Disclaimer: I do not own 'Naruto'- the Manga-franchise or any of its characters. For 'Boruto' I looked up the manga and found Mitsuki. He is Orochimaru's kid.
M Note: Princess/Assassin AU in which Naruto and Hinata read Boruto a bedtime story. Karin and Sasuke just happen to be the protagonist and antagonist with an agenda. It will have an open ending.
1.) Haunted Castle-Castle Dusk & forest-the Phantom Forest.
2.) Civilization on Moon-The Last movie with a twist
Tebori: The Japanese term for tattooing by hand. Te (手)meaning 'hand' and bori(彫り) meaning 'to carve'.
"Are you ready for bed now. Your homework done. Have you packed your agenda, supplies and you found your clothes for tomorrow?"
Naruto sits on the corner of his son's bed with a scroll, sighing in boredom as he read it over. He had left a few shadow clones at the Hokage tower so that he would be able to take a couple of nights off to see his family.
Specifically for the purpose of not working but since he's been gone his workload has been piling up so this time he is prepared. It had not stopped him from bringing some paperwork home with him.
"Yes. Dad now hurry up. You said there would be a new story tonight." Boruto looks at him expectingly waiting but Naruto can tell he is excited to hear what he has to say so he sets the scrolls and paperwork aside.
"Okay then let's just give your Mom a minute. She is tucking Himawari in. You know that she has her school Play in the morning." He looks at the door to make sure that Hinata is still in the other room and he moves to stretch a little.
"I can tell you however that I have three new stories for you. There is one story about a haunted castle and ghosts in the middle of a forest. Another about brave astronauts finding a hostile civilization on the moon. Or, the third option which has got a beautiful princess and a handsome assassin."
Boruto looks at him as if he wanted to say something then thinks about it and he said. "I want the third one tonight." He doesn't want to be scared and he does not want to stay up too late.
So he picks the third one hoping that it has magic and a dragon. But knowing his parents it will probably have a moral at the end about the power of kindness, friendships or love conquering all.
He thinks he might just be okay with that decision because his dad is the one telling the story while his mom makes the sound effects that leave all three of them laughing but not contesting it since they are not too bad or off.
"I brought you both some hot chocolate."
Hinata walks into the room with a bowl of animal crackers on a tray with cups so both Uzumaki men sit up and go for their cups mumbling 'thank you' and 'love you' before she takes a seat on the nearby couch.
"What story did he end up going with?" She takes her sandals off putting her feet up to make herself comfortable.
"The third one. This is amazing." Naruto takes a sip of his drink then starts the story off as he watches Boruto drop his cookies in the cup like cereal as Hinata eats hers first.
.
Princess Karin of the Land of Fire hurried down the corridor and into the main hall as guests from all over the Continent bowed to her. While most of them were trying to steer clear of her path because she looks busy or like she doesn't want to talk to them and they wonder if pressing matters, news are afoot.
Tonight's festivities was well on its way because of another successful meeting with the Kages to the Five Great Shinobi Countries.
Others blocked her path and she had asked some of her gaurds to deal with the conversations as she strove to make sure her father was alone so that she could speak with him privately.
After seeing that he was speaking with the Wind Daimyō probably persuading her father to take a trip to the Sunagakure like he had been asked to visit their Konohagakure.
After waiting for a few minutes and drinking some wine, eating some hors d'oeuvre then even giving up for a moment and talking to some guests until one of her guards told her that her father was ready to see her, had been expecting her.
Once the doors were closed and the noise of the party was sealed out Karin took a seat in front of her father, surpisurped to find that he let her speak first.
He must really know how upset. Angry she is about his decision, one he had not bothered to consult with her about until now that she came here to find him.
"I will not marry that oaf. Ever. I despise him. He knows that too. Why does he even want to marry me? And I cannot believe you did not consult with me or consider my feelings." She thinks of Suigetsu and of a life with him would be like. It would be a disaster.
If anything the most they could ever hope to be is friends, those are just facts.
Karin looks at her father with anger but under that he can see the undercurrent of betrayal and impotence because she no longer has a say in the matter.
Her father made sure of it the moment he agreed to sign a contract with the Water Daimyō for his son's name in marriage. For her hand. An even stronger show of alliance between their two countries.
