Disclaimer:I do not own any of the content following this statement. All titles, names, and plots are owned by Masashi Kishimoto.

Warning:The following will contain material that some viewers may not find suitable. There will be smut, graphic explicit sex, lemons at random moments, character deaths, and multiple pairings. There will be no additional warning as without reading the smut what little plot there is will not make any sense. You have been warned.

Can our inner demons love

Chapter Thirty One

The Meeting

In the morning they dressed in the plain gray work kimono used on the docks. With their hair hidden in their headscarfs and some added dirt on their cheeks, they looked the part of day laborers the ships used to unload their goods.

"We need to find the Sea Mist.", Ino reminded Naruto as they walked down the row of ships each unloading boxes in large nets to the waiting workers below. She was getting a little nervous and knew she was talking more to calm herself than to tell Naruto what to do. The smell of fish and sweaty men didn't help either.

"I see it, it's over there at the end of dock 6," Naruto said as he works his way around a trunk being loaded with large pots.

The Sea Mist is a yacht flying the flag of the royal family, it looks modern being white with red and blue strips running down the sides in a wave-like design. There is a large number of guards standing around the gangplank but no sign of anyone of importance.

Trying to avoid standing out Ino pulls Naruto into the crowd of day laborers waiting on the side of the road. "The mission scroll said to wait until the afternoon when they would leave for a shopping trip. We need to put on these scarfs and wipe our foreheads with them when they come by," said Ino handing a blue and red scarf to Naruto who shoved it in his pocket.

Knowing Naruto has a really hard time waiting, Ino volunteered them to help unload the contents of some crates into the back of the waiting trucks.

"Slow down, you're supposed to be a civilian." Ino reminds Naruto as he picks up three boxes at once when everyone else is barely able to pick up one. Now moving at the same speed as all the other workers they keep an eye out on the yacht and try not to put the wrong boxes in the wrong trucks.

Just as the last of the crates is lowered to the dock they see the guards start to form in two lines and Ino can see a line of people dressed in royal colors come down the ramp. Naruto works his way over to the road where some of the other laborers are standing hoping to pick up work. Ino joins Naruto as the foreman yells that they will not get paid if they don't finish the last crate.

The royals and their entourage take their seats in the waiting carriages and proceed down the dock with their guards running beside them. Slowing down at the end of the dock where all the laborers are standing Naruto can see a shockingly beautiful girl on the back seat of the second carriage, taking a look at Ino then back he would swear it was her twin.

The girl raises her hand and you can clearly hear her say. "Father, we will need help carrying all of my packages, can we not get some of 'those' people to help."

Ino elbows Naruto to take off his scarf as an older man looks out the window at the gathered crowd.

Talking to the guard at the window he points in their general direction, causing the guard to run over, "You, You and You two come with us." he points at four people to include Ino and Naruto who run over and join the line of guards jogging along beside the now moving carriages.

The afternoon was hot, humid, and as Ino was quick to point out, not fun when all you get to do is wait outside the store for the packages to be handed to you to carry to the next store. The now two blonde girls they were assigned to follow seemed to be on a shopping spree as they bought something at every store, not missing a one.

As the sunset, they were tasked to carry all of the day's prizes into the ship's hold. Before they has a chance to walk out one of the guards told them to wait in a small side room of the quartermaster's office.

In a couple of minutes, a man entered in wearing robes of the finest silk, with an air of authority. Looking at the two dirty, sweaty people in the small office he covered his nose with a perfumed cloth and said. "The fire burns", hearing the code Ino as the mission leader steps forward, "The will of fire never stops burning," she said

"You may leave us," the man says to the guards and waits until they are out of the room.

"I was told they would be sending two shinobi to take the place of my girls. What is going on?" He said. Ino pulls off her headscarf and wipes the dirt off her face. Shaking her head to loosen her hair so it flows down her back she stands tall and proud as if born to the royal family herself.

Being suitably impressed he turns to Naruto who with his trademark grin starts to make a hand sign, Ino places her hand over his and says. "Remember you need to look like the princess's sister, with clothes," she whispers that last part.

With a full-toothed smile, he nods his head, and with a puff of smoke, the princess and her sister are standing in front of their father wearing the robs of laborers.

