A Very High Moral Standard

The sun was already high in the sky, and noon was drawing near. Mizuki, who had barely slept all night, was still catching up on rest. The physical exhaustion was one thing, but the mental fatigue needed peace of mind to soothe it.

Mizuki was sleeping soundly when a sudden knock at the door woke him. He got up reluctantly, his eyes drooping as he went to answer it. "Who is it?" he asked impatiently.

"It's me, Mizuki," a woman's voice replied.

"Oh, it's you, Tsubaki." Mizuki opened the door and let Tsubaki Chie in. "What brings you here? Aren't you supposed to be working?"

"It's already noon, and I took the afternoon off." Tsubaki Chie looked at Mizuki with concern. "Mizuki, I'm worried about you. I heard this morning that you instigated Iruka's student and attacked Iruka. Is it true?"

"Word got around that fast? You've already heard?"

"Did you really do it, Mizuki? Were you brought back here? Are you hurt?"

"Don't worry, I'm fine." She was worried about whether he was hurt at a time like this. Her love-struck instincts were obvious.

"Really? You're not going to leave Konoha, are you?"

"Of course not. Stop imagining things. It's all over now." Mizuki smiled and patted Tsubaki's hair.

She's got a pretty face, but that flak jacket is so unfashionable. A ponytail is cute, sure, but it doesn't seem to suit her little face. Now that he was feeling more relaxed, Mizuki couldn't help teasing himself in his thoughts.

"Is it really all over?"

"Of course it is. When have I ever lied to you?" He really hadn't. He'd even told her everything about his ties to Orochimaru. Tsubaki's love-struck instincts weren't exactly sharp, either.

"Wait here a moment. I'll go get ready." She turned and went to wash up.

When Mizuki finished washing up and came back, he found that the room had already been tidied. Tsubaki was waiting for him.

"I'm hungry. Let's go out and get something to eat."

"Oh, that'd be a waste. I can cook for you."

"We're out of ingredients. Let's eat out. I'm in the mood for ramen."

Mizuki had long admired Ichiraku Ramen's reputation. It was a legendary ramen shop that had appeared from the very first episode of Naruto to the very last. He'd already been there in his memories, but experiencing it in person was different. He also really wanted to meet the ramen man and Ayame, who had more presence in Konoha than he did despite not being ninja. He supposed it was a mix of starstruck excitement and the feeling of witnessing history.

Before today, Mizuki had actually been a little afraid to see Tsubaki Chie. If there was anyone who knew him best, it was surely his fiancée, Tsubaki Chie. Without any preparation, there was a high chance she'd see through him and start to suspect something. But things were different now. After a major upheaval, it was perfectly normal for someone to change a little. If he could avoid suspicion at first, the chances of being suspected later would only grow smaller.

Sitting in Ichiraku Ramen, Mizuki wore a helpless expression as he bent over the legendary tonkotsu ramen. It really did taste great. But Mizuki looked innocently at the ramen man. I never heard he was such a chatterbox. He'd have made a fine ninja. The most powerful jutsu in the Shinobi World—the Talk no Jutsu, also known as the Great Con Job—must have been invented by this guy. I've already eaten two big bowls.

"Say, young man, you don't come here often, do you? I don't remember you. Have you eaten at Ichiraku Ramen before? You have? Does that mean you weren't satisfied with our shop? This secret recipe of mine is a family heirloom passed down for a thousand years! It's passed from father to son, never to daughters or sons-in-law, and it's famous throughout the Land of Fire!"

"A thousand years? Is this some legendary dish the Sage of Six Paths ate?" Mizuki said, the corner of his mouth twitching. "If it's really as you say, then the recipe's going to die out with you. What a shame." Mizuki pointed at the busy Ayame with chopsticks still wet with broth.

"Sounds like you don't believe me, young man. Let me tell you..." The ramen man launched into another long-winded spiel and talked Mizuki's ears off.

"Your ramen really is great, sir," Mizuki had to interrupt.

The ramen man was delighted. "I knew it! My ramen is the best in the world. You're quite a handsome young man yourself, and with a little fixing up, you could be quite the looker. You love ramen, too, so why not consider marrying into my family? Ayame's learned a lot of my secrets. If you say yes, I might even consider passing the recipe on to you."

"Didn't you say it was passed down to sons, not sons-in-law? Your ancestors would be turning in their graves!" Mizuki couldn't stay there any longer. Couldn't the man see the lovely young woman beside him? Was Ayame really that hard to marry off that he'd started pitching her to random customers?

Mizuki hurriedly said, "The bill, please."

He quickly led Tsubaki outside. Ayame and the ramen man called after them, "Come again!"

"I don't think I dare come back. This world must have movies, too. Maybe I should've said, 'Sir, you're in the wrong movie.'" Mizuki and Tsubaki walked away without looking back.

After they left Ichiraku Ramen, Tsubaki asked, "Do you have anything to do now? Iruka's at Konoha Hospital. Do you want to go see him?"

"Sure." After the ramen man's long-winded chatter, Mizuki felt surprisingly relaxed, so he answered without thinking. It probably wasn't a big deal.

"Tsubaki," Mizuki said distractedly, "do you think I really should change my hairstyle?" He honestly thought that a middle part, with its stereotypical traitor look, would hurt his image going forward.

Tsubaki stiffened beside him. "Mizuki, do you think Ayame from the ramen shop is prettier than me? Are you going to marry into her family? Are you tired of me?"

