Thank you all for coming around to the final chapter of the story!
I hope you all enjoy it! Please review!
Disclaimer: I don't own "The Hunger Games" or "Naruto," they belong to their respective owners.
To Heal and Love
Tigris's Saferoom – The Next Morning
"Are you sure this is a good choice?"
"It is."
Naruto watched as his handcuffs were released while Katniss turned the key. They fell onto the floor and he rubbed his wrists.
"But what if I-" Naruto began only to get cut off.
"You won't," Katniss said with a small smile, "I know you won't." Her faith in him was unwavering.
This seemed to calm the blonde. He accepted the answer and looked over to Finnick.
The warrior had been bandaged by Tigris who did not have as many medical supplies as she'd like. The make-shift tourniquet made by Naruto still held, but Tigris applied fresh bandages. She also properly cleaned the open wound, trying to avoid infection. Finnick would be alright for now, but unless he got proper medical attention soon, he would die.
The group had awoken from a long night and were ready for the day. As they were preparing to trek out, they overheard from their radios that the rebels had made significant advancement into the Capitol overnight.
That was their mission for the day, sneaking into Snow's mansion to assassinate him.
"Okay team, are we all ready?" Cressida asked, looking around. "We've all heard the news, Snow is opening his mansion for Capitol citizens. This is the perfect time to blend in and get in."
The squad had decided that they would split off into teams of two to avoid total capture if their position was compromised.
"Pollux goes with Cressida, while I head out with Katniss," Gale answered, putting on his coat. "Tigris has provided all of us with disguises."
"I'll stay behind with Finnick," Naruto said while standing by the fallen tribute, "We'll wait here until you all succeed."
Nodding her head, Katniss spoke, "Right, we all have our goal in mind. We stay armed in case we need it. By the end of the day, one way or another, Snow dies."
This seemed to bring a smile to Tigris's face as she overheard the group. She hoped they succeeded.
As the group gathered their respective belongings to make their escape, Naruto dragged Katniss over to the corner of the room.
"Hey Kat," Naruto said with a small smile, "I wanted to ask you something."
Katniss raised an eyebrow, "What is it Ruto?"
"How would you like to get married, for real? After this war, when everything is settled, just us two?" Naruto said with a small grin.
"I-I-I would love that!" Katniss said, caught off guard. "But why bring this up suddenly?"
"Just cause," Naruto said cryptically, "It's a motivator for me to live through this war."
Pulling her in, he gave a deep kiss that conveyed his emotions for the woman. Reciprocating it, the Girl on Fire melted into the kiss.
Taking a breath, they looked into each other's eyes one last time. With everything ready, the group began to leave the saferoom and exit the shop. They would separate and head to Snow's mansion, intent on getting to him.
Once they were gone, Naruto sighed while looking over at Finnick. He saw Tigris climb down the ladder and begin putting away some things she provided the group. Helping the woman, he bit his lip before speaking out loud.
"Tigris," Naruto began, "I…I plan on heading out…"
Tigris smiled, "I figured. There's a thick, black coat you can take on a rack. It's the only one hanging, just in case you were planning on leaving."
Naruto was surprised, he didn't think the woman would be able to read him so easily. Despite this, he did want to ask one more thing. "Please… I know I'm asking a lot out of you… but can you look after Finnick? Just until we're able to send medical aid this way?" Naruto pleaded.
"That's fine with me," Tigris said, putting away a mattress she gave to the group.
Taking a deep sigh, Naruto walked over to Finnick's prone body. Kneeling, he unholstered the firearm stolen from Jackson many hours earlier. He safely pocketed it away on the inside of his jacket, making sure it wouldn't fall out.
While placing away the gun, Naruto asked the woman a question. "Hey Tigris… I was wondering, you were close with Snow, right?"
The woman nodded, "I was. I'm his cousin, despite the fact he likes to keep that hidden nowadays."
"I-I see," Naruto said startled, not expecting this. "Then by chance, do you know who Lucy Gray Baird was?"
"Lucy Gray Baird?" Tigris said with wide eyes, "Now that's a name I haven't heard in many years. Why do you ask?"
Naruto stood back up and looked at the woman, "I saw he had an earring from somebody by that name in his office. It stuck out to me, so I was wondering if you knew anything about that?"
Tigris sighed, "Lucy Gray Baird was a tribute from District Twelve who won the 10th Annual Hunger Games. She was personally mentored by Snow and he eventually developed feelings for her."
"He did?" Naruto snorted, "I didn't think the bastard could love anybody else but himself."
"He was a very different man back then," Tigris explained, "It was before… before he followed in his father's footsteps. Before he allowed himself to lose any light he had…"
Naruto began to piece everything together in his mind. "So did Snow have her killed or something?"
Tigris shook her head, "He didn't."
"Really?" Naruto said, shocked, "Then what happened to her?"
"No one knows for sure," Tigris shrugged, "Some say she disappeared into the woods, others say she was killed by wild animals, and others say the mayor at the time killed her. We never found her remains, clothing, or belongings…except that earring that Snow still keeps."
Naruto took a step back, surprised at how much Snow sounded differently. He couldn't imagine the heartless dictator to love anybody but himself.
"She was the only girl to truly love Snow… and I think Snow loved her as well, in his way," Tigris continued, "Her disappearance has always haunted him."
"I see…" Naruto said. After a few more seconds of silence, he turned to Tigris, "Do you think she made the right choice?"
Tigris nodded, "I think she did because Snow will never change. He will always fight until he lands on top." She spat out the last few words with venom in her voice.
"Never change… huh…" Naruto wondered. He looked at Finnick one last time before making his way up the ladder. As he climbed, he heard Tigris give one last piece of advice.
"Naruto."
Turning back, he hummed, "Hmm?"
Tigris smiled, "Make sure to make that bastard pay."
Smiling back, Naruto said, "I will."
Satisfied, Tigris went back to cleaning up while looking over Finnick.
Naruto took a deep breath before heading out, determined to make his way to the mansion. He would take some routes that he thought would be easier to enter through, given he had been inside the mansion before.
He only thought about killing Snow himself.
With Katniss and Gale
The duo had walked in relative silence ever since departing from Tigris's shop. They were undercover and kept their heads down. Despite this, they stayed armed in case they needed to fire back.
They had been walking for a few minutes now, blending in with the many citizens who were hoping to achieve shelter. Peacekeepers stood guard upon watchtowers, atop vehicles, and on the ground. It was clear this was a guarded event.
Pollux and Cressida had separated from them earlier, so they were on their own for now. All is according to plan.
"Please present yourself in a calm and orderly fashion," spoke a voice among the crowd, most likely a Peacekeeper.
Katniss peeked from under her hood to see something that made her heart clench. A few feet in front of her was a young girl. She was holstered upon her mother's shoulder but was facing the Girl on Fire. The girl reached out and giggled, happy to see somebody she recognized from television.
Just as Katniss was about to lower her head once more, she was surprised to see herself facing the sky.
This took the girl aback, confused as to what happened. It took her a few more seconds to realize that a rocket had been fired near her position, knocking her to the ground.
Groaning, Katniss shook her head and looked around. She could see many Peacekeepers firing behind her, causing her to duck.
"IT'S THE REBELS!" shouted a Peacekeeper, "SHOOT THEM DEAD!"
Looking back, Katniss watched as a group of rebels found their position and caused an uproar. They were firing at Peacekeepers and killing many of them. It also happened to be the rebels that launched the rocket near her.
Hearing a shrill screech, Katniss looked over to see something heartbreaking. There, among the crowd of running civilians, was the young girl from earlier.
"MAMA!" cried the young girl, sobbing over her mother's corpse, "WAKE UP! MAMA!"
Katniss nearly cried at the scene, hearing the screams of many people around her. It was crazy how fast this seemingly easy mission went off the rails.
"C'MON! WE NEED TO GO!"
Being yanked, Katniss realized that Gale had dragged her away. It seemed he had already recovered from the rocket blast.
