Chapter 3:The Tribute Parade

Naruto woke up with a start the next morning bolting up into a sitting position in the bed. He couldn't remember what he'd been dreaming about exactly. Something about the train stopping and tossing him off into the arena, when he wasn't ready and had no idea what he was doing. He had to sit still for a while to calm his breathing down.

He was soaked with sweat, so when he got up he took another hot shower, standing under the water for a while just because it was a rare thing for him. The dark clothes he'd worn the evening before were crumpled but not dirty, so he just put them on again, brushed through his hair and attached the mockingjay to his shirt.

A knocking on the door made Naruto jump. "Up out of bed, sweetie!" Shizune's voice called. "Breakfast is ready, and it's going to be a big, big day!"

Naruto sighed and left his compartment, following her down to breakfast. Ino and Jiraiya were already there. As soon as he sat down, the food was served. A massive bowl of rolls that could keep his family going for a week. Cheese and ham and a large bowl of fried potatoes. A dish of fruit in ice soit was kept chilled. A cup of coffee and something creamy that Naruto had never seen before. He just hoped it tasted better than bitter, gross coffee.

"It's hot chocolate," Ino explained to him. "I've had it once or twice before. It's really good."

Naruto smiled at her, before picking up the mug and taking a sip. A little shudder ran through him. Wow. He ignored his food until he'd finished the whole thing. Hmm, maybe if he won the Games he could eat chocolate all he wanted. Nice thought. He began to eat his breakfast, not stopping until he was full and had to sit back in his chair. He looked across the table at Jiraiya and Shizune. Shizune was eating daintily, while Jiraiya hadn't begun to eat at all; he just drank from a glass of red juice, thinning it to some kind of spirit. He would be completely wasted by noon.

Naruto glared across the table at him. For the first time he realized it. No wonder District 12 never won; it wasn't just because they lacked both nourishment and training. Their mentor, their guide in survival, did nothing but sit around and drink. Asshole.

"So," Ino piped up, trying to sound cheerful. "Jiraiya. What's the best way to find shelter in the arena?"

Jiraiya took another sip of his drink. "Pass the rolls, will you?"

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "What is the best way to find shelter?"

Jirayia chuckled. "Fine, little brat…"

He reached over, then Naruto flew to his feet and his knife slammed into the table, right between Jiraiya's forefinger and thumb, almost stabbing them. "Naruto!" Shizune shrieked in horror. "That table is mahogany!"

Naruto ignored her. "Listen, because I'll only say this once. You're supposed to give us advice, you're supposed to help us!"

Jiraiya gave a loud, obnoxious laugh, getting to his feet with his glass in his hand. "I'll give you some advice little brat! Stay alive!" he laughed again, raising his glass as though he were about to throw it.

Then Ino jumped up with angry eyes and slapped it out of his hand, smashing it off the floor. "That is not funny! Not to us!"

Jirayia stared at both of them, looking furious. He snapped his fingers at Shizune and pointed towards the door. As soon as she ran out to fetch someone to clean up. Jirayia looked at them a little closer. "What's this?" he said almost playfully. "Did I get a pair of fighters this year?"

Naruto and Ino just watched him, slightly puzzled. Jiraiya looked at Naruto. "Can you throw that knife?"

"Um...yeah, a little." Naruto yanked the blade of the knife from the table and glanced around. He smiled when he saw the wooden chair in the corner of the compartment. Drawing his hand back, he flung the knife across the room. It stuck firmly into the side of the chair, shaking slightly. He smiled to himself. Hopefully the chair was mahogany too.

"Ok, you two. Line up here in front of me." they did, and Jiraiya examined them closely. "Hmm. You're fit enough. You're a bit small for my liking, brat, but once your stylists get a hold of you, you'll be attractive. Enough anyway."

Naruto and Ino stayed silent, glancing briefly at each other.

"Ok, tributes, I'll make you a deal. If you don't interfere with my drinking, I'll stay sober enough to help you out. We'll carry out one thing at a time. Now, when we stop at the Capitol, you're going to get in a car that'll take you to the Recreational Center. There, the stylists will fix you up for the Tribute Parade that'll take you to the Training Center. Now, you may not like what the stylists and prep teams do to you, but whatever it is, don't resist."

"But-"

"Don't resist!" Jiraiya snapped at Ino. "I'm trying to help you here because believe it or not, I want Twelve to have a winner as much as you do."

