Ironic, Absolutely Ironic

Alone. Again.

Dying was supposed to be easy. You know, just take a kunai to the heart and watch your friends cry over you as you wait for everything that hurts to...just stop. Of course, as a shinobi, you kind of already have to accept that you'll die and have to leave everyone behind the minute you chose to be one. She was literally surrounded by ninjas that were trained killers. So it really did come to a surprise when one Sakura Haruno laid there in the bloody soaked battlefield, alone and so filled with regret. Come on, she knew there were hundreds of ways (she was a medical ninja, after all) to effectively kill someone, and they chose this?

Torture would have been better. Or, anything actually. And what would she know, will there be a life after death? Or just nothing? She didn't know, and she didn't want to find out. To her, she couldn't help but have an ironic smile on her face, before suddenly feeling a warm sensation on one of the more notable stab wounds. Ah. Her teammates must have discovered her, and sought a medical ninja. She tried to open one of her eyes, but they were so caked with blood that she couldn't. Well, there goes seeing her people one last time. Suddenly, in her daze, a sharp pain suddenly racked he entire body, making her suddenly shudder. They can't possibly try to save her now, could they? No, no, the poison had already taken effect and it would only be a matter of time before her heart stopped. Even her thoughts moved sluggishly. Like any normal person, she racked her slowed brain to think over her family, friends...

And then she was dead.

As she had thought, there would be no afterlife. Just her alone, with nothing but the comforting darkness that surrounded her. After a while, she was used to it. She wandered on and on, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, sometimes regretting, until one day, she was blinded by such great light.

It was a campfire, with an old man sitting at the edge of it. He seemed wise beyond his years, and indeed wore the trademark Konoha headband. A shinobi? Why was he here? As if sensing her, he looked up from the fire and gave her a smile.

"Join me." He gestured to beside him, and so Sakura curiously sat beside him. He offered a fish he had been cooking on the fire to Sakura, who gladly took it. After a few bites, she went straight to the point.

"Why are you here?"

This was her death place, it was odd that someone else would be there. And she was dead anyways, there was no way for her to do anything.

The old man did not answer, and only contently finished off fish after fish. He kept grabbing new fish from the darkness from somewhere Sakura could not see, so she could only conclude that he seemed powerful. And wanted something to do with her. She chewed her fish in silence and swallowed. While dying meant she had no need for food, she enjoyed tasting something again, even if it meant nothing.

Finally, he spoke. "Miss Haruno, you have many regrets, don't you? I can sense it." She nodded. She couldn't lie, could she? There were many things she could change or could have done. By the time she realized what she wanted, it was too late. Gosh, she spent half of her life chasing after a man who didn't want her.

The man's eyes twinkled. "What if you got a second chance?" Sakura shrugged while she smiled bitterly. "A second chance wouldn't matter, would it? They don't exist." Gosh, she was oddly pessimistic.

He shook his head. "You're not answering the question. Would you like a second chance?"

Sakura frowned at him, but answered honestly. "I would like one, but-" she was quickly cut off when the man and fireplace disappeared, as if they were never there.

A piece of paper was left in the place, glowing faintly. Ask and you shall receive.

Sakura crushed the piece of paper in her hand after she read it. Stupid hope. She must have been dead so long that she had hallucinated something. Crazy. A loon. She was going crazy with boredom that her mind was messing with her, or she regret too much.

To her, dying was just of a hell as living, but she would rather live again even if it meant dying a second time. If what that old man said was true, she would fix everything. Everything. She'll try to make things right. She'll die from old age instead of war. But all of that meant nothing when it won't happen, right? Sakura closed her eyes, and slumped to the ground. She should meditate, or else she'll go mad with rage.

She must have fallen asleep.

Sakura opened her eyes, expecting to see darkness for miles and miles, but her eyes were met with light. Light? Why would there be light? As her vision cleared, she noticed that she was back in a place that replicated her bedroom before it was destroyed. Childish decorations littered the walls, with a photo she knew Ino had sent her of a local celebrity.

A genjutsu? She made a seal with her hand and whispered, "kai!" Nothing happened, so she did it again, louder. "Kai! KAI! KAI GOD DAMMIT-" she was interrupted by the door violently swinging open, a concerned parent staring at her in the eyes. Mother? Despite being a shinobi that wasn't supposed to allow emotions to get in their way, Sakura felt her lower lip tremble. They were alive. They were alive. Her parents- they didn't die.

Even if this was a genjustu, fuck it. Even if she'll be left with the fact that her parents will be gone a second time, she didn't care. They were alive and oh god, they looked healthy. Without warning, she suddenly ran, throwing her arms around her mother, sobbing. "Mom..." she had a million things she wanted to tell them but she only let her tears do the talking. It was just like when she was 12 again, she had to be at her tippy toes. Wait- she...could the man be correct? What did her need her for? Was this...really the past? Sakura did not dare to hope, but a lightness settled its way into her chest. After awhile, she reluctantly let go.

She stared up at her taller mother, who only lovingly chucked and wiped her eyes away. She had missed this. "Now, now, Sakura, didn't you want to be a shinobi? I know you're worried, but your graduation exams are today. Wipe your face, and we'll walk there with you." That was when she noticed her father who sleepily looked at her from the hallway. He often had to work overnight shifts, so that was probably why. She threw herself at him as well. Sakura wanted to savour every moment with them.

But alas, she had to let go, and get dressed. She looked over her closet, but only saw clothes that are impractical and inconvenient. Her years of a shinobi had told her that being fashionable could mean a earlier death. She opted for some flexible shorts and a shorter dress. She would be fine. It was odd that she was redoing her routine from over decades ago, but she would take this anyday, if that meant seeing her family again.

Heh.

Of course, life always wants something back.

And nothing comes without a price, she should know that.