xx-Tsumi-Chan-xx: Well, I hope you remember that the rules of the game state that there's only supposed to be one winner...of course, I know there was more than one "winner" in the book and movie, but this is my version of it. I'm sorry, but I can't make any guarantees that�Team 7 will survive.� I hope you keep reading anyway! I don't want to lose a precious reviewer!

xiccibanx: Thank you for your wonderful comments! Now if I only knew what the word diegesis meant...I'm not a smart person! You can't use big words on me! I don't know what they mean!

Full Metal Turtle: Ummm...see..I would give you� a nice long reply to your review...if I knew what you mean by it..are you saying my story is predicatble because you've seen the movie? If so, then I can't help but disagree. Yes, the first 3 killings were the same as the book, but that's where it ends. The rest of the kills in my story will come right from my imagination. And I won't leave the same amount of people alive in my story as the books did. I don't want to lose a reviewer, but if you don't want to read this because it's too predictable for you then by all means, don't.

Asuka: LOL! I'm so happy that you like my story! However, I can't guarantee that Tenten won't die. I'm sorry! I hope that doesn't upset you too much! If I was planning to kill Tenten, (and I'm not saying I won't and I'm not saying I am) then I would definitely feel really bad about it since she's my favorite female character in the series! But this is a tragedy fic and I did warn everyone in the first chapter that there will be character deaths. I can't help it! I love reading depressing fics! And I love writing them as well! I hope you continue to read and enjoy, even if some characters that you like die!

Ch. 3

Sasuke ran out the front door of the school and looked around for any signs of a fight. He found none but it did nothing to ease his mind. Taking a deep breath, he whistled three times and waited, not daring to move. There was a sound of rustling bushes to his left and he spun aroundready for anything. Fortunately, he saw a flash of pink hair and relaxed. It was only Sakura. She ran out of the bushes and stumbled towards him. "Sasuke-kun! It's you! I was so scared it was someone else!" Sasuke didn't really know what to say to that so he just nodded.

"We need to leave. Staying in one place for too long is dangerous. Especially here. Anyone could be in the bushes, waiting for the perfect time to attack." Sakura looked scandalized.

"Y-you mean...some of our classmates will actually play this horrible game?"

"Of course. Sound Four most definitely are playing. But I'm not really worried about them. Everyone knows we can't trust them. It's the other classmates that I'm worried about. Maybe the people we think we can trust will betray us. In a desperate situation like this, who knows what the other students are thinking."

Just then, there was a noise behind them and Sasuke turned around. He saw a flash of orange and something heavy collided with him, sending him crashing to the ground. He immediately aimed a punch at whatever it was that attacked him, sending it flying against a tree. "Sasuke, no!" he heard Sakura cry out.

"You bastard!" a very familiar, very annoying voice yelled. Sasuke got to his feet and looked at Naruto, holding his stomach. "What the hell do you think you were doing?" Sasuke continued to glare at him and an alarming thought came to the blond's mind. "You're participating in this thing aren't you? I knew it! I knew you couldn't be trusted!" he made a few quick hand seals. "Kage Bunshin no Justu!"

"I don't have time to play around, dobe."he looked at Sakura and gestured for her to follow him. "Good luck trying to hide yourself in those bright orange clothes." Naruto just stared at his classmates' retreating forms. So Sasuke's not playing this game? He's actually going to protect Sakura? But what if he's just taking his time, waiting to kill Sakura-chan? I can't let that happen! I have to keep an eye on him!

"Wait!" he ran to catch up with the pair. "Wait! Wait for me!" Sakura stopped and looked back at Naruto. " Sakura-chan, you shouldn't trust this guy so easily! What if he's only waiting to kill you? I don't understand why he's being so nice to you all of a sudden. Don't you think it's weird? He never used to like you, he used to ignore you, and now he's helping you? That's so strange! I'mgoing to stay with you and keep an eye on him." Sasuke looked at him, thoroughly annoyed.