"Ok," Naruto replied slowly.

The train's horn sounded suddenly. "We're here," Jiraiya said with a smile, before turning and leaving the compartment. Naruto and Ino hurried after him, glancing out the window as the train slowed to a stop. Dozens of Capitol citizens were standing on the platform, screaming, cheering and pointing when they saw them.

Ino smiled and waved at them, only making the cheering louder. "What are you doing?" Naruto asked, confused.

"Well, one of them might be a potential sponsor," Ino replied with a laugh, beckoning for him to wave too. So he did. Survival was everything.

Naruto's prep team had to be the strangest people he'd ever seen. Some of the weirdest Capitol people he'd seen so far, and he wondered if there were any who looked weirder. There were three of them; Tsundae was clearly the eldest, though she'd had a lot of facial and plastic surgery done in an attempt to look younger. She had silvery tattoos all up and down her stick thin arms. Then there was Ayame, who had long dark hair and large black eyes with pale skin. Then Haku, with long black hair and large dark brown eyes and at least four golden piercings, one on each eyebrows and ear lobes.

They all squealed with excitement and crowded around him once he was sent into their prep room. "Oh, aren't you just the cutest thing!" Tsunade squeaked in her heavy Capitol accent, pinching one of his cheeks. "They're going to love you! I mean, once we fix these caterpillars above your eyes…"

Fifteen minutes later, Naruto was naked and sitting in a hot bathtub while they scrubbed him with some sort of gritty soap from head to toe. He was sure he had lost not only whatever dirt or scabs or whatever they were trying to get rid of, but at least two layers of his skin. He sat there, feeling raw and sore when they were finished, his skin pink.

"Hop up, dear!" Ayame told him, and when he did she dried him off and slipped a small white bathroom robe onto his body, and he tied it immediately, covering his body up down to his knees. He didn't like that exposure.

"Ok, next we move on to your hair!" Haku said happily, leading him over to a chair in front of a tall lit up mirror. Wielding a hair dryer while Tsunade grabbed a comb and scissors, the two got to work. While they dried and combed his hair out, Ayame sat down in a chair in front of him and took one of his hands, working on filing his nails down to uniform shapes.

"We were told not to do much to your hair," Tsunade chirped as she put her comb down once his hair was dry and untangled. "It's so pretty already! We're just going to cut it a little so it won't bother you too much in the arena as it grows again!"

They cut little snippets of his hair, shortening his bangs so they still hung across his forehead but didn't fall into his eyes as much as it used to. As Tsunade did that, Haku and Ayame finished off his nails. "Ok," Haku said slowly, standing up. "Now we move on some of the boys and probably all of the girls have been getting their body hair removed, depending on their stylist's preferences. Iruka wants us to take out the wax patches and get rid of everything."

Oh God. Naruto shut his eyes in a grimace.

Throughout the hair removal he had his robe taken on and off as they worked. They waxed every potential area of his face where facial hair could grow before a while. They waxed his eyebrows down to what they saw as regular size, before yanking off every bit of hair on his torso, arms, legs, everywhere. It was excruciating as he lay on the table while they worked on his legs.

R-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-P!

He squeaked one more time in pain as Ayame harshly yanked up another patch of blond hair. "I'm sorry,sweetie!" she said in a high-pitched voice. "You're just so hairy!" seh got another patch ready. "But this is the last one. Ready?"

Naruto squeezed his eyes shut as the last of his leg hair was uprooted in a painful jerk. He opened his eyes, breathing out slowly. They sat him up. "One more thing," Haku added, taking his robe off again.

They rubbed a thick lotion over every inch of his body. First it stung, but then began to soothe his raw and sore skin. They walked around him, examining his body carefully and removing any last bits of hair with tweezers. And Naruto found he'd lost that sense of discomfort being so bare around them. It didn't matter much; if they were indifferent to it, then he should be too.

"You're gorgeous!" Tsunade complimented him. "Such an improvement!"

Naruto couldn't help smiling at them. They were silly, the lot of them, but they were trying to be genuinely helpful and he appreciated that. "Thank you," he replied. "We don't exactly have much reason to look like this in Twelve."

"Oh of course not, you poor thing!" Ayame replied, patting him on the shoulder. "We'll go and get Iruka, stay right here!"

