This *level* contains violence and themes that may not be suitable for some readers. Orochimaru tried to warn him.

Now commencing level five.

Boruto regained consciousness to an all too familiar feeling. He wasn't in control of his body. No... He mentally shook, tears welling up in the eyes of his soul. No! This can't be happening... After all I put her through... Now I'm...

"Heh. That's right," said his own voice, talking back to his subconscious under the guise of Otsutsuki Momoshiki. "Now, you're me. It will be nice to have free reign of your body for a time. Watching you fawn over that stupid Uchiha brat was suffocating..."

Watch your filthy mouth, you creep. Lay a hand on her, and I'll kill myself.

"Oh? That threat again?" He laughed. "You don't have the bravado to kill yourself. You can't even move, nonetheless protect the girl you love... Be a good boy and stay quiet, Boruto... It's my turn to be the protagonist."

. . .

Sarada opened her eyes to find herself on cold, hard stone. The mossy scent that she associated with caves entered her nose, arms covered in goosebumps from the chill that passed over her bare shoulders. Nothing bound her movement, but the rusted metal bars in front of her told her that she was trapped.

Her hair was chest length, her glasses gone, figure a good bit more developed. She despised the fact that she knew nothing of these stories and wondered why the information didn't naturally pop into her head.

"Curse these stupid levels..."

After switching stories five times now, she should have been used to the drastic change in scenery and the new appearances they brought. But then there was that hug... All she wanted was to stay there. For just a little bit longer. And judging by the way Boruto held her… It seemed like he wanted the same thing.

Not only that. He'd almost kissed her. Said he'd die to protect her. There was little doubt in her mind he liked her, and yet… She wasn't sure what to do. Was it ok to kiss him? What would her parents say? Was this something that was in the stories only, and would fade when they got back to Konoha?

And more importantly… This was Boruto. He wasn't some prince. He was her childhood friend. And she wasn't a princess… When reality hit, would he even like her anymore? What if someone else got trapped in the stories with him? Like Sumire… Certainly, they would have fallen in love. He would've had more fun. And instead, Boruto was stuck in here with her… And Sarada didn't even know where here was.

"Pst."

Glancing down, Sarada noticed a clock. But it wasn't an ordinary clock. Black wood encompassed the frame, pendulum swinging inside a glass case, mustache telling her that it was just past noon. "...Shikadai?"

"Yeah. Finally. I can talk."

"Thank goodness... Do you know where we are? Why... Why am I in a cell?"

"Judging by the fact that I'm a talking clock, we're in Beauty and the Beast... Listen, this story doesn't have a pretty-"

Shikadai never got to finish his sentence. A shoe connected hard with his back. Wood splintered in all directions as his back fell apart, glass scattering across the floor from the dome that used to cover his face.

A whimper of horror caught in Sarada's throat. Her eyes roamed the scattered fragments, only praying that Shikadai was ok. But when she raised her head, malice spitting from her eyes, the man in front of her sent one too many a chill down her spine.

"Hm. I don't recall clocks having sentience..."

Sarada trembled. It was Boruto... But not the Boruto she knew. A rectangular horn stuck out of his head. Dark patterns ran through his shirt and up the right side of his face. One eye was closed, the other a faded purple. His aged features gave him a sadistic edge, once handsome face taken over by the creature that ruled his insides.

Memories flew through her head like lightning. This very figure, hovering above her head, giant rasengan in hand. Destroying Boro like he was trash just after he ripped apart their team. Stealing chakra from Naruto, acting like a completely different person. Two voices coming out of his mouth at once.

"Why..." Her voice barely made it out of her mouth.

"Why? I suppose that is a fair question," the Otsutsuki replied with a smirk. "It seems as though this story has given me full reign over your beloved's body... And I have no reason to give it back."

Sarada bit her lip. Tears welled up in her eyes. Shikadai was barely moving, and Boruto wasn't Boruto. How should I...

"Oh? You're going to cry?"

