Hey ALL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REVIEWING!
Also to all of those who were wondering, yes Naruto allowed himself to be pushed by Katniss. And to all of those who ask for longer chapters, I am honest to God trying to make them longer, but I need each chapter to end at a certain time, not only to keep up the suspense, but there's also so much a line break can do.
I do not own HG or Naru-chan.
Let The Games Begin
Sixty seconds.
The clock is ticking.
Sixty seconds.
Naruto is waiting.
Sixty seconds then the buzzer will sound.
Sixty seconds, till all of hell.
Fifty-nine seconds… the announcer shouts.
Fifty-eight, the Capitol is in a chorus of shouts.
Fifty-seven, our blonde hero tenses.
Fifty-six, he takes in the scene.
Fifty-five he makes a plan.
Fifty-four… okay this is getting lame.
This year the arena appears to be a regular forest, no traps… no hidden poisons.
Just a forest.
Forty-nine…
As usual the Cornucopia is overflowing with 'treats,' far away from it back packs are littered everywhere. To Naruto's disgust and happiness a bow is neatly displayed on top of a back pack, which is practically over-stuffed with supplies… If he could get his hands on that…
Forty.
But then Katniss would most likely follow and wait for him… he couldn't allow her to put herself in danger for his sake… but then again if he was quick.
Thirty-eight
Glancing over to Katniss, he watches as she eyes the bow hungrily, she must have felt his gaze, because she lifts her head to face him.
He shakes his head.
Thirty.
Katniss nods, her eyes then focusing on an orange backpack… oh did that girl have a taste in color!
Twenty-seven.
Refocusing his attention, Naruto caught some of the Careers glancing at him warily. They obviously saw him as a threat, and he could guess that they knew he and Katniss would team up… a combination they probably didn't want to face.
Twenty.
Naruto tensed his muscles, sliding himself into a running position he waited...
Eighteen.
Seventeen.
Sixteen.
He could run to the Cornucopia, even without the use of chakra he was much faster than an ordinary human. If any of the Careers, tried to kill him he would just dodge them, and strike back. With a bow and sword in his hands he'd be unstoppable.
Ten.
Inwardly nodding to himself, Naruto allowed a smirk to grace his features.
Nine.
He could almost feel the camera's closing in on him.
Eight.
Out of the corner of his eye he watched as the other tributes began to move into running positions—even the crippled boy from 10.
Five.
Deep breaths.
Four.
Three.
Two.
Here goes nothing.
One.
Time slows down, and the gong sounds.
Simultaneously Naruto and Katniss rush forward.
Pumping his arms, in the illusion he was working hard, Naruto sprinted to the Cornucopia, the other tributes a good couple yards away. He quickly grabs the bow, arrows, and backpack, basically doing all Haymitch had said not too. Deciding he still had a good couple of seconds Naruto clutched a long sword, before swinging it around to block an incoming knife.
Smirking at Clove's surprised face, he caught the knife mid-air in his mouth, before dashing after Katniss.
Let them kill eachother first. he thought, smirking.
A low whizzing sound came from behind, so quiet that if it wasn't for Naruto's sensitive ears he would've missed it. He ducks, a full blown smile growing on his face. He could almost see the Careers angry expressions.
Pulling the other strap of the back pack on his shoulder, Naruto made it for the trees, following the sound of Katniss' labored breathing. He could hear other tributes running in the opposite direction as they were, which offered him the relief of less enemies.
Half an hour passed before Katniss showed some signs of tiring her footsteps were slightly uneven as she leaped over a fallen tree. She although never did stumble.
Finally the Girl on Fire stopped at a clearing, closing her eyes to focus on the sounds of the woods around her; she turned just as Naruto came through the bushes. She sighed in relief at the sight of his whiskered face.
"When you didn't catch up I thought they'd caught you." She said softly.
The blonde's answer was to smirk, "Well sorry for worrying you my lady, I was just watching your back... literally." He smiled playfully, swinging the backpack off him. "But I do bear gifts, so please excuse me behavior."
Katniss' eyes widened at the sight of the bow, "How…"
"I'm fast." Naruto says with a wink, he then unzipped his backpack. "Now… let's see what we have here…"
Like the blonde had thought his bag was packed with all the survival equipment. There was some dried meat, and fruit, with four fresh apples. A first-aid kit with all basic necessitates was there as well, along with lighter, a set of throwing knives, an empty canteen, a pair of gloves, a bottle of iodine, and five pairs of socks… why you would need all those socks Naruto did not know.
In Katniss' bag was pretty much everything his bag was missing. A rope, sleeping bag, a single sheet of plastic, night-vision goggles, a pack of crackers, a pack of dried beef strips, a bottle of iodine, a small coil of wire, another first-aid kit, and another empty canteen.
Making a mental count of all the supplies in his head, Naruto repacked the two bags.
He stared up at the 'sun.'
"We should keep going." He muttered, helping Katniss to her feet. "The Careers are probably looking for us…" he paused when he saw the girl begin to cover her beautiful orange bag with dirt, and leaves. "What are you doing?"