They all left, and Naruto stood there alone, arms crossed over his chest. He wondered what the stylist would be like, and what he would dress him in. District 12 were usually dressed in skimpy outfits with miner helmets on. It was embarrassing. Although the worst year had to be when the tributes were completely naked and covered in coal dust. Horrifying.

Then the door opened and Iruka walked in. He had dark skin, and looked to be in his thirties. He had long brown hair that he kept in a ponytail and was dressed in simple black clothes. He smiled at Naruto when he saw him. "Hello, Naruto. I'm Iruka Umino, your stylist."

Naruto smiled at him, moving his hands down to his sides as Iruka walked around him, examining him as closely as the prep team had done. "You're fifteen, correct?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. I thought you might be taller. No matter!" He stood in front of Naruto and gave a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry this has happened to you. My job is simply to dress you, but I'm also here to help you in any way that I can." he cleared his throat. "Anyway. Why don't you put on your robe and we'll have a chat in here."

Naruto followed him through the door into a living room, sitting down on one of the soft red couches while Iruka sat on the one across from him. There was a low table in between them, ahd when Iruka pushed a button on the side, the table top split in two and a new one rose up, holding their dinner on it. Naruto started at it with wide eyes. How easy it must be for them, to have a delicious meal like this only the touch of a button away. What did they do all day if they didn't have to find food?

"We must all seem like monsters to you," Iruka said softly as he looked at him. "But you should know that I see no point in congratulating you on this as the others have. But anyway! On to the parade. My partner Kurenai- she's Ino's stylist- we think that the whole coal miner thing is way overdone. We're here to help you make an impression, to make them all remember you, whatever happens in the arena."

Oh God. Naruto knew he wasn't supposed to protest, but couldn't help asking. "I won't be naked, will I?"

Iruka chuckled. "No, definitely not. I don't think you would suit that kind of image. We want to focus on the coal itself, rather than the miners. We were thinking, and thinking, and then it hit us. We burn coal, when we use it." He grinned. "What happens when we burn coal, Naruto?"

"Um...we have fire?"

Iruka nodded. "We have fire."

That evening, Naurto stood by his and Ino's chariot, stroking one of the coal black horse's backs. The animals were so well-trained that nobody needed to guide them. The parade lasted maybe thirty minutes or so. The tributes were taken down a path through the city in their chariots, then when they got to the City Circle, they stopped and listened to President Homura's speech, before getting off their charitos and walking into the training center district by districts, on foot so people could get a better look at their outfits before they went inside to their home (or prison) until the Games began.

Ino stood next to him, smiling nervously. "Are you afraid of being fried like I am?"

Naruto nodded, turning to look at her. "Just a little."

Ino's hair was down and falling in a blonde wave past her shoulders. She was wearing a black dress, a one shoulder that was tight down to her waist. After that it flowed in layers of fabric. Splitting just below her knee and leaving one leg bare, while the other end of the dress swept the floor. She was wearing flat black ankle boots. She didn't have any makeup on and neither did he; their stylists wanted them to be recognisable. All they had was a bit of black eyeliner, to make their eye's "pop" as Kurenai had said.

Naruto, meanwhile, had black boots on that just came up to his knees, with some sort of silvery pattern on the top. He was wearing a black shirt, with sleeves that ripped as they came to his forearms and flowed out, waving back and forth when he moved. He had small black shorts on that clung to his legs. What he wanted to know was why he has more skin on display than Ino did. Then, right on cue, Iruka and Kurenai walked up to them.

"You both look stunning!" Kurenai complimented with a smile. "And we haven't even used the fire yet!"

Their fear must have shown on their faces, because Iruka quickly said, "Don't worry, it's not real fire. Kurenai and I created it. It looks like fire, sounds like fire, but doesn't feel like it. Trust me, we've tested it before."

Kurenai held up the wand with a flame flicking on top. "Ino, we're going to light the end of your dress." And she did. "I'm also going to light this…" and she set fire to the bracelet on Ino's wrist. "Now! That's specially made so the fire will stay there, just like the patterns of top them would make your legs look for too short, and we don't want that!"

She bent down and lit his boots on fire, and instead of a burning pain like he's expected, he felt a strange tingling sensation. Then she lit his ripped sleeves. "There! Trust me, we've worked all this out and the fire is going to do wonders on the features we want. You will both glow!"

