AniAni: Well, this is my next story. There is another new story to go, but I've decided to focus on this or SKoH. I hope you enjoy reading this, I was influenced by a few lines in Bentley Jones' song, Running Up that Hill (it's technically a cover) and The Swarm by You Me at 6 and this is the result. I have high hopes for this; the Ideas are pounding in my head!

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

'Inners/ demons/etc'

"Demons" (From Hell)

Flashbacks

"Song lyrics" (If I have any…)

(Authoress notes)

(If there's anything I've missed, tell me in a review or PM me and I'll rectify it as soon as possible)

The Prologue & Chapter 1:

Prologue:A not so Heavenly Deal.

Time flows in a continuous circle,

Never tempted to stop or slow down for any man.

Never reversed, nor sped up.

But in times of need, there are exceptions.

An exception she is, but not to the man known as God.

"Damn it, Sai! Stay with me!" Sakura yelled sternly, though her eyes betrayed her, tears threatened to spill over as she pumped as much of her healing Chakra into pale male as she possible could.

His hands weakly pushed her own from his chest, "H-hey, I won't make it…" He paused as he coughed up blood from his lungs; he looked up at Sakura, "I want… I want you to take it…" Sai's hand shook as he pulled out a scroll from the pouch o his thigh. "It's… early, but… Happy Birthday Sakura…." Sai spoke, as the life drained from his eyes, though he managed to pull a real smile onto his lips in his final moments, Sakura sobbed into the dead boy's chest, too upset to realise that for the first and last time in his life, Sai had called her 'Sakura'.

She took the scroll, placed it in her pouch and closed Sai's eyes. Sakura looked behind her at the wreckage that was once Konoha. A lone tear cascaded down her cheek as she picked up Sai's body and carried it back into leftovers of Konoha. Sakura wandered around looking for any signs of life.

Nothing.

Sakura walked back to Sai's apartment which was somewhat intact, his bedroom was still in good condition. She rested his body down on the bed and kneeled beside him as she clasped onto his hand as if it would suddenly bring him back to life. Not once letting go until his hands had turned cold. She removed his headband and placed it in her pouch. Sakura soon left then walked around Konoha as if to take in its last moments. She lifelessly made her way to the memorial stone, reading the names of the past KIA heroes, the Konoha 12 minus herself, Sai and that Uchiha traitor.

Sakura felt a scowl tug at her lips. She pulled out a Kunai etching the letters 'S' 'A' 'I' on to the list before writing underneath, 'From civilians to Ninja, the whole of Konoha' No one knew this was how Konoha would end, but everyone joined in, from children to the elderly, mice to bears, Civilians to Ninja. Everyone Died.

Sakura used her Chakra infused strength to move the memorial stone to reveal an underground room filled with barrels of gunpowder. Within half an hour Sakura had spread the barrels around Konoha, with enough distance between them to set off the next, and with a single paper bomb, Konoha was officially no more, with only the Memorial stone and the Hokage Mountain left to remind the world that Konoha had once existed.

"Tick Tock, Dearest Sakura, Did you know…

Your clock is about to Stop?

Tick Tock, Dearest Sakura, Are you aware…

That your GOD will not save you now?

Tick Tock, Dearest Sakura, If you turn to me…

I shall give you what you need!

Tick Tock, Dearest Sakura, Now that you're mine

Your clock has been rewound."

Sakura pulled off her own headband and placed it in her pouch alongside Sai's. Rain began to fall and Sakura took shelter in the hollow of a tree. Sakura looked up to the sky with dull lifeless eyes, "Please Kami-Sama, let me do everything again. Make everything right." There was no reply, the only sounds was the rain that seemed to pelt the tree even harder, "All that's left for me to do is wallow in Self-pity…?" Sakura whispered to herself, looking down at the grass "I'm weak, trash, something that no GOD would answer to." Sakura hissed, spitting the word 'God' as if it were poison.

"Then GOD will realise what he has lost." A deep voice spoke, causing Sakura to almost give herself whiplash, across from her was a man, his skin was a tan colour, which made his cold Saffron eyes stand out. His hair was as black as the night and his bangs fell just short of his left eye. He had a feral grin exhibited on his face, showing off his lengthy Canine teeth which stood out against the rest of his pearly whites. He was dressed in all black with the exception of his white dress shirt. In his hand was a large black umbrella, shielding him from the rain. He walked over to her kneeling before the Hollow in the tree where she was cramped in. "Now come, Hell awaits you." Sakura wasn't aware that she had stood up and walked to the man, and when she was, they weren't stood in the rain anymore.