The duo ran, ducking under gunfire and jumping over obstacles. Taking cover behind a metal structure, Katniss watched as Gale pummeled a nearby Peacekeeper to take their gun.
After acquiring the weapon, Gale insisted that Katniss follow him. They both then began to sprint toward the entrance of Snow's mansion. Ducking under another rocket, the duo watched as a vehicle exploded a few meters away.
They managed to run past the explosion without injuries, with Gale even firing at a few Peacekeepers with his stolen weapon. It seemed that he killed them, as they didn't get back up.
While running forward, Katniss noticed how multiple armored trucks began to roll out. They were being manned by Peacekeepers on turrets, shooting toward the rebel group.
One of these armored vehicles exploded due to another rocket fired. However, this explosion did manage to launch a piece of debris that sliced open Gale's cheek. He began to drip blood but didn't look back as they ran.
"This is crazy!" Katniss thought while jumping over another barricade, "Everything went to shit so fast!"
It seemed that the true violence of war was on display.
Multiple innocent citizens were also killed in the crossfire, with their bodies littering the ground. To Katniss's horror, she had to jump over a few of these corpses to continue her run. Some of them were even young children.
Nobody was winning in this situation.
Katniss felt her legs burn as they ran, feeling that she was becoming more and more exhausted. They had nonstop run for a long period now, and yet, they were still far from Snow's gates.
BOOM!
Katniss flung to the side, dazed from yet another explosion. It seemed that a rocket just happened to land between Gale and her, separating them both.
"Why are the rebels using such heavy artillery?" Katniss wondered while slowly getting up, "It's been nonstop missiles this whole time!"
Looking to her left, Katniss saw a Peacekeeper go to check on Gale. It seemed the cut from his cheek had managed to leak around him. It looked as if the Peacekeeper was trying to get Gale out of harm's way, avoiding further injury.
However, when the Peacekeeper got a good look at Gale's face, their entire body language changed. Katniss could tell that Gale had been recognized as a wanted criminal.
With a hand signal, Katniss watched as three other Peacekeepers supported the initial one in dragging Gale away. He fought hard, kicking and punching, but he was subdued in the end. He was thrown in the back of an armored truck, with the heavy doors slamming behind him.
"Dammit!" Katniss screamed in her head as she continued running. It was only her now, and she had a mission to complete.
As Katniss got closer, she noticed a large crowd up ahead. It was clear a majority of the citizens were here, and they were cluttered.
"The gates will open shortly. Please bring your children forward, they are the priority," stated an automatic voice. Katniss watched as fathers and mothers lifted their children into the air. Once lifted, they were slowly carried across until they were at the front of the mansion's gates.
An army of young children were screaming and crying, clearly afraid of the situation around them. Many Peacekeepers stood their ground between these children and desperate adults. They had orders to follow after all.
Hearing a familiar hum behind her, Katniss turned around to see a hovercraft fly behind her. This seemed to stop the gunfire momentarily, as both sides stopped firing.
Once it flew overhead, Katniss watched as small parachutes were deployed. These were the same packages they received in the Hunger Games.
"These look like… sponsor packages?" wondered Katniss in confusion, not sure what was going on.
As the packages floated downward, they also made the same 'ding' as when in the arena.
"Look! Look!" cried many of the children, excited for the little presents. Many of them wore expressions of childish joy and wonder. Katniss could see a majority of the children reach out with their arms, clearly wanting to hold the gifts.
"What is this?" Katniss thought, "Is this the Capitol's work?"
As the packages sunk further and further, Katniss felt a knot in her stomach. Something about this situation didn't feel right to her. Something was off.
"They're coming! I can almost reach it!" said a young boy, excited about the prospect of holding the package.
It was clear each child expressed nothing but positive emotions at the sight.
BOOM!
Katniss flew back as the packages finally landed in the arms of the kids. She saw smoke rise in the air and heard the screams of hundreds. She could hear coughing, crying, sobbing, and screaming all around her.
The last thing she saw was the dead eyes of a young girl staring back at her. Complete darkness overtook her moments later.
With Naruto – Minutes Earlier
After leaving Tigris's shop, Naruto made his escape plan. He knew the exact way he could enter Snow's mansion. He didn't offer this plan earlier, as he knew it was more risky getting caught this way, which he wanted to avoid for his squad.
However, since he was alone this time, he didn't care about getting caught. It would only put his life at risk.
He had to bite the bullet and risk triggering a pod while running without the Holo. However, he knew they were close enough that he would most likely be safe, as the Holo showed no pods within a certain radius of Snow's mansion.
Ducking behind a building, he saw many Peacekeepers loading supplies onto a truck. It was clear that only authorized personnel were allowed to be there.
They were packing supplies and sending them into the mansion from the backside. Whether they were trying to hide this supply line from the rebels or because they didn't want to clutter the entering citizens, Naruto didn't know.
However, he knew that something would have to be there. If it wasn't supplies being loaded up, it would be soldiers. He knew some insider information from his time in the mansion. It seemed that even trusted doctors, soldiers, and staff had loose lips.
Seeing another truck pass by, Naruto watched as it entered from the backside of Snow's mansion. There was a guard to let the truck in, just before closing the gate once more. After entering, the truck unloaded and returned to pick up more supplies.
"Just an opening… that's all I need…" Naruto thought to himself.
To his luck, he received just that.
There were a few explosions heard a few blocks over, which worried the Peacekeepers present.
"Load up this last truck! We're needed elsewhere, it's a rebel attack!" shouted out the commander of the group, before running off to help his team.
A majority of Peacekeepers followed behind their leader, while only a few remained to complete their last shipment.
Seeing he would be fine, Naruto dashed toward a truck that was starting up. He crawled underneath and turned himself around, laying on his back. With a quick grunt, he latched himself onto the truck by holding the bottom of the vehicle.
It was difficult as his arms and legs shook, but he was determined. Hearing the truck rev its engine, Naruto watched as they drove over the pavement.
There were a few bumps along the road that scraped his back, but he bit his tongue. He couldn't cry out in pain, not when he was so close.
After a few minutes of an unbothered ride, Naruto felt the truck stop. He could faintly hear a quick conversation before the gate opened up. The truck then started up once more, until it finally parked.
Letting himself down slowly, Naruto took a deep breath. He watched as the Peacekeeper opened the back of the truck and began taking boxes of supplies.
"Twelve seconds… fifteen seconds…twenty-four seconds…eight seconds…" Naruto counted in his head, gauging the time the guard took between loads. He tried his best to find a common time that the guard would be gone, so he could escape unnoticed.
After hearing the Peacekeeper grunt, likely due to the fact he was carrying something heavy, Naruto decided to make his move. He watched the man's footsteps slowly walk away until he entered the back door of the mansion and disappeared inside.
Crawling from under the truck, Naruto dashed until he came upon a sight he was familiar seeing.
Snow's office.
Grabbing his handgun from inside his coat, he smashed the glass open with the butt of the gun. Carefully walking inside, Naruto realized the bastard wasn't in there. Looking over at a certain glass case, Naruto broke it open and took the contents inside.
However, he wasn't going to give up so easily. Walking around stealthily, Naruto listened for any footsteps inside the mansion. To his surprise, he didn't hear a single guard monitoring the mansion or on patrol.
It seemed that the mansion was left wide open.
Naruto walked with both hands on his gun, checking every corner he came across. He cleared each room as he passed it.
The kitchen was cleared.
The dining area was cleared.
The personal office was cleared.
However, after carefully opening another door, Naruto was able to see Snow. The old man was looking out a window, pondering the events outside. It seemed he was hiding in his library.
Hearing the door open, Snow turned around and saw Naruto walk in with a gun. Naruto softly closed the door behind him.
"Well… this is a surprise…" Snow chuckled, "I didn't expect to see you again so soon. If I'm being honest, I would have thought Everdeen would find me first."
