This time-travel fic was inspired by a couple of others focusing on NaruHina, but I decided to try to write one based on SasuSaku. I hope you like!
Chapter 1
There was a great flash, then a still darkness, an all-encompassing darkness. Sasuke Uchiha opened his onyx eyes and saw this embodiment of nothing. 'Wh-where am I?' He sat up and found himself in a dimly-lit, seven-foot cubic room. 'Gah, last I remember was going to a strangely warm sleep next to-' he choked slightly, 'dead Sakura.' He shook his head, trying to clear it, but the memories of that fateful battle came back.
He, along with past four Hokages, had challenged Madara and Obito, who controlled the Jyuubi. Naruto had seemed understandably stunned by the appearance of Sasuke and his father, but had grinned jubilantly. "You're gonna talk after this," he had said before rushing back into the conflict. Sakura had come up from behind him and glared at him harshly, for good reasons.
"After this," he had stated before taking out his sword. Sakura nodded, and they charged in beside Naruto. The trio, the old Team 7, had fought valiantly, but then one by one they began to fall. Sakura took a spike in the chest and Sasuke was stabbed by Madara's Susanoo. Naruto was in Obito's grasp, and Sasuke remembered falling next to Sakura, and turning his head to see her breathing, though it was labored. Then that strange sleep had taken him.
'Am I dead?' The question rang out against his skull, and he looked around the small room. 'Is this were I await judgment? Or am I already in hell?' The questions were starting to give him a headache. He clutched his head and leaned the cold stone wall of the cell, if it was a cell; he sat there for what seemed like hours when a bright flash blinded him. During that flash, a dark figure materialized in the center of the room and fell to its knees. After Sasuke blinked the spots from his eyes, he observed the figure apprehensively.
It spoke, "Where am I? Who are you?" Its voice was instantly recognizable, and an image of a cherry blossom appeared in Sasuke's mind.
He hesitantly replied, "S-Sakura?" The figura froze at his voice and turned its head in his direction.
"Sasuke? What are you doing here?"
He wanted to be sarcastic but remembered that he and Sakura weren't on the best of terms. He had tried to kill her, after all. "I have honestly no idea. I woke up here a few minutes ago," replied Sasuke sincerely, letting go of his head which had quit hurting.
Sakura crawled to the wall opposite of Sasuke and leaned against. "Where are we," she asked.
"I really don't know though I do have a couple of ideas, though they deal with us being dead."
"Dead? I feel fine except for the fact I'm bone-tired."
"No offense, but what else could we be? A spike pierced your chest and I took a Susanoo in the chest. Both are fatal, even with treatment."
"Well…"
"Here are my idead: either we're in the holding room before we're judged by the Shinigami, or we're in hell, though I'm inclined to believe the first one since you arrived," Sasuke finished his part and waited for Sakura's response.
She was silent for a minute until she said, "You're a hell of a lot more honest now that you're dead, Sasuke." He gave a bark of laughter and smiled slightly in her direction, forgetting she couldn't see more than shapes past her reach.
"I tried to turn over a new leaf, but unfortunately I died. I might as well act like I care about something."
Sakura snorted, "I doubt you ever cared about anything," she spat venomously. A hurt look flicked across Sasuke's face, but before he could defend himself, the room started to glow. The glow grew brighter until the two couldn't see anything but white. When it cleared, they were standing in a well-lit, spacious room with a woman of unearthly beauty sitting an armchair. She had warm, motherly cerulean eyes and waist-length black hair and wore a purple kimono tied with a white sash. Her gaze was compassionate and safe, and the duo relaxed slightly, though their honed ninja instincts didn't let them lower their defenses.
"Do not fear, young shinobi. I am Ren, and I am here to take you back to the land of the living," she said, holding out a hand. Sakura narrowed her eyes at the woman.
"World of the living? So we are dead? And what do you mean take us back? People who die don't magically come back to life," she argued. Sasuke agreed with her; this was too good to be true.
"The Shinigami had decided to let you live; however, you will go back to the day you graduated from the Academy. It is a total reset," replied Ren, still holding out her hand, "Try to change the future."
"What about Naruto? Is he coming back too?" asked Sasuke. Team 7 with memories would impact Konoha greatly.
She, however, replied, "Is the Naruto you speak of here?" The two shook their heads and looked at the ground. "Do you agree to our terms?" asked Ren. Sasuke and Sakura shared their first glance in years, and nodded. Anything to change the grim future. Ren nodded, "Any requests?"
Sakura nodded, "I was extremely weak when I was a Genin. I'm surprised I was a Genin in the first place. To help my team, can I have my current chakra reserves and muscle strength transferred to my thirteen year-old self, Ren-san?"
"It will be done," said Ren. Sasuke then voiced his request.
"Can I have the Sharingan as a Genin? Not a fully matured one, but two tomoe would be nice," asked Sasuke, "I will train my chakra reserves to the level they are now, as long as both of us are allowed to keep our knowledge of our jutsu."
Ren smiled as she replied, "Not as eloquent as Sakura-san's but it will be done nonetheless. Is that it?" When no answer came, she rose and touched both on the forehead, sending white ripples moving through their bodies. The two felt a strange, almost merging sensation before they lost themselves to a sea of blackness.
Well? How did I do? Oh, and here's the disclaimer: I don't own anything Naruto. I'm too lazy to go to the top. Reviews are welcome, and check out my other story, Sealed Power! It's an OC story, though, if you don't like, ignore me. ^^;