They have two days and a half before they send word out to the Land of Water either rejecting the idea or moving forward with the proposal.
"I hear that he does not, he is also clearly upset. His parents and I have reached an agreement however. You are to have the ceremony at Kirigakure in three weeks."
He stops talking when he hears knocking on the door and a gaurd announcing that the Earth Daimyō wishes to speak with him so she leaves. The conversation over with until they can find another opportunity to talk.
She excuses herself from the party commanding the gaurds closest to her to inform the rest that they should keep the people in the main rooms and to tell some of the guests who asked that she was feeling unwell.
After a few minutes she makes her way to her bedroom and goes past it, straight for the balcony as her tears well up in her eyes. Then she is crying for a life she does not know, cannot have and is bound to live.
It sucks but her crying is put on a back burner when she senses chakra. She has not been trained in the ways of the Ninja or Samurai.
Because for all her skills or knowledge, she is to be a leader in this world not a soldier in the front lines therefore she has not needed to learn more about these tades but her sensing is a gift not many know of thanks to her gaurds and Father.
"Wait, I said stop there. My name is Karin and I am unarmed. I will not fight you so lower you weapon immediately. Show yourself."
Karin wipes at her eyes because she is still a princess and has to look presentable. Knowing that she is most likely outclassed when it comes to a dual or something worse.
But on the other hand that the assailant could be cornered maybe even taken care of in a matter of seconds if she alerts the gaurds since this person is crashing one of the most important parties in the world right now.
She does not want blood on her hands however not even the treat of injury to her person can change her mind on that thought. Mildly amused to see that this is without a doubt the most dangerous of situations that she has ever been in. Ever.
"Why are you trying to kill me?" She readjusts her glasses with trembling hands only to tense up when he lands in front of her silent like the breeze and he places his above hers to keep her still.
Her glasses had fallen off when she had turned around clearly startled. Building up a feeling of resolve now that she has fixed them and he has walked into the light.
She feels her face heat up a little.
He is quite handsome. Looks deadly sure but she thinks that the most beautiful or creatures and plants out in nature are so she is not that surprised.
"I was ordered to by an unknown benefactor in the Land of Rivers who placed a heavy maker on your head." He looks her over and reaches her skin with his thumb as he wipes a stray tear away from her cheek. As if reassuring himself he mumbled the words. "I don't miss." To himself yet she caught them.
"Why am I still alive then?" She looks at him pleading with him to give out a straight answer because she deserves one if it is her life on the line, that he wants.
"You saw, felt me coming down from the rooftop. Because if you are as blind as a bat without your glasses as most rumors say that you are. That had to be it but still you did not try to run or call for help." He looks into her eyes searching as he spoke looking for any signs of being right or deceit.
Seeing her up close he now knows that the rumors of the future Fire/Feudal Lord being beautiful are true but that they clearly had not done her justice and he wonders if that was due to ill will or not having the opportunity to see her from where he stands.
"That has never happened before. Either you are the bravest of the brave or you are ready, standing here with a death wish. I am not sure which of the two impresses me more." He removes his hands from her body and takes a step back remembering his place and job at her next words.
"I am-was next in line to be the future Fire Daimyō. Address me accordingly. Even if you are still interested in killing me."
"I'm sorry, Karin. Is there anything else you would like to ask or do before I proceed." He finds it kind of weird to ask because he has never done such a thing.
He does not stall or have actual, meaningful conversations with a target even if they are small or appear insignificant but he cannot help to think that he likes her, that he wants to just stay here talking to her a few minutes. Hours more.
"What is your name, assassin?" She wants to know because the go to questions 'can you spare me' or 'how much are they paying you, I can triple it' probably will not work and she does not want there to be unnecessary bloodshed.
He is simply here for her.
"Sasuke." His name to his own ears sounds off, gentle as if with it he is begging her to reconsider.
To fight him or get help and stay safe. Lead this country with dignity, compassion and grace because he can see it for himself and it is blinding even though there is light now that he has stepped out of the shadows.
"Can I kiss you?" She surprised even herself with the boldness of the question but she had thought about it and now it is out in the open.