"Very impressive but the shinobi will see through your hedge I hear, this will not do at all." He starts to turn to leave when Ino says, "Wait it's not a hedge, test it yourself."

Having enough of this waste of time and having dealt with shinobi in the past with their fragile hedges he slaps Naruto expecting his hedge to pop. What he sees almost breaks his heart as his sweet little girl breaks down in tears with a look of horror on her face.

"Father how could you!" she cries breaking down into a full sob with tears running down her cheeks and shoulders shaking as she starts to cry.

"Oh god I am so sorry I didn't know it was you, Oh my sweat baby I am so sorry!" he cries wrapping the blonde girl in his arms and wiping her face with his sleeve.

"Sir, Sir, that is not your daughter," said Ino trying to get things back on track.

Pushing the girl away from his chest he sees a stupid grin on her face as she gives him a little wave.

"Are you sure?" he asks pulling on her cheek and running his hand in her hair, "She looks and acts just like her."

"Yes I am sure and Naruto can hold this form indefinitely," said Ino trying to answer his next question ahead of time.

Nodding his head he is back to business as he pulls out from his robs a scroll and unrolls it on the desk.

"Here is what my spies in the court of the Lightning Damiyō have discovered, Yosuke Akimoto, the man who my daughter so wisely refused to marry asked his uncle the lightning Damiyo to assassinate me and my family. He refused but allowed a contract against my oldest daughter. The pig Yosuke went to A who assigned the mission to two Chunin and a Jonin. When I took this information to my father the fire Damiyo he said unless I had better proof he could not do anything."

Standing back he looked at the two young blondes and said, "If you can bring me proof the lightning Daniyo is involved I will double, no triple your pay." He said rolling up the scroll and hiding it back in his rob.

Calling the guard back he ordered them to bring in a bag they had carried into the ship not an hour ago. "Leave your dirty clothes here and change into these. The guard will escort you upstairs.", with that, he walked out of the office. Looking in the bag they find it full of women's clothes from one of the finer shops they stopped at this afternoon. Ino looked over at Naruto as he removed all his clothes, she was somewhat thrown off by the smirk that had covered his face as he replied, "Don't worry I got this putting on the dress and transforming back into his sexy jutsu form."

Stripping down to her bra and panties, Ino used a water jutsu to clean up as best she can. In the middle of getting dressed, Ino had to stop and show Naruto in his girl form how to put on some of the more delicate pieces of underwear and zipping up the back of the dresses they walked out looking the part.

"god I look horrible, we need our hair and nails done as soon as possible." A exacerbated Ino said as they walked behind the guard going up the stairs into the family living quarters.

Plush is the first word that comes to mind then looking around the rooms some more they see they are not alone. A true beauty stands up from the lounge chair she had been laying on and walks over to them. She is wearing the same clothes as Ino but her graceful movements and impeccable dress with its gems and gold threads scream out wealth.

As the princess gets near she raises a hand with fingers covered in rings made from the finest gold and silver to grab Ino's chin and turn her head from side to side. "It's like looking into a mirror, with a little extra dirt." She says, satisfied with what she sees see calls to her sister in a voice that demands respect and obedience.

"Tomiko, come here and inspect your twin." She says to a blonde girl hiding behind a chaise lounge near the windows. The now named Tomiko jumps over the chair in a matching dress to Naruto's and runs over to him with a bounce to her steps and takes Naruto's hands in hers.

She stares into Naruto's face for a couple seconds and squeals out. "You look like ME!"

Naruto squeals back, "No you look like ME!'

Tomiko starts to hop up and down giggling, Naruto does the same and soon both are hopping around in circles giggling like lunatics until they both trip over the pillows on the floor and land in a heap of arms and legs.

"Get up and stop acting like a fool Tomiko." says the blonde bejeweled girl.

"Oh, Yuka stop calling me that." Says Tomiko, the other blonde looks at her and says, "I am Tomiko, you can't talk to Yuka like that." "Yes I can, no you can't." the two on the floor start to argue over who is who and Ino has a hard time figuring out the real Tomiko herself. With both girls on the floor talking at once and getting nowhere princess Yuka shakes her head and walks over to the windows overlooking the city receding into the distance.

Ino joins her not realizing they had even left port but glade she had the presence of mind to pack all their things in a storage scroll before leaving the hotel.

