With Travis, they were now sitting in one of the most famous ramen restaurants in the village, Ichiraku Ramen. The scent of rich broth and freshly made noodles filled the air, making the atmosphere warm and inviting. Lanterns cast a golden glow over the wooden counters, and the soft chatter of other customers blended with the rhythmic clinking of chopsticks against bowls.
Sakura leaned forward slightly, resting her elbow on the counter as she turned her attention to Travis. Her pink hair framed her face, and her emerald eyes held a spark of curiosity.
"So, Travis, where do you come from?" she asked, her tone casual but genuinely interested.
Travis glanced up from his bowl, twirling his chopsticks between his fingers in a relaxed rhythm.
"Huh? The Leaf, of course. I just left this place a long time ago," he said casually, then took a bite of his noodles, savoring the taste like it was something he hadn't had in years.
Naruto, hunched over his bowl, was in a world of his own. He slurped up his miso soup with such over-the-top enthusiasm that it sounded like he was in a race against time.
"Mmm—where'd you go?" he mumbled between gulps, barely pausing to breathe.
Sakura shot him a glare so sharp it could've sliced through steel. She reached under the counter and pinched his thigh hard. Naruto choked mid-slurp, nearly tipping over his bowl.
His eyes went wide with panic, but before he could cry out, she pinched even harder. He had no choice but to swallow everything in one massive gulp, coughing as he rubbed his now-sore leg.
"Jeez, Sakura, what was that for?" he whined, his voice cracking.
"For having zero table manners," she said flatly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as if nothing had happened.
Travis chuckled, the corner of his mouth curling into a grin at their dynamic. "A place far away from here," he said, shrugging. "But I got bored, so I just kinda found myself back in the Leaf. Figured I'd stick around for a while."
Naruto perked up immediately. "Well, I guess this is your official welcome-home party, then!" He reached for his now-empty bowl and turned toward Shikamaru, who was leaning back lazily in his seat, arms folded behind his head.
"Hey, Shikamaru, could you buy me another bowl? I'm flat broke right now."
Shikamaru didn't even look at him. "Aren't you supposed to be the one paying for everyone since you're back and all?"
"What?! No way! I already spent my last buck on an ice pop… which I shared with Pervy Sage, by the way," Naruto said defensively, as if that made him a hero.
Shikamaru sighed, rubbing the back of his neck in that classic 'why-am-I-here' way. "Alright, I'll cover it. But you owe me."
Naruto's face lit up like a kid on his birthday. "Thanks, man! You're a lifesaver! So, can I order another bowl?"
Shikamaru finally looked at him with a blank stare. "No."
Naruto groaned dramatically, flopping against the counter while the others burst into laughter. The warm, cozy buzz of the ramen shop made everything feel lighter—like no matter what was going on outside, in this little corner of Konoha, things were okay.
The tower was quiet at this hour, the dim glow of lanterns casting soft shadows along the polished wooden halls. The usual buzz of ninja and clerks had long faded, leaving only the soft creaks of the old structure and the occasional sigh of the wind outside.
As Travis approached the Hokage's office, he paused. The door was cracked open, just enough for the pale silver light of the full moon to spill out into the hallway.
Inside, Tsunade sat on the wide windowsill, her arms folded across her chest, golden hair tumbling loosely down her back. The moonlight kissed her figure, casting a delicate glow over her features. The wind pushed gently through the half-open window, rustling scrolls on her desk and tugging at the hem of her cloak.
She looked like a statue carved in quiet contemplation—but something about the way her eyes were fixed on the horizon, the tightness in her posture, the tension in her jaw, told him this wasn't just about the view.
"A lot on your mind, I see," Travis said softly as he stepped inside.
Tsunade turned on reflex, her eyes narrowing as she registered him. There was a flash of surprise—she hadn't sensed him approach.
' Sneaky fellow, isn't he?' she thought, though she quickly masked it with her usual stern expression.
She exhaled and turned back to the window. "Well, I do have a potential threat wandering around my village. So that's that."
Travis chuckled, moving to lean against the wall beside her. "Ouch. Just when I thought you all were warming up to me. Guess I'll have to try harder to earn your trust."
Tsunade smirked, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Hmm. I think you'll have to do a lot more than that."
He tilted his head, gaze sharp with interest. "What if I cured your problem?"
Her smirk dropped immediately. The air thickened, as if the shadows themselves were listening.
Travis's eyes briefly flicked to the diamond-shaped seal on her forehead.
She moved before she thought, grabbing his collar in a flash, her grip vice-tight. "How do you know about that?" she snapped, her voice low and threatening.
Travis didn't flinch. If anything, his smirk deepened. "I know a lot about you, Tsunade. The good... and the bad."
Her grip tightened for a moment longer before she shoved him backward, hard enough to make his boots scuff the floor.
"You should mind your damn business, buster. I'm not your friend. Now get out."
But Travis didn't budge. Instead, his expression shifted—still smug, but now laced with something else. Intention.
He raised a hand slowly, palm open. Before she could react, he stepped close and gently pressed his hand to her forehead.
A strange warmth bloomed through her body, starting at the point of contact. It was foreign—intimate and powerful all at once. It seeped through her skin like sunlight cutting through ice, and for a moment, she couldn't move.
"What the hell are you—"
Before she could finish, the energy surged through her. It wasn't painful, but it was overwhelming. Something inside her cracked—no, released. Something old. Something she'd held onto for too long.
When she blinked again, Travis had stepped away, the same calm smile on his face.
"Thank me later," he said simply.
And just like that, he turned and walked out, leaving the door swinging silently behind him.
Tsunade stood frozen in place. Her breath was shallow, her senses spinning.
Something was… different.
She reached up, fingers brushing the smooth skin of her forehead. The seal was still there—but it felt dormant, like a flame that had been snuffed.
Confused, she instinctively released her Transformation Jutsu.
Nothing happened.
Her heart pounded. She looked down at her hands. Her arms. Her reflection in the glass window confirmed it—her body remained young. Strong. Unchanged.
She staggered back a step, a hand covering her mouth. "What did he do?"
Without wasting another second, she bolted out of the office, her slippers barely making a sound as she moved through the halls like a ghost. She pushed open the doors to the tower's entrance—
Empty.
He was already gone.
Outside, the wind howled again, colder than before.
Meanwhile, Travis lounged back on the small futon in his sparsely furnished apartment. Moonlight spilled through the open window, brushing across his face. He folded his arms behind his head and stared up at the ceiling, a grin playing across his lips.
This world was full of power. Opportunity. Adventure.
And yes—plenty of beautiful women.
He closed his eyes, already imagining the faces he'd charm, the lives he'd stir, the chaos he'd enjoy.
"Can't wait," he murmured to himself, that grin never leaving his face as the wind whispered through the night.
TO BE CONTINUED