High Moral Standards

The sun was already high, nearing noon. Mizuki, having barely slept all night, was still catching up on rest. Physical exhaustion was secondary; it was the mental fatigue that required peace of mind to soothe.

Mizuki, deep in a comfortable slumber, was suddenly jolted awake by a knocking at the door. Annoyed, he dragged himself out of bed, eyes drooping as he went to open the door, asking impatiently, "Who is it?"

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

"Oh, it's Tsubaki." Mizuki opened the door to let Tsubaki Chie in. "Why are you here? Isn't it work hours?"

"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 incited Iruka's students and even attacked Iruka. Is it true?"

"Word travels that fast? You heard about it already?"

"Did you really do it? Mizuki, were you dragged back? Are you hurt?"

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Worrying about injuries at a time like this—her romantic IQ is clearly showing.

"Really? You aren't going to leave Konoha, are you?"

"How could I? Stop letting your imagination run wild; everything is in the past now." Mizuki smiled and patted Tsubaki Chie's hair.

She's quite pretty, though that flak jacket is dreadfully dull. While a ponytail is a nice touch, it doesn't seem to suit her small face. Mizuki couldn't help but mock himself internally; it was easy to let his mind wander once he felt relaxed.

"Is it really all in the past?"

"Of course it is. When have I ever lied to you?" I haven't, actually. I even told you about my involvement with Orochimaru. This Mizuki's romantic IQ is also quite something.

"Wait here for a moment, I'm going to tidy up." With that, he turned to wash up.

When Mizuki returned after freshening up, he found the room already tidied and Tsubaki waiting for him.

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

"Ah, that's such a waste. Let me cook for you."

"We're out of ingredients. Let's go out; I want some ramen."

Mizuki had long admired the fame of Ichiraku Ramen. It was a legendary shop that had been open from the first episode of Naruto to the very last. Although his memories told him he had been there before, experiencing it firsthand was different. Moreover, Mizuki was very curious to see the ramen shop owner and Ayame—people who weren't ninjas yet had more presence in Konoha than he did. It was a mix of celebrity worship and a desire to witness history.

Before today, Mizuki had actually been a bit afraid of seeing Tsubaki Chie. If there was one person who knew him best, it was his fiancée. The chances of being exposed and suspected while completely unprepared were high. But things were different now; it was perfectly normal for someone to undergo changes after a major life event. As long as he wasn't suspected at the start, the likelihood of being doubted later would only decrease.

Sitting in Ichiraku Ramen, Mizuki looked helpless, burying his head in the legendary tonkotsu ramen. The taste was indeed excellent. However, Mizuki looked at the ramen shop owner with an innocent expression. I never heard that this guy was such a chatterbox. It's a waste he didn't become a ninja. The number one ninjutsu in the ninja world—the Talk-no-Jutsu—must have been invented by him. I've already eaten two bowls.

"Say, young man, you don't come here often. I don't recognize you. Have you been to our Ichiraku Ramen before? You have? Then was there something you were dissatisfied with? This secret recipe is a family heirloom passed down for a thousand years. It's passed from father to son, not to daughters, and certainly not to sons-in-law. It's famous throughout the entire Land of Fire!"

"A thousand years? Don't tell me this is the legendary cuisine the Sage of Six Paths once ate." Mizuki's mouth twitched as he spoke. "If it's really as you say, this secret technique is going to be lost with you. What a pity." Mizuki pointed his soup-stained chopsticks at Ayame, who was busy in the shop.

"Young man, saying that clearly means you don't believe me. Let me tell you..." Another long-winded rant left Mizuki feeling dizzy.

"Uncle, this ramen of yours is really good," Mizuki had to interrupt.

The ramen shop owner was delighted. "I told you! My ramen is the best in the world. You look like a decent fellow, and if you cleaned yourself up, you'd be a handsome lad. And since you love ramen so much, why not consider marrying into my family? Ayame has learned quite a bit of my true craft. If you agree, I might even consider passing the secret recipe on to you."

Didn't you just say it's passed to sons, not sons-in-law? Your ancestors are going to cry! "I can't stay here any longer. Uncle, didn't you see the sweet girl next to me? And is your Ayame really that hard to marry off? You're just pushing her onto any random passerby?"

Mizuki quickly said, "Check, please."

He hurriedly pulled Tsubaki out, while Ayame and the ramen shop owner called out from behind, "Come back again soon!"

"I don't dare come back next time. I suppose this world has movies, right? Can I say: Uncle, you're on the wrong set?" Mizuki and Tsubaki walked away without looking back.

Leaving the Ichiraku Ramen shop, Tsubaki asked, "Do you have anything else to do? Iruka is at the Konoha Hospital now. Would you like to go see him?"

"Sure." After the ramen shop owner's marathon rant, Mizuki, feeling particularly relaxed, answered casually. He figured it couldn't be that big of a deal.

"Tsubaki," Mizuki said distractedly, "do you think I should change my hairstyle?" He genuinely felt that a center-parted hairstyle—the classic look of a traitor—wasn't conducive to building his future image.

Tsubaki's body stiffened beside him. "Mizuki, do you think Ayame at the ramen shop is prettier than me? Are you planning to marry into their family? Are you tired of me?"