Sakura felt her legs moving on their own, down the red staircase that were just floating in the air. The staircase was just about wide enough for the both of them to walk down. There were no hand rails, no walls, just floating steps, descending further and further down into the red pit. "Welcome…" Sakura looked at him as the raindrops fell from his umbrella with a single flick of the wrist, "…To the Inferno." He spoke picking up his pace and Sakura matched it quickly, not that she had a choice.

Soon enough, to Sakura's pleasure, the stairway came to an end before a huge door, which terrified Sakura slightly. The door was three times the size of the Hokage Mountain and Sakura didn't know what was behind it. She gulped and clenched her fist in anxiety. The door opened and she followed the man in. She looked around and took in the royal like look. A throne room. "I've brought her, Lucifer-sama." He spoke and bowed before rushing out of the throne room, leaving Sakura alone.

Sakura looked up and saw a man sat at the throne, his whole body was painted white, the most colour that Sakura noticed on him was the somewhat pink on his wings, which Sakura assumed was stain of blood from people he had killed over the years. When he stood Sakura couldn't help a slight blush at the fact that the man was 95% nude with only a strip of white cloth lazily wrapped around him. (If you've seen the Shin Megami Tensei Lucifer, you'll know what I mean.) Even his horns were white. This man was Lucifer, King of Hell.

Lucifer looked up at Sakura and his eyes opened, revealing cold crimson orbs, which looked as if they had been coloured by the blood of the people sent to Hell. Sakura couldn't help but admire the rich shade his eyes were. But soon enough she shook her mind of her thoughts, 'I've got nothing to lose.' Sakura cleared her throat and looked Lucifer in the eye. He took a seat and rested his head on his fist, and his cocky smirk mocked Sakura. "Welcome Dearest Sakura." Lucifer's voice was deep, almost captivating.

"Thanks, but why am I here?" Sakura asked, her voice didn't waver, thankfully.

Lucifer's smirk widened, showing off his similar set of teeth to the previous man. "Your time has run out."

Sakura glared up at him, "How so? I'm pretty sure I didn't die!" She countered.

"Quite the bold one, I like you." Lucifer spoke simply, almost as if Sakura didn't even speak. "Take a seat; I'm sure you're tired from the walk." As he said the words Sakura turned and the seat was there, though she wasn't tired from the walk she took a seat anyway.

"I would be a really bad ninja if I got tired after a 20 minute walk." She spoke as she sat casually in the chair. "I'm pretty sure you have a reason for bringing me here. I'd appreciate it if you'd tell me what that reason is."

Sakura watched as Lucifer stood and made his way over to her, his steps light, but still echoed in the giant room. He stopped before her and his smirk never faded, "Tick Tock, Dearest Sakura. Did you know…? Your Clock is about to stop?" Lucifer spoke as he began to walk around Sakura, as if examining her.

His worlds puzzled her, "My… Clock…?" She spoke furrowing her brows.

"You're about to Die, Dearest Sakura. I saved your life."Sakura's eyes widened at the thought and Lucifer leaned down to her ear. "You belong to me now." The words sent an inhuman shiver down her spine.

"How was I about to die?!" Sakura yelled, "I was safe… Everything's over…" Sakura trailed off.

In return a chuckle reached her ears, "Really now…? Did you really think that you were safe? That everything was over?" Lucifer spoke, as he leaned on the back of Sakura's chair, his hands ghosted across her cheek, "When it was your GOD that caused you this pain." His hand gripped Sakura's face firmly. A look of disgust was evident on his face, but he released his hold on her nonetheless.

"Tick Tock, Dearest Sakura. Are you aware…? That your GOD will not save you now?" Lucifer spoke. The look of disgust gone from his face.

"GOD…? He wouldn't have saved me to begin with…" Sakura retorted, discouraged. Lucifer looked down at Sakura and she looked him in the eyes, Dull Emerald to Rich Crimson. Sakura sighed, defeated.

Lucifer smirked, knowing he had won. He looked Sakura dead in the eye. "Tick Tock, Dearest Sakura. If you turn to me… I shall give you what you need!" He spoke and Sakura's eyes lit up.