Naruto breathed in deeply, trying to calm the anger bubbling inside of him. He thought he would have a better handle on his emotions, but after seeing the man who caused so much pain in his life, he snapped.
"I know you're not mute," Snow laughed, "What has your tongue? I thought you came seeking me, yet I'm the only one engaging in conversation."
Naruto walked up to the man and stared deeply into his eyes. He didn't say anything as he let his anger flow around him, fueling his desires.
Hearing a whisper, Snow crunched his eyebrows in confusion, "I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear that. Could you repeat it?"
Naruto looked up and clenched his jaw, "I'm going to get my pound of flesh from you."
Naruto then flipped the gun in his hand, grabbing it by the barrel. Snow felt the velvet carpet touch his face, as he was pistol-whipped to the ground.
Then he felt another blow.
Then another.
Then another.
Then another.
He was out in seconds.
Katniss awoke with a groan, looking around. She didn't know how long she was out, but she knew it couldn't have been for long.
Her eyes opened to see another child staring back at her, making the girl wince in sorrow. She hated the innocent life lost in war.
Getting up, Katniss saw that many of the civilians were holding their deceased children. A father down the road was holding their slain child, crying uncontrollably.
Hearing a rush of footsteps, Katniss watched as an influx of aid workers rushed in to help the wounded. She could see that a few of them were already helping the injured, likely happening when she was passed out.
"MEDIC!" cried a young mother, holding their child, "I NEED A MEDIC!"
"HELP! PLEASE! MY CHILD IS DYING!" cried another parent, screaming for any aid. Two aid workers rushed to him, trying their best to assist.
Katniss nearly cried at seeing the death and destruction around her. Her stomach felt entangled in a knot as she scanned the crowd.
"MOVE ASIDE!" Shouted a medic, "MAKE WAY FOR AID!"
Katniss saw many Peacekeepers throw down their helmets, exposing their faces. These guards rushed to the aid of many injured, helping the medics.
"W-what?" Katniss felt shocked to her core. Seeing these Peacekeepers throw their uniforms away almost made it feel like they had an identity. She was so used to seeing them as the enemy, that when they helped, she felt stunned.
Even the Peacekeepers could see the senseless violence going on. Those bomb packages shouldn't have been used on children.
"I NEED A STRETCHER!" shouted a medic while doing chest compression on a little girl.
"This…this is pure agony…this is war…" Katniss reasoned with herself, watching the chaos unfold around her. Neither side was winning in this situation.
As the Girl on Fire steadied herself on a nearby vehicle, she widened her eyes. There, farther into the crowd, was her sister. She was currently helping another medic.
"Prim?! PRIMROSE?!" Katniss shouted while reaching out for her sister. She couldn't believe that her sister had been so close to the live combat going on.
Prim rose her head up, hearing her name. Looking over, both girls connected via eye contact.
"PRIM!" Katniss shouted out, running toward her sister.
"KATNI-" Prim began, clearly happy to see her sister alive.
However, the unthinkable happened.
A second wave of detonations went off, a delayed explosion.
Katniss felt the world shift around her in slow motion. She could feel her body fly back once more, however, this time was different.
While flying back from the explosion, she could see her sister. The baby girl she helped raise and volunteered for.
As she was in the air, she could see the flames slowly creep up her sister's back. She could see others around her engulfed by the fire and smoke. Just before Katniss's back hit the ground once more, she kept her eye contact locked.
"Prim…" Katniss thought in shock, not believing what was happening. It was all so sudden, yet, this felt entirely like it was happening in slow motion.
Prim's look held another message, one that Katniss would never forget.
"…I love you, sister."
Feeling the wind rush against her skin once more, Katniss felt her body jerk against the concrete below her. She stared at the sky with open eyes, not having the energy to even close them.
While she wasn't close enough to be impacted by the explosion, she could feel the flames spread across her body. Her clothing had caught fire from the proximity of the explosion.
"-atniss. Katniss. KATNISS!"
Katniss could hear someone shout her name, but it was groggy. Her hearing was still fuzzy, and her head was swirling.
"Katniss!" Karin then came into view for the girl. She was chewing her lip in desperation while simultaneously barking orders to other medics nearby.
"We need to get these flames out!" Karin commanded as she reached for something in her satchel, "We also need to get her out of here! She's showing signs of a concussion! She's also… and we… so to…"
Katniss slowly tuned out Karin's words, feeling her consciousness leave her once more. The last thing she saw was Karin reassuring her she would be alright before she was out once more.
She would never see her sister alive again.
"Get up," Naruto spat out while grabbing the man by his coat. He dragged him up with both hands, throwing him into a nearby chair.
President Snow then spit out the blood pooling in his mouth. He also felt a trickle of blood running down the side of his head, likely from the multiple bashes of Naruto's pistol.
"Is this your plan, Mr. Uzumaki?" Snow said with bloody teeth, "Kill me here? Snuff me out silently?"
"I don't care about anything right now," Naruto said with dark eyes, "Except making you pay for everything you've done, not only to me but to everyone else you've hurt!"
"Like your mother's family? When I ordered their execution?" Snow taunted, "Or when I killed your best friend and father figure? Are you implying them?"
"Yes…" Naruto said while putting away the gun in his coat, "I am."
Deciding to go hands-on, Naruto delivered a left hook before a right hook.
He followed this up with a left hook.
Flashes of Edwin's head floated in the blonde's mind.
Then a right hook.
Seeing Peeta's family's demise under the rubble of District Twelve popped up in his head.
Then a left hook.
Hearing the screams of Johanna and Annie echoed in his ears.
Then a right hook.
Katniss's soft sobs each night due to the trauma inflicted by the man came to the forefront of his memory.
Naruto punched the old man so much, that his knuckles were starting to get bloody. As for Snow, the old man felt his cheeks scrape against his teeth, causing them to bleed. His vision was blurry and he felt that his jaw was broken.
Each time his head took another hit, it was jerked to the side.
"DO YOU LIKE THIS?!" Naruto shouted while hitting the man, "THIS IS FOR EDWIN!"
Spitting a wad of blood out, Snow was greeted by another blow.
"THIS IS FOR PEETA!"
He was hit straight in his jaw for that one.
"AND THIS IS FOR ALL OF PANEM!"
Naruto then grabbed him by his chest and slammed his head against him. This headbutt managed to break Snow's nose, causing it to bleed.
"Is…that… all…you…got?" Snow panted out with each breath, clearly exhausted from getting beaten. He didn't have much strength left in his old, frail body.
Naruto then felt another approach was needed, as he wasn't getting to Snow just yet.
BOOM!
Looking out the window, both men watched a wave of bombs crash down into a wave of children, killing them.
Snow seemed to widen his eyes, while Naruto gasped in shock.
"W-What!?" Snow said in alarm, "How could that happen?"
Turning over with a snarl, Naruto gave Snow a death glare. "I don't believe a single word out of your mouth," Naruto said, "Don't try to play innocent, I've had enough of you Snow."
Hearing enough, Naruto stepped back. He then reached into his pocket and retrieved something that Snow cared deeply for.
Lucy Gray Baird's earring.
"How did you find that?!" Snow said in shock before frowning, "Give it BACK!"
The president tried his best to launch out of the chair, only for Naruto to kick him back into it.
"I know all about the history you have with Lucy Gray Baird, Snow."
"H-how… how do you know that name?" Snow said in a deadly serious voice.
"You'll never know," Naruto taunted.
Snow gained a red hue on his face, clearly angered at his personal life being leaked. He turned to the blonde with deadly eyes.
"Oh?" Naruto joked, "Is that anger I see in your eyes? Is Snow not happy that for once, he's not in control? Or does just mentioning Lucy Gray Baird bring up old emotions in you?"
"I should have killed you back when I had you, boy."
Naruto laughed before nodding, "I agree, you should have."
Pocketing the earring, the blonde smiled. He knew this was one of the very few things that Snow cared about in his life. This was irreplaceable, something that no amount of money could buy. "I'm going to destroy this, Snow. You'll never see this piece of jewelry while you're alive. You can enjoy whatever meaningless life you have left, knowing that Lucy Gray Baird is out of your grasp once again."