Looking to the princess she waits until Yuka says, "That pig wants me dead." Turning to face Ino she continues, "I know father wants proof but proof or not I will pay you handsomely if you bring me his head."

"I understand princess and if the mission orders allow I will do so but I will need to ask my Hokage to expand the mission." Said Ino with a small bow.

"I will send word to you Kage, she will approve what I want. Tsunade owns me a great debt." Yuka says turning back to the windows.

Hearing quiet behind them the twin blonds turn to see the two Tomiko on the floor doing each other's hair and talking it seems about boys they know. At this point, Ino really doesn't know which one is Naruto.

"Come," says Yuka as she walks over to the lounge chair and sit down.

"I will show you something that only my mother, sister, and father know of, using this you will be able to gain their trust if in the future they doubt you." with that she opens the front of her dress to show Ino a birthmark on the side of her left breast in the shape of a star about the size of Ino's thumbnail.

Covering herself back up Yuka looks at her sister on the floor and with a true smile turns back to Ino. "It's all about her really." she says, "I can't leave her alone to go marry some pig of a man until I know she is safe and will be taken care of by a loving man of her own."

With that she orders the maids to draw baths for everyone so they can all get cleaned up for dinner. Thank god they had private baths and dressing rooms. Both Tomiko's needed help getting dressed in their finery, with all the clasps and earrings it was like dressed two hyperactive blonde dolls that didn't stop talking for a second. Ino wasn't sure if she was even dressing Naruto or the real Tomiko at this point. Getting a shrug from Yuka it was clear she wasn't sure herself.

Dinner was a process, with many dishes brought out in a precise order ending in ice scream for Tomiko and when one asked for Ramen Ino knew which one was Naruto.

They spent two days on the ship learning what they could of the royal court and city they would be staying in. The plan called for the two real princesses to stay on the ship with their father, all the servants, and guards who may know of the plan. Ino and Naruto would leave the ship once docked to return to the palace in the royal possession to take the place of the princesses.

After that, it would be a waiting game for the assassins to show themselves.

As they pulled into port they found themselves once again standing at the windows overlooking a new city. This time Ino and Yuka were both dressed in the finest silks and covered in jewels and gems of the five great nations. Even her father had a hard time telling them apart when they turned to join him at the seating.

The two Tomiko were on the floor again playing some card game, they are also dressed in dresses befitting a princess but they had learned that jewels and earrings were just too much trouble for either of them.

"When you reach the palace give this scroll to Masato he is the head of the machi-bugyo office, it contains orders to lower the number of guards around the palace and instructions on how to reach me if there are any issues", said the princess as Ino hide the scroll in her obi.

After a soft knock on the door, a guard announced, "We have docked your majesty."

"It is time to swap identities, Tomiko come stand by me," said Yuka with her commanding voice. One of the blondes on the floor jumps up and standing next to Yuka holding her hand.

"Good luck, and good hunting.", Say the father as all three give a small bow before leaving the room.

Looking to Naruto now standing beside her, Ino sets her shoulders back and raising her head high, she leads the younger-looking girl out into the sunlight hoping she is ready for what is to come.

….

Chewing on a bite of Dango he just took from a tray, Naruto frowns at Ino and said, "You don't like Dango?", as he waves a stick of them in the air at Ino. "It's not that," she replies, "The ride was to quit, I was expecting, Oh, I don't know, someone trying to kill me I guess." saying that last part with a laugh she takes the offered stick of Dango and bites off a piece.

Riding through the city an adventurist merchant has handed a pinwheel to Naruto hoping it would improve his sales when the gathered crowd saw Tomiko playing with it. Now back at the palace Naruto picked up the pinwheel with his free hand and began to examine it.

He hid his laugh, trying his best not to upset the already worried Ino next to him.

"That would have been too messy even for a Kumogakure nin to do. I am sure they don't want to start a war. When they do attack, it will be private with as few witnesses as possible." He states as if he had done this a million times before.

Ino remembers riding through the city, there seemed to be tons of resorts and spas. The streets bustling with people, and Ino couldn't help but take in every inch of it but trying not to break out of her role as a cold jaded princess. "It's getting pretty late..." he said as he looked out over the gardens out the window, "We should probably head to bed, I will set up some clones to act as early warning.".

