Sakura (How to Obtain a Reverse Harem in Naruto)

Repeat

Hinata paused in chopping up the chocolate bar, while Naruto slowed down in his whisking for the meringue. Worriedly, Hinata asked me, "What's wrong, Sa-chan? That sounded like an ominous oh."

"I, uh, I rem—er—the Goggle Gods have blessed me with more knowledge," I settled on, still processing what the gosh darn dilly dally heck just happened. I placed the liquid part of the cake batter down and rubbed at my eyes.

But when I lowered my hands I let out a startled shout when I realized I was definitely not in my kitchen anymore.

Darkness surrounded me, a black void where nothing but the sound of the ocean could be heard. I stumbled back, my slippers sliding into something cold and wet.

'An episode?' I thought, my eyes wide as I took everything in. 'But no, I've never had episodes like this before.'

Reaching up to rub my eyes, I froze when I recognized the hands did not belong to me.

"Ah—ah—um—" I stared down at the tiny hands that were too pale to be mine. My eyes roamed down to look at the rest of my body but I found it also didn't belong to me. It had to have belonged to a child, someone physically younger than me and undeveloped.

'Okay, um... Sure.' Taking a deep breath in, I let it out slowly before glancing around in the darkness. 'Yeesh. This place gives me the heebies.' Having nothing else really to do, I picked a random direction and started walking. As I traversed, the water at my feet began to rise. I couldn't find my own chakra to be able to walk on top of it, so I had to wade through. It was bitterly cold, and I couldn't see the bottom of it, only blackness.

I wasn't sure how long I walked. Maybe only a few seconds. Maybe hours. But as I walked, and the water rose, bits of light started to sparkle above me. It reflected on the water, creating this beautiful starry night sky effect. Despite how creepy this place was, I thought it looked rather pretty once the lights showed up.

One light in particular began to shine exceptionally bright, descending to me. As it neared, it took the shape of a pale butterfly with bits of snow and ice dusting off each wing flap.

~Welcome home.~

"Thank you, Shiori," the words spilled out in a voice too gentle and soft to my own.

~Are you going to try again?~

"I have to," I told her, a vile, bitter taste burning my mouth. "I cannot stay here, no matter how much I wish otherwise."

I raised my hand and Shiori landed gracefully on my outstretched finger. ~They say we are gifts that Life creates for Death, and Death keeps us all.~

My eyes squeezed tightly shut, not wanting to hear this again.

"Then why won't Death keep me? I'm tired, Shiori. I'm so tired."

~I know, my dearest friend. I know.~

"I'm afraid I'll come back broken again. I never want to have another life like Naa—"

I dropped down into the dark water, letting go once again.

( ｡◕‿  ◕｡)

Third Person POV

"What's wrong, Sa-chan? That sounded like an ominous oh," Hinata said, setting down the knife she was using.

The pinkette's face slowly paled, a dullness entering her eyes. She stammered out, starting to sway, "I, uh, I rem—er—the Goggle Gods have blessed me with more knowledge—"