Feeling a little embarrassed but knowing that thanks to meeting him that she will now definitely not get another opportunity to kiss anyone else. "You can refuse."
He presses his lips together in a tight line before his eyebrows furrow as he just stares at her and he licks at them because they have suddenly gone dry.
Taking a step forward he meets her eyes and sees determination, fear but a clear fire there. Putting a hand on her back and another on her cheek he kisses her mouth gently. It is slow and a small peck.
Sending a spark, feeling a small vibration when he opens his eyes. He does not recall when they closed or keep in mind if the world, this palace and colors were ever truly this vibrant before.
So he does not mind kissing her again. This time deepening it only to feel her pulling away a few moments later when they both hear party guests walking at a distance and he remembers where he is. What he is supposed to be doing here.
The moment is gone and it is back to business.
He picks up his sword intent on running it through her but the instant she closes her eyes and as the weapon is millimeters from her clothes he stops himself. "I can't kill you. I will not do it."
She opened her eyes. One after another, doubtful at first then to his even further shock openly concerned for his well being as she speaks and he feels warmth in his chest. "Won't whoever put out this hit be coming after you next."
"Why are you so ready to die, Princess?" The words make her feel uncomfortable as if he can see right through her but this is the first time she has had a conversation with someone who doesn't treat or talk to me her as if she is a God or an idol because they do not fear her.
"I am not nor do I want to but I am getting married soon. If it is a choice between them or anyone and yourself. I will always choose you."
Sasuke lowered his sword and looks at for for a few seconds before she goes forward to do the unexpected.
She hugs him and he is clearly surprised by the change of events. How open and exposed he has left himself when in her presence but she shakes in his arms and he can tell that she is crying so he hugs her back.
"I can protect you from now on. From the shadows. You would never have to see me or know what I am doing." Sasuke picked up her chin smiling at her gently as if that would convince her then he says. "Another option is that I could also kill your betrothed."
Karin frowns at that. Kissing him again because she does not ever want to stop doing that and says.
"I would always be able to know you are. And no for as much as I hate him we still essentially grew up together. We are rarely friends mostly enemies but we understand each other. Frenemies like the Tsuchikage and the Lightning Daimyō although they have only met a strictly limited amount of times."
He laughed and she feels better than she has since recivrece the news of her engagement. "Okay then, I would like marry you. I could speak to your father about it since we are not at war."
When he looks up at her again she expects a regular Kekkei Genkai this time however she sees a sharingan and rinnegan.
"Yes, I think we can talk to him. Once he is done talking with the Earth Daimyō if he has not already. Come into my bedroom."
They walk into her room as she continues talking and walks into her closet while he takes a seat at a nearby table. Tiptoeing she eventually reaches a box and pulls out a number of tools and he can guess what she is going to do because looking at it now he sees a Tebori set.
"I will have one of my trusted gaurds bring in some of my brother's clothes. I do not think he would mind. You seem about a similar build. Afterwards you and I will join the party. First give me your wrist. I can say your ANBU here at my discretion. This might hurt."
Both are thinking that they can give themselves some time to get to know each other better when negotiating the terms of marriage because right now it meant that this option bought her time.
And she believes that her father is welcome to have mixed reactions but that together they feel ready to face anything.
.
.
Naruto stops talking when he sees Boruto out cold on his mattress and snoring then he sees Hinata dozing off on the couch so he walks up to her.
Carrying her in his arms as she mumbles the words tiredly. "You know that tomorrow after school he is going to want to hear the rest of the story."
"Yeah, I'll make it home." He grabs some of his paperwork on the way making sure to come back for the rest before work. "I think it is a beautiful story. We should go get ready now." He yawns loudly only to muffle it when he remembers where they still.
They have to hurry up since they are meeting Karin and Sasuke for drinks then maybe food.
M Note 2: Pirate/Mermaid AU in which Sasuke and Karin tell Mitsuki a bedtime story since she offered to babysit. Hinata and Naruto just happen to be the protagonist and antagonist with an agenda. It will have an open ending.
At Orochimaru's compound most of team Taka is asleep already. With Kabuto taking care of the orphanage and Orochimaru is out on a business trip. Karin had offered to babysit his son. Sasuke had dropped by to visit the team earlier in the week so he had decided to help her watch over Mitsuki.
