Another Life ( Naruto Fanfic )

Death and Rebirth

It all started on a sunny spring day. I was strolling through the beautiful Greek streets of  Nafplio, wondering how to spend the rest of my vacation. The day had been long, and the endless walking left me utterly exhausted.

These were the best days of my life—saving money to explore the world, one step at a time. Yet, as I returned to my cozy BnB room and collapsed onto the bed, a wave of boredom washed over me.

I liked being bored. The mundane peace of doing nothing felt luxurious. Call me selfish, but I had no energy to worry about the world's big problems. All I wanted was to bask in the stillness of the sunny days.

Sleep crept in before I realized it. My eyes closed, and I slipped into a peaceful slumber.

Or so I thought.

---

I was floating.

Weightless and unmoored, I drifted in an expanse of swirling, kaleidoscopic patterns. Panic surged in my chest as I struggled to make sense of it. A dream, I thought. Just a dream.

But something was off. My body wouldn't respond, no matter how hard I tried to move. Was this sleep paralysis? My thoughts spiraled.

Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

A voice echoed around me, soft yet commanding:

"Do not fight it, child."

"What the—? Who’s there?" I shouted, or at least I thought I did. The sound didn't echo back.

"You are in the dream world," the voice replied.

"Okay... then let me wake up," I demanded, trying to stay calm.

"You cannot go back."

The words hit me like a punch.

"You died in your sleep."

I screamed—a raw, guttural sound that ripped through me. It was louder, more primal than the one I let out when I was mugged at fifteen. But the scream didn't help.

The voice, steady and unwavering, continued.

"Listen, child. You are now in the dream world, where every soul comes after death to be measured. Yours is... unique."

A strange energy surrounded me, numbing my panic. I couldn't move, scream, or even think clearly. All I could do was listen.

"You are not a saint," the voice said, "but your heart has carried kindness. You believed in something higher but rejected the confines of religion. For this, you have been granted a second chance at life."

A second chance? My mind reeled.

"Lady... God... Whoever you are," I stammered, "I'm not dead. I was just asleep. You're wrong!"

The voice sighed. "Let me show you."

Images flooded my mind—memories of falling asleep peacefully, only for the roof to collapse and crush me in an instant.

"No... no... that can’t be real! Please send me back! You said I had a second chance!"

"You cannot return to your old life," the voice said gently. "But your soul can live again—in a world of your choosing."

A world of my choosing? Was this some kind of cruel joke?

"You mean... a fantasy world? Like from books?" I asked, my voice trembling.

The voice chuckled softly. "Yes. Many worlds exist, as real as the one you left behind. Writers create them, unknowingly channeling stories from other realities. You may choose one."

My mind spun. Middle-earth? The Narutoverse? Both worlds I loved, but both were violent and unforgiving.

"What’s real anymore?" I muttered.

"If you do not choose," the voice continued, "your soul will dissolve into the universe’s energy. You will cease to exist as you are now."

I shivered. Float forever or face the unknown? It wasn't much of a choice.

---

Time passed—or maybe it didn’t. In this dreamlike place, there was no way to tell. I cried. I screamed. I fought against the nothingness until exhaustion finally numbed me.

Eventually, I made my decision.

Middle-earth, with its orcs and dark lords, was a hard no. But the Narutoverse? Maybe I could survive there—maybe even thrive. With chakra and jutsu, I’d at least have a fighting chance.

"Okay," I called out. "I’m ready!"

The calm presence returned. "Have you decided?"

"Yes. I’ll go to the Narutoverse. But no violent situations right away, please! And when exactly would I be born?"

"You will enter as a civilian during your favorite character's generation."

"Kakashi’s generation? Oh, God. The drama."

"You must remember," the voice warned, "this world will not mirror the version you know. Events may unfold differently, and dangers may arise you cannot predict."

"Fine," I said, exhaling deeply. "But I don’t want to be helpless."

"You will be given opportunities to grow. Hard work will be your greatest weapon."

"Will I at least have chakra?"

"You will, along with exceptional chakra control. Use your mind and determination to shape your destiny."

"Okay... but one more thing. Will they have pizza? Chocolate? Cinnamon rolls?"

The voice laughed, a warm, musical sound. "You may find the ingredients to recreate them."

"Great," I muttered. "Guess I’ll be Konoha’s first baker."

"Are you ready, child?"

I hesitated, then grinned. "I was born to be ready."

A brilliant white light enveloped me. For a moment, I felt weightless again, before a strange, suffocating sensation took hold. Slimy. Tight.

And then—air.

I took my first breath, my cries piercing the room. Dimly, I heard voices in Japanese. A soft warmth pressed against me—my mother’s chest.

Tears welled in my eyes. I had been reborn.

But as relief washed over me, so did the weight of reality. This world was dangerous. And now, it was mine to navigate.