When everyone arrived back at the Leaf Vilge, Yamato wasted no time reporting what had happened. His voice remained steady as he recounted their confrontation, their decision moving forward, and what it meant for the team. The weight of his words filled the room, but Lady Tsunade remained unimpressed. She leaned back in her chair, fingers drumming zily against the desk as she listened.

  Her expression didn't change much. The truth was, she had never particurly cared about Sasuke's fate, and it showed. Her priorities y elsewhere, in the safety of the vilge as a whole—not in one rogue shinobi who had willingly walked away.

  However, as Yamato wrapped up his report, a different thought settled in her mind.

  'But I do want to see Travis and make up our feud. I should do that tonight,' she mused, her golden eyes flicking toward the window. The vilge outside was illuminated by nterns, the streets lively yet peaceful.

  Meanwhile, Naruto and Travis walked together through those very streets, the night air cool against their skin. Their footsteps echoed softly as they strolled toward their apartments, sharing a casual conversation along the way.

  Eventually, they reached their doors, their paths temporarily splitting.

  "Alright, see ya, man. Tomorrow, I'll start my training," Naruto said, grinning as he stretched his arms behind his head.

  "Yeah, so get ready," Travis replied, smirking before turning toward his own door.

  He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him with a small click. The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the moonlight seeping through the window. He let out a deep breath, rolling his shoulders as he walked further in.

  With a tired grunt, he tossed his bag onto the floor, not bothering to put anything away. Instead, he dropped onto his bed, letting the mattress take his weight. His body rexed, but his mind was still buzzing.

  'Man, that was fun. Won't lie, I sort of enjoyed my fight with that damn snake,' he thought, a smirk tugging at his lips as he recalled the intensity of the battle.

  He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. 'Hmm, so how am I going to teach Naruto? I'll just let Kakashi help him with the theory for now. He'll handle the technical side. I'll just have to wait and see how things go from here.'

  After a moment, he shifted, sitting up on his bed. He reached under the pillow and pulled out a small, sleek device—a phone. It was something he had been keeping hidden, a piece of his old world that he somehow still had with him.

  The screen lit up as he powered it on. With a few taps, he opened the Naruto fandom site. His eyes scanned the information rapidly, soaking in everything about Chakra, its mechanics, and how it was applied in battle.

  Even though he already had power, understanding this world's energy system was crucial. If he wanted to get help everyone get stronger—and make the most of what he had—he needed to know everything.

  Time passed, the glow of the screen illuminating his face in the darkness. His eyelids grew heavier, exhaustion creeping in, and just as he was about to set his phone aside and call it a night—

  KNOCK KNOCK.

  Travis groaned. His head tilted toward the door, irritation flickering in his tired eyes.

  He sighed, swinging his legs over the bed before standing up. His footsteps were slow as he walked over, unlocking the door and pulling it open.

  There, standing right in front of him, was none other than Tsunade.

  Travis raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the doorframe. "What's up?" he asked, his tone rexed but curious.

  Tsunade crossed her arms, looking slightly hesitant. "I just wanted to see you," she admitted. "Don't worry, I won't be asking about your abilities or anything like that."

  Travis blinked, surprised by the change in her demeanor.

  She exhaled before continuing. "I actually just want to know you. I'm sorry about st time… Can you forgive me?" Her voice softened, holding a sincerity he hadn't expected.

  For a moment, he studied her face—the way her usually fierce expression had given way to something more genuine. Then, with a small smirk, he nodded.

  "I'm happy that you actually apologized," he said. "Well, come in. What will people say if they see the Hokage standing in front of my door?"

  Tsunade let out a small chuckle. "I brought drinks," she added, stepping to the side to reveal the case of alcohol she had hidden behind the wall.

  Travis raised an eyebrow.

  'I'm not much of a drinker, but if it helps me get on her good side, then I don't mind,' he thought.

  Stepping aside, he let her in.

