Yo! Psy-chan here with a new fanfic. It's based on the Hunger Games but I've added my own twists and turns to the story. Actually, it a mixture of all three Hunger Games books but I've converted it to the Ninja world (Hence, the name 'The Ninja Games.')

Hope you guys like it. Here's the first Chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto (If I did, SasuSaku and my other favorite pairings would be rocking and Kabuto and Karin would be dead) and The Hunger Games (I wish I was Suzanne Collins.)

CHAPTER 1

My eyes snap open and I'm greeted by the worn and old ceiling of our bedroom. It was dawn and the cold air blew in through the cracked glass of the window. Kiba shivered next to me and moved farther away from me, snuggling closer to our mother. Though he was a rebellious and wild kid, he was a momma's boy. I smirked as I climbed out of bed and covered my mother and brother properly with blankets to protect them from the cold morning air.

I looked at the two of them; my mother, Tsume, who was a strong, stubborn and fierce woman, looked much younger in her sleep. There was once a time when she became so vulnerable that it was as if it was only Kiba and me in the family but now she was back to her normal self.

Kiba was an exact replica of mom; the only difference was that he was a boy. He had the same spiky brown hair and the black eyes with silted pupils behind the closed eyelids. He had a lot of stamina but on the inside, he was as fragile as glass. Of course he was too stubborn to admit that; he took after my mom, remember?

On the floor of our bedroom, there are five dogs curled up together, sleeping, and trying to keep each other warm.

The truth is it was a bother having more mouths to feed when we barely had enough to eat ourselves. But it was a tradition; our clan's tradition. We, the Inuzukas, are to find ourselves a canine partner. Inuzukas were said to have descended from the canines. I was against it; tradition or not, our survival was at stake here.

But stubbornness runs in the family. Two against one; after my mother and Kiba refused to let them free, in time, I came to accept them too. They were pretty helpful when it comes to hunting and I realized that for an Inuzuka to survive in the ninja world, we need canine partners.

Besides, I doubt anyone in our small family could let them go; including myself.

My mom found Kuromaru, a big black wolf-like dog, when she was four. The two have been inseparable since then and I've seen my mom working at the mines with him; they made an excellent team.

Even Kiba, sweet little Kiba, had found his canine partner when he was ten. He named the dog Akamaru, although the little puppy's fur was white. He said he had his reasons. I wonder what they were.

I found mine when I was six. Three actually. Three grey puppies were shivering in the cold rain. I was returning from the academy when I saw them under a tree, hurdled together on a dirty gunny bag. I don't know why I did it but I brought them home and gave them my lunch, which I didn't eat in school. My mother told me I had found my canine partner . . . or partners.

I wasn't ready to accept them yet; our family was already suffering and was in the state of poverty. It was a sin to keep these innocent pups and would be a shame if these three beautiful creatures had died. However, the three refused to leave my side. Soon, without us realizing, the four of us became a team. I named them Hiro, Hotaru and Sora. Together, people in the village called them the Haimaru brothers because of their grey coat.

I put on my hunting boots, trousers and a shirt. I then tie my hair in a loose pony tail and put on my father's old jacket and I looked into the dirty mirror in the corner of the room. My hair was brown like my mom's and Kiba's but was long and straight. My eyes weren't like theirs; they were like my father's; two coal black eyes which held determination. The Inuzuka clan symbol, which consists of two fang-shaped red triangles, was drawn on either of my cheeks. Both mom and Kiba have the same tattoos too.

I tied my headband, which had the symbol of Konoha, around my forehead; all Genin were given headbands when they get promoted and were allowed to go on missions and earn money. I graduated from the academy seven years ago but I got promoted to Genin three years later and I've been trying to support my family ever since. However, Genin jobs didn't pay much money so the money me and my mom earned was barely enough.

I gave a low whistle and the Haimaru brothers got up immediately. I grabbed my forage bag and gestured for the three to follow me out. After the three woke up, tiny little Akamaru snuggled closer to Kuromaru for warmth.

Once out of the house, I walked down the dusty path, the Haimaru brothers following closely behind me. I looked around; a few people were up and were going about doing their morning chores. Konoha was once a lively place which had everything . . . or so they tell me.

