Good Times Don't Last

Leaving the Konoha Hospital, Mizuki and Tsubaki walked along the bustling street.

"Hey, Mizuki, are you really going to cut ties with Iruka?" Tsubaki couldn't help but ask.

"Don't worry, Tsubaki."

"But you two have been friends since you were kids. Didn't you always look out for him before?"

"You heard what I said to Iruka, right? Those words weren't just for him; they apply to me as well," Mizuki said leisurely.

"I still don't understand. What does that have to do with anything?" Tsubaki truly couldn't grasp the nature of male friendship.

"Tsubaki, I've told you before, Iruka and I weren't originally friends. Iruka used to be a lonely kid who got bullied, which is why I and the others always looked after him. But now, Iruka is a Chunin and a distinguished teacher at the Ninja Academy, isn't he?"

Seeming to understand a little, Tsubaki said, "So, Iruka doesn't need your help as a friend anymore, is that it? But that shouldn't really affect whether you're friends or not, right?"

"It's fine, Tsubaki. You'll understand soon enough." Mizuki remained noncommittal. "Do you see that brat over there with the ridiculous face paint? The one wearing that poop-colored outfit?"

"Poop-colored? Is that even a color? Huh, he looks familiar. Isn't he that orphan everyone avoids? I heard the Third Hokage arranged for him to be at the Ninja Academy, and he was the only one who failed the graduation exam this year. There are rumors that he's the Nine-Tailed Fox monster that attacked the village a dozen years ago. Why are you asking about him?" After she finished, Tsubaki suddenly realized, "You didn't incite him to attack Iruka, did you?"

Mizuki nodded. "That's right. Don't let his stupidity fool you; his strength is actually quite impressive. If an average Chunin isn't careful, they'll suffer a huge loss if he catches them off guard. Just look at what happened to Iruka."

"You're too bold," Tsubaki asked, looking worried. "Won't the Hokage punish you for doing this?"

"If you do something wrong, you get punished, that's a given. But since nothing major happened in the end, the punishment shouldn't be too severe."

"Should we go over and say hello, or apologize?"

"No need to bother." Being in a suspicious position, it was better not to have too much contact with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. "Don't say anything later; just pretend you didn't see him."

Naruto didn't notice Mizuki, and the two passed each other by.

Just as Mizuki was preparing to move on, he suddenly heard a shout from behind.

"Hey, you with the silver hair, wait up!"

Then came the sound of rapid footsteps. After catching up to Mizuki, the person slammed on the brakes, sliding to a halt—it was Naruto, blocking Mizuki's path.

"I knew it! You're the big villain who bullied Iruka-sensei!"

"Naruto-kun, long time no see. Still as energetic as ever."

"Who asked for your concern!"

"Naruto-kun, it's very impolite to point your finger at people while talking."

"Who cares!" Naruto said, exasperated. "Why did you hurt Iruka-sensei?"

"Naruto-kun, you can't blame me for that. I didn't do anything. You're the one who beat Iruka up and sent him to the hospital, aren't you?"

"Is that so?" The kid's intelligence was clearly lacking; he was too easy to fool.

"No! If it weren't for you, Iruka-sensei wouldn't have gotten hurt!"

"Naruto-kun, I just went to visit Iruka. He was all alone in his room, saying how lonely he felt. Not even the person who hurt him is keeping him company. The graduates of this year really lack compassion; I'm truly worried about the future of the village."

"Iruka-sensei wouldn't be that kind of person! You're lying!" After saying this, Naruto looked at Tsubaki. "Big sister, you and this bad teacher are like this," he said, holding up his pinky finger.

"I am Tsubaki Chie, Mizuki's fiancée."

"Fiancée? Big sister, don't stay with this guy anymore! He's a bad person; he'll definitely bully you in the future."

Tsubaki smiled and said nothing.

He really dares to say anything, that brat. Looks like I need to take him down a peg, Mizuki thought.

"Ah, come to think of it, it's not like no one visited Iruka. When we left, we saw Sakura Haruno there. What a wonderful child she is, unlike some people." He glanced at Naruto as he spoke.

"Sakura really is a good person, haha."

He completely missed the sarcasm. Looks like I need to add more fuel to the fire.

"Sakura even said that she would never forgive the jerk who hurt Iruka-sensei like that."

"Sakura said that?" Naruto exclaimed, shocked.

Time for the final blow.

"Oh, I forgot to mention, Sasuke Uchiha was there too. The two of them get along really well; they make quite a pair. Sakura even said she hates blond losers or something like that. Ah, to be young."

"No way!" Naruto looked devastated, then said angrily, "Damn Sasuke, taking advantage of me being away to hit on Sakura! I'll never forgive you! No, I have to go see her right now and explain everything!"

Watching Naruto dash away, Mizuki prepared to leave as well.

"Big bad teacher, thanks for helping me pass the exam! But next time, I won't let you get away with it~"

The voice faded into the distance. Mizuki said to Tsubaki, "See? Iruka and that brat are very similar—both big idiots. So, everything is going to be just fine."

