Now commencing level three.

Boruto blinked open his eyes. He was on the ground, belly down, the side of his head resting on the cold hard floor. Adrenaline pumped through his veins. Heaving himself into a kneeling position, he saw his red-faced reflection staring back at him through a mirror.

I'm such an idiot... I can't believe I kissed her before I tried saying her name... His forehead fell back onto the wooden boards with a thunk. If she finds out, she's going to kill me...

Her pale face flashed into his mind, perfectly peaceful and surrounded by flowers. Short black hair. Dark blue dress. Soft, warm lips. What's wrong with me? Dang it... Stop thinking about it!

Just as he brought the back of his hand to his mouth, the door to the room slammed open and into the wall behind it.

"Phillip! Phillip!"

Looking first to the left, then to the right, he tried to find an escape. But there was nowhere to hide.

"Boy, what are you doing on the floor?!" It was his father who called his name.

"Dad?"

"Come on Phillip, it's your 16th birthday. Get changed already."

He wearily stood to his feet, blush still dusting his cheeks. On the bed was a set of clothes: a blue vest, white undershirt, and white pants.

"Is there something special about my 16th birthday?"

"Hmm... Well, we only invited THE WHOLE KINGDOM so get your butt off the floor and change! You're supposed to be meeting your fiancé tonight as well." With that, Naruto stormed out of the room.

Fiancé... Boruto didn't like the sound of this story. If Sarada found out he kissed her and was engaged to another girl... The thought made him shiver. That and... being engaged to another girl... made him nauseous?

Groaning to his feet, he peeled off the old white shirt he was wearing and traded it for the fancy fabric of the new. The ends of the sleeves hung off his wrists, swaying gently as he moved to button his shirt. They at least have to let me leave the top two buttons undone... That's allowed, right?

Upon opening the door, he realized that he didn't know which way to go. Both directions looked the same. He finally decided to go right, but the stair case wound up instead of down.

Something in the back of his mind told him to turn around. To get on with the game and complete it so they could go back to Konoha. But his RPG instincts encouraged him to explore the places outside of the main storyline. There was usually something there in normal games. Why wouldn't there be in this one?

Besides, he wanted to get away. He didn't want to meet this new fiancé. And he wasn't sure how to face Sarada anymore either. Not with the way his face got all warm whenever he thought about her. What were you supposed to tell your childhood "friend" when you accidentally kissed them and suddenly found them to be incredibly attractive? It was highly unlikely that she felt the same.

And so, he explored the castle for a change.

Boruto climbed the winding stone staircase, admiring the torch-lit walls and identical doorways. Just when he was beginning to think there was nothing of importance, he noticed a green glow seeping through the cracks of a rather unique door. The handle was old and rusted, the design significantly more planned than the simple wooden doors he passed before. There was something here after all... Glad I didn't miss it.

The door opened with a creak and a squeak. What he saw on the other side made him swallow.

Orochimaru was slouched over a spinning wheel, his peculiar features tinted by the strange lighting. "Well well... Look who decided to wander in? Isn't it your birthday, Prince Phillip? Or should I say... Boruto?"

"I guess it's my birthday... Wait, how did you know my name?"

"Someone doesn't sound too excited," sputtered Orochimaru. His grey skin stretched across his face as he smiled maliciously. "It seems as though you have something you're worried about."

I wonder if this is an actual event? Or maybe a cheat? Either way, he wasn't leaving until he figured it out.

"Worried because you accidentally kissed a girl?"

Boruto recoiled, blush creeping up his neck. "H-How did you..."

"I guessed right, did I?" Orochimaru chuckled. "Do you want to go back home?"

Even though something about Orochimaru's offer felt terribly off... He didn't want to find out what the ending to this story held. Not if he was getting married to someone wasn't Sarada. Not if it meant she would find out he kissed her.

"...Yeah... Can you take us back?"

The smile on Orochimaru's face turned into a playful murderous glare. "The solution to all of your problems is simple... It's right in front of your eyes. If you touch the point of this spinning wheel, you will soon come to realize... The memory of Sarada and Shikadai will disappear. Only yours will remain. And you will be in the village of Konoha again."

Boruto stared at the wooden wheel, tempted by the green glow. Sarada and Shikadai would forget everything. Or at least, that's what it sounded like he meant... But that was for the best, wasn't it? He was the one that dragged them into this mess. And most importantly, Sarada would forget about the kiss...

"You're sure?"

"Of course..." He chuckled. "Do I seem like a liar to you?"

If what Orochimaru said was true, he wouldn't have to worry about destroying the friendly dynamic of their team. He wouldn't have to worry about Shikadai holding it over his head and teasing him when they got back. And most importantly, the three of them could go back to Konoha and get out of this cruddy princess game. Boruto slowly reached out his hand.

"That's it... Come... Touch the wheel..."

Despite the bloodlust seeping out of the being in front of him, he pressed his finger to the needle. A single drop of blood oozed from his finger and onto the ground. And with that, Boruto blacked out.

. . .

Sarada found herself atop a horse, slumped over into its black mane. When she sat up and took in her surroundings, there were only trees and woods to be found. What just happened?

She ate the apple and fainted. Boruto didn't say her character name until after she woke up. So how did she wake up? Why was his face so red? And why did he look more like Naruto than himself?

The horse lead her until they made it to a small cottage in the woods. Not this again, thought Sarada. I thought we made it to the next level?

Upon closer inspection, something about this horse's black mane and tired green eyes seemed familiar. "...Shikadai?!"

He snorted and lowered his head in unfortunate confirmation. He could understand her, but having a complex conversation about what to do was out of the question.

Eyes on the shabby building in front of them, Sarada swung one leg over the saddle and slid off of Shikadai's back. He pushed her towards the entrance with his velvety nose. But she was hesitant to open the door.

Something about the place was giving her the creeps. On the outside, it didn't look too bad. But... Her gut warned her that something worse was at hand.

"Are you sure I should go in there?"

Shikadai let out a whinny.

"Fine..." Pressing her palm against the rough wood, she pushed.

The second she stepped foot inside, black figures swarmed around her, each with a rope in their hand. She attempted to fight back, but her arms were abruptly pinned to her sides. A crow swooped over her head and pecked hard enough at her skin to draw blood.

Neighing and bucking, Shikadai tried to fight back. But his mouth was soon muzzled, his legs tangled in ropes.

A shadow with long flowing black hair and glowing yellow eyes appeared before Sarada. The shadows covered his snake-like face, but there was no mistaking it. That figure could only belong to one person: Mitsuki's parent. Orochimaru.

"I was expecting you, princess of Uchiha decent," his raspy voice echoed through the empty wooden room.

Snakes slithered around Sarada's ankles. She tried to kick one, but it sunk its fangs into her skin.

"Not a wise move, Aurora..."

Her vision began to blur. Darn it, she thought, fighting the poison and the urge to cry out in pain. "Shikadai... Is this part of the story?"

All she got was a weak snort in response. When she turned, she realized that he had been poisoned as well.

"Minions," Orochimaru croaked, "carry her to the dungeon... The horse can stay outside... Don't worry my dear, the poison will only last long enough for me to put you in chains."

Sarada fought the minions to her last breath of consciousness, but her efforts were in vain. Tiny claws dug into her skin and hoisted her into the air as her vision faded to black.