Now it was just a dry barren land with broken houses here and there. The people here were like ghosts. They weren't living; they simply existed. Everyone here was skinny and many children were malnourished. The ANBU went about doing their business, monitoring the activities of the people. They worked directly under the Hokage.

The Hokage was our ruler. I glanced up to see the Hokage monument to see the faces of the past Hokages. I had asked my mom and she had told me their stories.

The first Hokage, Senju Hashirama, was one of the founders of Konoha. Everything was glorious in his reign and it was the same during the reign of the second, his brother Senju Tobirama. The third was a kind hearted old man who founded the Will of Fire; a will within every person to protect those precious to them.

The fourth was a kind man too. I was three when he was named Hokage. However, a demon fox had attacked our village and he died protecting the village. That same year was when Darkness overwhelmed everything.

Unknown to us, all the other villages in the Water, Earth, Wind and Lightening country was undergoing war. They had lost everything to powerful people who desired power. They all worked as one to attain power in each country. One of the third's disciple, Orochimaru, attacked Konoha and killed the Third, naming himself as the Hokage. A clan had rebelled against him the following year but was massacred.

I clenched my fists as I glared holes into Orochimaru's face, which was carved onto the mountain. Hotaru whined and licked my hand. I shook my head; we had work to do.

People nodded at me as I passed them; they knew me well but they knew my father better. He wasn't an Inuzuka. He was a poor man from Konoha who was a medic-nin. My mom, who lived in a much nicer part of Konoha, was injured on a mission and my dad had healed her. They fell in love with each other and got married. My mom must have really loved him if she abandoned the little bit of luxury she had for him. Now, the three of us, mom me and Kiba, were the only Inuzukas who lived in the poorest section of Konoha.

I saw a weak and tired-looking woman feed give her son some water and stale bread. That was the main issue in our village; food. We weren't allowed to hunt and to have food people had to have money. But money didn't grow on trees; we had to earn it. It wasn't easy.

Adults often worked in mines since Konoha had coal mines around. That's where my mom works now. If one if promoted to the post of Jonin, the money paid to them would last their family for a month. That's a lot! However, our snake of a Hokage hasn't promoted anyone to Jonin. Heck, people barely get promoted to Chunin.

Though hunting was off limits, I did it anyways. My dad taught me how. He lent me his weapons and took me to the woods with him. He taught me how to set snares and also taught me which of the plants that grew around were poisonous, edible or could be used for medical purposes. He was a smart man and even came up with how the Haimaru brothers and I could work as a team to catch us some dinner.

He taught me everything he knew before he died. He was using his medical ninjutsu to heal those who were injured in the mine. He didn't expect the mine to explode. No one did. There wasn't anything to bury either. I was eleven when he died. Five years later, I still wake up screaming for him to run.

I hid in the shadows of the houses as the ANBU passed by. I was nearing the forbidden section of Konoha; the woods. But what can I say? Our breakfast was in there.

There was a barbed wire fence separating Konoha from the forest. It was usually charged with electricity to prevent people from sneaking out and to protect the village from wild animals but it was too early for the security system to be activated. I doubt they will today. It was the day of reaping.

Even so, I closed my eyes and listened carefully for the hum which indicated that the fence was alive with electricity. But there was no sound. Sora nudged my thigh, pushing me towards the fence. I guess the coast was clear.

Hidden by some bushes and shrubs, I flatten out on my belly and slide under a stretch in the fence which my dad and I discovered. It was big enough for me and for the Haimaru brothers to fit through. Once we were on the other side, we head towards the woods.

From a hollow log, Hotaru pulled out a weapons' pouch and brought it to me. Once someone became a Genin, he or she was given a pouch of Shuriken and Kunai along with their headband. However, they had to return it back to the ANBU after their mission was complete. If people had weapons in their possession, it would be dangerous.

This pouch contained far more than just Kunai and Shuriken. It also had Senbons, Wire Strings, A few paper bombs and scrolls. It belonged to my father. He was a Chunin and a skilled medical ninja so he had gotten those weapons when he was promoted. The Senbons were a gift from my mother to congratulate him on becoming Chunin and it was his favorite weapon.