She lurched forward in her chair,"Give me power! And Send me back so I can make everything right!" Sakura yelled desperately. "I'll do anything!"

Lucifer smirked in satisfaction. "I'll give you the power you seek, and send you back…" Sakura inwardly cheered. "But, you will become one of my loyal Soul Eaters on the Land of the Living."

Sakura looked up at him. "A Soul… Eater?" Sakura cringed, as the thought kind of reminded her of Orochimaru.

"You kill and Gather Souls. The more evil the soul, the more its worth." Lucifer explained. "Come, we must get you prepared for the journey." Lucifer walked to a door to the left of his throne, Sakura followed after him, not as afraid as she was when she first arrived. When she walked into the room she noticed a large number of (Chibi) Devils locked under glass. "Go pick your Demon; it'll help you to gather souls. Each Demon has their individual abilities and will be locked inside you." Lucifer explained. Sakura nodded as she weaved in and out of the Glass Prisons. One caught her eye. The Chibi demon looked up; His eyes matched the colour of Lucifer's. His hair was glossy silver. His skin was a healthy shade and He looked eager to go. Sakura lifted the glass and He floated out and sat on her shoulder. Sakura looked at him and he smiled, which she returned.

Sakura heard the sound of Lucifer's foot steps, and she turned and noticed him walking on, so she followed as quickly as she could. "Now Sakura between you and your demon, you have to choose a weapon." He spoke standing at the end of the room. Sakura once again began browsing one side and her demon the other. Sakura didn't see anything she particularly liked but her Demon did so she made her way over to him and looked at what he was gazing at. A staff. A small one at that. Sakura took hold of it and it lengthened, and a blade shot out from its tip. Causing Sakura to gasp in surprise.

"I'll take this!" Sakura cheered, and her demon grinned, returning to his seat on her shoulder.

"Come, Dearest Sakura. You must be taught the ways of a Soul Eater."

"Tick Tock, Dearest Sakura. Now that your mine… Your clock has been rewound."

Chapter 1:Back to the Past.

For what seemed like a month, Sakura was trained in the Art of Soul Eating. (Because I'm lazy and can't be bothered to describe it nor do I want to give her new powers away!) Today was her final Day in Hell. Sakura woke up and dressed picking up her kunai pouch and her black cloak. Sakura pulled the hood up over her hair and eyes, and walked to the throne room, with Shade, her Chibi demon, perched on her shoulder. She was the first there. Lucifer was sat in his throne in the same position as when Sakura first met him a month ago.

"Lucifer." Sakura spoke, bowing. "I was told there were nine others."

His famous smirk appeared. "There are. You're just early. Dearest Sakura, when you return, provide two souls for me before the day ends. I will send Afael to retrieve them from you." Lucifer spoke and Sakura nodded in return. Roughly within the next ten minutes nine more people arrived, all covered by the same cloak Sakura had. (Afael is the guy who brought Sakura to the Inferno.)

"You have all received a necklace, unique to you. Within that Necklace is a Chronos Shard. Your Identification that you are part of the Chronos Games!" Lucifer began; this caused a slight disruption amongst the 10 cloaked individuals. "You will be known as Chronos Children to each other. You are the second batch of Chronos Children to be sent out. You will have a number on your body when you go back to the past. 11 being the strongest, 20 the weakest. These numbers mean you are the strongest or weakest of your batch." He finished.

This puzzled Sakura, so she asked, "Lucifer. What is our objective as a Chronos Child?"

Lucifer looked up at Sakura with his infamous smirk. "Your objective is to take each others Chronos Shard. If you lose your shard to an opponent there will be consequences. If you are willing enough to get those Shards back, you will be fighting for your life and the Shards. If you lose, your life is taken; if you win you get the Shards that your opponent has collected." Lucifer explained and Sakura nodded. "You'll be fighting for the Chronos Shards of the first batch also. Now go!" He called clicking his fingers. A tear ripped through the scene of the throne room, and no one made a move to go through.

Sakura rolled her eyes and walked towards it, "I'll be looking forward to taking your Chronos Shards!" She called, giving everyone behind her a cocky two fingered salute as she jumped through the portal.

