I don't know where to fuckin' begin! Let me just say that I had to write this story because none of the other Hunger Game's crossovers with Naruto matched my expectations. I'm not saying they weren't good!
NO STOP! DON'T TWIST MY WORDS AROUND!
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING! I DON'T OWN NARUTO OR HUNGER GAMES PLEASE DO NOT SUE ME!
Sakura Haruno lives in District 12, also known as the Seam. It crawls with coal miners, both men and women. A well-known District for its poverty. Kids are being stripped of their childhood; from helping in the farms to trading illegal items in the Hob. The Peacekeepers that are usually in the Hob are most likely aware of what's really going on. Their job is the maintain the law, but it doesn't hurt anyone if they start playing the game, too. The 'I'll keep your secret if you keep mine' line works out pretty well for them. If you get to live old, you would show your wrinkles as a badge of honor. Metaphorically speaking, of course. Not many people in the Seam have the reward of aged skin. Even if you are not of that age, many people already have sunken faces, bitten and broken cuticles and empty stomachs. Today, however is a special occasion where many people also have fear and panic in their eyes. Today is the reaping, the draft for the Hunger Games.
Sakura closes her shack's door and crosses the meadow to the chain linked fence. She chose that shack for one specific reason; because freedom is only a few steps away. Beyond is a forest that calls her name in the taunting whispers of the wind. I have a few hours to spend, Sakura thought. Ignoring the signs of the high voltage, she slides under the fence with no trouble at all. At this time of day, the warning signs are nothing but a flat piece of metal. No hum from the fence and it's clear to touch. On the other side, Sakura looks back at the Seam and relieves a sigh. When she is on the other side of the fence, it feels different, like she can breath.
She takes off running into the forbidden forest. There, in a hollow tree, her bow and arrows are waiting for her. Grasping them in her hand, a sensation that resembles control spreads through her body. Something that people don't have in District 12. The only thing her father left behind has always kept her fed and in good shape. A bow and arrow are a rarity, never had Sakura seen something close to this in the Hob. She continues to travel toward their meeting place. Deeper into the forest is a hill that she meets the only person in the world she can find joy in being with. And the only person brave enough to venture past the fence, Sasuke Uchiha. When it's just the two of them, they can talk freely without worrying someone could be watching them. It's really the only thing she has to look forward when she gets up in the morning.
"Sakura," Sasuke greets her.
"Beat me here, Sasuke." Sakura plops down next to him and smiles thoughtfully.
He nods and tells Sakura to cover her eyes and to hold out her hands.
She complies, knowing asking any questions would set him off. Sakura has learned that Sasuke is very short tempered, especially if you start asking about things that aren't necessary. She felt nothing at first and was considering it was another one of his tricks, but then a soft, warm and round object touched her palms.
Now, eyes wide open, she gasped. "Sasuke!" Sakura exclaimed. She rolls it in her hand and stares into it in amazement. "Is this real?"
Sasuke found amusement in her reaction and smiled, "Costed a whole squirrel, but it was worth it. It's a special occasion today, remember?"
Being the considerate person she is, Sakura tore the bread in half and gave one portion to Sasuke. "Happy Hunger Games!" Sakura picks a few nearby blackberries. "And may the odds-" She tosses a berry in a high arc towards Sasuke.
He catches it swiftly in his mouth and breaks it with his teeth, "-be ever in your favor." Mocking the Capitol's accent has been kind of a dark joke, but funny nonetheless.
The warm bread has such a strong flavor compared to what she usually eats. She almost feels guilty for swallowing. Sakura and Sasuke sit in content silence like they usually do. Long ago, before Sakura has been infected with Sasuke's quiet nature, she used to be - what Sasuke called - an annoying blabber mouth. Over the years of hunting together and spending their time in each other's company, she adapted and learned.
"Do you want to leave?" Sasuke mutters.
Sakura raises her eyebrows, "What?"
"Leave the district. Just you and me, we can do it. Live off of the woods"
Sasuke and Sakura have talked about this before, but it still brings shock across her face. "We could, but you have a family to look after." She was surprised he was still thinking about that kind of stuff.
Sasuke meets her in the eye, challenging her, daring her. About what? She didn't know. But he shrugs it of and replies, "Whatever."
When Sakura met Sasuke she was but a measly twelve-year-old. Sakura had already known of him beforehand, though. With all the girls gossiping about him it's hard to not notice him. Of course, he was attractive and Sakura was naturally drawn to him, but it wasn't until one evening were she really knew she had a crush on him. During one of her late night hunting trips, Sakura encountered him when she was inspecting a snared bird in a trap - that wasn't hers.
"I wouldn't touch that if I were you." The voice behind her sounded cold and stern.
Sakura whirled around to be face to face with Sasuke Uchiha. "Oh, it's just you." Her surprise dissipated and was replaced with false superiority, "I wasn't going to touch it, I was just inspecting it."
She was going to touch it and Sasuke knew it.
"I can never get my traps to work, so I'll just copy off of yours."
"I didn't know people were going past the borders. Especially young girls." Sasuke thought for a moment, "You know how to hunt, then?" He sounded doubtful, but at the same time cocky.
Sakura's face flushed, "Yes! I can probably hunt better than you can!"
