A/N: This is it. The final chapter. By the end you will know the winner. I present the final chapter of the Naruto games.

The Naruto Games

Chapter 9

The morning of the seventh day was greeted by rainclouds sent by the game masters. The sun did not make an appearance; only more clouds. It soon began to rain heavily. Big drops of water that fell everywhere and made everything wet. The four remaining tributes were soon soaked.

Naruto and Sakura had left the lake and instead searched for the remaining two elsewhere. Meanwhile Sasuke was on the hunt for Haku after the silent tribute had stolen some of his food supplies. Knowing he couldn't be too far ahead Sasuke searched for him high and low.

And as luck would have it Haku's movements had been restricted. It was raining far too heavily for him to be up in the trees jumping from branch to branch. Not only was it too slippery but he could hardly see two feet in front of his face. So instead Haku was on the ground like everyone else.

Sasuke chased him through the forest with a sword in each hand. He was having a very hard time trying to catch up as Haku had a good head start and was a skilled runner. He lunged through the forest at great leaps as Sasuke found it hard to keep up.

But with that much water it was only a matter of time. As Haku leapt forward he slipped in all that water and his body came crashing down. He hit the ground hard and his face landed in the mud. Spitting it out he turned over to see Sasuke had caught up to him and was mere feet away.

Haku threw one of his throwing knives he kept hidden in his shirt at Sasuke. It punctured his right shoulder. "Arggh!" Sasuke did not stop running but ripped the knife out of his shoulder with one hand as he ran.

As he came toward Haku the quiet boy pushed out with his upper body and kicked out with both legs. Both feet connected with Sasuke's stomach sending him hurtling backwards. He hit the ground with a thud a few feet away. Haku quickly pulled himself back to his feet and ran off.

Despite having the air knocked out of his lungs Sasuke was not about to give up. Trying to catch his breath he pulled himself to his feet. Tightening the grip on his swords he ran after the fleeing tribute.

Sasuke would've liked to throw something at Haku's back as he ran but dare not throw either of his swords. He still had a knife in his pocket but without being able to put one of his weapons down he didn't think he'd be able to throw it well enough to hit.

Haku was maybe twenty feet ahead of him now. He was no longer trying to lose his pursuer in the trees or trap him long enough to escape. Instead he was merely running straight ahead of him. Sasuke thought if he put all his energy into sprinting he might catch up to him. But just then Haku suddenly turned to the right into the trees and out of sight.

Surprised Sasuke kept running till he got to the same spot and turned right himself but right before he reached the trees Haku slashed at him with a knife. The weapon was parallel to his neck and it would surely cut his throat and kill him. But Sasuke had a split second to slip and chose to fall on his back rather than die.

Not prepared to miss Haku had to choose between fleeing and attacking again. He decided to redirect the knife and stab down at Sasuke's heart. However the seventh district tribute let go of his sword and grabbed Haku's wrist right before the knife cut him. Sasuke was inherently stronger than Haku and while he had him in his grasp he punched him in the face knocking him down.

Sasuke had expected a guy like Haku wouldn't be able to take a punch and thus was surprised when he quickly recovered and scampered away. Once again he had decided to flee rather than stay and fight. Sasuke was starting to get annoyed and without thinking hurled one of his swords at the teen.

The sword missed and as he ran to pick it up he almost lost sight of his target. Running in the general direction Sasuke wondered if Haku had managed to disappear somewhere in the rain when he found his way to the lake. Glancing around left and right he wondered if Haku had hidden himself in the water or something just as ridiculous.

Just then a throwing knife was hurled at him. Sasuke barely managed to block it with his swords before Haku appeared out of nowhere with two more. The first he flung straight at Sasuke's face. The dark haired teen only just turned his head to the side so the knife merely skimmed his ear; drawing blood.

But Sasuke had barely turned his head when Haku stabbed the second knife straight into his right knee. He would've tried to stab his chest but both swords were still blocking it. Sasuke screamed in pain and tried on reflex to slash at Haku. He quickly leapt back in time to avoid it.

Sasuke started to see double but continued to try to slash at Haku who was now weaponless. Even in his weakened state he got lucky and cut Haku on the left arm. It was a shallow cut but Haku seemed alarmed by it. He suddenly turned and flung himself into the lake.

Looking confused Sasuke stood there in the rain blinking as he saw Haku's head come up out of the water. "If you want to kill me," Haku spoke for the first time. "You'll have to come in here."