Sasuke Uchiha had never been more nervous in his life.

The tribute parade was about to start, and the sixteen-year-old honestly found the idea terrifying. He wouldn't exactly say that he didn't enjoy being in the spotlight. He did, but not like this. Not when his life pretty much depended on his appearance through this whole thing.

"We'll be fine."

Sasuke's head snapped to look at his fellow District 11 tribute, Sakura Haruno. A sweet girl his age that he'd known for years. She gave him a supportive smile. "Just smile and wave, handsome. They're going to love you."

Sasuke took a deep breath and gave a big smile. "Thanks, Sakura. Um, you, you do the same."

Sakura laughed, her made up face lighting up. "Will do."

They were both dressed in soft material the color of khaki, Sakura in a simple strapless dress down to her knees, and Sasuke just in a pair of pants, and both wearing matching brown boots. He nodded no shirt on-his stylist thought his muscular look would give him more of an edge- and there were leafy green vines wrapped around his waist, some hanging down and others winding up around his pale torso, as if he were a tree. The outfit finished off with a crown of leaves over his hair, little yellow flowers buds in it to give it more color. District 11, agriculture. Sakura had vines wrapped around her along with a matching crown, her pink hair falling down her neck framing her soft face. She looked stunning, and if she did, then hopefully Sasuke did too.

"Into the chariot, if you please!" Sakura's stylist Matsuri chirped. "The parade is about to start!"

They got into the chariot, sitting down side by side. "Now, big smiles!" Matsuri instructed with a high-pitched giggle before walking away.

The parade began with the large double doors of the Remake Center's ground floor opening up to the main street of the Capitol. The chariots were all lined up inside from 1 to 12, and they all went out one by one, each remaining chariot moving closer to the door as they did. Sasuke looked at the other tributes in front of him. He could just about see District 1 up ahead, moving out the door into the cheering crowds. The two tributes were dressed in white with golden accessories, literally sparking under the lights. Their black and brown hair along with those clothes really worked for them, as well as showing off their District's industry, which was luxury items.

District 2 were wearing silvery grey clothes that looked almost like rippling stone, for masonry. They both look tough and dangerous, even from behind. District 3 was dressed in silver mesh with strange patterns all over it, for technology. District 4, dressed in sea blue robes and covered with pearls, for fishing. It went on like that, nothing particularly spectacular this year. Whatever.

"You know, this thing is almost like a beauty pageant," Sakura commented with a laugh.

Sasuke nodded in agreement, suddenly frozen as Districts 10 rode out into the street and they were next up. "Oh God…"

"We're fine," Sakura told him firmly, squeezing his shoulder before dropping her hand back down. "Just, think about home, pretend they're our people, and that you like them."

Sasuke wasn't entirely sure if he did like his people, but he went with it. He started thinking about home. The massive fields of grain that he spent his days working in, harvesting food to send to the Capitol. The orchards that he was sometimes put in, picking the fruit to send to the Capitol. Or the cotton he picked to send to the Capitol! Everything was the Capitol, everything. It sucked, it really sucked.

Then suddenly they were out, and the people cheered and shrieked. "Sasuke! Sasuke! Sakura!"

Sasuke looked around in awe at the cheering crowds. They were cheering for him. Maybe he did stand a chance after all! Raising his hand, Sasuke smiled and waved at the spectators getting more cheers and screams in return. This was pretty cool, he could get used to this. He saw himself on one of the large screens above, looking pretty good if he did say so himself. He suddenly saw a faint flickering behind their chariot, and frowned in confusion.

Then he heard gasps from the crowd, and saw people pointing behind him and screaming, "District 12, District 12!"

District 12? The coal people? Sasuke glanced up at the screen again, and his jaw dropped.

The coal people were on fire. Literally. Both of them were wearing black clothes that were lit up, flames flickering around their bodies. They look amazing. The crowd was going wild for them, understandably. And they were going with it waving and smiling. Someone tossed a rose straight at the tribute boy. He caught it in his hand and blew a kiss in the direction it had come from. Instantly the crowd lost it. They all wanted his kisses. "Naruto! NARUTO!"

Naruto…

Naruto Uzumaki. Sasuke remembered him from the reaping. The small one, the one who'd jumped up to take the cripple's place. The cripple that was his brother. Funny, how he remembered him so well. Sasuke looked at him on the screen, studying every detail of his soft yet fierce appearance. Spiky yellow blonde hair. Tan skin. Blue eyes. He was captivating. Stunning.