People only hunted in the hunting season. The Hokage had granted the ninjas to hunt once a year for meat. The meat was expensive and people often saved up money to buy them from the ninjas.

I never hunted during the hunting seasons since it was packed with hunters. I did it during the off season. People envied me for my bravery but no one complained or reported me to the Hokage or ANBU. Maybe it's because they enjoy the meat at a cheap price at the Hob since I traded there. Or maybe they wanted me to get caught and get a severe punishment.

If I were caught handling these weapons without an explanation, I'd be whipped or executed. I couldn't say my father gave them to me since the weapons are taken away if a Genin or Chunin dies. So I hid them here in the woods since the ANBU think that my father's weapons were blown to bits along with him in the mine explosion.

I smirked at the Haimaru brothers, "Okay guys; let's split up and hunt some game. We'll meet up at the usual place in twenty minutes. Let's move out!"

Hiro headed west, Hotaru headed east and Sora headed north. I strapped the weapons' pouch to my wait and pulled out a kunai before I started to walk southwards.

The morning was calm and still and since it was too early for human activity, I knew that the animals would be out scurrying about.

My tracking skills were excellent, thanks to my mother. After she got over the illness of pain and sorrow from my father's death, she started to train me and Kiba. Although it wasn't allowed, we were a clan. Her training us was simply passing down the Inuzuka clans traits and traditions. However, an ANBU was assigned to watch over the training sessions.

I could see some prints left by an animal; a deer perhaps. I smirked to myself. It was spring now and if I managed to catch a deer, I could trade it at the Hob for some bread and salt. The Hob was a black market located in an old warehouse that was once used as a weapons' base during the wars.

The old man, Ichiraku, who sold delicious ramen, bought most of my game and traded with other various things. He was a kind man; a friend of my father's. He would feed starving children once in a while and people respected him. They never took advantage of his kindness; we, the people of Konoha, aren't like that.

I shook my head and continued my deer hunt. I guess the creature was a rather clumsy one. It left its trails in the wide open and I could easily track it down. Not that I'm complaining. At last, I found my prey drinking water from a small stream. It was a fleshy fully grown deer.

My strategy was laid out; I would weaken its legs with my kunai and slow it down. Then I would use two shurikens to wound it and finally I would finish it off. I readied my kunai and was about to throw it when I heard movement.

Apparently, the deer had heard it and ran away. I swiftly threw my kunai but it missed and wedged itself on the bark old an old tree. I heard a rustling of leaves behind me and I knew that no rabbit or squirrel could make that much of movement.

I turned around expecting to see a vicious wild animal but instead, I was met with Kiba, his eyes wide as an owl's, holding in a scream and holding his hands up in defense. Akamaru, who was on riding on Kiba's head, let out a yelp of surprise.

I groaned, "Kiba, I told you not to follow me."

Kiba grinned at me, "What makes you think I'd listen to you sis?" He was wearing a white shirt and trousers underneath my old jacket. His spiky brown hair was hidden under the hood. Akamaru shook his tail in an excited manner and made the hood fall off of his head.

I glared at the twelve year old, "You better listen to me. You're scaring away my prey. I could have done good business at the Hob with a deer!"

Kiba shrugged, "I'll make it up to you." He picked up a rock from the ground and threw it to a nearby tree. Birds flew out of the tree in fear. I quickly pulled out a shuriken and threw it at the birds. It hit one of the birds and pinned the creature to a tree, straight through its chest.

I didn't like killing; it was gruesome. I was against the idea of hunting when my father talked about it but he explained that it was how life worked. Organisms depend on each other for survival. This was the circle of life.

Kiba laughed, "Nice shooting sis. But I expect nothing less from Inuzuka Hana." Akamaru barked in agreement.

I ruffled his hair, "Come on squirt. Let's see if we can catch a rabbit or two."

Kiba kept scaring away all the animals with his loud and clumsy movements but we did manage to catch a squirrel. I grabbed the bird which Kiba and I had nailed earlier and cleaned my shuriken. After putting them back into my pouch, I grabbed the dead bird and grinned at Kiba, "Let's go; I told the Haimaru brothers to come at the usual place."