Sakura felt like she was hit in the head with a sledgehammer, when she opened her eyes she was looking at an unfamiliar ceiling. Or just a ceiling from 6 years ago. Sakura sat up and the hood fell from her head, revealing her long pink tresses, when she stood she felt the cargo pants she was wearing slip from their place. She looked around the room and her eyes landed on the calendar, she realised it was the day she gets her ninja headband. "Shade." Sakura called and Shade floated out from her hood, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"I'm sleepy…" He mumbled.

Sakura laughed, "Hungry for some souls?" The sentence made him perk up immediately. "There's two downstairs, just like Lucifer asked." Sakura tied the cargo pants as tight as she could before pulling out her staff. She walked down the stairs and literally walked into the 'man' of the house.

"Oh, the filthy whore is awake." He spoke.

Sakura looked him up and down then glared. "Yes, and the abusive man is dead." Sakura spoke coldly as she pressed the staff to his neck and the blade shot out, immediately beheading him.

Shade landed on his body and began to eat his soul. "Honey...?" Another voice called Sakura looked to her left and saw her abusive surrogate mother. "What did you do, you bitch!" She screamed, running to the headless man.

"I did this…" Sakura whispered and the woman looked up, only to see a blade which cut her head in half. "Shade, hurry up in devouring their souls, I need to go report this." Sakura spoke as she wandered around the house looking for her money which her surrogate parents took from her. Sakura rummaged through the cupboards and found her money and pocketed it. She headed upstairs and changed into the red dress she wore in the past sealing her cloak and staff in a scroll. She forced herself to cry and made her eyes all red. She walked down the stairs, "Shade, are you done?" Shade nodded as he held up two glass balls with a white flame in them.

Sakura took them and Shade sat on her shoulder, "Have you been crying Sakura-chan?" He asked concerned.

Sakura nodded, "I have to make it look realistic. I need you to hide while I talk to the Hokage." He nodded and disappeared in a burst of flames. Sakura ran to the Hokage's office and knocked on the door, letting tears spill over her eyes.

She entered when she heard the words "Come in". Sakura walked in wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Sakura-san? What's the matter!?" The Sandaime asked, seeing her wipe away her tears.

"S-someone… my p-parents…" Sakura stuttered before tearing up again, "Killed t-them. I f-found them d-d-d" Sakura 'couldn't' bring herself to say the word.

The Hokage's eyes widened. "Someone's killed your parents?" He asked and Sakura nodded, wiping away some more of her tears. The Hokage called for some ANBU to check Sakura's home and remove the bodies. Sakura had been sat in the Hokage's office for over half an hour and the academy had already started. "Sakura, are you okay to go to the Academy or would you prefer to stay here?" He asked and Sakura shook her head.

"Today's graduation…" She spoke softly. The Hokage nodded and called an ANBU to escort her to the Academy in case the Killer was still loitering in Konoha. Sakura opened the door and noticed everyone was lined up in alphabetical order. So she took her place between two members of the class. The ANBU that escorted her walked into the room where Iruka was and left soon after glancing at Sakura before leaving.

The ANBU caused people to get rowdy and ask Sakura all sorts of questions. Sakura just looked down and didn't answer. Iruka walked out and told everyone to stop bothering her and called in the next person. Soon enough it was Sakura's turn to go in. She shut the door behind her and Iruka and Mizuki bowed "Sorry to hear of your loss, Sakura-san." Iruka spoke, and Sakura nodded.

A moment of silence clouded the room for a moment and then they began. "Just three clones of your self Sakura-san." Mizuki spoke and Sakura nodded, quickly making three clones. "Perfect Sakura-san!" He commented as he gave her a headband. Sakura nodded before tying it around her neck. She sat in a seat at the back, waiting for the day to be over.

At the end of the Day she saw Naruto sat on the swing, so she approached him, "Hey Naruto," She called as she pulled a small smile on her face. He looked up, "Let's go out for Ramen." His eyes lightened up and before he could reply Mizuki sensei walked over.

"Sakura-san, you wouldn't mind if I spoke to Naruto for a moment would you?" Sakura shook her head and looked at Naruto.

"I'll meet you for ramen another Day Naruto." She spoke with a gentle smile before leaving.

'Sakura-chan, you're not going to go back to that house are you?' Shade asked.