Snow just stared and gave a death glare.
Pulling out his handgun, Naruto looked at the disgraced president, "How do you think it'll be when I find your granddaughter and splatter her brains on the walls here? How would that make you feel? Knowing she would join you soon in death?"
Snow snarled, "You wouldn't."
"I wouldn't?" Naruto raised an eyebrow, "You also thought I wouldn't find you before Katniss, but I disproved that. What's another?"
Naruto kicked off the safety of his gun, showing it was live.
It was an empty threat to go after the young girl, but Naruto wanted to put a deep fear in the man's soul. He wanted him to die with regret, worry, and sadness. In his head, he didn't deserve any better.
"You're a piece of shit," Naruto spat out, "You don't deserve any position of power. You put many victors through prostitution, murdered innocent children, and poisoned too many political rivals. You don't deserve anything."
These words seemed to poke through Snow's thick skin, as the man responded with a shout, "You don't know ANYTHING about my life, boy! What I've done! What I've had to do to survive!"
"I know enough," Naruto said aiming the gun directly at Snow's forehead.
Suddenly, the door was busted open as many rebels entered the room with their guns drawn. It was clear they were trying to track down President Snow.
"Naruto?!" shouted out the commander in surprise.
Looking over, Naruto saw Commander Paylor leading a group of about five soldiers.
The two didn't know each other directly but had learned about the other through some sources. Paylor learned about the blonde through Coin while Naruto learned about Paylor while training with Boggs. It was a miracle either knew about the other.
Analyzing the situation, Commander Paylor could see what had transpired. Snow looked beaten up while Naruto had a gun pointed at his head. She could see his finger was on the trigger with no safety on.
Waving her arm behind her, she ensured all of her soldiers lowered their weapons.
"Naruto, listen to me," Paylor stated, "Don't do this, don't kill him here. Let him die in a public execution, let him face the justice of the people."
Naruto seemed to grip the trigger tighter, mere moments from the bullet firing.
"Don't allow him what he wants," Paylor pleaded, "Please, let us restrain him and take him away. He'll face justice, but not like this… please…"
Naruto stared at Snow's face while holding his gun up. He could very easily pull the trigger and be done with him, forever. However, a deeper part of his mind agreed with Paylor's words.
Gritting his teeth, Naruto didn't know what to do. He turned to look at the opposing woman with fury in his eyes, "HE'S KILLED TOO MANY! HE DESERVES TO DIE!"
Snow didn't say a word throughout the exchange.
"Please….put the gun down," Paylor begged, "He deserves death, I agree, but the people deserve better. Allow Snow to go for now… for Panem…"
Naruto couldn't help the rage building up inside, "AGGHH!"
BANG!
Paylor's soldiers jumped up in surprise, not expecting the gunshot.
Before they could aim their weapons, they realized something surprising. Naruto had fired his shot, however, he missed on purpose. His bullet was a few inches to Snow's right, barely missing his head.
"You get to live… for now…" Naruto hissed through gritted teeth, "But you'll die soon enough… I promise you that, Snow." He spat out the last word like it burned his mouth.
Paylor nodded her head, ordering her men to begin transporting Snow away. Before they grabbed him, Naruto said his final words to the tyrant.
"You say that Snow always lands on top…" Naruto said while looking into the eyes of the man he wanted dead, "But I don't think you realize… Snow always melts."
With a quick command, Snow was taken out of his chair and restrained. He was then transported into the mansion's greenhouse.
Naruto slowly withdrew his pistol while being caught up on details by Paylor. As they spoke, the blonde notified the woman about his injured friend. She radioed help to Finnick's location, sending aid his way.
Naruto was shocked to find out about the delayed explosions, realizing Snow couldn't have given the order since he was attacking the man the entire time.
He needed to find Katniss.
Katniss groaned awake, feeling extremely heavy at the moment. It felt like her body was made of stone as she lay in bed.
"Hey Kat…"
She creaked her eyes open to see her fiance by her side, rubbing her hand.
He chuckled, "Looks like our roles were reversed." Last time, he was the one in a medical bay with her sitting by him.
Katniss smiled, happy to see that her lover was alright. However, she a frowned at seeing his bandaged knuckles, wondering what had happened.
Before she could say anything, she witnessed her mother enter and sit down next to her. Neither brought up the loss of Prim, but both could feel it in their souls.
Haymitch soon entered, choosing to stand instead by her bed.
The next few minutes were spent in solemn silence, with the group taking in everything that had happened. Eventually, Haymitch broke the silence.
"We've won…" Haymitch stated, "After the children were killed, the last of the Peacekeepers stopped defending the mansion. They let us walk in and end this conflict…"
Katniss's mother nodded, "Nobody could defend such an act, they all agreed Snow needed to be dispatched."
"So where is he now?" Katniss croaked out, feeling her lungs burn.
"He's in his greenhouse," Naruto answered. "Coin wants him publicly executed, she wants to save the honor for you. She's also taken the seat of power, acting as active President of Panem."
Katniss let the words sink in, "…so she was quick to take the power after all…"
The group then exchanged more information with one another. Aid had been sent after Finnick and he was currently being helped by doctors. He was transported in critical condition, but it seemed he would live. Annie was currently visiting him at the moment.
To Naruto's shock, he learned that Prim was killed in a series of explosions launched. He comforted Katniss and her mother, clearly feeling sorrow for the loss of life. He shed a few tears while holding the Girl on Fire, saddened by her loss.
Once they recovered, Naruto explained what he had done.
"Katniss….Haymitch…Mrs. Everdeen, I have to tell you all something…"
Each person looked over.
"I…I almost killed Snow…I beat him until he bled… and I almost shot him in the head…" Naruto breathed out, "…but I left him alive, barely."
Katniss was the first to speak, squeezing her fiance's arm, "It's okay, Naru. It's okay."
Haymitch came over and patted his student's back, "It's alright son, we understand."
Even Mrs. Everdeen glanced over with a saddened look. Naruto then went on to explain how he broke into the mansion, alone. How he found the man and how he nearly beat him to death.
They all understood that Naruto had snapped while being alone with his torturer. It was to help get his problems off his chest, admitting that he almost killed the man.
"However, I also have something else to say…" Naruto whispered, "…I don't think Snow killed those children."
"W-what?" Haymitch stuttered out, "What do you mean?"
"When I confronted Snow… when I was busy beating on him…." Naruto explained, "The bombs went off, meaning he couldn't have executed an order to release those packages…"
"But what if he gave the order earlier? Before you confronted him?" Mrs. Everdeen asked.
"That's what I thought at first," Naruto reasoned, "But after looking around, I didn't see anything to indicate he did. There was no radio, communication device, or any other form of contact to give an order while he was in his library."
"Are you sure he didn't just plan this out earlier today?" Katniss asked, wincing as her side still ached.
"He could have," Naruto admitted, "But I don't know if he could have planned out everything. He would have to assume the children would be brought forward and also assume a wave of aid workers would be sent in to trigger more delayed explosions. It just doesn't seem possible in my mind."
"Naruto, are you claiming…that Coin delivered those strikes?" Haymitch said seriously.
Naruto huffed, "I don't know…but I know enough to realize the facts aren't adding up. Trust me, I hate defending Snow on anything…but I don't think he was in charge of this…not this time…"
"Let's talk about this another time," Mrs. Everdeen interrupted, not wanting anything serious to spark up.
As the group continued to speak, Katniss lay in bed and let the information float around in her mind. She wanted to kill Snow, murder him with her own hands. Prim's death only fueled her hate for the man.
However….she did realize a pattern of coincidences. Just as Snow lost his favor… Coin took power very quickly, almost like she expected this to happen.
She had a lot to think about.
Hours Later – Snow's Greenhouse
Katniss walked in and looked around the building she was in. After healing and resting, she was escorted into Snow's mansion along with Naruto.