Katniss looked over at him, her eyebrow raised, "Camouflaging the back pack, so we don't get killed. Why do you ask?"
"Y-You—B-But." Naruto stammered, before forming the puppy-dog face, "I-It's orange, the best color in the world why would you—"
"It's our lives or the orange, you choose."
"… Our lives."
Katniss dead-panned, before once again tasking herself with dirtying Naruto's favorite color. A couple seconds of Naruto's anime tears later she spoke, "That about does it."
To put it nicely the back pack was no longer its beautiful mix of yellow and red…
Naruto pouted, before he followed the Girl on Fire through the forest.
Suddenly they both stop, stiffening when a loud boom echoed throughout the arena… The sound of a canon, signaling the death of a tribute. Since the battle at the Cornucopia is so chaotic, the Makers usually wait till the end of the bloodbath till they start firing the damn canon. Naruto's lips move as he silently counts each shot.
One... two... after the eleventh cannon, the air is silent.
"You count eleven?" Naruto asks.
Katniss nods grimly, "Thirteen are left…"
They share a quick glance, before picking up their pace through the forest.
Both of them knew water would be their number one priority, but the lake would obviously be guarded by Careers, and Naruto didn't want to fight them… yet.
He knew if he killed too many tributes at one time the Gamemakers would be out to get him. They wanted a series, not one episode.
Deciding to play along with Seneca Crane's game, he trudged through the forest, doing his best to look thirsty… but considering he went a month without water he could live through one day.
After another hour, it's clear Katniss is tiring, but she pushes through. When it seems like she's about to pass out Naruto finally speaks up.
"Perhaps it's best if we set up camp now." He says, and right on cue a howl makes its way through the woods. "I don't know about you, but I really would rather not be eaten by wolves."
She nods gratefully.
Under Naruto's watchful eyes, she set up a snare, before they both carefully pick a tree.
Something thick enough so it could hold Naruto's weight, but also thin enough so it would collapse under the Careers… if they found them.
Luck was on their side.
Naruto inwardly smirked when he heard one of the trees begin to move, the Gamemakers obviously wanted to help the 'star-crossed lovers' get a little cuddly.
Of course the movement was only seen by him, and deciding to humor them he walked over to another tree, before going to the enforced one.
Pulling down on the branches, Naruto pretended to look surprised. "Hey Kat, this one's pretty sturdy." He said, once again tugging at the branch. "This seem good?"
The girl made his way over to him, testing the tree branch.
She blinked in shock, "Yeah, it's really sturdy."
Nodding Naruto grabbed her bag, and bow, before she could protest he gently nudged her.
"Up you go Kitty Kat."
Katniss glared at him in reply, before skillfully climbing up the tree… looking so much like a squirrel Naruto had to stifle his giggles.
Then it was his turn.
To be safe he pumped chakra through his hands and feet, before pulling himself up the tree. The added weight of two back packs, sword, and bow went unnoticed by him.
When he finally reached the branch Katniss was on, the girl wasted no time in setting up 'camp.' She quickly and rather skillfully arranged the sleeping bag, hanging both of their back packs from the tree above, securing them with Naruto's belt. Her bow and Naruto's sword stay at their respective reach at all times.
When they are nearly finished with their make-shift tree camp, Katniss then notices a problem.
There was only one sleeping bag.
When Naruto climbs in the said sleeping bag, she blushes. He's lying flat on his back, opening the bag's flap invitingly.
Katniss stares… stares… and then stares at him, seeming reluctant to move in, Naruto rolls his eyes. "Come on Kat it's not like I haven't slept in the same bed as you before."
Yell it out to the whole country of Panem why don't cha!?
Oh wait. Katniss thought blandly. He just did.
Sighing in defeat, the girl moved herself onto Naruto, her head resting comfortably on his chest.
When both of them are relatively comfortable Naruto takes the wire, and wraps it around their sleeping bag, to keep them from falling… not like he will, but she might.
As night falls, the air cools quickly, and Katniss is forced to snuggle deeper into the blonde's chest, her arms wrapping around his waist. She's thankful for his warmth.
Night had just come before the Capitol's anthem blares out from hidden speakers, proceeding in the death recap.
Through the branches they could see the seal of the Capitol. The anthem fades out and the sky goes dark for a moment. Then simple head shots of each dead tribute is shown, their district numbers appearing on the bottom corner.
The first to appear is the girl from District 3, then a boy from 4, and 5, both tributes from 6 and 7. The boy from 8, both from 9, and then finally a girl form District 10.
That's all… The Capitol seal returns with a final musical flourish. Then darkness and the sounds of the forest resume.
"Who's left?" Naruto said softly, Katniss stares up at him.
"Five Career Tributes, Foxface—"
"Who?"
"I nicknamed the girl from District 5…"
"I see… Go on."
"Thresh and Rue..." Katniss trails off at her name, Naruto gives her a reassuring hug.
Katniss swallows before continuing, "And then one from 3, 4, 8, and 10."
Naruto nods, that seemed correct, if not close enough.
As the night goes on Naruto realized that Katniss had no intention of falling asleep, so to help her along he gently stroked her hair. At her questioning gaze, he simply smiled, continuing his soothing motion.