"No, I know it's late but I am not tired." Mitsuki looks at Sasuke hoping that together they can successfully convince Karin to allow him to stay up a little later than usual. "Tell her Uncle."
"You have school tomorrow and I'm taking you with me on a small errand. You need to be well rested for it. We are going to be busy."
Sasuke looked at the room seeing pictures on the wall of Mitsuki's friends and classmates as well as ones with Jūgo, Karin, himself or Suigetsu.
He thinks that this kid is lucky to grow up with so many people who love him and that he does not want kids of his own yet.
That Karin is on the same page because they still have so much left to do before they can even begin to consider going through with raising children but Mitsuki is really good practice and he likes this kid.
"But I am not tired." Mitsuki looks up at him pleading with him since he has puppy eyes going on and he gives in because a small story wouldn't be too bad and it is not too past his bedtime.
"Okay then. What can we do to help you out with that?" Karin takes off her glasses and cleans them with her shirt until Sasuke takes them away from her to clean them properly.
"Aunt Karin can you tell me a story." Sasuke hands them back and they share a look.
"Yeah. This one is about a Pirate and a Mermaid. It takes place in the Hidden Cloud Village." She pulls the bedsheets motioning for him to lay down and he obliged.
"Oh cool." Mitsuki looks at them intently as Sasuke grabs a pencil then finds a notebook. He uses his not so great artistic skills to illustrate some pictures so that the kid can follow along with the story better since he has heard it enough.
.
Long ago surrounding the waters in what is now known as the Hidden Cloud Village there used to be a lawless group of people who everyone in this area called Pirates.
They stole treasures and ransacked villages. Recruited some of the toughest men and in special cases even stronger women to help with their cause.
Then unlike the Megalodon that was proven real early on by science there are still stories circling around all over the world of dragons.
As well as there is rumors of people being able to breath and even live underwater without the use of a Kekkei Genkai or ninjutsu. Any type of jutsu or chakra either. They call these creatures Mermaids.
This is the story of a mermaid and a world famous pirate in the making because at this time in his life he was in training.
This tale is about their meeting for the first time.
"Let me catch you sneaking around my ship again, you scoundrel!" Naruto evades another empty bottle of rum flaying straight towards his head successfully but he knocks a couple of the ship's crew overboard in the process of escaping.
Running to the boardwalk and smiling up at the captain of the ship briefly, giving who's old crewmates one final look before he is off again dead set on finding a place and tell him to sleep for the night and be on his way in the morning.
When morning came he finished paying the other portion of his debt to the Innkeeper that had generously houses him and by the time he walked back to the boardwalk his old ship had already long since set sail.
"Oh man, this sucks. I'm going to miss those guys and the ramen on board. Now I have to find a different job until I can afford a boat. This is going to take a while."
He is sitting here in the pier talking about his problems to himself since everyone else in this town seems to be going about their business not minding him.
Hinata had been swimming towards a nearby rock this being as far as she had ever gotten when it came to being close to the surface.
Once up here she hears someone talking about their problems and she is listening intently because she can tell that they are human.
While she has yet to meet one she has heard stories of instead of scales or a fish tail they have teo appendages called legs attached to feet which allows them to walk on land.
And that they cannot communicate with fish or breathe underwater for longer periods of time then about six minutes.
"I can help you for a price." She speaks up again having stuttered severely the first time and watches as he sits looking around until he looks at the water only to see her waiving.
Naruto watches her astounded as he realizes who, what he is looking at. She is a sea creature. AA mermaid judging by her extensive scales but seeing her now and in the sunlight her wonders if all are as beautiful creatures as she.
"I've heard tales about you and your kind. You enslave men. Luring them in to an attract or fight by hypnotizing them or resorting to the art of seduction right?"
"Like you continuously cause shipwrecks and harm to the sailors or explorers, especially pirates with your outworldly voices. I've heard the stories." He hops off the boardwalk and points an accusing finger at her.
While she stares his way surprised thinking that he is either one brave man or is simply ready and waiting with a death wish if he is seriously out here thinking that she goes off luring people to their deaths.