After giving him a quick kiss, she was escorted to see Snow one last time before his public execution. Before she was to kill him in front of all of Panem.
She had to look the man one last time in his eyes…one last time before his death…
"Ahh…Ms. Everdeen, greetings!" spoke a familiar voice.
Turning her head, Katniss saw Snow as he hunched over, picking a white rose. He stood at his full height, watching as Katniss walked over.
Snow still had his injuries dealt with by Naruto, with a busted lip, bruised face, crooked nose, and swollen jaw. Despite this, it was clear they tried to clean him up as best as they could in the meantime. They cleaned him up and healed what little injury they wanted. He had to look somewhat presentable when publicly executed.
As she watched the man stare back at her, the Girl on Fire couldn't contain her anger any longer.
"Why…" Katniss said in a whisper, "…why did you bomb those children… why did you kill them all?"
Before Snow could answer, he coughed into a personal handkerchief. He was coughing up blood, indicative of the internal bleeding he was dealing with.
Placing it in his pocket, Snow looked into Katniss's eyes. "I must say, Ms. Everdeen, we both know I'm not above killing children. However….that was not my doing. I was too busy being beaten by your fiance to give any kind of order."
"That's exactly what Ruto said…" Katniss thought in her mind, finding this to be the first piece of evidence that correlated his story.
"How blind we were, Ms. Everdeen," Snow chuckled, "Being played for fools all along. That woman, Alma Coin, using us both as tools in her war. Pitting you against me, with both of us falling for it."
"What do you mean?" Katniss asked wearily.
"Those weren't my bombs, Ms. Everdeen," Snow explained, "It wasn't even my hovercraft… I suspect we both know who it was by now."
Katniss bit her lip, fearing that Snow was accurate in his prediction.
"After those children were killed, even the most loyal Peacekeepers turned on me. The end of the war was in sight once the smoke settled."
Katniss listened intently as he spoke.
"When I first met you, Ms. Everdeen, I thought you reminded me of someone I once knew long ago…" Snow said with a smile, "I never knew how accurate I would be."
"You've done nothing but cause pain!" Katniss yelled out, "You've killed so many people, and you don't feel a damn thing about it, do you?!"
"Do not assume your hands are clean either," Snow said darkly, "You've also dealt with the loss of life."
"I have," Katniss agreed, "The difference is that I care about the consequences."
Snow then leaned back with his arms clasped, "I don't have much time left alive, we both know that."
Katniss looked as if she didn't care.
"However, I did want to remind you of one thing before I'm gone Ms. Everdeen," Snow said, "We did promise not to lie to one another, why would I start now?"
Feeling her world begin to spin, Katniss gave the dying man one final look before walking out. Everything was crashing down upon her mentally. She was already having a hard time dealing with Prim's death, but if Snow was right, then he didn't order those bombs.
She walked off, intent on getting some answers.
"Gale…" Katniss spoke, her eyes lowered. She was not meeting his gaze, feeling a bubble of anger rising within her.
After meeting with Snow, Katniss walked back into the mansion while in a daze. She had asked a few people where Gale could be found, and she was pointed towards Snow's library.
She found the man, looking through a few books. It was ironic, given Snow had been found here before being confronted by Naruto.
Closing the book in his hand, Gale looked over confused.
"Yes, Katniss?"
"Those bombs… the same ones that killed Prim… they reminded me of your invention," Katniss said with a low tone, "I remembered you explaining them to Beetee back then…the delayed explosions to bring in more casualties…"
Gale widened his eyes and took a step back.
"I need to ask one thing, Gale…" Katniss looked up with teary eyes, "If you have any respect for me or care about our friendship at all, you will answer my next question honestly."
"Of course, anything," Gale answered with a quick nod.
"Was it your bomb that killed Prim? Was it our bombs?"
This question seemed to suck all the air out of the man. He looked like he didn't know what to say, given he was cornered.
"It's a simple yes or no, Gale," Katniss pressured, "Did your invention, kill my sister?"
Gale looked down to the ground, seemingly ashamed. He didn't answer, fearing the words that would come out of his mouth.
Katniss nodded, "I see, that's all I need to know."
She aimed to walk out, opening the door to leave.
"Wait, Katniss!" Gale cried out
"Goodbye Gale," Katniss shed a tear as she said that, saddened that her once lifelong best friend was now dead to her.
She would never see him in person again, and Gale would never forgive himself for the friendship he ruined. Deep in his heart, he knew that he could no longer ever reconcile with his first crush.
Gale shed tears for the ruined relationship between them both.
Snow's Mansion – Meeting Room
"Thank you all for arriving on such short notice," Coin said while sitting at the head of the table, "I'm sure you're all still reeling in from the end of the war."
All of the remaining victors were called by President Coin to attend this meeting. They weren't entirely sure what is was about.
"Let's just hurry this up," Haymitch grumbled, taking a swig from his flask. He didn't like attending mandatory events.
They all sat around a circular table, with each Victor glancing at one another. Katniss sat between Haymitch and Naruto, who kept a solemn expression on his face.
"I wanted to make an important announcement before we begin," Coin spoke loudly, "As of now, I have taken the responsibility of being Panem's president for the time being."
"I thought there was going to be a new system of democracy?" asked Haymitch with a frown.
"And there will be," Coin answered, "However, as of now, there are too many emotions in the air. People are too volatile, so we will wait until we can plan an election when the time is right."
"I see…" Haymitch answered back.
Clearing her throat, Coin continued, "I have arranged for all of us to meet for one simple vote. As we all know, Snow is planned to be executed later this afternoon. Many of his accomplices are also awaiting execution."
Coin leaned forward onto the table, "However, as we can all expect, there will be a call for blood. The rebels have suffered far too long under the Capitol that some form of retribution will be demanded. To answer this call, I wanted to propose a vote."
"Just spit it out already!" Johanna interrupted. It was clear her hair was growing back. Katniss stared at the young woman, hoping the two could talk in private later on.
"We will vote, the majority wins and no one can abstain," Coin clarified, "Once these executions have finished, we will need to answer the call for blood. I am proposing that we hold another Hunger Games, a symbolic Hunger Games."
You could hear a pin drop in the room, with everyone having different reactions.
"N-No way!" Naruto thought in shock.
Haymitch dropped his flask, his mouth open in surprise. Katniss widened her eyes, not expecting to hear that come out of Coin's mouth.
"Another Hunger Games?" Johanna spoke out, chuckling lightly, "So you want to use the Capitol's children this time or what?"
"Did someone else think of this?" Annie spoke up, confused as to why Coin would make such a rash decision.
"No," Coin shook her head, "It was my own."
Katniss narrowed her eyes, confirming her suspicions. She now had what she needed to make her decision.
"Let us begin casting votes now," Coin said with a smile.
"Listen, Sno- I mean Coin…" Naruto corrected, briefly seeing the image of the old dictator flash in his head, "Sorry, Coin, this isn't the right thing to do. If we hold another Hunger Games, it un-does everything we've been fighting for! We would just be continuing the cycle of hatred, pain, and suffering!"
Naruto looked around for support, but he hardly found any. Wanting to make his stance clear, Naruto spoke up once again, "If we continue these Hunger Games, it will only lead to more hate. Hate for the rebels, hate for the government, and hate for you. What do you think that hate will evolve into?"
Coin raised her eyebrow.
"Another rebellion, however this time, you would be the tyrant," Naruto spoke with conviction in his voice. "I vote no."
Nobody spoke for a while after that, while Coin had an expression of annoyance on her face. That was until somebody finally broke the silence.
Enobaria then spoke up, "I heard that Snow has a granddaughter, she could compete in these new games… I vote yes."
Naruto mentally cringed at hearing this, also realizing he threatened the girl's safety to Snow when he was beating the man. However, when his anger wore off and he thought back to it, he berated himself for it. He shouldn't have let his anger control him as it did.
