A/N: O.M.G. I'm SO sorry I haven't updated this in so long!!! I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with this chapter, since I didn't want to write out Naruto and Neji's fight because well, its not really important to the story. lol. But after a while of thinking, I finally figured out what to do. The title probably gives it away haha. But anyway, enjoy!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, just Ami.

Memories from the Past

I sighed leaning on the railing with my hand resting on my chin. These matches were just going to drag on and on. Especially since I was dreading what would happen with Gaara and Sasuke's match. I half hoped Sasuke didn't get here in time for it, so he'd be disqualified and the two wouldn't have to fight.

I watched Naruto and Neji as they stood there, glaring at each other. They hadn't done anything for a few seconds now. I had no idea what they were waiting for. All I knew was that Naruto had a look of determination that he hadn't had before, and I really hoped he could win.

Suddenly, after Neji shifted a second time, Naruto threw some kunai at him. Neji blocked it with his own right before it hit him in the face, and threw it aside as Naruto charged for a frontal attack.

I sighed again. I didn't really care about how this fight played out, just as long as Naruto won. So I began looking around at the crowd, picking out familiar faces. I saw Sakura sitting with Ino; Sakura looked worried for her teammate. Looking a little more I saw Hinata and Kiba, and some of the others from the exams. But there was also something else I noticed. My eyes narrowed as I counted all the guys in masks and robes. ANBU. But what were they doing here? And why were there so many of them? Did they know of our plan? Was that was this was about? If so, then this wasn't going to be easy for us.

As my eyes drifted to the Hokage's box, my eyes narrowed as they landed on the man in the blue and white robe. The Kazekage, or I guess I should say, Gaara's father. I didn't like him one bit. Especially not with the way he treated his own son. I mean, its his fault Gaara was like this in the first place! I glanced at Gaara, who was standing next to me with his arms crossed, watching the battle. I remembered back when I first met him, and he was so nervous and afraid I wouldn't like him because of who I was. I smiled as I remembered that day……

A six year old me sat on the swings of the park, holding my mother's necklace in my hand. I smiled as I watched the sun make it sparkle. I really wished I could have known my mother, but unfortunately this was all I had left of her.

Suddenly the necklace was ripped out of my hands. "Hey!" I yelled looking up, only to stop seeing 3 boys who looked like they were a few years older than me.

"What's this? It looks expensive." The boy who had taken my necklace said as he dangled it in the air.

"Please give it back!" I pleaded. "It was my mommy's!"

"Aw, it was your mommy's!" the boy sneered as his other friends laughed. "I think I'll take this with me. I bet I could make some money if I sold it."

"No please! Give it back to me!" I cried, tears in my eyes. I couldn't believe these boys were being so mean!

"Leave her alone."

All of us looked over and saw a boy who looked my age, with red hair, dark circles under his eyes, and holding a teddy bear. He was glaring at the boys, who all took a few steps back, their eyes wide with fright.

"Hey…" one of the boys said scared.

"Its him!" another said.

"Give her back her necklace." The new boy said.

"Run! It's the monster!" the boy who had my necklace yelled before turning and running away, as his friends followed.

I stared after them confused. Those boys were older than the new one. So why did they look so scared when they saw him?

"Here."

I looked up and saw the boy with the red hair standing in front of me holding my necklace. I stood up and smiled at him, before taking my necklace. "Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome." He said quietly, glancing away from me. I could tell he was nervous, but I didn't know why.

"My name's Ami. What's yours?" I asked him smiling.

The boy looked at me slightly shocked, before looking at the ground. "Its Gaara."

"Hi Gaara! Its nice to meet you! That's a cute bear!"

Gaara looked up at me shocked again, before smiling. "Thank you! Do you wanna hold him?"

I nodded as he handed me the bear, and at that moment, I knew I had just made a new friend.

That day I hadn't known why those boys were so afraid of Gaara. It wasn't until a few days later that I learned the reason, when my father was talking about what the villagers were saying about him.

"They say Gaara's the most powerful person in the village." My father said one night at the dinner table.

"Really? But he's just a kid." My brother said disbelieving.

"Well its true. Apparently the Kazekage used a jutsu on his wife when she was pregnant, and sealed Shukaku, the Sand Spirit inside of his unborn child"

"So then Gaara's dad is…Lord Kazekage?" Haru asked shocked.

My father nodded. "But I guess he's beginning to get out of control, and the villagers all fear him now." He looked over at me. "Maybe you should stay away from him from now on Ami."

"No!" I yelled angrily. "I don't care what they say, Gaara is my friend and I'm going to be his! I don't care what the others say about him!"

My father stared at me for a few seconds before chuckling. "You definitely take after your mother. She was always the most stubborn person I knew."

I smiled, taking that as a compliment. I was glad I could be considered like my mother.

After that the villagers started to shun me too, since I continued to hang out with Gaara. When I told him I was still going to be his friend, his eyes seemed to light up. It made me happy to see him like that. But then that one night happened, and everything got even more difficult for us……

It was nighttime, and I was sitting on the roof of a building with Gaara. I had gone looking for him, and finally found him up here. He looked really sad, and when he told me what happened, I felt even worse.

"I'm sorry Gaara. Its not your fault. They just need to take the time to get to know you." I said, trying to comfort him.

"No…..everyone hates me…." He said staring at his hands. "I'm a freak…."

"No you're not!" I argued. "And not everyone hates you. I don't."

Gaara put his hands up to his face and started crying, and I didn't know what to do. I mean, I was only six years old after all.

I reached out to comfort him when suddenly his sand came up behind us as a shield. Gaara and I looked up shocked, not expecting that at all. What was going on?! We both turned, and our eyes widened as we saw a ninja standing there, with kunai knives floating in front of him.

It turned out, that it was Gaara's uncle, Yashamaru. He said he had been sent by Lord Kazekage to assassinate Gaara. And he went on to explain how he never liked Gaara because he took the life of his sister, and how he wanted to be the one who killed Gaara. I couldn't believe it when it happened, especially when he had opened his vest to show paper bombs. Luckily Gaara's sand protected us, as Yashamaru was blown to pieces.

After that happened, Gaara had somehow gotten that tattoo on his forehead, and he had turned into what he was now: a person who hated everyone. I had tried to talk to him after that, but more assassins came, and I knew he was never going to be how he was before. Unfortunately after that night, it took him a while before he believed me when I said that I wasn't going to turn on him like Yashamaru did, that I really did care for him, and want to be his friend.

Thankfully he eventually believed me, and we were almost inseparable after that. I sighed. All of that had somehow gotten us to where we were today.

I was brought out of my thoughts as a loud cheering came from all around me. "Huh?" I looked around, then down at the field, only to have my eyes widen at the scene before me. Neji was flat on his back, and Naruto was waving up at the crowd, grinning like crazy.

"The winner of the first match: Naruto Uzumaki!" the proctor yelled to the crowd, and the cheering just got louder.

I smiled as Naruto looked extremely happy. "WAY TO GO NARUTO!!" I yelled happily, glad he had won his match.

A/N: Alright well thats it for now!! I guess you guys know whats coming next. lol. But its going to take some time, since Ami's match obviously can't go the same since she doesn't have Temari's powers. And I'm not sure how to go about doing this. But if anyone has any suggestions I'd be very happy to take them!! And if I get a good one, then I'll be able to update sooner!!^_^