Ino felt a chill come from the window as Naruto moves away, his body no longer sitting next to her to share some warmth. She couldn't help but worry as she got up from the window seat and the disappointment that she felt knowing the fun part of the adventure was over.

"I like spending time with him..." it felt stupid thinking it, her body feeling a bit warm as she thought about her nights traveling and the stay at the hotel. If she was being honest, she could go for a few more of those types of days without missions and people throwing sharp things at her.

Sitting on the bed she leans back on her elbows as she closed her eyes, a small smile drifted across her face, "Now that I think about it… spending more time with Naruto, that wouldn't be so bad".

"Ino?" his questioning voice brought her back, and as she let her head fall back looking up at him standing next to her bed, she noticed the still present tinge of pink across his face, "You okay?"

She chuckled as she reached up and took his hand. "I will be fine, once I get a good night's sleep." watching him leave she thinks just how much Naruto had changed since the academy.

….

Days, dam it, it's been days, and still, nothing has happened, a fuming Ino thought as she walked down the palace halls looking for Naruto. Knowing him he was playing some card game with the maids again, I think he is taking his part as Tomiko a little too far, but knowing she is just jealous as she can't join in some small fun. Being Yuka is hard, having to maintain her resting bitch face and cold exterior wasn't as easy as it looked.

Clearly, Naruto had the better part to play, he just acted like himself, and the idiot fit right in, Ino was totally impressed he has been able to hold his form for the last ten days without even a hint of strain.

Bursting into Tomiko's playroom as Ino called it she finds the blonde at a desk looking at a map of the city. Wondering what he has planned she stands next to the blonde girl with pigtails, who she noticed smelled really good today, and asks, "So what are you planning on doing?"

"I think it's time we go shopping, these shops here and here have narrow streets with limited access, it would be a perfect place for an ambush."

Looking down Ino can see what he/she means, to purposely place yourself in danger went against all their training but it would be a good way to draw any would-be assassin out.

"I will tell Masato we are going OUT!", say Ino with a little more energy to her step as she went looking for the head of the palace security. When he heard what they wanted to do with a very limited escort he put up a fight but Yuka was not someone you ordered around.

Going shopping for a new dress was the reason given to any and all that asked and some that didn't, they wanted the word to get out as fast as possible knowing there had to be spies ready to pass information to anyone with the coin to pay for it.

With as small an entourage as they could get away with and only five guards they headed out to the Silk Street dress shops, the giggling girls of the assembled ladies couldn't stop talking about the gossip of a new man in Yuka's life. If only they knew that "man" they overheard her talking about was a would-be killer.

The guards ordered the street closed as they entered the shopping district, leaving only the shop keepers and them.

"Dam it Tomiko stand still, did your boobs get bigger or something, this should fit.", Ino could hear the ladies in the dressing room deal with Tomiko as she looked at silk dresses she couldn't even dream of touching much less buy back home. The dress she had in her hand would cost her a year's pay and then some. Dropping it back to the rack she shook her head scaring the shop's owner out of his wits.

If word gets out the princess doesn't like his silk dresses it's the end for him. Rushing over to her side he bows ten times, each time saying, "Please take this lowly piece of silk off my hands as a gift to your beauty."

"If it's lowly why would I want it?", Ino asks looking down at the taller man.

"It is made of the finest silk in all the lands, my lady but compared to you it is but a rag.", he shots back hoping to save his shop.

"So now you want me to wear rags?", Ino said trying not to laugh at the look on the poor man's face.

"Oh Stop it Yuka, give him a break." Say Tomiko coming out of the dressing room covered in silks with Sakura peddles, clearly she wasn't wearing a bra and that dress was one size too small.

"I will take that one", she says pointing to the dress in question, "And I want three of those in small just like this one." Tomiko's smile was like the sun and the shopkeeper ran away with the dresses she had pointed out to box them up before Yuka could say anything.

Looking at Tomiko, Yuka touches her cheek, "You are too nice sometimes, and this dress is way too small for you, go change."

Waiting Ino had learned was one of the things a princess did a lot, as she stood at the front of the store for all her boxes to be readied and Tomiko to change into something more fitting for a young princess. Closing her eyes she reached out with her chakra, finding nothing at first she planned to move onto the next shop when a spike of killer intent hit her.