"Let them see what it's like!" Johanna cheered on, "We've been doing it for too long while they've been able to bet and laugh! I vote yes!"
"I vote yes," Beetee spoke up from his wheelchair, "Wiress died unfairly, the Capitol must see the atrocities they commit for themselves."
"Am…am I the only one seeing the cruelty here?" Naruto thought in shock, nobody was agreeing with him. Perhaps everyone was letting their trauma and anger guide their decisions… which he knew all about. However, this was something that had drastic consequences.
Deciding to ask a question on his mind, Naruto asked with crossed arms, "What about Finnick? Shouldn't he be here?"
"Normally, yes," Coin nodded, "However, he is in a medical coma so our surgeons can save his life. We don't expect him to awaken soon, so he will unfortunately not be here to cast his vote."
"I vote yes!" Annie said with teary eyes, "They've caused too much pain to so many! Not only us, but they also forced Finnick to do… terrible things…" she sniffled, remembering how her husband used to be an escort.
"Haymitch, Katniss," Coin said aloud, "What are your decisions?"
"I…" Haymitch took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts.
However, it was Katniss who spoke out first.
The Girl on Fire looked directly into the eyes of Coin, "I still get to kill Snow, right?"
Coin nodded with a sinister smile on her face.
"Then I vote yes…" she said with a deep breath, "For justice…for Rue…for Prim…"
Looking over at his student's decision, Haymitch sighed, "Snow's done too much damage, he's even killed all my loved ones…" taking a swig from his flask, he slammed it back down onto the wooden table, "I vote yes."
Naruto looked around him, disgust welling inside him. He couldn't believe that out of everybody present, he was the only person to vote 'no' out of the room. Turning his head, he saw Katniss look at him with pleading eyes. He suspected she voted yes for some ulterior motive, but he wasn't so sure about the others. Katniss never supported the Hunger Games for as long as he knew her… so he knew something had to be up.
"So that's it… huh…" Naruto said softly with his head down, his hair covering his eyes.
"The votes have been counted," Coin announced, "It has been six to one, in favor of continuing the Hunger Games. The announcement will be made after the executions have finished."
Without another word, everyone in the room jumped a little in their seat as they heard a loud crash.
Turning over, they saw Naruto standing up abruptly, with his chair slamming into the floor. Without another word, he walked out of the room. He didn't even glance at anybody, choosing to leave before he said something he would regret.
"Leave him be," Coin said softly, "I'm sure he'll come around eventually, for now, we continue as planned."
Katniss heard her fiance slowly walk out with a saddened look. She hoped he would understand her reasoning.
Hours Later – Snow's Execution
The entirety of Panem lined up in the thousands as they watched Coin give her announcement. She was at a podium, speaking to everybody in attendance. There were even various Victors standing on the ground floor.
Off to the side of them, stood Karin, Pollux, Cressida, and Effie. They were also present, watching this unfold with their own eyes.
Hundreds of rebels who fought in the war stood on the ground floor as well, standing behind the Mockingjay.
As for Katniss, she was dressed up in her Mockingjay outfit while loaded with her bow and arrows. She had been walked out of an entrance as Coin spoke, ready to fire.
Walking near the Victors, Katniss waited until Coin finished her speech. That would be her cue to kill Snow once and for all.
As she stood, she felt a hand slide into her own and squeeze. Startled, she looked over to see Naruto's comforting gaze.
"You'll do great," he encouraged, "Go out there and make it happen, Girl on Fire," he joked, kissing her knuckles.
"Naru, I want you to know," Katniss whispered back, "I only sided with Coin to gain her trust. That's why I voted yes."
Before he could respond, Coin's cue had been triggered, meaning she had to walk forward. Giving a nod and smile to her lover, she walked forward.
It was now just her and Snow, in the center of the entire stadium.
Snow had been restrained to a ceramic pillar, leaving him defenseless from any arrow piercing his body. He smiled as he looked on, seemingly ready for death. His hands were tied behind his back as he stood.
"Today marks the day of a new Panem! A free Panem!" shouted Coin from her podium, "Today will be the day that a ruthless dictator dies!"
"DOWN WITH SNOW!"
"KILL HIM! KILL HIM!"
It was clear many people were not fans of the older man.
"Mockingjay, may your aim be perfect and unwavering!" Coin said with a wide smile, "Please vanquish the parasite from Panem so that a new world can be born from the ashes!"
Aiming at the man who caused her so much torment throughout the years, Katniss released a big sigh. She wouldn't miss, not now, not ever again.
"Coin was right about one thing…" Katniss pondered as she took aim at Snow's heart.
Everyone watched with baited breaths.
Katniss breathed in deeply.
Cressida recorded the event along with Pollux.
She flexed her fingers around the arrow, adjusting her grip.
Plutarch bit the inside of his cheek.
She looked on at Snow, seeing his expression of acceptance.
Karin adjusted her glasses, not wanting to miss anything.
She contemplated the words of Naruto and Snow.
Johanna narrowed her eyes with a smile on her face.
"We did promise to not lie to one another…"
Haymitch was sober for once, watching on with a frown.
Katniss remembered Gale's expression when confronted about the bomb.
Naruto decided to place all his faith in his soulmate.
Katniss realized she didn't want another Snow in power.
"…a ruthless dictator will die today…" the Girl on Fire finished her thought.
It all happened so fast.
Shifting her aim, Katniss focused on Coin. With a release, her arrow soared through the air until it made contact with its target.
"I…I…" Coin huffed out, not expecting to receive an arrow through her heart. She died without being able to say any last words, as she crumbled to the ground. It only took a few seconds, but the woman was dead.
Others looked on in shock, with many officials going to check on Coin. The rebels that stood behind Katniss were stunned as well, not expecting this outcome.
"Ahahahahah… AHAHAHAHAHAH!" Snow laughed manically, finding this situation to be humorous. He cackled and laughed, despite the fact blood was pouring down the sides of his lips.
It was clear, he had lost.
However, while Katniss was satisfied with Coin's death, others still wanted Snow dead. Hearing a stampede of people, Katniss looked on as the rebels passed her. They all charged Snow with murderous intent.
She watched as the rebel group tore Snow from limb to limb. He was beaten, stomped, punched, and spit on. There was no inch of skin unblemished from their attacks.
She nearly vomited once she saw his decapitated head being paraded around like a trophy. Many rebels were throwing it up into the air in celebration. Their cheers along with his head would haunt her dreams for years.
However, she was then grabbed by some men from District Thirteen. If she had to guess, they were Coin's subordinates.
As she was being dragged away, she heard Naruto as he was also being restrained. It was clear they were not letting him get to her.
"I'LL GET YOU OUT KAT!" Naruto shouted as he tried to peek over the people blocking his view, "I PROMISE!"
The last thing she saw was Naruto's worried expression and the smiling face of Plutarch.
Three Days Later
Katniss sighed as they sat in her prison cell, eating what little portions they provided her. She had been transported here ever since killing Coin.
To her best knowledge, she was in some detainment area within the Capitol.
Hearing her door open, she was surprised to see a guard walk in. He unlocked her door and stood to the side.
"Ms. Everdeen, you are officially a free woman," the guard spoke, "You are free to leave."
"I'm…what?" Katniss said in confusion, not expecting this.
It was then that Effie walked in, looking for the girl. Once spotted, she rushed over and gave her a hug, "Oh darling, I'm so happy to see you again! Come, come! We must go and get you out of here!"
Being dragged along, Katniss was still wearing her prison uniform which consisted of brown pants and shirt.
"And we'll ditch that horrible outfit they provided you in there!" Effie promised as she escorted her out, "Come, let's go!"
Finding herself dragged into another room, Katniss was in a daze, "Wait, Effie, what's going on? Everything is happening so fast!"
"I know," Effie said with an apologetic smile, "But just come with me, everything will be explained, I promise."
Deciding to follow her lead for now, Katniss was given a change of clothing. It was similar in style and color to her Mockingjay outfit.