Sasuke gritted his teeth and cursed. Gripping the knife he pulled it out of his flesh and winced. He knew with his hurt leg he'd never be able to swim out there. And with no projectile weapons to aid him Haku was safe for now.

It was then that Sasuke noticed something for the first time since they had reached the lake. The rain that had been coming down so heavily was replaced with hail. The hail was heavy and it came down just as hard as the rain if not more so. A thought crossed his mind and Sasuke burst out laughing.

"Ah ha ha ha!" He laughed clutching at his sides. "Ha ha! Go ahead and stay in there Haku!" He yelled out toward the lake. "I don't even need to kill you anymore. You've seen to that!"

And with that final laugh Sasuke slowly walked off. Heading toward the cornucopia he did not bother to look back.

Less than an hour later the hail had turned to snow. Sakura and Naruto now tried to push through it in their attempt to find the last two tributes. Neither of the two of them were dressed for this kind of weather. Both wrapped their arms around their sides and shivered frightfully.

"S-Sakura," Naruto sniveled. "We need to find someplace where it isn't snowing! We're going to freeze to death!"

"I doubt there is a place where it isn't snowing." Sakura answered. "This is obviously the game masters trying to kill us all off!"

"I-I don't think they'd do that." Naruto shook his head. "They want us to kill each other."

"Then maybe…" Sakura looked thoughtful. "Maybe they're trying to herd us somewhere. Maybe there's one place that it isn't snowing and that's where they want us to fight. That way we won't have to look for each other."

"But where?" Naruto asked.

"Hmm…I'm not sure." She pondered for a moment. "This would be a lot easier if the arena was circular and there was a tower or something in the middle."

"Well there sure isn't a tower here." Realization hit Naruto. "But there is the cornucopia! What about that?"

"That must be it!" Sakura nodded. "It's the only actual manmade structure that we've seen. I'd bet my life that's where the other two will be."

"Let's hope you don't have to," the blonde frowned.

The two quickly made a turn in the opposite direction and headed toward the cornucopia. It wasn't too far from their current location but with the snow and howling wind it seemed miles and miles away.

They hadn't been walking long when they heard the sound of a cannon going off. They barely heard it over the storm but there was no mistaking the familiar sound. "Who do you think that was?" Naruto asked.

"I don't know," Sakura said trying to push herself forward. "Let's just hope it was the stronger of the two. Maybe we'll get lucky and whoever is left is badly wounded." But what neither Sakura nor Naruto knew was that it was Haku who had died. He had frozen to death soon after it started snowing. He got out of the lake but it was too late and he didn't manage to warm up in time. Instead his corpse lay frozen in the snow.

The pink haired girl even briefly hoped they'd soon hear the sound of another cannon going off but didn't get her wish. They kept walking but heard nothing but the wind against their frozen ears. When they got close to the cornucopia the two got out their weapons. Sakura had the two knives while Naruto was using the axe that Kiba had used to kill Hinata.

Their assumption had been correct as the area around the cornucopia was clear of snow or any weather at all. There wasn't a cloud in the sky despite a storm raging mere feet away. It was truly an amazing sight to behold. Once they got under the warmth of the sun they could not help but feel relieved as warmth once again spread through their bodies.

"This feels wonderful!" Sakura said rubbing her frozen hands together.

Meanwhile Naruto was looking around. "I don't see anyone. Do you reckon we beat the last tribute here?"

"They might be hiding," Sakura reckoned. "We need to be careful."

But just then Naruto's foot caught a wire. The trap wrapped itself around his ankle before pulling him forward. It slammed him right up against the cornucopia with quite a lot of force and held him there.

"Naruto!" Sakura called out. "Are you—mmm?" Her sentence was cut off in the middle as a hand wrapped itself over her mouth. The hand was there to muffle the scream as a sword was thrust through her back to come out of her stomach on the other side.

Sakura's eyes grew wide as pain racked her body. Blood poured out of the wound and down the length of her body. Despite having her mouth covered the sounds that did escape were horrifying to listen to. She struggled to escape his grasp but was restrained. Her struggles soon became twitches at which time the sword was quickly pulled out of her body.

A cannon went off.

From where he had been trapped Naruto had watched it all. "NO!" He screamed. "No! Sakura!" He sliced at the wire holding him up. After a few tries it cut through and he fell to the ground. The axe had fallen from his hands and lie on the ground a few feet away.