"No. I have never done that. I think you might have me confused with a Siren." Hinata activates her Byakugan to see if he has any weapons on him and he utters the word 'whoa' before regaining his cool, his tone demanding.
"Sing a song then."
"Um, well I am not sure if I can. It might make your ears bleed." She has never sung to people before and when she tries it with fish all they do is swim by with their mouths gaping. The last part was more of a joke but he is not laughing so she just looks at him.
"See you are evil then." He is confident that he proved his point and now he is wondering if she is more dangerous than a shark but that he doesn't care because he finds her fascinating.
"I am not." She dives back into the water then swims closer as he runs her way not minding that he is getting wet.
Only once they are standing in front of each other does she start to sing and okay it is nice but is definitely far from being what he expected to hear so he assured himself that she must be telling him the truth in that case.
"How can you help me then." Up close his blue eyes are as striking as the oceans tide on a full moon and she wonders if her father depicted humans as monsters only to keep her from seeing their beauty.
From falling in love in mere seconds.
"I can give you one of these." She holds out her hand showing him a pearl gemstone and his eyes go as big as saucers as he reaches out to hold it for himself briefly brushing her hand before he hands it back a little disappointed now.
"Thank you for trying to help but I don't have anything that is worth as much and taking it from you wouldn't be something that I am willing to do." He smiles as brightly as the sun but looks down at the water surprised when he hears a rumbling like a trumpet in the middle of the ocean.
"That's my father. I have to go now. Here keep it, use it for whatever you want. Just tell me your name." She throws it to him and it splatters into the water but he has got it now.
"Naruto and thanks a bunch. Hey wait. Can I see you again?" She had begun to leave now diving into the water but stoping when she heard him.
"Become a good pirate. A captain of your very own ship and I will see you then." She smiles brightly up and him and he leans down into the water to kiss her.
"What is your name?"
"Hinata" She is an embarrassed mess as she hears his next words but she knows that she will take them to heart, with a grain of salt yet she will be hopeful and waiting for him to succeed.
"Would you like to marry me? You should definitely date me first." He is breathless and feeling like he is on cloud nine not sure if he is moving too fast but he has always appreciated living in the moment.
"If you become Pirate King." She wants to see him again, she really does but she cannot come out into the surface willy nilly if he doesn't put in some effort himself to provide for a living near or on the water and realize his own dreams so that he can be happy.
"It is a pact then. Plus I was planning on doing that already." With this pearl he can buy a boat or a house and some land but he knows what he wants and needs in order to succeed in this world, in order to accomplish his dreams.
"Then perhaps we were destined for each other." He blushed as he swept a hand over his hair.
Seeing the sun, clouds and seagulls as new ship are just beginning to outline in the distance. So he kisses her again and she grips his hand cutting into his wrist then her own.
Whispering some words in a language he cannot understand then dips their hands in the water and it stings but the moment she back up their is a spiral drawing on his skin that no longer hurts.
One that looks more like a tattoo now and he is like 'oh cool' before she dives back into the water and she is gone as if she had not been there at all but he is left with a few reminders.
"Bye Hinata." He starts making his way out of the water looking sun kissed and feeling even better.
"He's asleep now." She yawns loudly as she runs a hand over her eyes after removing her glasses only to see Sasuke mumbling the words 'lets go Karin' when she puts them back on.
She bends over him to kiss Mitsuki's forehead then shuts off the lights. Telling Sasuke to help her pick up some the paperwork she had forgotten in the kitchen for her lab.
Before they go outside into the night to meet up with Naruto and Hinata for a nightcap since they were celebrating another anniversary of a wonderful friendship and love.
.
.
.
When Mitsuki finds Boruto by the lockers the next morning before class he smiles at him excitedly saying. "I've got a story for you. Aunt Karin and Uncle Sasuke told me last night."
And Boruto closes the door pulling his backpack up while saying. "So do I. You think it's the same one? Mine, is about a princess and an assassin. My parents didn't get to finish though I fell asleep."
Mitsuki grabs Boruto's hand as he drags him along the corridor while the blonde Ninja looks at it then him but goes along with it because they are moving pretty quickly to their classroom.
"No mine is about a pirate and a mermaid. Let's go ask Shikadai, Metal or Chōchō if they know the origins of the stories or there ending."