After being led by Effie for some time, Katniss came into a courtyard. However, she was pleasantly surprised to see people she knew.
"Ruto!" Katniss said in happiness.
Turning around, Naruto saw his fiance and he gave a wide smile, "Kat!"
She ran until she was in his arms once more, giving him a passionate kiss.
"I got you out," Naruto joked, "I told you I would."
"How?" Katniss questioned.
"Uhh… I hope you didn't forget we're here as well," Haymitch grumbled, pointing to himself and Effie.
Ignoring them for now, Naruto continued, "After Coin's death, there was a trial regarding your freedom. Some people called for your imprisonment, others wanted you freed."
Haymitch then interjected, "That's when me, lover boy, and some others testified in your defense. Paylor took the President role after the leaders of each District agreed she would be the best. I don't know how the election system is going to work, but for now, she's top dog."
"Right," Naruto nodded, "Paylor decided to air the trial live all over Panem, so everyone could see your innocence or guilt. After providing some evidence, like the blueprints for Beetee's delayed explosions, we eventually proved that Coin was in charge of bombing those children. Everyone agreed that you were only acting in the best interest of Panem, by refusing another maniac to take control."
"But it's still best if we get out of here," Haymitch said, "We'll let them cool off for now."
"Thank you… all of you," Katniss said with a genuine smile.
"Of course," Naruto said with a grin, "Now, let's go home!"
"I thought you'd never ask!" Haymitch said while heading toward the train taking them back.
Katniss smiled… she could finally be at peace for once in her life.
One Year Later – District Twelve
"Do you, Naruto Uzumaki, take Katniss Everdeen to be your lawful wife to care for her, for as long as you both live?"
"I do," Naruto smiled, wearing a dark navy suit, with some flecks of orange. His shoes were a dark brown and he held a large grin on his face.
"Do you, Katniss Everdeen, promise to take Naruto Uzumaki to be your lawful husband until death do you part?"
"I do," Katniss smiled, feeling her eyes shine. She was in a beautiful, white wedding dress with streaks of blue fluttering around.
Both of their outfits were designed by Effie, who took the effort of going through Cinna's old designs of outfits. With his inspiration, she designed each outfit for the couple.
"Then you both may kiss to seal your union."
Leaning forward, Naruto softly planted his lips atop Katniss, symbolizing their love.
His mother's jewel necklace shined from his neck, as he received it back from Katniss. He was finally able to get it back. He had earned it back.
"YEAH!" shouted Plutarch from the crowd, happy to see the couple thrive. He was normally a reserved man, but even he was excited for this moment.
Everyone else in attendance gave a blush of embarrassment at hearing the man shout in such a passionate moment.
Not many people in Panem were present, as both Naruto and Katniss wanted this to be a private affair. Only people they knew, or invites from trusted individuals, were allowed.
Some notable people in the crowd, besides Plutarch and Effie, were Cressida, Mrs. Everdeen, and Commander Paylor.
Of course, Cressida filmed the entire event while wearing her respective dress.
They were located atop a hill overlooking a lake near District Twelve. The birds chirped happily while a pleasant breeze rolled throughout the open area. They were truly surrounded by nature.
After District Twelve's destruction, there had been a massive reconstruction effort. With the help of other Districts, as well as Paylor's aid, District Twelve was slowly thriving again. In one year, they had managed to clean up all the remaining rubble while forging new buildings.
There was a graveyard nearby that was dedicated to the many lives lost in the war, with a memorial being erected in the center of the new District. In time, perhaps they would lose the name 'District Twelve' and elect to call themselves something different.
Naruto had his groomsmen lined up to his side, with Finnick being his best man. Finnick, Haymitch, and Pollux all wore gray suits and had smiles on their faces. After the war, Finnick was able to get treatment for his injury and survived. They had managed to heal his open wound, leaving behind a stump. He was currently in the works on getting a prosthetic limb that could replace his ripped arm. As for now, he just had one active arm.
Katniss had a few bridesmaids as well on her side. Johanna stood right behind her, with Karin and Annie standing with flowers in their hands. They were all dressed in a different shade of color than Katniss, wearing their respective dresses.
As for Mrs. Everdeen, she sat in the crowd with a tearful reaction on her face. Her baby was finally growing up and soon, she would have a family on her own. It was a beautiful sight for the aging mother.
"Looks like we finally got our happy ending, huh Kat?" Naruto whispered to his now wife.
"We did, Ruto," Katniss smiled back, happy that she was able to get such an ending for herself.
"Now bring out the booze!" Haymitch shouted while slinging his arm over Finnick's shoulder, "We are thirsty!"
Naruto chuckled before looking around, "You heard the man, bring out the booze!"
The rest of the night was spent partying, eating, cheering, and smiles being shared all around.
Naruto and Finnick tried their best to restrain Haymitch from jumping down the hill while incredibly drunk.
Karin and Cressida both shared a few drinks and spoke in the corner, having their own private conversation.
Katniss had to pat Annie's back as she accidentally drank too much and vomited into some nearby bushes, while Finnick held her hair back.
While giving cheers, Naruto spoke about his time with Edwin and Peeta. The atmosphere was sad as he spoke about his two most important people, but he kept a smile the whole time. He knew they would have wanted him to live on. He also spoke about how lucky he was to be marrying the love of his life.
Katniss also gave her speech, explaining how she was once a tough girl with a hardened exterior. She was glad to have met Naruto, her husband, as he helped her face the world. She also credited her deceased father for implementing so many moral values into her while young, with her mother helping immensely. She also spoke about Prim, about how she would miss her forever.
Both mentioned Rue in their speeches. That young girl would never leave their minds as long as they lived.
Sometime later, the married couple took some time to themselves while sitting by the lake.
"You know… it's funny…" Katniss said while staring into the moon, seeing how it had turned night, "I never thought I would have seen so many people together, that didn't include war."
"Right?" Naruto smiled, "It's so weird seeing them all come together for our wedding, almost like it's a dream."
The two held hands as they stared into the night sky, content to be in the other's presence. They had lived hard lives, horrible lives, but they lived. Now, they could live out the rest of their lives with one another.
"Thank you, Ruto…" Katniss whispered out.
"Hmm?" Naruto questioned, "For what?"
"For never giving up on me."
"I could never do that," Naruto smiled.
The two shared another kiss, happy to finally be married for real this time.
Epilogue – The Aftermath (Twelve Years Later)
"Dinner's ready!" Katniss said from inside their home, located a few miles out of the main portion of District Twelve.
She was turning off the stove as she prepared to plate their food.
"Mama!" spoke a young girl with golden hair and brown eyes, "Let me help you!" She hopped over to her mother, eager to help. She was only six years old, but she was a very active child.
"Thank you, darling!" Katniss answered with a small smile, "Be sure to plate the whole table, we have guests coming over tonight."
"We do?!" The girl said with stars in her eyes, "Does that mean that-"
Before the girl could finish her question, the duo heard their front door open. Turning their heads, they watched as Effie and Haymitch walked in together.
"AUNTIE EFFIE!" shouted the girl, as she barreled toward the older woman.
"SWEETIE PIE!" Effie responded with open arms and picking up the girl, "Did you miss me?"
"Mmmhmm," the girl nodded, excited to be around one of her favorite 'aunts.'
Haymitch chuckled, ruffling the girl's hair, "Nice to see you too, brat."
The girl huffed, "Uncle Haymitch is such a meanie."
Effie grinned and nodded, "He is, but that's just because he's old. Don't worry about him, he's just jealous you like me more."
The girl stuck her tongue out at the man, a habit most likely from her father. As for Haymitch, he laughed at the scene.
After their wedding, Haymitch and Effie both began dating, which Katniss saw from a mile away. They didn't have children, whether because they were too old or didn't care to try, Katniss didn't know. Besides a few stray gray hairs and wrinkles, the duo still seemed sharp.
After her kids were born, they took an uncle and aunt role, which she accepted without issue. They both lived in a house that wasn't too far from their own, as they all lived relatively close to one another.