Sakura pulled a face, 'I'm going to have to go.' Sakura frowned, before heading back to her house. When she got there, there were a few ANBU about, but she walked into her house. The bodies were gone and the blood was cleaned away.

"Haruno Sakura…?" Sakura turned and there was an ANBU stood before her, "The Hokage wishes to speak with you." He spoke and Sakura nodded and was about to head to the Hokage's office but when she stepped out the door, the Hokage was stood at the gate.

"I decided to come visit you instead my dear." He spoke and Sakura nodded and she stepped inside and let him in.

"Would you like tea?" She asked and he nodded, Sakura quickly made tea and sat down opposite the Hokage at the table. "Was there something you wanted to talk about Hokage-sama?" Sakura asked as she took a sip of her tea.

He nodded, "It's about you. If you want we can find you another place to live with some new guardians or you can remain here." He explained.

Sakura immediately spoke up: "I'd prefer to stay here. If whoever killed my surrogate parents is still lurking around I wouldn't want to put that strain on my next guardians, so I'll stay here alone."

The Hokage nodded and placed his tea cup in the sink. "Thank you for the tea Sakura-san." He spoke and he left.

Sakura slumped in her chair and sighed. She finished her tea and went to wash the cups. "Sakura-san." Sakura turned and saw Afael sat in the chair she was previously sat in. She pulled out the two souls and threw them to Afael.

"Any news or something to lighten up my day?" Sakura asked, as she ran the water to wash the soap off the cups.

"Not really, Lucifer-sama looks bored already." Sakura rolled her eyes at the reply but laughed nonetheless.

"Can I ask you a few things Afael?" Sakura asked and she saw him nod in the corner of her eye. "How long does the Chronos Games last?" Sakura asked as she dried the cups.

"It usually depends on the competitors; we've only held two other Chronos Games. The first one lasted a few months as they were a strong batch of contestants; the second one took roughly two years. Lucifer-sama has only sent out two batches for now, but he seems pleased with both, if he can he might send in another batch of Chronos Children." Afael explained. Sakura sat down at the table and rested her head on her fist. "Lucifer-sama has taken a rather strange liking to you though."

Sakura laughed and Afael looked at her, confused. "I know, he told me on the first day we met." A silence fell over the duo. "To be honest…" Sakura spoke, breaking the silence, "You guys were really nice to me, I thought you were gonna chop me up and burn me in one of those lava pits!"

Afael laughed, "To be frank, you're just really easy to get along with. We're not really like that with the others that come down, maybe the odd few but they're very rare." Afael spoke, "How's Shade doing also?" Afael asked and said boy appeared in a burst of flame on Sakura's shoulder.

"Ay! You're gonna torch my hair one day!" Sakura yelled playfully, to which Shade grinned.

"Sorry Sakura-chan!" Sakura smiled and then turned to Afael. "It's good to see you doing well, Shade." Shade smiled. They began conversating animatedly and Sakura's mind wandered off somewhere

'So, the souls on my list for now: Orochimaru – he would be worth MILLIONS! Kabuto -Not as much as Orochimaru now but in future if he goes down the same path… Gato – nowhere near as much as Orochimaru or Kabuto, but he pays well. Well… they are the main three I have to focus on for now if I get placed on Team7 again. I wonder… do any of the Chronos Children's souls count…?' Sakura thought to her self.

"Hey… Afael…" Said man looked her way and rose his brow. "If I kill anyone in the Chronos Game… Will I be able to collect their soul?" Sakura spoke as she crossed her legs under the table.

"I'm afraid not. Their entry price to go back in time was their soul, unlike you. Lucifer-sama made you one of his prized Soul Eater as your price to return to this time. If any of them were Soul Eaters you would have been able to take their soul from them and them you." Afael explained and Sakura nodded.

She leaned back in her chair and sighed, "Do you think Lucifer can send me a list of Souls to collect – I need to keep myself busy and I need a challenge. Bonus: It might leave me in a position that is similar to that of previous life."

Afael nodded at her request "I'll make sure your request reaches him when I return. I'll come by at dawn and drop off the list. Until then..." Afael replied as he stood and picked up his umbrella.

"I guess we'll see you tomorrow then." Sakura spoke as Afael disappeared from where he was stood. Sakura looked over at Shade with a smile "Well Shade, let's hit the hay!" She spoke as Shade sat on her shoulder and she flicked off the lights and travelled up the stairs.