The sun had risen high, nearing noon. Mizuki, who had barely slept the entire night, was still trying to catch up on rest. Physical exhaustion was secondary—what he really needed was inner peace to soothe his mentally drained state.
Mizuki had just fallen into a deep slumber when sudden knocking at the door woke him up. Irritated, he dragged himself out of bed and opened the door with droopy eyes, impatiently asking, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Chiharu," a female voice answered.
"Oh, it's you, Chiharu," Mizuki said as he opened the door wider to let Chiharu Tsubaki inside. "Why are you here? Isn't this your work time?"
"It's already noon now. I asked for the afternoon off," Chiharu Tsubaki replied with concern in her voice. "Mizuki, I'm really worried about you. I heard this morning that you incited Iruka's students and even attacked Iruka himself. Is it true?"
"That spread so quickly? You've already heard about it?"
"Did you really do it? Mizuki, were you caught and brought back? Are you hurt?"
"Don't worry, I'm fine." She was actually concerned about injuries—typical low emotional intelligence.
"Really? You won't leave Konoha, right?"
"How could that happen? Stop thinking too much. Everything's over already." Mizuki smiled and gently patted Chiharu Tsubaki's head.
"You actually look pretty good, though that vest is a bit outdated. Your ponytail adds a cute touch, but somehow doesn't quite fit your delicate face." Now that he felt relaxed, random thoughts started flowing again—he couldn't help but internally comment like this.
"Everything really passed?"
"Of course it did. Have I ever lied to you before?" He indeed hadn't lied—he had even told her about his connections with Orochimaru. Such a low romantic IQ from Mizuki.
"Wait here a moment, I'll go get ready." With that, he turned around to freshen up.
When Mizuki returned after finishing his grooming, he found the room already tidied up, with Chiharu Tsubaki waiting for him.
"I'm hungry. Let's go eat something outside."
"Aww, that would be wasteful. I can cook for you instead."
"There's nothing left to cook. Let's go out—I want ramen."
Mizuki had long admired the reputation of Ichiraku Ramen. As an iconic ramen shop appearing from the very first episode to the last one in the Naruto anime, though he remembered already visiting it in memory, experiencing it firsthand felt completely different. Moreover, Mizuki was eager to meet those characters from Konoha Village—Ichiraku Teuchi and Ayame—the non-ninja duo whose presence overshadowed even his own. It was a mix of star-struck excitement and the thrill of witnessing history firsthand.
Before today, Mizuki had somewhat feared meeting Chiharu Tsubaki. If there was anyone who knew him best, it must be his fiancée, Chiharu Tsubaki. Without any preparation, there was a real chance she'd see right through him. But things had changed now—after major transformations, changes in people were completely normal. As long as he avoided suspicion at first, the possibility of being doubted later would gradually decrease.
...
Seated inside Ichiraku Ramen, Mizuki wore a helpless expression while bowing his head to eat the legendary tonkotsu ramen. The flavor truly lived up to its legendary reputation.
However, Mizuki looked at the ramen shop owner innocently. "I never heard this guy was a chatterbox. What a shame he didn't become a ninja—he'd have been perfect for the Ninja World's greatest technique: [Master Manipulator Jutsu]! I've already eaten two big bowls."
"Hey, you don't come here often, do you? I don't really remember you. Have you ever eaten at our Ichiraku Ramen before? You have? Then did you find anything unsatisfactory about our shop? My secret recipe has been passed down for a thousand years—it's a family treasure handed down strictly from father to son, never to daughters or sons-in-law. It's renowned across the entire Land of Fire!"
"A thousand years? Let me guess—is this the legendary dish the Six Paths Sage supposedly ate back in the day?" Mizuki twitched his lips. "If it really was that amazing, your family secret would be doomed to extinction by now. What a pity." He pointed his soup-dripping chopsticks toward Ayame working busily in the store.
"You're clearly not buying my words, young man," the ramen master cheerfully replied and kept rattling on nonstop until Mizuki felt utterly dazed.
"Your ramen really is great, old man," Mizuki interrupted hastily.
Hearing this, the ramen master became delighted. "See? I told you my ramen is the best under heaven! Young man, you're quite presentable too—a little grooming and you could easily pass as a handsome guy. Plus, you obviously love ramen so much. Why don't you consider marrying into my family? Ayame has inherited quite a few of my secrets already. If you agree, maybe I can even consider passing on my secret recipe to you."
"But isn't it supposed to be 'passed from father to son, never to sons-in-law'? Your ancestors would definitely be turning in their graves!" Mizuki couldn't take it anymore. Dude, haven't you noticed the cute girl sitting beside me? And why are you trying to marry off Ayame to just any passerby?
Mizuki quickly said, "Check, please."
He hurriedly dragged Chiharu out while behind them Ayame and the ramen master still shouted, "Welcome back anytime!"
"I'm definitely not coming here again next time. This world does have movies, right? Maybe I should say something like: 'Sir, you've totally wandered onto the wrong film set.'"
Without looking back, Mizuki left with Chiharu.
...
After leaving Ichiraku Ramen, Chiharu asked, "Do you have anything else to do? Iruka is currently at Konoha Hospital. Do you want to go visit him?"
"Sure." After being bombarded with endless chatting from the ramen shop owner, Mizuki responded casually with a relaxed mood. Probably nothing serious anyway.
"Chiharu," Mizuki absentmindedly asked, "do you think I should really change my hairstyle?" He genuinely felt his middle-parted hairstyle—the kind that always marks villains in old dramas—might harm his future image development.
Chiharu stiffened beside him. "Mizuki, are you thinking Ayame from the ramen shop is prettier than me? Are you planning to become their house husband? Are you getting tired of me?"