"Prim," Katniss said while undoing her apron, "Do you know where your brother is?"
"He's outside with Papa, Mama," the girl answered.
"Of course he is," Katniss huffed, "Can you please get him?"
"I got it," Haymitch said, walking out the door with a chuckle.
The girl knew she was named after her deceased aunt, as her mother would often tell her stories. However, she didn't mind because she personally loved the name.
Her full name was Jade Primrose Uzumaki. However, she often went by her middle name.
As Haymitch walked back outside, he went around the back of the house. He would normally find Naruto out here, doing yard work or something similar. However, this time, he was doing something much more serious.
He was in an arm wrestling contest over an overturned log.
"C'mon, Dad! Beat Uncle Finnick!" shouted a young boy of six, with blue eyes and brown hair. This was Maxwell Edwin Uzumaki. However, he often went by Max and sometimes Edwin. "Don't let him win!"
"No way! You got this Dad!" shouted another boy with blue eyes and red hair. This was the young son of Annie and Finnick, Lucas Odair. "You can beat Uncle Naruto! Get him!'
As for the two 'adults' in this situation, they were also throwing their banter.
"Give up Finnick!" Naruto breathed out, "I'm winning this!"
"Not on my watch!" Finnick puffed out.
It was clear both men were reaching their limits.
"And you're telling me these two were trained warriors? Victors of their respective Hunger Games?" Haymitch thought with a blank expression, staring at the men. It was funny how time could change your perspective on someone. "And now they get fatigued after a few seconds of arm wrestling…"
Suddenly, the group was surprised to hear a familiar voice.
"FINNICK ODAIR!"
"Oh snap… that's aunt Cresta…." Naruto's son said in a gasp, worried for his father now. Looking over, he announced, "Abort Dad! Abort!"
Before they could however, they watched an enraged Annie Cresta walk over and slam her fist over both of their heads.
"Oww!" Naruto cried out, rubbing his skull.
As for Finnick, he also dropped out of the contest and winced from the blow.
"You said you were going to help Katniss set up the table! That's why I let you and Lucas head off early!" Annie said while throwing her hands up, "And I find you here instead?"
"I…uhh…" Finnick said intelligently.
"And you!" Annie pointed at Naruto who blinked, "You're supposed to help your wife!"
"Aha… Sorry," Naruto rubbed the back of his head, "I guess we got a little carried away."
Annie nodded, "You both did, now clean this up and head inside!"
"Yes ma'am!" they announced, cleaning up their mess.
"That a way Mom! You rule!"
"Yeah, Aunt Cresta! You're the best!"
Haymitch laughed, finding the entire situation to be funny. It seemed women really did rule the household.
It looks like he wasn't needed after all.
A Few Minutes Later – in the Uzumaki Household
Many people sat around the dinner table as they talked, chatted, and ate.
Karin had also managed to use her wealth and build her own home not too far from Naruto's, managing to stay close to her remaining family.
Finnick also lived close by, but that was a different case. After the war was over, he wanted to head back to his original District. However, thanks to some convincing from Naruto, he eventually built his own house in District Twelve as well. They reasoned that their kids could grow up together, and the adults would always be nearby in case of an emergency.
So far, Finnick was not regretting his decision.
"Momma, I was wondering what happened to Aunt Johanna?" Prim asked. To the kids, everyone was an aunt or uncle unless they were a grandparent. After all, each of the adults had gone through more experiences together than most families did.
"She couldn't make it darling," Katniss answered, "She's busy with work. Same with Granny."
It was true, as Johanna decided to open a business back in her home District. As for Mrs. Everdeen, she often spent time from District to District as a traveling nurse.
Hearing a garbled noise, some of the occupants turned to see Naruto gently feeding their toddler who had barely turned two. He was a young boy with his father's golden hair and eyes. However, he had Katniss's nose and facial features. He sat upon his separate feeding chair, off to the side of the dinner table.
"C'mon, say Dada!" Naruto praised, speaking softly to his toddler.
To their surprise, the baby spit and yelled out, "Mama!"
Everyone laughed as Naruto wiped his face, feeling defeated.
"It looks like Silas is better at saying my name," Katniss giggled.
Despite this setback, Naruto took a step back and eyed his family. Regarding their children, Naruto laughed when he thought of his firstborns. It was quite funny how he faked a twin pregnancy with Katniss many years ago, and she ended up having twins legitimately.
Silas Uzumaki came not too long after that, now age two. Jade and Max were happy to have a baby brother.
Now, Katniss was five months pregnant with their most recent child. It would be a girl for the family, they planned to name her Rue.
He still remembered what happened when they first announced it to their friends and family.
"Geeze," Karin said under her breath, "You can't keep it in your pants, can you?"
It still made him laugh to this day.
As a family, they laughed and sang with each other often. Katniss always held a beautiful singing voice and he strummed his guitar along, happy to have such a big family.
Thinking of family, he remembered Snow's granddaughter. After the rebellion was over, Naruto personally set her up with some money he had from his time as a Victor. After ensuring she would be financially set, he also gave her Lucy Gray Baird's earring that he took from Snow. The only information he revealed about it to her, was that it was something precious to her grandfather and he wanted her to have it.
He would also regularly bring his family to visit her, with Katniss being cautious about the idea at first. However, as time went on, she slowly realized that this girl was nothing like her grandfather. Their kids even looked up to her as somewhat of an older sister.
Many people sought her out to kill her, but Naruto ensured she stayed hidden. The last update he heard was that she was getting married soon to a boy and wanted him to walk her down the aisle, as he was a father figure to her. This was because he did much for her over the years.
Over the years, the headaches and pains from his time being tortured slowly went away. The fake memories were difficult to distinguish, but Katniss would help remind him of what happened. Of course, he also had numerous friends around him to help as well.
As for Gale, the last he heard was that the man was somewhere in District Two. He didn't know if the man was in any romantic relationship, but he didn't contact him or Katniss at all over the years.
Commander Paylor still ran Panem, as she was constantly re-elected every five years. It seemed however that she would soon take herself out of the political race as she was getting older. Perhaps she wanted another, younger person to take over so she could retire soon. There were no term limits, so she was thinking about enacting some before she left office.
He did get a few offers from her to run the nation, but he politely declined. He preferred to be with his family, where he could spend the rest of his days contently.
As he watched his family interact with one another, he couldn't help but smile. He watched as Max passed a salt shaker over to Lucas, only for Annie to take it away and claim that Lucas put enough salt on his food.
Finnick and Haymitch were discussing something in private, while Effie and Karin gushed over Prim and Silas. They would normally cuddle Max as well, but he had become more defiant lately, claiming he was too manly for hugs.
However, he was never too manly for his mother's hugs.
Leaning back in his dining chair, Naruto looked over to his wife and gave her a quick kiss.
"Thank you, Kat," Naruto said, "For giving us a family, and being my wife."
Katniss smiled, "I guess the Girl on Fire was no match for the Golden Boy's charms," she joked while pecking his cheek.
Naruto smiled while looking at their wedding rings. His jewel necklace shined brightly as it dangled from his neck.
There would be no more Hunger Games, no more suffering, and no more pain. Their children would grow up in a peaceful society, go to school, and make friends their own age.
He often wrote in his journal at night, sometimes to quell his nightmares, other times to document their lives. He always reminded himself of what he and Katniss promised.
They promised to live, and so, they would continue to live.
WE ARE DONE!
This is the final chapter of the story, officially making it complete!
I can't lie, I feel sad that it's over, but great that it's come to its conclusion.
I want to say thank you to everybody who's read, favorited, reviewed, etc. regarding this story! It really means a lot to me!
If you liked this story, please let me know! I hope the ending was phenomenal!
I wrapped up as many loose ends as I could, while also adding my own twist on it. It's all been such a great journey, from start to finish.
Now, I'm on to finishing my other stories, so please feel free to follow those as well.
Once again, thank you for reading!
Until next time!
Cheers!