Eating Ramen With Friends

Travis, Naruto, and Sakura strolled through the bustling streets of Konoha, the soft glow of lanterns illuminating the village as night settled in. The air carried the comforting aroma of grilled skewers and fresh ramen, a familiar scent that made Naruto's stomach grumble in anticipation. Kakashi trailed a few steps behind, his ever-casual demeanor making it hard to tell if he was actually paying attention or simply lost in his book.

"So, Travis, are you a genin now?" Naruto asked, his hands lazily resting behind his head as they walked toward Ichiraku Ramen.

Travis glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not really sure. Is it true that you're still a genin?"

Naruto grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, I left the village two years ago to train with Pervy Sage, so I didn't get to do much when it came to ninja activities," he admitted.

"That's why everyone who was in our class—except you and Sasuke—is still a genin," Sakura added, her arms crossed.

"Aww man, so you're a chunin, huh, Sakura?" Travis asked, looking a bit disappointed.

She smiled and nodded, a hint of pride in her expression.

'Funny how some of the strongest people in the world were genin for the longest time,' Travis thought as he took in the sights of the village, the peaceful ambiance contrasting with the past chaos it had endured.

"Don't worry, I'll catch up to all of you in no time!" he declared, feeling pumped up.

Sakura chuckled. "I'm sure you will."

As they neared Ichiraku, she suddenly perked up, spotting a familiar pair walking ahead. "Hey, Shikamaru! Temari! Look who it is!" she called, pointing at Naruto.

Shikamaru turned, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he gave a lazy smirk. "Well, if it isn't Naruto Uzumaki. Just got back to the village?"

"Yeah, technically," Naruto replied with a grin.

Shikamaru's smirk widened. "Heh, so… has your idiocy left you? Have you changed at all?"

Before Naruto could respond, Sakura cut in with an exaggerated sigh. "Nope! Not one bit."

Naruto groaned, his shoulders slumping. "Come on, Sakura! Give a guy a break!"

Travis observed the exchange, then shifted his gaze toward Temari, who stood beside Shikamaru with her arms folded. He had to admit, she carried herself with a certain confidence that was hard to ignore.

'If it isn't the laziest bastard in the village… and he somehow bagged Temari? I might have to change that,' Travis thought, smirking slightly as he eyed her.

Almost as if she could sense his gaze, Temari turned toward him. Their eyes met briefly before she quickly looked away, a faint flush appearing on her cheeks.

'Huh… he's kinda handsome,' she thought before shaking the notion from her head.

Shikamaru, noticing the unfamiliar face in their group, narrowed his eyes slightly. "Who's this guy?"

"Oh, this is Travis. He's new to the village," Naruto explained. "Not sure if he's gonna join our team or not. Let me ask Kakashi-sensei—" He turned around, only to find the ninja had vanished. "Uh… I'll ask him later."

Shaking his head, Naruto turned back to Shikamaru with a sly grin. "Oh, by the way, are you two on a date?" he teased, nudging Shikamaru with his elbow.

Shikamaru sighed. "Nah, that's not it."

Temari stepped forward, arms still crossed. "I'm here for the upcoming chunin exams. Just had some meetings to attend, that's all."

Naruto's expression shifted, a wave of nostalgia washing over him. "Oh man… that brings back memories," he muttered, recalling the first chunin exams—the moment everything had changed, the moment Sasuke began slipping further away after encountering Orochimaru.

Trying to push the thoughts aside, Naruto glanced at Temari. "Hey, what happened to Gaara?"

Temari's expression softened. "Gaara is now the Kazekage of the Sand Village."

Naruto's eyes widened before a broad smile stretched across his face. "No way!"

Travis listened quietly, taking in the conversation.

...

The bar was dimly lit, the soft glow of lanterns casting long shadows across the wooden walls. The air carried the scent of alcohol and grilled meat, mingling with the quiet chatter of other patrons. In the far corner, Jiraiya and Kakashi sat at a small table, their drinks untouched as they focused on their conversation.

Jiraiya leaned back, arms crossed over his chest, his expression contemplative. "That Travis kid. He might be onto something," he said, breaking the silence.

Kakashi, who had been idly stirring his drink with a finger, raised an eyebrow. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Jiraiya tapped a finger against the table. "Think about it. Two years ago, Itachi and that shark guy—Kisame—came into the Leaf with plans to take Naruto. Remember?"

Kakashi nodded slowly. "Of course. We spent a lot of time trying to figure out why they wanted him. Even though he's the Nine-Tails' host, that information was never officially released to the public."

Jiraiya smirked slightly. "Now, look at it from a different angle. Travis said they're after the Tailed Beasts, right? So who else, other than Naruto, would they go for?"