Akamaru barked. We both turned to see him wagging his tail eagerly with a dead mouse in front of him. Kiba laughed and went over to scratch his ear, "Good boy Akamaru!" Akamaru licked Kiba's hand in response.

I chuckled softly, "Well I think you two make a good hunting team. You might catch something if you're not so loud." Kiba stuck his tongue out at me and grinned.

We went to our usual place. It was over a hill on a rock ledge overlooking the valley. Many dandelions grew around and I often plucked them for dandelion salad when we had nothing to eat. A thicket of berry bushes hid the place from unwanted eyes. A plus point; the berries were edible.

Hiro, Hotaru and Sora were already there. Hiro was sitting lazily on the grass with two fat rabbits in front of him, Hotaru was licking the blood off of his paws and had a plump quail in front of him and Sora barked excitedly and nudged a squirrel in front of him.

I scratched Sora's ear, "Looks like we both got squirrel." I held up the squirrel to him and he licked my cheek in response.

"Oh I almost forgot," said Kiba. He pulled out something from his pocket; a piece of bun. "Look what I got."

"No way," I said as I took it from his hands and inhaled it. It made my mouth water and the bread was still warm. "How'd you get it?"

"Old man Ichiraku," he said with a grin. "He said it was payment for helping him in carrying the flour last time."

I raised an eyebrow at him, "Carrying flour?"

"What can I say? I'm a strong kid." He said cockily. "Right Akamaru?" Akamaru barked in agreement. I rolled my eyes as Kiba made grunting noises as he did a couple of 'muscular' poses which looked funny since his body was so scrawny.

I used my kunai to divide the bun into six equal pieces for each of us. I plucked some berries from the bushes and placed them on the rock which we were using as a table.

"Happy Ninja Games," Kiba said copying the high pitched voice of the upbeat woman who arrives in Konoha once a year to read out the names at the reaping. "And may the odds-" he tossed a berry in a high arc towards me.

I caught the berry in my mouth and the sweet juice exploded across my tongue the second I sank my teeth into its skin, "-be ever in your favor!" I finished with the same tone.

Kiba and I laughed at our silliness. Kiba tells me that I only smile and laugh when I'm out here in the woods. He's probably right; back at home, I could never be the same around mom since she had left us once with the world on Kiba and my shoulders.

After my father had died, my mom was so torn that she stopped talking or eating. After my father had died, my mom was so torn that she stopped talking or eating. We were left on our own. Kiba was only seven and I, a scrawny eleven year old, could barely do anything.

Kiba was only seven and I, a scrawny eleven year old, could barely do anything.

After she became better, I should say our relationship was now complicated. I refused her help unless it was something to do with Kiba and avoided her as much as I could. The ignoring was reduced but to this day, I try to do as much as possible on my own.

"What now Hana?" asked Kiba.

Hotaru barked and pointed his snout towards the woods. There was a lake which had fish and edible roots in them. It was about a ten minute walk from where we were. I looked at the sky; there was still time before everyone was up and getting ready for the reaping.

I stood up and brushed the dirt off of my pants, "Hotaru's right. Let's get some fish before we head for the Hob."

The rest of the morning, we spent catching fish. We even took a quick swim in the lake. It was fun; we had a water fight and we also had a competition to see who could hold his or her breath longer. Surprisingly, Kiba won in the end.

But we had to head back. I didn't know we had spent so much time in the lake. The sun was already up and was slowly moving overhead.

Just as I thought, the fence was still not charged with electricity. I guess the ANBU thought that no one would be sneaking out on reaping day. That or maybe the electricity wasn't working. Either way Kiba, Akamaru, the Haimaru brothers and I snuck back into the village through the stretch in the fence and covered it up with the shrubs and bushes before be quietly made our way the Hob.

There weren't many people at the Hob but those who were there tipped their hats or nodded at me. Some didn't acknowledge our presence and kept their focus on their food. Kiba grinned and waved at some of the people. They smiled or waved back. I nodded back and made my way to the back where Ichiraku was.

Old man Ichiraku's daughter Ayame was wiping the pots and bowls with a rag. Ayame noticed us coming in and smiled politely, "Hello Hana-san, Kiba-kun."

