NOTAKING
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Chapter 20
🕑 Added 2025-04-13 09:22:54 +0000 UTCTravis wandered through the familiar streets of Konoha, his pace unhurried, hands tucked into his pockets. The village was still alive with the same energy—laughter, chatter, the smell of street food drifting through the air—but to him, it all felt distant. Like walking through a dream half-remembered.
Nostalgia pulsed through his veins with every step.
He was aware of the ANBU. Shadowy figures flitting across rooftops, hiding behind crowds, always watching. But they didn’t matter.
' Let them follow,' he thought. 'If it makes them feel safe.'
He walked toward the tallest building in the village—second only to the Hokage’s Tower in height—its silhouette sharp against the orange wash of the late afternoon sun. This was where his apartment had been years ago, tucked high above the bustling streets, back when things were simpler… or at least felt that way.
Reaching into the inner pocket of his coat, he pulled out a small, aged key. The metal was tarnished, the edges worn smooth from years of use—or disuse. He held it between two fingers, turning it slowly, watching how the light caught on the dull surface. A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
' Let’s see if it's still in good condition ' he thought.
The key slid into the lock with a quiet familiarity, clicking smoothly as if no time had passed. The door creaked open with a low groan, the sound echoing softly in the stairwell beyond.
The entrance looked surprisingly untouched. The same slightly scuffed floors, the coat hooks still nailed to the wall, even the faint scent of wood polish and old paper lingered in the air.
He began to climb the narrow staircase, his footsteps slow and deliberate. Each step seemed to stir up old memories—quiet evenings spent alone, late-night missions returned from in silence, laughter from neighbors long gone.
The hallway upstairs had changed. The once dark, slightly chipped paint was now replaced with a muted, softer tone, making the corridor feel strangely unfamiliar. New light fixtures cast a gentler glow, modern but impersonal.
But then, at the very end of the hall, he stopped.
The door.
It looked the same—same worn edges, same tiny crack near the top from that time he’d slammed it too hard. For a long moment, he just stood there, staring at it.
As if the past might open it before he did.
There it was.
A small, faded nameplate still attached to the door.
"Travis."
He pushed the door open, expecting the stench of rot—but instead, it was stale dust that filled his lungs. He wrinkled his nose.
"Tch, guess they haven't clean since I left," he muttered.
With a snap of his fingers, chakra flared—silent, invisible, yet potent. In an instant, the room transformed. Dust vanished. Surfaces gleamed. The cracked floorboards repaired themselves, furniture reappeared, and the entire apartment returned to the pristine condition it once had—maybe better.
He stepped into the bedroom.
His gaze fell on the bed. A small smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth.
"Kushina..." The memory hit him hard and fast—her moans, her body, the way she clung to him, worshiped him in this very room.
' Good times, ' he thought, chuckling to himself.
He crossed the room and slid open the balcony door. Stepping outside, the air was crisp. From here, the Hokage Monument loomed in the distance, the stone faces staring out across the village.
He inhaled the view—the village he once called home.
Then his eyes locked onto the tall, central structure piercing the skyline: the Hokage’s Tower.
His smirk widened.
"Time to meet the new Hokage."
With a single leap, chakra surging in his legs, he launched himself from the balcony—soaring over rooftops, silent as a shadow, fast as a bullet—heading straight for the tower.
Alright brother, here’s your scene fully fleshed out with tighter flow, more immersive detail, deeper character tension, and Travis continuing to radiate cool, quiet dominance. I kept that mix of mystery, subtle arrogance, and history that sets him apart. Check it out:
From the rooftops above, Travis watched as Naruto reunited with his friends—Sakura throwing her usual punch, Kakashi giving his lazy wave, and even Jiraiya chuckling in the background.
He was about to make his quiet entrance through the Hokage’s window when several ANBU dropped in around him—silent, masked, and clearly tense.
He sighed.
' Damn, they’re persistent.'
Before any of them could make a move, he vanished—gone in a blink, leaving only a swirl of dust behind. The ANBU barely had time to react.
In the next instant, Travis reappeared inside the Hokage’s office, standing calmly in the center of the room like he’d always belonged there.
"Yo," he said casually, as if he hadn't just broken every security protocol in the village.
Tsunade, seated behind her desk, instantly tensed. Her eyes sharpened, chakra flaring just beneath the surface. Ready to strike.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady, but her hand hovered close to the scroll she used to summon Katsuyu.
Travis smirked.
"Oh? Didn’t Hiruzen leave you a letter?"
Jiraiya stepped forward, eyes narrowed.
"That’s Lord Third to you, stranger."
But Travis didn’t even acknowledge him. His eyes were locked on Tsunade, reading her like an open scroll.
Tsunade’s eyes widened slightly as a memory surfaced.
That letter...
“Travis may return one day. If he does, stand down. Do not engage. No matter what.”
– Hiruzen Sarutobi
Her expression softened, if only slightly.
"You’re... Travis?"
"That’s me," he replied with a slow grin. "Nice to finally meet you, Tsunade. Looks like the Leaf’s in good hands since the old pervert croaked."
The words hit like a slap. Tsunade’s breath hitched. Jiraiya flinched, brows furrowing in both pain and anger.
Hiruzen wasn’t just their mentor—he was family.
Tsunade took a slow breath and forced a polite smile. "Yes... well. Would you mind stepping aside for a moment? I need to finish with these three first."
"Sure," Travis said easily, striding across the room and lowering himself right into her chair.
Tsunade's eye twitched.
She held back her irritation and turned toward Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi. After giving them instructions for the upcoming test, the group bowed and made their exit.
As they left, Travis stood, hands behind his back. His tone was dry but amused.
"Not planning to watch the kids' progress?"
Tsunade crossed her arms. "I was going to. But first, I need to understand something."
She stepped closer, eyes sharp again. "Why are you here, Travis? After all these years... what do you want?"
He shrugged. "Not sure. Got bored, I guess. Figured I’d drop in, stretch my legs, stir some trouble maybe."
He turned and began walking toward the door without waiting for her reaction.
"Come on. We’re wasting time. I’m not sitting in an office while the fun’s happening out there."
Tsunade stared after him, jaw tight. She hated how easily he took control of a room. But something in her gut told her Hiruzen’s warning hadn’t been exaggerated.
With a sigh, she followed him.
As they walked side by side through the halls of the tower, Travis glanced out the window toward the training grounds.
' Team 7... yeah. That’s where the action is.
And I plan on being right in the middle of it. So I plan on joining them' he thought.
TO BE CONTINUED 