"You're a moron." was all that he said before turning around and continuing to walk away. When he realized that neither Sakura nor Naruto was following him, he stopped. "I suggest we move out of this area quickly. Everyone probably already knows where we are because of Naruto's screaming. If you two want to stay here and wait for someone to kill you, then fine. But I'm leaving." Sakura didn't hesitate. She ran to Sasuke and walked away with him. Naruto sighed and reluctantly followed. Great. Now I have to stay with this bastard for who knows how long. "Oh, and Naruto," the blond ninja looked at Sasukewondering whathis rival would say. "You better be quiet." Naruto scowledand grudgingly continued to follow Sasuke.

Tenten quietly sat in a high tree branch, trying to catch her breath after running non stop since she left the school. She had no idea how long she had been running, but it seemed like forever. So far she hadn't encountered anyone, but who knew how long that would last. She was bound to come across someone withing the two day time limit. What will I do if I see someone? Should I assume they're an enemy and attack first, or should I talk to them, see if they're someone I can trust? But what if I trust someone and they end up killing me? This is so confusing! She sighed and opened up the bag Orochimaru had given her. After pulling out three bottles of water, four rice balls, a map and compass and a flashlight, she felt around for the weapon that she had been supplied with. Her hazel eyes widened as she pulled out...

A fork.

A fork? What the...how the hell am I supposed to fight with a fork? She clenched her teeth angrily. I don't even have any of my own kunai or shuriken either! That damn Orochimaru took away everyone's original weapons so we can only use the ones he supplied us with. Tenten sighed again and leaned her head on the trunk of the tree. She couldn't us any of her techniques because her scrolls had been taken away as well. She would have to rely completely on her taijutsu. Luckily, she had spent countless hours training with Lee and Neji, so she was fairly confident in her taijutsu skills. But she wasn't stupid. She knew there were stronger ninjas out there. Ninjas who wouldn't even need a supplied weapon to kill someone because they were their own weapon. Ninjas like Neji...If it came down to a fight between her and Neji, she knew she would lose. If she had to fight Lee she would lose too. Tenten fervently hoped Neji wasn't participating. He had so many advantages over just about everyone. He had the Byakugan so he could spot a classmate from a long distance. He would be able to see if anyone was trying to attack him from behind. He could hide himself extremely well. No one had a chance against Neji.

A rustling sound below her startled her from her thoughts. Carefully, and making sure not to move too much, she looked down. Her breath caught in her throat. It was Neji!She thought of a million different ways to escape her current situation, but she knew none of them would work. If she moved he would see her and that would be it. But maybe, by some stroke of luck, he didn't know she was there! Then she could just wait until he left and move to another location.

"Tenten." Neji's quiet voice was loud in her ears. Kuso! He knows I'm here! What am I going to do? I can't give him time to attack me. I have to attack first or he'll kill me. Taking a deep breath she jumped out of the tree, keeping her fork hidden behind her back. He stared at her, his face terrifyingly expressionless. Without a word, Tenten ran at him, fork in hand. In anyone else's hands, a fork would have been a useless weapon. But Tenten wasn't a weapons specialist for nothing. Anything with a sharp point was deadly in her hands. She leaped in the air and pointed her fork at Neji's face. She felt a huge amount of guilt for attacking one of her friends in such a way, but she knew if she gave him time to speak he would end up killing her before she even knew what happened. The fork was almost touching Neji's skin when Tenten's eyes widened. His stance... "Hakkeshou Kaiten!" She was thrown back by the force of his ultimate defense, but she got back on her feet immediately. She had been hit with that technique so many times that she was almost used to it. Almost. She ran at him again, this time aiming a roundhouse kick at his head to knock him down. Am I really doing this? Am I really attacking Hyuuga Neji? Neji, the one I've been friends with since we were twelve? He ducked right before her leg hit him and grabbed her ankle. She used his close proximity to grip the fork tightly and stab his neck. Neji used his other hand to grab her wrist and spun her around. The next thing she knew, she was on her knees in the grass, Neji behind her and the fork pressed against the back of her neck. She waited for it. Waited for the moment when she would feel the points of the fork pierce her skin. She waited.

