like that girl. It's about time he showed some affection towards someone other than himself. God, he's growing up so fast." thought Temari with a slight tear in her eye.
"Lucky guy!! I still can't believe he's got a chick before I do!! That little…" Kankuro ranted. Suddenly everyone looked up. There was a slight wind and standing in the stadium was none other than Sasuke Uchiha himself.
"Ugh, just great. Pretty boy what's-his-name's here. Damn it. I was hoping that he wouldn't come so you'd win by forfeit." Toph muttered. Gaara smirked.
"You really want me to win that bad? Well then, I'll be sure to do EXTRA well just for you, sweetie." he replied. Toph raised her eyebrows and blushed even more. Gaara grinned mischievously at seeing her reaction, and then looked down.
"Ah. I guess it's time for me to go. Wish me luck." he replied then clutched his head. It hurt so badly. He could feel it thrash about. It was itching to get out, to be free. He hoped Toph didn't notice, but she did.
"Gaara, are you ok?" she asked worriedly. Gaara groaned in pain.
"The Shukaku… it's thrashing. Don't worry, I'll be fine." he replied. He then went down to enter. As he walked down he was thinking about Tophs worried expression.
"I have to win this for her. I have to… DAMN IT!!!!! Stupid Shukaku! God, I wish it would stop it. IT hurts so bad." he thought as he stumbled down. As he walked down, he bumped into two strange ninja.
"You must be Gaara of the Sand." one of them said. Gaara stared at them coldly.
"So what if I am? What does it mean to you lowlifes." he answered. The two of them grinned.
" Unfortunately for you, it means you have to die. You see you squirt, the Chunnin Exams isn't just about you. It's also a betting sport. All the different daimyo's and ninja bet on the outcomes. Our daimyo has bet on Sasuke. In order for our daimyo not to be humiliated, you must die. Capishe?" one of them explained. Gaara kept silent.
"Hmph. You think you're so high and mighty you don't answer us? Well, you're damn wrong." The shinobi snickered. Gaara looked at them and with a thirst for blood splayed across his eyes and with one swift motion of his hand, the two shinobi were crushed by the sand. He then marched down, ready to commence with the battle.
"You better watch out Sasuke Uchiha. I'm ready to kill." he thought to himself as he entered the stadium. Sasuke was standing there, looking cool as a cucumber. Gaara approached the middle.
"You ready for me to kick your ass, Gaara? Sasuke asked. Gaara grinned evilly.
"Watch out pretty-boy, cuz I'm about to wipe that smart-aleck grin off your face." he replied. The proctor signaled for them to start and the battle began.
Toph watched with a smirk as Sasuke tried in vain to attack Gaara.
"Try and try all you want, pretty-boy. There's no damn way you'll ever get to my Gaara. His shield, it's perfect. He's refined it so that nothing can get through. So try all you want. It won't do you any good." she thought with a smirk. On and on Sasuke tried to attack. Finally he stopped. He pulled off his leg weights and began to attack and attack faster than before. Faster than Gaara's shield. Toph gasped as Gaara was suddenly hit over and over again.
"YA!!! Sasuke, wipe him dead!!!" she heard Naruto say. Her heart panged.
"God, please let him be okay." she thought. Gaara enclosed himself in a ball of sand.
"Mama, don't be mad at me. I'm sorry. They were threatening. I know I've kept my mind off you. I'll be a good boy. Look, I've got some tastier blood for you to feast on, ok?" he whispered insanely. Toph drew her breath in. Sasuke was charging towards the ball of sand with lightning in his hand.
"Oh no!!! The Chidori!!!!" she thought. Sasuke charged and hit the shield with the Chidori. It instantly broke through the sand barrier. Gaara suddenly felt something sharp hit his skin and suddenly felt something warm and wet trickle down his arm.
"Something warm and wet. What is it? Could it be…" he murmured. Toph stood waiting. There was a loud scream from the Ball.
"BLOOD!!!!!! IT'S MY BLOOD!!!! AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!" he screamed in a high voice. Toph could feel tears come to her eyes. What had that bastard done? She couldn't take it anymore.
"GAARA-KUN!!!!! HANG ON!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!" she screamed. Zuko looked at her in shock. There were tears running down her eyes and she was shaking.
"Don't tell me she l-loves that heartless bastard!! She better not!!!" he thought. Temari and Kankuro glanced in her direction.
"I guess she loves him after all!!" they both thought to themselves. Suddenly there was a bang and smoke erupted from the area where the Hokage and Kazekage where sitting. Temari, Kankuro and their sensei looked up.
"The operation has begun." they thought then leapt out into the stadium to get Gaara. Toph looked at Zuko and Rin and nodded. They both leapt out and went into the seating area where their senseis were to join in the fight.
"I guess the exams are postponed." Toph thought.