"No way! How could that be?" Seeing Chiharu's teary eyes, Mizuki almost panicked. Heaven forbid—he only wanted to change his hairstyle because he found this style aesthetically unpleasing. Could it be that his bachelor curse from a past life had followed him into this one? Definitely cannot continue this conversation any further; must switch topics immediately!
"Chiharu, let's hurry up and go see Iruka."
...
At Konoha Hospital, inside an ordinary ward, Iruka stood by the window wearing a patient's gown, basking in the gentle afternoon sunlight. The pleasant spring weather always made people drowsy during midday.
After stretching lazily, Iruka was about to head home for a nap when he suddenly heard a knock on the door. He turned and said, "Come in, the door's open."
The door pushed open, and Chiharu Tsubaki walked in holding a bouquet of carnations.
Seeing her, Iruka greeted warmly, "Chiharu? What are you doing here? Didn't you just come by this morning?"
"Sorry to bother you again, Iruka, but Mizuki caused you trouble—not that this visit is only about me~"
Then someone else walked through the door—none other than Mizuki Tsubaki himself.
"It's you," Iruka said with mild surprise. "Are you okay?"
"What do you mean by that, Iruka?" Mizuki replied casually, as if nothing had happened.
"I didn't mean it like that, Mizuki. To be honest, I'm still completely confused. Although I've heard some things from others, I just don't get what you were trying to accomplish. Was your goal really just to beat me up?"
Beside him, Chiharu wore an apologetic expression as she softly said, "I'm sorry, Iruka~"
Mizuki cut in before Chiharu could say more. "It's good to see you looking so energetic." She knew too much—saying more could lead to slips.
"So it's just the two of you then? That Nine-Tails kid didn't even come to check on you? He just left you looking like this with no sense of guilt at all?"
"You think he did this to me?" Iruka huffed in annoyance. "Naruto just left to do his ninja registration. He's probably at the photo studio by now."
"Is that right," Mizuki muttered, glancing around the hospital room with mild disinterest.
"It's definitely different from hospitals in my past life. This place feels pretty primitive. Yet somehow they can perform eye and other vital organ transplants. Their genetic engineering and cloning tech is truly impressive. Just how twisted must this world's technological evolution be?"
"By the way, Ayame from Ichiraku Ramen is apparently looking for a husband. Want to try your luck?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Iruka snapped in frustration. "Don't change the subject—you still haven't answered my question!"
"Mmm, Iruka," Mizuki asked suddenly, "to be honest, what do you think of my hairstyle? Do you think it suits me?"
"What does that have to do with anything? You jerk," Iruka almost collapsed in frustration.
"You sure have a bad temper."
"You think that's my fault, you idiot! Answer me already!"
Sighing, Mizuki shook his head helplessly. "Fine, since you've asked so sincerely, I'll be generous enough to tell you."
"To prevent the ninja world from destruction, to uphold world peace, to spread justice with love and truth... Of course, all of that is utter nonsense!"
Iruka was beyond words. Chiharu looked at him helplessly.
"You're still not very sharp, are you, Iruka?" Mizuki stopped teasing him. "Despite knowing each other for so many years, you've never really understood me."
"Why can't you just explain yourself clearly? Why go about it this way?"
"Iruka, you need to understand one thing—being a teacher at the Ninja Academy, you're quite good. But that's all you are. Don't try to dictate your students' paths with your naïve ideals. Once they graduate, they need to learn to find their own paths and become real ninjas."
"They're not your students anymore. There's no need for your unreasonable concern. They're far more capable than you imagine and definitely don't need you meddling in their affairs."
"Mizuki, I know all along you've been stronger than me, but… couldn't you have told me this beforehand? Why resort to such a dangerous method? If either the Nine-Tails or the Scroll of Seals had gone wrong, it would've brought tremendous loss to the village."
"Dialogue isn't always the most reliable form of communication. I believe taking action to achieve the correct outcome is far more convincing. Iruka, drop your annoying concern already. Before tonight, would you ever believe that Naruto Uzumaki could become your rival? I think no matter how you look at it, you'd never buy it, right?"
"I understand, but why involve Naruto in something so dangerous? There must be a better way."
"Wish you a speedy recovery, Iruka. Let's go, Chiharu." There was no point continuing—just as expected, he wouldn't listen. Everything that needed to be said had already been said. Mizuki turned and left the ward. "So just the news about the Scroll of Seals has spread around while the other matter remains hidden? That's for the best."
"But, Mizuki…" Chiharu looked troubled, then finally placed the carnation into the vase before following Mizuki out.
"We're still friends, huh, Mizuki?" Iruka called loudly from behind.
Mizuki ignored him completely. Chiharu, however, turned back again to bow apologetically toward Iruka before hurrying after Mizuki.
...
"Mizuki, you've changed."
"Have I? For the better or worse?"
"Not sure. But at least you no longer seem burdened with endless worries."
"Oh, sorry for making you worry back then, Chiharu."
"It's okay. As long as you stay by my side."
Looking at Chiharu Tsubaki, who now linked arms with him, Mizuki couldn't help but sigh, "Guess even an old buddy like me finally gets his turn to rub some couple moments in everyone's face."
"But still, seems like I'm just not cut out for persuasion through words alone. Although I myself feel like I was talking nonsense earlier. Either way, that path won't work."
In a world where villains are so enlightened they aim to save it, I'm clearly nowhere near their level. The competition for savior status is too fierce—before me there's Nagato and Obito, later came the original Uchiha Madara, and Hashirama Senju, who died before even achieving his goal. Not to mention the destined child Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha, who single-handedly turned the entire *Naruto* anime series into an 'Eyes Legend.'
"To live better, I truly need real power and influence to back up my confidence and make my words carry weight."
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