"No. How could that be?" Looking at Tsubaki's teary eyes, Mizuki's head throbbed. Heaven knows he just thought the hairstyle didn't fit his aesthetic and wanted to change it. Could it be that the "single halo" from his past life had followed him here? This topic absolutely could not continue. He had to change the subject immediately.

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

In a standard ward at the Konoha Hospital, Iruka was wearing a hospital gown, standing by the window soaking up the sun. The beautiful spring weather always made one drowsy in the afternoon.

Stretching his back and preparing to go back to sleep, Iruka suddenly heard a knock at the door. He turned and replied, "Please come in, the door is unlocked."

The door was pushed open, and Tsubaki Chie walked in, holding a bouquet of carnations.

Seeing this, Iruka said warmly, "Tsubaki, why are you here? Didn't you already come by this morning?"

"I'm sorry, Iruka, Mizuki caused you trouble. But this time, I'm not the only one who came~"

Then, someone else walked in—it was Mizuki.

"It's you." Iruka was a bit surprised. "You're okay?"

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

"That's not what I meant. Mizuki, honestly, I'm still confused. Even though I've heard some things from others, I still don't understand what you were trying to do. Was doing all that just to beat me up?"

Tsubaki Chie, standing to the side, apologized with a look of guilt: "I'm sorry, Iruka~"

Mizuki stopped Tsubaki. "Seeing you in such high spirits, I'm relieved." Tsubaki knew too much, and saying too much would only lead to mistakes.

"Why are you all alone? That Nine-Tails brat didn't even come to keep you company, not a shred of guilt after beating you into this state!"

"Who do you think is to blame for that?" Iruka snapped, breathless. "Naruto just left to register as a ninja; he's probably at the photo studio right now."

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

There are still differences from the hospitals of my past life; it's really quite backward. Yet, this level of technology can actually perform transplants for vital organs like eyes, and the genetic and cloning tech is breathtaking. Just how twisted is this world's tech tree?

"Ayame from the Ichiraku Ramen Shop seems to be looking for a husband. Do you want to go give it a try?"

"Stop talking nonsense." Iruka was so angry he 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 does that have to do with anything? You bastard!" Iruka was on the verge of collapse.

"You have such a bad temper, Iruka."

"Who do you think is responsible for that, you idiot? Answer me!"

"Sigh." Mizuki shook his head helplessly. "Since you asked so sincerely, I'll tell you out of the kindness of my heart."

"To prevent the ninja world from being destroyed, to protect world peace, to carry out love and true justice—of course, all of that was just me talking nonsense."

Iruka was beyond words. Tsubaki looked at Iruka with a pained expression.

"It seems you really aren't very bright, Iruka." He stopped teasing the good-natured man. "Although I've known you for many years, you've never really understood me."

"Is there anything that can't be discussed properly? Why must you use these methods?"

"Iruka, you need to understand one thing: as an instructor at the ninja academy, you do a good job, but that's all. Don't let your naive ideas dictate your students. Once they graduate, they must learn to find their own path and become qualified ninjas. They are no longer your students; they don't need your inexplicable concern. They are far more capable than you imagine, and they don't need you to meddle in their affairs."

"Mizuki, I know you've always been stronger than me, but couldn't you have told me this beforehand? Why use such a dangerous method? If anything happened to the Nine-Tails or the Scroll of Sealing, it would be a massive loss for the village."

"Dialogue is sometimes not a very reliable way to communicate. I believe that using action to achieve the correct result is the most persuasive method. Iruka, put away your tiresome concern. Before tonight, would you have believed that Uzumaki Naruto would become your opponent? I don't think you would have believed it no matter what I said, right?"

"I understand, but why did you have to involve Naruto in such a dangerous affair? There must have been a better way."

"I wish you a speedy recovery, Iruka. Let's go, Tsubaki." There was no point in continuing; as expected, he wouldn't listen. Everything that needed to be said had been said. Mizuki turned and left the room. Only the matter of the Scroll of Sealing has spread, while the other matter remains hidden? That is for the best.

"But, Mizuki..." Tsubaki looked conflicted. Finally, she tucked the carnations into the vase and followed Mizuki out.

"We're still friends, right, Mizuki?" Iruka called out from behind.

Mizuki didn't respond. Behind him, Tsubaki bowed to apologize to Iruka once more before hurrying to catch up with Mizuki.

"Mizuki, you've changed."

"Is that so? For better or for worse?"

"I don't know, but you don't seem as burdened with worries as you used to be."

"Oh, I'm sorry for making you worry in the past, Tsubaki."

"It's fine, as long as you're by my side."

Watching Tsubaki Chie holding his arm, Mizuki couldn't help but sigh: "My friend, I finally get to be the one showing off my relationship."

However, it seems I'm not cut out for 'Talk-no-Jutsu.' Even though I felt like I was making a sound argument, this path isn't going to work.

In this world, the villains are so enlightened they want to save the world; I'm completely out of my league. The competition for the position of savior is too fierce—with Nagato and Obito in front, the legendary Uchiha Madara, and Senju Hashirama who died before he could even begin. Not to mention the Child of Prophecy, Uzumaki Naruto, and Uchiha Sasuke, who single-handedly bent the "Naruto" anime into a "Legend of Eyes."

To live better, I still need strength and influence to bolster my confidence and persuasiveness.

Every hero and villain is a saint with the world at heart, working themselves to the bone for peace. Even though this is a world based on a shonen manga, the moral standards are just too high!