I nodded in greeting. Kiba gave her a toothy grin, "Hi Ayame."

She looked different today. Her brown hair, which was usually in a loose ponytail, was down and she was wearing a baby blue dress which reached her knees and a pair of matching shoes; reaping clothes.

"You look different." I commented.

Ayame blushed, "Well I have to look presentable in front of the Hokage if my name is drawn right?"

I resisted the urge to tell her how slim the chances of her name being drawn, during the reaping, were. But I knew it would sound a bit rude. The reaping system was unfair and the poor got the worst of it.

Once a boy or a girl turns twelve, they become eligible for reaping day. Their name would be written once. This will continue year after year until they turn eighteen, the final year of eligibility. This happens in every village of the five countries. The fire country had only Konoha left. The rest were bombed and massacred during the Dark Days.

If a person's name is drawn during the reaping, that person will represent the village in the annual Ninja Games; a fight to death on live T.V. Originally, it was called the Hunger Games but people started to call it the 'Ninja Games' since the names that were drawn were mostly of Ninjas.

One boy and one girl will be chosen from each village as tributes. People from the villages of the five countries will be pitted against one another in an arena, in the Land of Iron, to fight to their deaths. The victor will be awarded with various prizes, including food, better shelter etc.

However, people like Ayame, who have a better living standard than us, had their names written from when they were twelve. Plus she wasn't a ninja. I had my name written twice a year for being a Genin and I also signed up for tesserae in exchange for my name being written more number of times.

Each tessera is worth a year supply of grain and oil. After my father died, my mother stopped working and we had nothing. I had to do it; for the sake of the family. This year, at the age of sixteen, I would have my name written thirty two times.

"You should wear something pretty too," said Ayame. "It's reaping day after all." I nodded but the truth was I didn't want to wear a dress of look pretty for something as dreaded as reaping day. But rules are rules.

Ichiraku emerged from the kitchen. He looked at us and gave us a weary grin, "Well hello Hana. Are you here to trade something with me?"

In response, I held up the rabbits, squirrels, quail and Akamaru's dead mouse. Ichiraku gave a throaty chuckle and wiped his hands on his apron. He traded the catch with two loaves of bread, tea leaves, cheese and basil leaves.

After thanking him, he headed home to change our clothes for reaping. It was already one o'clock in the afternoon. Wow. Time sure flies huh?

Tsume was wearing a simple grey shirt with black trousers and black boots. Her hair was wild and spiky like Kiba's and she wore some purple lipstick; it wasn't a cosmetic. It was more like war paint. Apparently, the Inuzukas liked bright colors.

"I wake up to find both my kids gone," said Tsume. She turned to Kiba. "What did I tell you about sneaking off young man?"

Kiba pouted, "You allow Hana to go."

"That's because I'm older than you squirt," I said with a chuckle. I placed the fish on the table. "These are for later."

Tsume nodded, "Both of you should wash up."

"We did," I told her. "We bathed at the lake."

"Okay then," said Tsume. "I've laid out your clothes for you. You should change; I'll make lunch."

Kiba shakily walked to our bedroom. Akamaru followed his master into the room. I could tell why he was nervous; it was his first reaping. I walked into the bedroom to find Kiba sitting on the floor hugging his knees as Akamaru nuzzled his nose on Kiba's leg.

"Hey," I said softly as I sat next to him. "I know you're scared; it's your first reaping after all. But don't worry, nothing will happen."

Kiba looked at me with teary eyes, "Promise?"

I smiled and hugged him, "I promise. Now let's get ready."

Kiba was wearing a pair of brown trousers and a white button-down shirt. He tried to get his hair to stay down but it kept on getting back up. In the end, he gave up and he and Akamaru left the room to give me some privacy.

Mom had laid out a pale yellow colored dress, something from her past, with white shoes. It was hard to imagine my mother, a fierce woman, wearing this pretty thing. I was baffled; this dress was from her past and it meant a lot to her. I ran my fingers along the smooth fabric.

"I hope you like it." Tsume said from behind me. I turned to find her leaning on the door.