"No. How could I be?" Looking at Tsubaki's teary eyes, Mizuki felt his head start to ache. Heavens knew he only thought the hairstyle didn't suit his tastes and wanted to change it. Had his single-guy aura from his previous life crossed over with him? He absolutely couldn't let the conversation continue. He needed to change the subject, fast.

"Tsubaki, let's hurry and visit Iruka."

At Konoha Hospital, in an ordinary patient room, Iruka stood by the window in his hospital gown, soaking up the sun. On pleasant spring days, the afternoon always made people drowsy.

Iruka stretched and was about to go back to bed when he suddenly heard a knock. He turned and called out, "Come in. The door's unlocked."

The door opened, and Tsubaki Chie walked in carrying a bouquet of carnations.

Iruka greeted her warmly. "Tsubaki, what brings you here? You already visited this morning."

"Sorry, Iruka. Mizuki caused you trouble. But this time, I didn't come alone—"

Someone else came in after her. It was Mizuki.

"You..." Iruka looked surprised. "You're all right?"

"What did you expect to happen to me, Iruka?" Mizuki acted as if nothing had happened.

"That's not what I meant, Mizuki. Honestly, I'm still completely in the dark. I've heard a few things from other people, but I still don't understand what you were trying to do. Did you really do all that just to beat me up?"

Tsubaki Chie apologized with an expression full of remorse. "I'm sorry, Iruka..."

Mizuki stopped Tsubaki. "Seeing you looking so well is a relief." Tsubaki knew too much, and if she said too much, she might let something slip.

"Why are you here alone? That Nine-Tails kid didn't even come to keep you company? He beat you up like this and doesn't feel the least bit guilty?"

"And whose fault do you think this is?" Iruka was speechless with indignation. "Naruto just left to register as a ninja. He might be at the photo studio now."

"Oh, is that so?" Mizuki glanced around the hospital room, bored.

It's still different from the hospitals in my previous life. This place is so backward, and yet they can transplant vital organs like eyes. Their genetics and cloning technology are astonishing, too. How crooked is this world's technology tree?

"I heard Ayame at Ichiraku Ramen is looking for a husband. Want to give it a try?"

"Stop talking nonsense." Iruka was so exasperated he almost laughed. "Don't change the subject. You still haven't answered my question."

"Hey, Iruka, honestly, what do you think of my hairstyle? Does it suit me?"

"What's that got to do with me, you jerk?" Iruka was about to collapse.

"You've got quite a temper, Iruka."

"And whose fault is that, you idiot? Answer me!"

"Sigh." Mizuki shook his head helplessly. "Since you're asking so sincerely, I'll be kind enough to tell you."

"To protect the Shinobi World from devastation, to safeguard world peace, to uphold the ideals of love and truth—of course, that's all complete nonsense!"

Iruka was too exhausted to even respond. Tsubaki looked at him with sympathy.

"You really aren't very bright, Iruka." Mizuki stopped teasing the kind-hearted Iruka. "Even though we've known each other for years, you've never understood me."

"Why couldn't you just explain it properly? Why did you have to use such dangerous methods?"

"Iruka, you need to understand one thing. As a Ninja Academy teacher, you've done a good job, but that's all. Don't impose your naive ideas on your students. Once they graduate, they have to learn to find their own path and become proper ninja. They're not your students anymore. They don't need your inexplicable concern. They're far more capable than you imagine, and they don't need you meddling in their affairs."

"Mizuki, I know you've always been better than me, but couldn't you have told me all this beforehand? Did you have to use such a dangerous method? The Nine-Tails and the Scroll of Sealing—if anything had happened to either of them, it would've been a tremendous loss for the village."

"Conversation isn't always a reliable way to communicate. I think using actions to get the right result is far more persuasive. Iruka, give up that pointless concern of yours. Before tonight, would you have thought Naruto Uzumaki could become your opponent? I don't think you would've believed it, no matter what I said."

"I understand, but why did you have to drag Naruto into something so dangerous? There must've been a better way."

"Get well soon, Iruka. Let's go, Tsubaki." There was no point continuing. Iruka clearly wasn't listening. Mizuki had said what he needed to say. He turned and left the room. Only the matter of the Scroll of Sealing got out, while the other matter was kept hidden? That's for the best.

"But, Mizuki..." Tsubaki looked troubled. In the end, she put the carnations in a vase and followed Mizuki out.

"We're still friends, right, Mizuki?" Iruka called out after them.

Mizuki didn't respond. Behind him, Tsubaki bowed apologetically to Iruka once more, then hurried to catch up with Mizuki.

"Mizuki, you've changed."

"Have I? For better or worse?"

"I don't know, but you don't seem as troubled as you used to be."

"Oh. I'm sorry I worried you before, Tsubaki."

"It's all right. As long as you're by my side."

Looking at Tsubaki Chie holding onto his arm, Mizuki couldn't help but think, I've finally made it to the day when I can make other people jealous.

But it seems I'm no good at Talk no Jutsu. Even I think my arguments are specious. This approach won't work.

In this world, even the villains were so committed to saving the world that their convictions were out of his league. The competition for the savior's role was fierce: first Nagato and Obito, then the original Uchiha Madara, and Senju Hashirama, who died before he could achieve his goals. And that wasn't even mentioning the child of destiny, Naruto Uzumaki, or Sasuke Uchiha, who had somehow bent the anime Naruto into the "Legend of the Eyes."

If I want a better life, I'll need strength and influence to bolster my confidence and make my words more convincing.

Every hero and villain was a saint with the whole world in their heart, exhausting themselves for world peace. This might be a world based on a hot-blooded manga, but its moral standards were way too high!