Sasuke couldn't help glancing over his shoulder at where Naruto and Iso, or something, he couldn't remember anymore-were sitting in their black chariot. God, his smile was so beautiful. So gentle. Sasuke honestly forgot all about the people watching him and looking for his attention; he couldn't stop staring.

Then naruto seemed to sense that he was being watched by someone other than the crowd, and his head slowly turned to look Sasuke directly in the eyes. He looked slightly surprised at the attention. They started at each other for a few seconds, before Naruto gave a tiny smile and hastily turned back to the crowd, a pink blush dusting over his cheeks.

Oh God, Sasuke realized with a pang as he turned back around. I can't kill him. I can't. He's too...dear God, why is this happening to me now?

Sasuke didn't believe in love at first sight. Not even crush at first sight, no siree. Especially not in these circumstances. He chose to ignore the fact that being in this situation probably makes everybody more emotional and more prone to these things.

But no. He didn't believe that. He wanted to win, he wanted to live.

He just had to hope that someone else would kill Naruto Uzumaki for him.

One thing was for sure. Iruka and Kurenai were right about the fire.

As President Homura spoke to them from the balcony of his mansion, the cameras traditionally cut from chariot to chariot and focused on each pair of tributes. But as Naruto watched the screen, he could see the camera kept going back to himself and Ino. They were the stars of the parade. Then when the National Anthem began to play, District 1 hopped off their chariot and walked across the circle and inside the doors of the Training Center. And it went like that.

As District 11 got off their chariot, Sasuke Uchiha turned to look at him again. Naruto looked away immediately. He shouldn't keep making eye contact with people who were going to try and kill him. They walked towards the Training Center doors and then it was Naruto and Ino's turn. They hopped down out of their chariot, heading towards the doors. As they walked, Naruto looked up at the screen as the crowd's screams echoed in his ears. He could see now why Iruka dressed him the way he did. The flickering up in the semi-darkness, they made his legs and most of his torso looked like it glowed. Ino's clothes had the same effect. Maybe he could get some sponsors after all.

"Hey, I just had an idea," Ino murmured to him as they got closer to the doors. "Turn around when I do, ok?"

"Why?" Naruto hissed, but she was turning, and he quickly did as she asked, turning to face the spectators. Ino then grabbed his hand and held their intertwined hands up for everyone to see, the crowd going wild in response.

Then they turned back around and went inside, the doors slamming shut behind them. "What was that?" Naruto asked her as Iruka and Kurenai walked towards them.

Ino gave a smirk. "Just a little touch of rebellion for them. Thought they could use it." she paused smiling at him. "You should wear flames more often. I saw him looking at you. You'll have them have them all falling at your feet, flowers and chocolate-"

"I do like chocolate," Naruto laughed as Iruka and Kurenai extinguished the flames with some kind of spray from a can. "Maybe that's not such a bad idea."

"Fabulous job out there!" Kurenai praised, giving them both a one-armed hug. "They went mad over you!"

Naruto saw many of the tributes giving them dirty looks. He couldn't help feeling a little smug, they had completely outshone the rest. His eyes locked with one of the Careers, from District 3. Hiden. The gray-haired boy's eyes narrowed spitefully. Naruto quickly looked away.

"Welcome to the Training Center, darlings!"

Shizune and Jiraiya came walking over. "We'll watch a recap of the parade later so we can all see it." Shizune chirped. "Right now I'm here to take you to your home until the Games!"

Aside from the ground floor and the basement where the gymnasium was situated, the Training Center had twelve floors. Once you stepped into the extravagant glass elevator you simply pressed the number of your district, and that was the floor you stayed on. Pretty simple. The floor was like a small apartment, with a living room, a kitchen and a bedroom for everyone.

Naruto's room was surely the size of his entire house. It was amazing; huge, comfortable and full of so many gadgets it just confused him. The shower alone included a huge control panel with a hundred different options, like the kind of soap, water temperature, all these things. The wardrobe could program any outfit he wanted, and for food, all he had to do was read something from the menu, say it into the microphone and up it popped on the top.

Using a remote to zoom his window in on different parts of the city, Naruto sat on the comfy couch in an outfit to his taste sipping hot chocolate until Shizune came and called him for dinner. Oh, good. He was starving.

