The Hunger Games: Mashup

Chapter Two

District 1

Sitting at his table, the child named Naruto Uzumaki sat on his stool, delicately tapping the metal into place-folding it around the brilliant five karat diamond. He had golden hair and blue eyes, and there were three lines on each cheek-a symbol of what he really was. Stockily built and fairly tall, Naruto looked the same way he had been since he was nine. But he was sixteen now, and things had changed. He was unparalleled when it came to brute strength and power in his fighting class. Strong as an ox and as tough as nails, Naruto had stamina most people trained their whole lives to achieve. Of course, he had a special secret as to why that was, but he wasn't willing to share it with just anyone. Orange and black were his favorite colors, so naturally he dressed himself in that color specifically. Aside from that, his headband was especially unique. Written on it, the Japanese kanji for "Shinobi" was written on it-in a language long forgotten by the people of Panem. He kept it though, because it was a hand-me-down from his teacher.

"Just a little more...and it'll be done," he murmured to himself. Most people would be surprised to see him so focused-but when Naruto got into his work, nothing could sway him from his workbench. Well, except for...

"NARUTO!! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!!" came a loud mouthed voice. Naruto's concentration snapped and he sighed in anger. He slammed the hammer back onto the table, but placed the unfinished ring back into its cotton basket with delicate precision. He stood up, wiping his hands free of gold dust. He looked over at the door expectantly as the sound of storming footsteps grew closer and closer to his apartment. On reflex, his right hand extended down to his belt-a stash of shuriken stars placed there...just in case.

The footsteps stopped right outside of the door, and through the thin curtains, Naruto could see a young girl's outline through the fabric. As soon as the door cracked the slightest bit open, Naruto thrust three throwing stars directly at the girl's forehead. As though expecting them, the girl caught them easily between her fingers, stopping them an inch from her temple. She glared at Naruto.

"Watch yourself, blondie," she snapped at him. He grinned at her cheerfully.

"What do you want, Natsumi?" he asked her bluntly. Natsumi Hinata smirked at him. Flaming red hair and a bossy attitude, Natsumi was easily the strongest girl in District 1. Blessed with a never-say-die attitude and a fair amount of sass, Natsumi was popular in every way, shape, and form. Beautiful and strong, Natsumi was a hard person to beat, whether in a wrestling competition or a beauty contest. She wore whatever fitted her mind, but today, she wore a pink denim vest and yellow cotton sweats. She had just come back from the silver smith, and she even carried her poker with her. She narrowed her eyes at Naruto threateningly.

"I have to tell you something really big, Naruto," she told him. Naruto sat back onto his bench, slumping back.

"I don't wanna fight today, Natsumi. I'm tired. Besides, I still have to finish this ring for one of the Gamemakers. It's not very often that Master Kakashi lets me make these kinds of jewelry for people as impressive as the Gamemakers," he said to her. She glared at him.

"Although this has something to do with Gamemakers, it's much more important, idiot!" she spat at him. He raised an eyebrow at her dumbly, and her stare at him intensified.

"The Hunger Games have started," she told him. Naruto sat dumbfounded in his seat, unable to fully comprehend what she was saying. Suddenly, he jumped up, overturning his work bench.

"NO WAY!! When?!!" he asked her in excitement.

"Soon. Very soon," she told him ominously. He grinned, a twinkle in his eye. Naruto hadn't felt like fighting just a few moments ago, but now he was so eager to get into that arena, he was ready to kill the entire population of Panem just to get there.

"Yeah!! Now I get to show my stuff! And once I win the Hunger Games, I'll be that much closer to becoming the President of Panem!!" he cheered. He jumped up in the air ecstatically. Natsumi glared at him.

"Wake up, stupid! You're up against the strongest of the strong in these games! You're likelihood of success are little to none! There's no way an insolent child like you could ever win the games!" she cried. He rolled his eyes at her, his mood too good to be ruined by her insults.

"Don't forget, Natsumi-I'm two years older than you. This is my last chance to get into the Games! If I volunteer, I'm bound to get in and win! After this year, I have to go to private training with Master Kakashi! I won't get another chance at this-ever!"

Naruto shivered with excitement, the gleam in his eye brightening at the thought. "I've been an orphan for my entire life. Nobody gave a damn about me all through my life. Only Master Iruka and a couple others were able to see me for who I was, and not for what I have sealed inside of me! If I win these Games, I'll become the President of Panem and then people will have to respect me! I've waited my whole life for this opportunity! I'm not going to let some whimpering pup steal my chance at success! I'll do it, or die trying!"

"Quit talking stupid, stupid!" snapped Natsumi, hitting on the back of the head. As Naruto rubbed his head, Natsumi gave a shiver as well. But she wasn't excited...rather...she was afraid.

"I turned fourteen last week, Naruto," she told him softly. Naruto's face fell, and he bit down on the bottom of his lip.

"So? You have more names in the drawings, that's all," he murmured, but looking highly uncomfortable. Natsumi glared at him.

"I don't want to die, Naruto. I know that it's still slim that I'll get in. I'm only fourteen. The fact is that I don't want to die! If I do get in, there's no way in hell anyone will every volunteer to replace me! District 1 may have a decent chance at winning the Games, but that doesn't mean I'm going to win! Ill be up against twenty five other kids who are being put in the arena for a battle to the death!" she told him desperately. Naruto paled, and Natsumi glared at him.

"Think a little before you speak, dummy! You might be excited to be in the Games, but people like me would rather be anywhere else but in that hellhole!!"