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly as he processed the thought. He hadn't considered it that way before, but the logic was sound. 'That does make a lot of sense now that I think about it. Yet, just as Lady Tsunade said, we have to wait and see.'

"Yeah, I understand," Kakashi said after a brief pause. "Did Lady Tsunade send the message already?"

Jiraiya took a sip of his drink before nodding. "She did. Now, we just have to wait and see."

The bar fell into a comfortable silence, but the weight of the conversation lingered between them. Outside, the wind rustled through the trees, a quiet reminder that the storm on the horizon was only just beginning.

Back 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. 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. "So, Travis, where do you come from?" she asked, curiosity in her voice.

Travis glanced up from his bowl, twirling his chopsticks between his fingers. "I don't really come from any particular village or anything. You could say I was born and raised in the middle of nowhere," he said casually before taking a bite.

Naruto, who was hunched over his bowl, slurped up his miso soup with such enthusiasm that it sounded like he was in a race against time. "Mmm—why'd you come here?" he mumbled between gulps, barely pausing to breathe.

Sakura shot him a look of pure irritation before reaching under the counter and pinching his thigh. Naruto choked mid-slurp, nearly spilling his entire bowl. His eyes widened in panic, but before he could complain, she pinched even harder, forcing him to swallow everything in one big gulp. He coughed, rubbing his sore leg. "Jeez, Sakura, what was that for?"

"For having zero table manners," she huffed, shaking her head.

Travis chuckled at the exchange before shrugging. "Honestly, I'm not sure. I just kinda found myself in the Leaf and liked the vibe here. Figured I'd stick around for a while."

Naruto grinned. "Well, I guess this is your official welcoming party, then!" He reached for his empty bowl and turned to Shikamaru, who was sitting lazily beside him. "Hey, Shikamaru, could you buy me another bowl? I'm flat broke right now."

Shikamaru gave him a deadpan stare. "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, crossing his arms like that was a perfectly reasonable excuse.

Shikamaru sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, I'll cover it. But you owe me."

Naruto's face lit up instantly. "Thanks, man! You're a lifesaver! So, can I order another bowl?"

Shikamaru gave him a bored look. "No."

Naruto groaned dramatically while the others laughed, the warm atmosphere of the ramen shop making the moment feel even more comforting.

After some time, Travis found himself back at the Hokage's Tower. He had nowhere else to stay, and she had begrudgingly allowed him to crash there for the time being. It wasn't exactly a warm invitation, but he wasn't about to complain.

The tower was quiet at this hour, the dim glow of lanterns casting soft shadows along the wooden halls. As he made his way toward her office, he spotted her sitting on the wide windowsill, bathed in the pale glow of the full moon. The wind outside howled softly, a cold breeze slipping through the slightly open window.

Something about the way she sat, arms folded, golden hair gently swaying in the night air, told him she wasn't just enjoying the view—she was deep in thought.

"A lot on your mind, I see," Travis said as he stepped forward.

Tsunade turned sharply, her brown eyes flashing with momentary surprise. She hadn't heard him come in.

'Sneaky fellow, isn't he?' she thought, quickly masking her reaction.

She sighed, her gaze returning to the moon. "Well, I do have a potential threat in my village. So that's that."

"Ouch," Travis chuckled, leaning against the wall beside her. "Just when I thought you all were warming up to me. Guess I need to work harder to earn your trust."

Tsunade smirked, shifting slightly so she could look at him. "Hmm, I think you'll have to do a lot more than that."

He tilted his head, eyes gleaming with intrigue. "What if I cure your problem?"

Her smirk faded instantly. The atmosphere in the room shifted.

Travis's gaze flicked to the diamond-shaped seal on her forehead, and she instantly tensed.

Her hand shot out, grabbing him by the collar with surprising force. "How do you know that?" Her voice was sharp, demanding.

Travis didn't flinch. If anything, his smirk deepened. "I know a lot about you, inside and out. The good... and the bad."

Her grip tightened before she shoved him back. "You should mind your damn business, buster. I'm not your friend. Now get out."

He didn't argue. Instead, he raised a hand and, before she could react, pressed his palm lightly against her forehead. A strange warmth pulsed through her, a sensation that made her body shiver from the inside out.

"What the hell are you—"

The energy coursed through her in an instant, dissolving something deep within her.

Travis stepped back, his smirk never faltering. "Thank me later."

With that, he turned and walked out of her office, leaving her standing there in stunned silence.

Something felt... different. She reached up, running her fingers over her forehead. Then, instinctively, she released her Transformation Jutsu.

Her heart nearly stopped.

Her body didn't change. It remained young. Strong.

'What did that boy do?' she thought, panic rising in her chest.

Without hesitation, she ran out into the halls, searching for him. But by the time she reached the entrance of the tower, he was gone.

The wind howled again, colder than before.

TO BE CONTINUED