It was small and not directed at the shop or its occupants. "It has to be a chunin, no Jonin would let something slip like that." thought Ino as she took one step back from the windows.

As Tomiko hopped up to her with that trademark smile, now dressed in a plain but well fitted white and pink outfit Ino said, "It looks like we may have a party later." Using the agreed-upon signal.

Tomiko's smile didn't waver but her eyes scanned the shop and then outside for anything out of place. Not question Ino she moved to walk out the door first with a skip in her step like a small child but with eyes like a trained killer.

Joining the ladies of the court outside, watching the boxes with the new dresses being placed in the back of the carriages Tomiko skipped out into the street acting the fool but scanning the rooftops.

Yuka exited the store with her head held high looking the part of a bored princess when a wave of chakra swept across the area causing lightning to flash from the ground knocking out everyone in sight.

"Dam Naruto was right." she thought as the rubber soles of her saddles protected her from most of the lightning jutsu. Dropping to the ground in a heap hoping the assassin would come out to finish the job up close she waited. It seems waiting was this mission's calling card.

Looking through her hair that had fallen in front of her face she can see Tomiko spread out like a rag doll against the wall across the street. She thought Naruto was putting on too much of a show but the smell of burnt flesh reminded her that not everyone is going to wake up after this is over. It was a good five minutes before the sound of soft saddled feet landing on the ground behind her told her the would-be assassin was here.

"Dam, it's a shame I can't get a taste of this fine ass of yours before I kill ya but orders are orders," he says pulling her head back by the hair and lowering a blade to her neck. With him behind her, she is unable to use her family technique to take over his mind. Getting ready to headbutt him in the face he screams and jumps back. A Shuriken embedded into his shoulder.

The Kumogakure nin stands tall looking around for his attacker so Ino rolls over on her back and kicks upward into his balls as hard as she can. The resulting scream as he flies up and through the store window is very satisfying.

Sitting up she sees Tomiko still against the wall as Naruto jumps into the ruined storefront with a blue ball of chakra and a Kunai in his other hand. One is a clone and she assumes it's the Tomiko by the wall.

Running into the store she finds a very dead Kumogakure nin with a sizable hole in his chest. Hearing her enter Naruto spins around, his eyes are red and his teeth are long and pointy. One then two heartbeats pass with both of them staring at each other.

"I thought he hurt you,", Naruto said letting out the breath he was holding. Turning back to the dead body, "I guess I went overboard uh. We can still search the body for any clues before people start to show up." he says as his eyes return to normal.

"I will do that, you go check on the court ladies and guards.", with a nod Naruto runs out the broken window as Ino starts to pull everything out of the dead man's pockets. He may have been dumb but he wasn't stupid though Ino as she found nothing of value, only a receipt for lunch and a little pocket money was on the man.

Leaving the store she finds an army of clones putting bodies in a row and Tomiko checking on some others against the wall. Six dead, nine burned, and unconscious, if the court hears about this they will be locked up in the tower for their own safety.

Guessing what clone is the real one she walks over and asks, "So how the hell do we hide something like this?"

Being the master of tricks and pranks Naruto puts on his thinking face on, then looks down at the dead shopkeeper. "We can put all of the dead ones in the shop and break the gas pipe, when the firemen show up we act like we saved those over there. I don't think they will contradict the story of the great princess Yuka." ending his plan with a wave and a bow she agrees.

Placing the Kumogakure nin at the base of the gas pipe in the back a Naruto clone opens all the values and waits for the store to fill with gas, once ready, he uses a small camping fire jutsu. The resulting blast was bigger than they expected, and half the city must have heard it as people came running down the street to find the two princesses and some of their court ladies hiding behind a turned-over carriage.

If anybody really inspected the site, they would find the dead nins body next to the pipes and assume it was a poorly planned assassination plot gone very wrong.

The rush back to the palace, doctors, and nurses running around in a blur of actions was all Ino could remember as she found herself back in her bed with way too many people standing around waiting for her to ask for anything, anything at all.

"I want", she starts and everyone learns forward so they can be the first to hear her, "You to bring me Tomiko and GET OUT!" she yells pointing at the door with a commanding finger with three gold rings and a broken nail.

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