And waited...

And waited some more...

When she finally couldn't take it anymore, she turned her head to look at Neji through the corner of her eye. He was still behind her, just staring at her.

"If you're going to kill me, then do it now and get it over with!" she snarled.

"You know what I've learned after all these years of being friends with you?" What? That you hate me? That I'm weaker than you thought I was? That you never liked me anyway? That you have no qualms about killing me right here and now? "I learned that sometimes you really are an idiot." Huh? He let her go and backed away. She jumped to her feet and turned around to see him twirling her fork between his fingers. "This is your weapon?"

"Yeah."

"Did you really think I was going to kill you?"

"What?"

"You're impossible. I came here to see if you were alright, not to kill you. I'm not going to kill off my classmates, despite the fact that you think I am." Tenten just stared at him.

"Then..."

"If I'd really wanted to kill you I could have snuck up behind you and done it." he shook his head at her. "Baka." A huge, relieved smile made it's way onto Tenten's face.

"I'm so sorry! I really thought you were going to play this sickening game!" She let out a deep breath and ran up to Neji, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. She felt him tense up. His arms stayed at his sides, but she didn't expect that he would hug her back anyway. She was just so glad to find out he wasn't as cold and heartless as she had previously thought

"We should move. Someone might have heard our fight." Tenten nodded and jumped back up on the branch she had been sitting on to collect her bag. She jumped back down to the ground and looked at Neji.

"Alright, let's go. I think we should find Lee. I doubt that he'll kill anyone."

"It's comforting that you have so much faith in your friends." he commented dryly. Tenten laughed apologetically, her cheeks reddening a bit.

"I'm sorry Neji, but Lee's...and you're..." she didn't want to tell him any more than that for fear of insulting him. They walked in silence for a little while, each thinking their own thoughts.

"Tenten..." Neji said softly.

"What?"

"How are you planning to defend yourself properly with a fork?" Tenten sighed.

"I have no idea." The Hyuuga prodigy kneeled down on the grass, searching through his bag for something. "What are you looking for?"He didn't answer, just continued to look through his bag. When he finally found what he was looking for, he pulled it out. It was a kodachi. Neji's supplied weapon was actually a kodachi!

"You need this much more than I do. Besides, you're much better with an edge weapon than I am." Tenten nearly fainted. Was this...was this actually a compliment from Neji? Was she hearing things? Had he actually praised her abilities?

"A-arigato."he handed her the kodachi and got to his feet. She stuck the kodachi in the waistband of her pants and they continued walking. After a while, Tenten felt the urge to ask Neji something that had been bothering her for a while. "Neji?"

"Yes?" she looked down at the ground.

"Who do you think is going to kill?" He didn't answer right away, which meant he was seriously thinking about it.

"Sound Four, definitely. Probably that Kaguyo guy. I'm sure Zaku will as well. Possibly Gaara. Nara Shikamaru-"

"Nara Shikamaru? No way! How could you think that?"

"He's smart. Even if he doesn't want to kill anyone, he will anyway. It's kill or be killed and I'm sure no one wants to die here."

"So you're saying that everyone will kill. Even you." He looked at her and she stared right back. "If it came down to it, and we were the last two left. Would you kill me?" He was silent for a long time.

"I don't know."

"But there's a possibility that you would."

"Of course. But let me ask you the same question. If we were the last students still alive would you kill me? And don't answer right away. Think about it. Be honest with yourself. Would you kill me if your life depended on it?" She stayed silent. "Suddenly it's not so easy to answer, is it? Or rather, it's easy to answer, but the difficult part is admitting it to yourself. Because of course you would kill me in order to survive. It's only natural." He was right. She knew he was right.

And thats the end of chapter 3...betcha you all thought Neji was gonna kill her..heehee. i hope that you all review! i live for reviews!