They all sat down to eat together, the spirits unsurprisingly high. Iruka and Kurenai ate with them, brightening up the whole atmosphere. And keeping Shizune and Jiraiya from tearing each other's throats out.

"I've been getting all sorts of potential sponsors for you today, darlings!" Shizune said happily as they tucked into a main course of roast beef and noodles in several different sauces. "Unfortunately, I cant' steal any deals for you. Only your mentor can do that." Shizune glared at Jiraiya pointedly. "But don't worry, I will get him to those tables at gunpoint if I have to."

Jiraiaya grunted in response.

Shizune sighed, before continuing with an even brighter smile than before. "I didn't have much to go on, of course, but I used what I could! Everyone is raving about you two!"

Iruka smiled dreamily. "District 12, tributes on fire. Marvellous."

"I couldn't help thinking you both look like dark angels, or some other fascinating creature." Kurenai laughed, taking a sip of her red wine. After taking a few sips, Naruto had stayed clear of his altogether. He didn't know how Jiraiya could bear it.

"Naruto Uzumaki, angel on fire," Ino commented absent-mindedly. "You're even got blonde hair. Perfection."

"You were on fire too, you know," Naruto reminded her as one of the Avox servers gave him a second helping of pasta.

"Oh please, I wasn't a patch on you. Though I did love my dress." Ino turned to Kurenai. "Thank you, for that. So what's the next event you're dressing used for?"

"Your interview with Yamato Flickerman," Kurenai replied in a matter-of-fact voice, flipping her very dark black hair over her shoulder. "The night before the Games. But that's not for another three days. You've got your training tomorrow, and the next two days. Then you have a day to prepare for the interview before it takes place in the evening."

"Which brings our discussion to training." Jiraiya spoke up, tucking into his food very enthusiastically. Well, once he ate, he ate like he would never see food again. Something Naruto's mother always said to him. In which he would curtly reply, "We won't see food unless I go and get it." That always shut her up.

"What are your skills?" Jiraiya continued, turning to look at Ino. "We'll start with you. What can you do?"

"Um…" Ino suddenly looked very flustered. "I, I can't do much at all...unless you count baking…"

"She's strong." Naruto piped up. "For someone her size and age, I mean. Maybe it's from lugging heavy trays around all day, but she's not weak. And she's a fast runner too."

"And weapons?" Jiraiya persisted, looking at Ino again. "What would you say would be right for you."

"Um, well this one time my dad practiced throwing knives at the tree in the back garden and showed me how to do it. I wasn't bad."

"Ok, it's a start. Naruto can give you tips if necessary just like you can help him."

"How can I help him?"

"I'm sure you'll find a way, every tribute needs all the help they can get. Now." Jirayia's hard gaze turned to Naruto. "Your turn, little brat. I know you're handy with a knife. What else?"

"I can climb trees," Naruto replied a little shyly. He didn't like talking about himself. "And, I guess I can run too. And shoot, with a bow and arrows."

"I see. Are you good at shooting?"

"He's fantastic," Ino cut in, wanting to return the favor. "Most of the merchants and Peacekeepers in the town by his game. My dad buys his squirrels. Always compliments him, saying he gets them in the eye every time and never breaks the skin."

Shizune beamed proudly. "Judging by what you two say, if you ask me, Distinct 12 could have a winner this year!"

"No use getting their hopes up," Jiraiya snapped, before turning back to the tributes.

"Ok. I recommend that you should train together as much as possible in the gymnasium. The fact is that you can help each other to improve your skills as well as develop new ones. But don't go near your strongest points until your private session with the Gamemakers."

"Ok, we can do that," Naruto said quietly.

The dessert was served then, and afterwards they sat down in the living room to watch the parade on television. "What's with you and the farmer boy?" Ino whispers to Naruto halfway through, smirking. "He's totally undressing you with his eyes!"

"He's not!" Naruto hissed. "He was just…"

"You're blushing Naruto."

Naruto and Ino both flinched, looking up to see Shizune standing beside them, having been listening the whole time. She frowned, arms folded. "As much as I praise mingling this stage, sweetie. Any fighting between tributes is illegal."

"If you get caught," Jiraiya added with a wink. "But feel free to kick his ass without anybody knowing."

Everybody laughed except for Shizune, who looked horrified. "Jiraiya, that's not funny, not at all!"