  They both sat on the bed, cracking open a few bottles. The cool burn of the alcohol hit instantly, but it didn't take long for the atmosphere to loosen.

  For once, their conversation carried none of the stress from work, none of the pressure of responsibilities—just two people talking. Tsunade let her guard down, showing a side of herself she rarely revealed.

  She talked about her past, about her journey as a ninja. Though Travis already knew her story, he listened anyway, letting her relive her memories in her own words.

  The night stretched on, drink after drink disappearing between them. The tension from before had completely melted away.

  After a while, Tsunade ended up id out on his bed, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol. She mumbled something incoherent, clearly past her limit.

  Travis sighed, shaking his head with an amused smirk.

  'Guess she's done for the night.'

  He gnced at the floor for a second.

  'I could create a bed… but nah, not my style.'

  Without thinking too much about it, he id down beside her, his body sinking into the mattress. The st thing he heard was her soft breathing before sleep pulled him under.

  At dawn, it was still dark outside. The faintest hint of morning light barely touched the horizon, casting the vilge in deep shadows. Inside the quiet apartment, Tsunade was the first to wake. A giant, pulsating headache throbbed in her skull, making her groan softly. Pressing two fingers to her temple, she quickly channeled chakra, soothing the migraine in seconds. A relieved sigh escaped her lips.

  As her vision cleared, she turned onto her side—and that's when she saw him.

  Travis y beside her, his breathing steady and even. His shirt had been discarded sometime during the night, leaving his toned upper body on full dispy. The dim lighting highlighted the sharp contours of his chest and arms, his skin smooth yet defined from years of battle.

  Her heart skipped a beat.

  'What did I do st? I hope it's nothing bad,' she thought, her mind scrambling for memories.

  She swallowed, then felt something odd—a cool breeze against her chest. Confused, she gnced downward.

  Her shirt.

  It was unbuttoned.

  Panic fshed in her golden eyes as she hurriedly pulled it closed, tying it up tightly before exhaling sharply. Her cheeks burned with a mix of embarrassment and relief.

  'I really do turn into a wreck when I'm drunk… I'm lucky I always had Shizune around back in the day. Otherwise, I would've ended up in some very sticky situations before I became Hokage,' she thought, shaking her head.

  Carefully, she slipped out of bed, trying not to make a sound. But as soon as she moved, the mattress shifted beneath her.

  Travis stirred. His eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim lighting, and immediately, they nded on her. He watched as she slipped her feet into her shoes, clearly getting ready to leave.

  A zy smirk stretched across his lips.

  "Damn, not even a kiss goodbye?" he teased, his deep voice still thick with sleep.

  Tsunade turned her head, about to fire back, but then—

  He stood up.

  His tall figure stretched, his muscles flexing subtly as he approached. Now standing only a few meters in front of her, his broad chest and well-defined abs were fully visible in the faint light. His physique was nothing short of impressive—strong, toned, and radiating a raw confidence that made it impossible to ignore.

  For a split second, Tsunade found herself staring.

  It wasn't just his body—it was the way he carried himself. Rexed, cocky, completely unfazed by her presence.

  She quickly snapped out of it. Clearing her throat, she forced a small smirk onto her lips. "Yes, well… I need to be at work early. I have a lot of paperwork to sign, so I'll be leaving now," she said, regaining her composure.

  Travis chuckled. "Well, that's fine. I'll see you ter then, Toots."

  Before she could react, his hand came down in a swift motion—smack.

  He spanked her ass.

  A sharp gasp left her lips as she froze, her face instantly heating up.

  Tsunade turned, ready to retort—ready to punch him straight through the wall—but when she looked back…

  Travis was already back in bed, lying on his side with a smug grin, eyes drifting shut like nothing had happened.

  Her fingers twitched.

  'I should—'

  She exhaled, shaking her head.

  'I'll let you pass for now,' she thought, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

  Without another word, she stepped out of the apartment and leaped toward the office, the cool morning air helping to calm her racing heartbeat.

  TO BE CONTINUED