On the way back they filled a bucket with strawberries and caught a few squirrels. Overall, a good day. They quickly made their way back under the fence, careful that nobody had seen them. A few errands are run; quick visits to the Hob, gulping down a bowl of Greasy Sae's special dog stew, and finally to swing by Hinata's house. Hinata's father likes the strawberries Sakura picks and buys them off of her, she is the one and only daughter of the mayor and lives pretty wealthy. Only compared to the Seam, though. She doesn't live as well as the normal civilians in the Capitol. Sakura and Hinata have been friends for as long as both of them could remember. Even though they don't speak or gossip as much as the other girls in school do, they always find themselves together.
When Sakura knocks on the back door, Hinata hesitantly opens it. She greets us with a genuine smile and silently hands over the money as Sasuke gives her the strawberries. "Good luck, Sakura."
"You, too." Sakura says, and the door closes.
Finally finished, Sakura and Sasuke make their way to the town square and stop. This is the place were the reaping will be held in just a few hours.
Sakura is the first to speak, "Don't be late."
"See you at the reaping," says Sasuke. He walks away without another word.
At home, Sakura's fingers comb through her greasy, but beautiful locks of pink hair. The last time she bothered to take a bath was so long ago that she had a hard time recalling the memory. Usually taking a bath in District 12 is only due to a special occasion. And because today is the reaping, she is forced to look her best in front of the Capitol. Especially if she were to get chosen, which is highly likely because the odds were not in her favor. If Sakura had been keeping count correctly, her name would be on that haunting little white paper 34 times.
The only sound being made in her home was the sound of water being splashed. Sakura sighed as she rubs the small wet stones against her black coated feet. Her mind drifts to Sasuke then to the reaping, but then to her sleepless nights. Something that has really bothered her was her dreams. Lately they have been nothing but nightmares. Sakura does not know whether they are being triggered from the upcoming reaping or if they are just a reminder that she is alone in the world. Nobody to come and comfort her or to aid her. She gasps as she dumps the bucket of cold water over her head. Well, maybe she wasn't alone as much as she thinks. There's always Sasuke. Shivering from the cold, Sakura grabs a drying cloth and quickly rubs away the droplets of water on her skin. She puts on the dress she had laid out earlier. It was nothing special, but her mother said she used to wear it in her youthful days. Well, that's what her father had always told her. A plain, light blue garb that went just past her knees. Her mother's gold mockingjay pin is located over heart were all can notice it. It is the only memory of her mother and she intends to show it off.
At one o'clock Sakura heads for the town's square. Not bothering to lock up her house as she closes the door.
You must be on time, attendance is taken very seriously. If you are missing and they notice, they will undoubtedly hunt you down and kill you. Although, if luck is on your side you will instead become an Avox. Being an Avox is a severe punishment were they cut out your tongue and make you serve the Capitol for the rest of your life.
Single file lines are positioned behind the front desk of the Capitol's attendance sheet. People of ages twelve through eighteen are in those lines. Silent and gloomy are words that pop into Sakura's head as she observes them. She never liked having her finger pricked. After your blood in analyzed, there are specific places you are to be standing when the reaping is in motion. The groups of the young children should be in the very front and the oldest are in the back. Girls on the left, boys on the right. Family members are surrounding the square with horrified faces. Sakura makes her way over to the girls side, but kept her eyes trained on the parents. This is what you get for having kids , Sakura thought.
The Peacekeepers stand poised like they have sticks up their asses. They guard the law here in Panem, most of the Peacekeepers come from District 2 or sometimes even the Capitol itself. Sakura spots unknown faces of Peacekeepers. The Peacekeepers from the Seam that are usually in the Hob, are nowhere to be found.
Sakura stands in the group of sixteen-year-olds. She exchanges glances with her fellow classmates, all look as scared as the other. Sakura's hands start to feel sweaty and she can hear her heartbeat against her chest. Come on, it hasn't even officially started yet. Don't be so weak! A loud static noise grabs our attention. There, on the stage is Effie Trinket. She is the voice Sasuke and Sakura make fun of. She stands there with her bleach white face paint, green lipstick, a wig that matches the color of Sakura's hair and a green suit. To her left and to her right, there are the famous glass bowls. Behind her, Sakura spots the mayor and his wife sitting awkwardly in metal chairs. Next to them, Kakashi Hatake sits reading a book. Sakura recognizes him; he was the victor of the 50th Hunger Games and participated in the Quarter Quell. Yeah, he won that, too. So far, he's the only living tribute from District 12.
If Hinata isn't up there, she must be in the reaping, too, Sakura thought.
Effie Trinket's voice booms loudly, "Welcome, welcome!" The bubbly tone in her voice is appalling. "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor. First, a video from the Capitol." She motions toward the giant screen that plays the anthem of Panem.
Sakura looks to the right and catches the eye of Sasuke. Was he looking at her this whole time? Panic and worry for her friend fill her eyes when she think of how many times Sasuke's name is in that glass bowl. 42 times. I guess the odds are not in his favor either.
The music stops. "I just love that!" Effie's voice echoes into the mic, "OK, Ladies first." Effie digs her hand in and slowly pulls out a single slip of paper.
Sakura holds in her breath and closes her eyes, suddenly getting a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Please, not me. Not me.
Effie makes her way back to her podium and unfolds the white paper. She reads in a loud clear voice, "Sakura Haruno."
I love Effie Trinket so much, I didn't want to replace her with a Naruto Character.
Yeah, thanks for reading until the very end. I really didn't want Sakura to volunteer herself because it just didn't...meh. Anyway, if I get 10 reviews then I'll do the next chapter immediately. If nobody really likes it then I'll just leave it as it is. I know, I know I wrote this a little fast...too fast.
~WYB