Sasuke watched Naruto escape from his trap and then fall. Knowing he had to attack before the blonde could reclaim his weapon Sasuke rushed forward both swords ready to strike.

Naruto fumbled on the ground. Hands groping for his weapon he scrambled forward sensing Sasuke's immediate approach. Suddenly his hands felt cold metal rather than grass. Realizing it was his weapon he quickly gripped it in his hands and without a moment's thought or hesitation he brought it up as fast as he could in a slashing motion.

The axe cut deeply into Sasuke's lower left stomach. He had just been about to strike Naruto with both his swords when the axe had shot up and cut through him like paper before freeing itself of his flesh.

Sasuke gasped; the scream caught in his throat. Blood poured out of his wound and he suddenly felt too weak to stand. He fell to his knees just as Naruto scrambled to his feet. The swords in his hand felt heavy and the strength to carry them seemed to have left him.

Once he realized Sasuke was no longer a threat Naruto had run past him without a second glance. He ran to Sakura and held her head up with his arm. "Sakura? Sakura!" He shook her slightly. "No please…" He gulped as fresh tears lit his cheeks. "Don't be dead! Don't leave me here. Don't leave me all alone…"

Meanwhile Sasuke glared angrily at the blonde. His thoughts were frantic and filled with panic. No! This can't be it! I didn't come this far just to get second place and die! I still have to kill my brother and avenge my family!

His left hand desperately reached for his sword handle. His grip was unsteady as he barely managed to hold onto his sword. Get up! He told himself. Get up and fight damn it!

Naruto had laid Sakura's head back down on the grass before turning toward Sasuke. He glared angrily at the weakened tribute. His hand gripped the axe as hard as he could before he brought it up to strike. Sasuke was helpless to defend himself and Naruto could see that. It would be easy. Kill him and it would all be over.

Naruto lowered the axe suddenly down to his waist. "I…don't care." He said. Sasuke looked at him confused. He had no idea what was going on or what he was doing. Why wasn't he attacking? "I don't give a shit about this game." He explained.

"I could win…but then what? It wouldn't do me any good. I'd still be alone. Hinata's dead, Sakura's dead, everybody else is dead! I don't want to be alone. I don't want to play their game anymore." He dropped the axe onto the grass.

"I want them to know that they can't control me." His voice was full of conviction as he said this. "That they do NOT own me! I am Naruto!" he shouted. "And I will stay Naruto. So you win."

Sasuke looked back and forth from Naruto to the axe lying untouched on the ground. He didn't believe it. But despite the precious seconds that passed nothing happened. There was no trick. It was real. Sasuke realized this.

While one of his hands held his wound closed the other gripped his sword. Using the last of his strength he stood up and slashed the blade across Naruto's throat. A quart of blood spilled out onto Sasuke and the grass and then Naruto's body fell to the ground.

A cannon went off. Followed closely by trumpets coming from all sides. Sasuke recognized it as the music that was played when someone won the hunger games. Falling back down to his knees he realized he had won. The sound of a helicopter filled the air behind him and he knew they were coming to take him back.

But just then Sasuke spotted something shiny. Lying on the ground was a small coin that had fallen out of Naruto's pocket when he died. There was a crow on the silver coin and Sasuke wondered what it meant. He closed his fingers around the coin and saw the men come to take him away. But before they could take him away he had already fallen unconscious.

Three days later Sasuke stood in the very center of the capital. The country's best doctors had worked extensively on him making sure he not only survived but was back to full health as quickly as possible. He now stood on a platform where thousands of people watched him receive his award. It was a great honor and he was congratulated for his success. No one mentioned how close he came to losing or that he had been given the win.

Sasuke himself was not sure how to feel about the mercy he had been given. He was glad he won but had always intended to do it alone. Never had he thought he would be shown pity by an opponent and allowed to win. So instead of worrying about it he tried to think of his goal. He was now one step closing to killing his brother.

As a speech in his honor was given Sasuke found himself paying less and less attention. Now he didn't hear the speech at all; instead he focused on the sound of his own heartbeat. Digging into his pockets he pulled out a strand of red hair from one and a coin with a crow on it from the other.

He felt oddly sad.

A/N: I don't think many people will be happy with the winner, but you should know I planned it from the beginning. It's not a happy ending, but if only one person lives then it couldn't be a happy ending either way. This was really the only way I saw it ending. So thanks for reading. I didn't get a whole lot of reviews but I thank the people who did review. They rock. As always, reviews are appreciated.