NOTAKING
patreon
Chapter 27
🕑 Added 2025-05-01 17:19:23 +0000 UTCSomewhere else, atop a rocky outcrop, two Akatsuki members sat in silence. Kisame, still holding his water jutsu, grimaced as he felt the chakra connection to his clone sever.
“Tch. That guy in the green jumpsuit got lucky,” Kisame muttered, shaking his head.
Itachi, seated beside him, remained eerily calm. His own connection to his double had just been severed as well. He exhaled slightly, the only indication that he was even mildly intrigued.
"Hmm… I wonder who that was," he murmured.
Kisame glanced at him. "Who? Is there some new guy in the Leaf?"
"Yes. And he’s strong," Itachi said, his voice neutral but carrying a hint of curiosity. "He killed my double in an instant before I could do anything."
Kisame’s brows raised slightly. "Wait. Didn’t you put thirty percent of your chakra into that clone? Even with the Mangekyō Sharingan, it should have taken longer to defeat."
"That’s what I thought," Itachi admitted. "But it seems another monster has appeared in the Leaf."
Kisame grinned, his sharp teeth glinting under the moonlight. "Heh, sounds like things are getting interesting."
Back at the clearing, Naruto and the others stood over the lifeless body of the man who had been imitating Itachi. Though they were eager to move on, Chiyo had stopped them.
“I knew him,” she said solemnly. “I will bury him.”
They waited as Chiyo took a moment, her expression unreadable.
“They must have begun extracting the Tailed Beast from Gaara by now,” she finally said.
Naruto turned to her sharply. “What do you mean, extracting?”
Chiyo sighed. “Jinchūriki are merely temporary hosts. Gaara was the fourth person in our village to bear Shukaku before him. When a Jinchūriki nears death, or when someone powerful enough captures them, the beast can be extracted and sealed into another host. However… if a Jinchūriki dies, the Tailed Beast dies with them. Since they are born from chakra, they will eventually reform, but in a wild and untamed state. That is the great risk.”
Naruto clenched his fists. The words stung. He had always known the burden of being a Jinchūriki, but hearing it so plainly—the fact that he was merely a vessel, something disposable—made his blood boil.
Travis noticed Naruto’s breathing becoming ragged. His eyes darkened, a flicker of red flashing through them, and the whisker marks on his cheeks deepened.
"Calm down, Naruto," Travis said firmly.
Naruto took a deep breath, clenching his fists tighter. “I’m fine,” he muttered. “Let’s just go.”
Chiyo nodded. “Yes, we need to hurry before they finish.”
Sakura, still processing the information, hesitated before asking, “What happens if the Tailed Beast is removed from the host?”
Chiyo’s expression darkened. “The Jinchūriki dies.”
Travis stayed silent, his gaze drifting to Naruto’s stomach where the seal lay. He could feel it—the faint pulsing of the Nine-Tails’ chakra seeping into Naruto’s own.
' That’s going to break soon, ' he thought. ' But I already know Minato will reseal it.'
Later that night, Kakashi decided the group needed rest. If they ran into another enemy, they needed to be at full strength.
While the others slept, Travis perched atop a tree, staring at the moon. The cool night breeze brushed against his skin.
' Back in the old man’s world, the sun never set. It was always daytime. It was nice at times, but I grew to miss this view, ' he thought.
A soft rustling behind him made him glance to the side. Sakura landed beside him, holding a small container of food.
“What’s got you all sad?” she asked, offering the meal.
Travis smirked. “I’m not sad. I’m just admiring the moon’s beauty. But since you’ve graced me with your presence, I suppose I’ll admire you now instead.”
Sakura’s face turned a shade of pink. “You’re way too good at compliments,” she said with a small smile.
Travis chuckled. Then his expression softened. “You don’t have to force a smile, you know?”
Sakura blinked.
“I can tell you’re more worried about Naruto than anything else,” he continued. “You already lost one teammate. You don’t want to lose another, do you?”
Her smile faded slightly, replaced by a sad but understanding look. “Wow… you’re good at reading people.”
Travis shrugged. “It’s not hard to see.”
She sighed. “Losing Sasuke was hard… but Naruto and I haven’t given up on bringing him back. Still… if something happened to Naruto, I don’t know if I’d be able to keep going. That’s why I got stronger. So I wouldn’t be helpless.”
Travis nodded. “And that’s paid off, hasn’t it? You just need to keep pushing forward. From what I’ve seen, you’re doing a great job.”
Sakura looked at him, her eyes glistening. The words hit her harder than she expected.
“…Thanks,” she whispered. “I didn’t realize I needed to hear that.”
Travis smiled. “You’re welcome. Now, get some rest. Kakashi and I will keep watch.”
She nodded. “Goodnight, Travis.”
“Goodnight.”
Sakura hopped down from the tree and made her way back to camp.
As soon as she left, a voice spoke from the darkness.
"You know, you don’t have to be so suspicious of me, Kakashi-sensei," Travis said without turning his head.
A startled gasp came from a nearby branch.
“Wha—?!” Kakashi nearly lost his balance, caught completely off guard.
Travis grinned. "Easy there, sensei. So tell me, why are you so wary of me?"
Kakashi composed himself quickly, crossing his arms. "Well, aside from the fact that you seem to know far more than you should, I’d say that’s reason enough."
Travis chuckled. "Fair point."
An awkward silence settled between them.
“Well, this is awkward, See yah Kakashi Sensu Bean" Travis said before vanishing.
Kakashi tensed, glancing around quickly—only to spot Travis sitting by the campfire moments later, casually tossing a stick into the flames.
Kakashi exhaled through his nose.
' I’ll never get used to that speed…wait what did he call me? ' he thought.
TO BE CONTINUED