Naruto gave a weak laugh, slowly getting to his feet. "Uh, I'm...I'm going to bed. See you in the morning."

He walked down the hallway towards his room, stopping halfway there just to take a breath. All of this was still overwhelming-

"Hey."

Naruto turned around to see Ino standing there. She smiled softly at him. "Do you really want to sleep, or are you just looking to get away?"

"The latter," Naruto sighed, turning away again and starting a spot on the wallpaper. "Great." Ino walked past and beckoned for him to follow her. "I'll show you the roof, then. Kurenai told me where it was, and we can just go up as we please."

"Oh. Alright." Naruto followed her down the hallway. They turned the corner just after the elevator and headed up a flight of stairs to the roof.

The night sky was dotted with bright stars that he just about saw over the streetlights. The Capitol twinkled below them like a swarm of fireflies. Electricity was only available for a few hours a day in District 12, so this was a new sight to see. The night wasn't very cold, though there was a faint wind blowing. Naruto and Ino stood by the railing, looking out over the city. A thought suddenly came into Naruto's head as he looked at the massive drop below him. Normally this is what he would say to Shino or Kiba, but he doubted he would ever see either of them again. So he said it to Ino. "It's funny, how tempted I am to jump straight off the edge."

"I know what you mean," Ino replied, to Naruto's surprise. "But you can't." she stuck her hand out, they both heard an electrical buzzing and she quickly withdrew her hand. "A force field, so any suicidal tributes are protected from an early and painless death."

"Always concerned for our safety." Naruto commented sarcastically.

Ino sighed, leaving back and away from the railing. "I just wanted to show this to you before I hit the hay. You coming down?"

Naruto shook his head. "I'll stay a little longer. The fresh air is doing me the world of good right now."

"Ok." Ino patted him on the shoulder. "Goodnight, fire angel."

"You were on fire too!" Naruto called jokingly as she disappeared down the stairs.

Naruto stood there a bit longer, looking out at the city. It suddenly made him think of this one time when he'd hit his head against the wall of the house when he stumbled over Boruto's fox, and everything his vision had sparkled and buried until he was able to his head. Then, of course this made him think of home.

"Naruto, I'm sorry!" Boruto squealed, holding his arm. "He didn't mean to trip you!"

God, dear little Boruto. So innocent, oblivious to everything. For God's sake, he was only five when their dad died, he didn't even remember him, he didn't remember anything from those near impossible months.

"Mom, will you stop staring and look at me!" thirteen-year-old Shino screamed, shaking their mother's shoulders. But she just started blankly into space, her heart shattered. "Say something!"

Naruto squeezed his eyes tightly shut so he wouldn't cry. No more crying, not if he could help it.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't know anybody else was here."

Naruto jumped out of his skin and turned around to see Sasuke Uchiha standing at the top of the stairs. Right now, the handsome raven was dressed in simple clothes and looked very embarrassed. "I just came up...my stylist showed m, I didn't think, I can leave if-"

"It's fine," Naruto cut in giving him a small smile "Stay." It may have been true that there would be no friends in the arena, but right now life was just too short.

Sasuke walked over and stood next to him. For a moment they were both silent. Then Sasuke spoke up in a quiet voice. "Do you think they're watching us right now?"

Naruto shrugged. "Maybe. But the wind will make it difficult to hear us."

"I guess so."

More silence.

"What's it like?" Naruto asked hesitantly. "Where you live, I mean."

"Oh." Sasuke turned to look at him when he answered. "It's ok, I guess. We work a lot, so we're always outside in the fields or the orchards. But I kind of like it that way." He gave a little grin. "I'm a farmer at heart, no point denying it."

Naurto laughed at the last part. "Nothing wrong with that."

"Hey, have you seen the garden?" Sasuke asked suddenly, pointing to the other side of the roof. "It's just over there."

The garden was mostly just rows of potted flowers, or pretty plants growing in the flower beds, all neat and tidy. It was nice. Naruto stood there admiring the flowers, while Sasuke stood next to him silently.

"You were really brave, you know," Sasuke said suddenly. "When I watched you reaping. I mean, I have two older brothers and even a younger sister who would have volunteered for me. And you, you went in to save your brother. I just thought...I don't know.