"Are you sure it's okay for me to wear it?" I asked her. She nodded. After I changed into the dress, she did my hair for me. She put my hair in one single braid over my shoulder. She then reached into her pocket and pulled out something that made me gasp.

It was the fang, probably of a wolf's, tied tightly with a rope to form a necklace. I knew that necklace; it belonged to my father.

"It was from your father's first kill," Tsume said with a small smile. She put it over my head and adjusted it so that the fang lay on my chest. "A wolf was what he killed! He always wore that for luck. Now you should wear it."

I could feel tears sting in my eyes. This was a very kind gesture. I suddenly felt strong with the wolf fang around my neck. I looked at my mother, "Thank you." She simply nodded with a small smile. I tied my head band around my neck; I had to wear it to show that I was a Genin.

The Haimaru brothers whined and hurdled at my feet. I bent down towards them. I scratched Hiro's ear with my left hand and Hotaru's with my right. I nuzzled my nose against Sora's fur, "It'll be okay."

We ate some rabbit meat with berries and water. None of us had much of an appetite but we ate anyways. We put the fish away along with the stuff I had traded from the Hob. It would be our dinner; it was supposed to be special and to celebrate if mine or Kiba's name wasn't drawn today.

The chances of Kiba's names being drawn are slim since he had just graduated from the academy last year. I didn't want him to be a ninja but he wanted to be one so bad that I could refuse. He hadn't gotten his headband yet either so his chances were slim. As for me . . . well . . .

"We should go," said Tsume. "It's getting late." I nodded and stood up. Kiba was still sitting at the table with a worried expression. I pressed my lips to his forehead and took his head. We then headed for the town square.

The square was actually one of the pleasant places of Konoha but today, there was an air of suspense around. The camera crew was on the roof tops like vultures to record the reaping today. People file in silently and sign in. Reaping Day is also a good way to keep tabs on the village's population.

I could see them lined up; the eighteen year olds in the front and the twelve year olds at the back, in the last. The boys were on the left side of the square and the girls were on the right. Family members were lined up around the perimeter holding tightly to one another while others, who have no love at stake or no longer care, slip among the crowd.

I gave Kiba and Akamaru one last encouraging look before joining the other sixteen year olds. I saw Ayame and she gave me a smile. I gave a small smile in return. The Haimaru brothers stood protectively around my feet; they were allowed since they were a part of me and a tradition of my clan. We all stared at the temporary stage in front of us.

There were two chairs, a podium and two large glass bowls; one for the boys and one for the girls. I watched as the woman, who read out the names, and the Hokage fill the chairs. I forgot the woman's name but she was from Kumo, the capital of the Lightening Country.

The Hokage, Orochimaru, was in his Hokage's uniform and had two ANBU accompanying him. He had a snaky grin on his face and his sleek and oily black hair was tied in a high ponytail under the Hokage's hat. The woman fluttered to the podium, her long golden locks flying out behind her. She smiles to the audience.

"Welcome!" She beamed happily. "Happy Ninja Games! May the odds be ever in your favor!"

Orochimaru then steps up to the podium and talks about Konoha. He doesn't mention how he murdered our beloved Third but he talks about how Konoha was founded and about how the previous Hokage never made alliances with the other countries like he had.

The Haimaru brothers let out a low growl. I could punch Orochimaru in the face if I were given the chance! The alliance the Kages had now was exclusively of power and to put themselves on top. The alliance that they had was only for holding the Ninja Games. On the inside, I bet they're dying to rip each other's throats out. Stupid lying snake bastard!

He then talks about a clan who rebelled against Konoha and was massacred. He reminded the people that no one shall break the alliance between the five great countries for a bright and happy future. Pfft! Bright and happy my foot. Why were we suffering then?

The woman then stepped up to the stage after Orochimaru is seated. She smiled, "Ladies first."

The square was so silent that we could hear a pin drop. My heart was beating loudly and I could hear it in my ears. In fact, it was beating so fast that I almost missed the woman reading out the name from the slip of paper which she had picked.

"Inuzuka Hana."

The odds were most definitely not in my favor.

Told ya I'd add twists and turns. Stay tuned for the next chapter. Until then, Ja ne!