Tsubaki pursed her lips and chuckled. "It's truly unfortunate for Iruka to have a friend like you."

"How so? This is only the beginning. I won't be satisfied with just this. After all the years I've 'looked after' him, one beating isn't enough, especially since I didn't even do it myself. I'll have to beat him again when I get the chance."

"Iruka is a Chunin now, and that boy from earlier will help him too. You won't be able to handle both of them, will you?"

"That's true. Iruka has always been more popular than me. If I couldn't win and ended up in the hospital, not many people would come to visit me."

"Then I'll keep you company."

"The hospital food is awful; I don't want to go there."

"It's better if you don't." Tsubaki continued, "It's still early. Where do you want to go next?"

Mizuki pointed ahead: "Right there."

"Eh? A barbershop~"

Ignoring the overwhelming "Shamate" aesthetic radiating from the shop, Mizuki plopped into a chair and waited for a staff member to attend to him.

No matter the world, the temperament of these hairstylists is truly cut from the same cloth. Could it be that some master stylist couldn't bear the loneliness and came to the Ninja World to expand their territory?

A stylist with a wild, gravity-defying hairdo approached: "Two distinguished guests, what services are you looking for?"

Mizuki looked up at the posters covering the walls—presumably celebrities and stars of this era. They were certainly distinctive.

Mizuki couldn't help but linger on a portrait of a bizarre-looking samurai.

The stylist hurried to introduce it: "This is the hairstyle of the General, the protagonist of the latest movie! The 'chonmage' is a style only used by the most prestigious samurai. It would suit a mighty ninja like you perfectly. Would you like to give it a try?"

Tsubaki tugged on Mizuki's sleeve from the side: "Let's not, Mizuki."

"Hmm, what do you think about that afro over there? It looks quite imposing."

"No."

"How about that natural perm? No good either?"

"Forget it then. Just wash it, straighten it all out, and cut the front into some wispy bangs." Mizuki realized that with his current hairstyle, wearing a forehead protector made him look too much like Yakushi Kabuto. It wasn't great to share a look with a major villain. Kato Dan's image was decent; he'd use that as a reference for now and let his hair grow out.

"Tsubaki, look at that 'hime-cut' over there. It looks quite nice. Do you want to try it?"

"No, I'm fine as I am."

"You're really stubborn, Tsubaki. Wait for me for a bit, then."

Time spent in leisure always passes quickly. The sun was about to set, and it was time for dinner again. As Mizuki and Tsubaki were looking for a place to eat, they suddenly spotted a figure ahead.

"Tsubaki, you go on ahead. I have something to take care of."

"Oh, alright. Be careful, I'm leaving." Although she found it a bit strange, the usually timid Tsubaki obediently walked away.

Seeing Tsubaki leave, Mizuki approached the person and asked: "Waiting for me, Kakashi?"

"I have something I want to discuss with you. Follow me."

On the roof of a residential building, Mizuki and Kakashi sat side by side, watching the people pass by below.

How much do ninjas love hanging out on rooftops? Besides, isn't the open-air hot spring just a short distance away? How experienced do you have to be to find this spot directly?

"What do you want to say, Kakashi?"

"I've been out on missions, but I've returned to serve as the team leader for the newly graduated genin."

"That's a good gig."

"Is it? I've led fresh graduates before, but not a single one passed my assessment. They were all sent back to the Ninja Academy to retrain. Most of them probably gave up on being ninjas altogether."

"You're quite strict, Kakashi."

"The blond kid from last night will likely be in my squad, along with Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha."

"Then you're in for a headache."

"That's what I think, too."

"But what does that have to do with me? You didn't just come here to tell me that, did you?"

Kakashi was silent for a moment before asking: "What did it feel like when you killed your teammate?"

"You really don't hesitate to pick at old scars," Mizuki replied. "I've already forgotten that feeling."

"Forgotten?" Kakashi was stunned. "That's an unexpected answer. It's a far cry from the firm, decisive attitude you displayed in front of the Third Hokage."

"You've had similar experiences, haven't you? Otherwise, why would an ordinary person be interested in this?"

"You guessed that? I let it slip by accident. You really are a cunning guy."

"That's called being clever and sharp."

"Want to know what I was thinking at the time?"

"I don't."

"I already disliked people like you, but now I like you even less."

"That's perfect, because I don't like men either. I have a fiancée; the one you just chased off is her."

"Ah, that's truly unfortunate, but I won't apologize."

"No need. If that's all, I'm leaving."

"If you encounter something like that again, what will you do?"

"I don't know. What about you?"

"I don't know either."

"Then why even ask? Isn't that just what a ninja is?"

"You're right. A ninja is just such a helpless thing!"

Mizuki leaped down from the roof. "Stop staring at the women's bath. I'll let you in on a top-secret tip: Ayame at Ichiraku Ramen is looking for a husband. You should go give it a try. I heard through the grapevine that she's quite fond of you." Without waiting for Kakashi to react, he sped away.

"Still lost in the past, Kakashi? Heh, it won't be long before you don't have the time to dwell on such things. These peaceful days never last long—it's the same everywhere."