Naruto shrugged, pretending to examine a blossom so Sasuke hopefully wouldn't see his cheeks turning pink. "Well, I felt like even though my chances are next to nothing. I had a better chance than Shino."

"What happened to his leg?"

Naruto turned to look at Sasuke with wide eyes, and the raven immediately began to stutter. "I-I mean, you don't have to tell me, we barely know each other I was just wondering and I think-"

"Shh." Naruto couldn't help giggling at his cute embarrassment. "You don't have to get so flustered."

"Sorry."

"Don't apologise," Naruto told him firmly, but still smiled at him all the same. But then his smile fell, because he realised he was actually going to tell Sasuke this story. He turned back to the flowers, staring at them hard. "I was ten, and Shino was thirteen." he whispered. "There was an accident. A mining shaft outside the town, one of the smaller ones. My dad went down to work, with a few others. And my brother was on the ground above it at the time-I can't even remember why-but the explosion underground that killed the miners was so massive it affected the surface as well. Shino broke his left leg when he was blown off his feet and got it stuck under a boulder, and all the muscle in his foreleg was torn."

"Oh, that's terrible." Sasuke sounds horrified.

"My mother just collapsed into a depression afterwards. She just sat still, looking into space. She's a healer but she was useless. I'd learned one or two things even though I never wanted to stick around when she was helping anyone, and Shino was able to tell me what to do. I had to do my best with him. I stopped him from bleeding out after the rock tore up his leg, but I had to take him to another healer. He barely managed to keep his leg, and he can't walk right since."

Naruto barely realised he was cold until he touched his bare arm and had to snap it back because it surprised him a little.

"You're shivering," a voice said softly. Naruto jumped out of his skin when he felt warm fabric coming down to rest on his shoulders and arms. He turned to see Sasuke wrapping his jacket around him with gentle hands.

He'd forgotten that the other tribute was there.

"I'm fine," Naruto protested weakly, but Sasuke ignored him. And he had to admit it was nice, being wrapped up and warm again as he slipped his arms in through the sleeves and tugged the jacket around him. Memories always seemed to make him cold. Funny.

"So," Sasuke said in a cheerful voice. "If I'm a farmer, then what are you? You don't look like a mine. Or is that the work of the prep team?"

Naruto laughed, unable to help himself. "Nobody goes down to the mines until they're eighteen. And my brother is unable to because of his injury, but my best friend Kiba will be starting work there next year." and he would never see Kiba again, he wouldn't get the chance to hear him whining about the dark tunnels and cold air down below.

"So, if you're not a miner and you're not a healer, what are you?"

"I'm a hunter," Naruto replied, smiling coyly. "I catch game in the woods for my family, and I trade some of it."

"Oh, that's cool, I guess." Sasuke seemed to be thinking desperately hard for something else to say.

So Naruto decided he would make the effort for once. "Was your name in the reaping a lot?"

"No. My family is relatively well off, but I still signed up for a little tesserae with my siblings. I think my name was in about twelve times, I think. You?"

Naruto chuckled. "Three times."

Seriously?" Sasuke looked amazed. "But, from what you've told me, I thought you were poor, that you had almost nothing."

"We are, and that's true. But Shino would never let me sign up for tesserace. Not even once; he took it all. His name was in twenty nine times this year. The odds were completely in my favor, but it didn't matter."

"You must be really close."

"I love him more than anything and anybody. He's like my friend, and parent and brother and a role model all at the same time. I could never let him do this, never."

Another short silence, the only noise was the occasional car motor from the street and the chilly breeze. Naruto gave a small sigh, moving away from the garden. "I'm going to go to bed."

"Ok." Sasuke looked disappointed to see him go, but he didn't dwell on it.

He was just turning to leave when he stopped taking Sasuke's jacket off and handing it over. "I almost forgot this. Thank you."

"No problem."

"Naruto walked across the roof towards the steps, and turned around to look at Sasuke one more time. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Sasuke replied, smiling. "And may the odds.."

"Be ever in your favor." Naruto finished quietly, smiling weakly before hurrying down the steps. He didn't want to risk crying in front of Sasuke Uchiha.

Sasuke sat on the roof, staring up at the sky for another few minutes, thinking to himself. Yep. He had it bad.

I originally was going to have Bourto to have a cat but I decided to have a fox as his pet.

Hope you like the story

Disclaimer: Do not own Naruto if I would, Naruto and Sasuke would end up together.

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