Eventually her eyelids began to droop, and the last thing she saw was Naruto's cerulean eyes…
Snap!
Both Naruto and Katniss awake with a start, Naruto had to clutch the tree to keep them both balanced.
Snap! Snap!
Katniss looks at the blonde with wide eyes, and he simply stares back calmly. Although internally he is cursing, his sensitive nose already picking up the smoke.
What a stupid tribute.
Snap! Snap!
"What is that?" Katniss whispers so softly, Naruto barely catches it.
"Stupidity." He answers grimly, pulling her closer to him. "Stay down."
They stay tensed against each other before a spark… and then a fire begins to bloom. A pair of hands go over the flames, and Naruto has tighten his grip around Katniss to keep himself from killing the girl himself.
How dumb can you be to start a fire in the middle of the fucking night?
Naruto wanted to keep low until more Tributes died, so he could get out of this hell hole with not much—if any—children's blood on his hand. But here he is a kunai's range from the biggest idiot of these damn games, and by the smell of the wind only a couple meters or so away from the Careers themselves.
Soundlessly Naruto reaches for his sword, he was honestly unwilling to fight, but if it came to it…
He and Katniss stay rigid in the tree, ten minutes pass... then thirty... and then footsteps can be heard, loud enough for Katniss to hear. The fire-starter must have fell asleep.
And they're on her before she can escape. Naruto resists the urge to cover Katniss' ears as the sound of the girl's pleading, and horrified screams make their way into their ears…
Then there's laughter and congratulations from several voices.
Someone cries out, "Twelve down and eleven to go!" which gets a round of appreciative hoots.
Through the trees Naruto makes out the Career tributes. There are five of them. Two boys and three girls. The ones who lunched together.
"Better clear out so they can get the body before it starts stinking." One of the Careers says, making Naruto grits his teeth as the canon sounds.
How dare they disrespect the dead.
There are murmurs of assent and then, to Naruto's annoyance he can hear the Careers trample their way towards their hiding spot.
And he was hoping to keep his record clean.
The Careers stop in the clearing about ten yards from them. They have flashlights, torches. Naruto feels Katniss shift so she's pressed more firmly against him, her eye's don't waver from the voices though.
"Wish it'd been the girl from 12," one of the boys speaks, Cato. "She didn't look too bright, what with all that twirling and giggling she did on stage. Ugh, I wanted to puke."
"I want to know how she got that eleven," Marvel says.
"Bet you Lover Boy knows," Cato sneers, Naruto has to hold in a chuckle.
Lover Boy?
Seriously!?
He's been called much worse.
"We should find him first." Clove growls.
"Oh please, we find one, we find the other," The Girl from District One scoffs. "Did anyone see where he ran off too?"
"No." Clove says clearly frustrated, "After he ran off again I lost sight of him. He's good with swords."
"And knives." Marvel adds, and the ignorant Careers share an uneasy glance…
Finally Cato growls, "We're wasting time. We have to move, at this rate we'll never catch either of those fuckers."
Now that was a better insult.
With that the Careers then break into a run, going past their tree.
As they pass Naruto relaxes, but Katniss stays rigid until the last sounds of the Careers are nothing more than a few distant shouts.
Deciding their best course of action was to move, Naruto slips out of the sleeping bag, Katniss following soon after. They quickly pack their bags before jumping down from the tree, their soft boots making little to no sound when they hit the ground.
Naruto's sword was strapped to his back, while Katniss' quiver was slung over her shoulder, her bow expertly gripped in her hands. Naruto carries both backpacks.
Even though they know it's a bad idea they check the snares from yesterday, and are pleasantly surprised by a fat, dead (luckily) rabbit.
Naruto smirks, while Katniss victoriously smiles.
In order to cook the rabbit, they head back to the now dead girl's camp site.
Luckily the coals are still hot.
Expertly flipping his knife, Naruto skins the rabbit, stating it was only fair since she made the snare… Meanwhile Katniss stays on look out, an arrow notched, and bow at ready.
After gutting the animal, he hangs it over the fire silently wishing he could use a fire jutsu to make it cook by quicker… but unfortunately he knew they were guaranteed a close up.
When the rabbit is thoroughly cooked he stands up. "Come on," he sighs. "We better get moving. We still need some damn water."
Katniss nods, and Naruto hands her a rabbit leg.
"Here you go." He smiles, "My specially cooked, and delicious Rabbit de… rabbit."
Katniss rolls her eyes, "How clever."
"… Shut up." The blonde grumbles, before trudging through the forest.
DONE!
Betaed by ILikeSharpObjects and HybridTailedFox
So the HUNGER GAMES HAVE STARTED!
I hope ya'll liked, this took me a long time to type.
-XM
P.S. There will be a small break from canon in the next couple of chapters.
P.S.S. Naruto and Katniss will split up.
P.S.S.S. What sound better for Naruto, The Golden Pheonix (sorry if I didn't spell that right), or The Orange Eagle.
P.S.S.S.S. Yes I know they're both lame, but id ya'll got something better for the rebels to call him tell me... please?