"...Shut up," she grunted, the tears involuntarily spilling over her eyes and down her cheeks. "I'll kick you out of his body if it's the last thing I do..."

Borushiki's chin tilted up, glaring at her haughtily with his byakugan from above. This wasn't Boruto anymore. "Defying me is not a wise move, Uchiha girl... Perhaps I should stay here and play with you instead of wreaking havoc on the village to bide my time until this story ends? After all, it seems as though I can't use jutsu... Taking on a village may prove to be rather difficult."

Sarada stared up at him, a cold hard murderous gaze in her eyes. But she couldn't hold it for long… He was still in there somewhere. And more than anything… She didn't want him to suffer anymore.

She couldn't let him. Not after he'd gone without eating for fear that he'd turn back into this creature and hurt someone. Not after he willingly took meds that had unknown side effects for a chance at suppressing the monster. Not after her father held remorse for not being able to kill him when he came back from that mission and his eye was gone…

"Do what you want with me... But don't hurt him."

"Oh? By him, do you mean your little friend on the ground? Or perhaps you mean the one who is inconveniently conscious inside of me?"

Conscious? Boruto is conscious? Sarada narrowed her gaze. If that was the case... "I mean both. Boruto! If you can hear me... Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Just focus on finding a way to take back control."

"Ha.. Hahahaha!" Borushiki's laughter echoed off of the stone walls. "You'll be fine, you say? Fool! I'll make you regret those words..."

. . .

Don't you dare.

Momoshiki ignored Boruto's voice inside his head and reached out towards Sarada through the bars.

What are you doing?!

He grabbed the collar of her vest and swung her forward, slamming her forehead into the rusty metal bars. Boruto could only watch in anguish as blood trickled in between her knitted eyebrows, her teeth gritted, eyes reflecting rebellion and pain.

"I may not be able to use jutsu in this world, but I can certainly cause you enough suffering to make my time here worthwhile... And where I come from, I am a leader, of sorts." He squeezed the collar of her vest in his hands, pressing her tender skin further into the jagged edges of the cell bars.

Boruto felt it. He felt his own grip tightening, muscles tensing as they held her weight. He felt the weight shift forward onto his right foot, the smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. The leer in his open eye. But he couldn't do anything to stop it… He couldn't control anything.

"Torture is simply a form of entertainment for me." Momoshiki flung her fragile body backwards with the flick of his wrist. "Foolish child... You shall soon learn what it means to defy an Otsutsuki."

Boruto squeezed his eyes shut inside his subconscious. He had to find a way. A way to overpower him for a split second. To tell her he was there. To tell her he was going to fight until he won.

He tried with all of his might to reach out into his body and pry his eye open.

"Boruto..."

Sarada! Her whimper should have made his throat tighten… It should have made his stomach muscles clench in agony. But it did nothing.

"Calling out to the brat inside of me is pointless."

No it isn't, he tried to say, but the words wouldn't come out of his mouth. When he tried to move, it felt like pushing a mountain with his bare hands. Nothing, no matter how he approached it, would budge of his own accord.

"You're lucky..." Momoshiki turned, taking Boruto along with him. "I haven't assembled the tools for my temporary entertainment. But I assure you... The moment they are within my grasp, you'll wish you never spoke of being… fine."

Before leaving the room, he picked up Shikadai's shattered wooden frame, staring into his cracked face and drooping eyes. "I don't need you giving her any pointless ideas about putting an end to this story," he hissed, bits of wood and glass dropping on the ground as they walked away.

Sarada... Shikadai... A single tear fell out of Boruto's closed eye. I'm so sorry...

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Well well well… What is Momoshiki going to do to Sarada? And will Boruto be able to stop him? Is Shikadai still alive? I guess you'll have to wait to find out…

This story is going to be a good bit different from the original. It will still include elements from Beauty and the Beast, but because this is the boss level, it's been modified a bit to fit this AU.

On a side note, if you see someone comment, click on their profile and check out their stories too!