"It's Naruto, he ran in that direction."
Realizing Naruto had caused trouble, Tenten immediately pointed out the direction, and Iruka promptly gave chase.
Recalling what had just happened, Tenten said, "That thing on Naruto's back looks like a ninjutsu scroll. Did he steal something important?"
Just as she finished speaking, Ino, Sakura, and Hinata also leaped onto the branches, and in an instant, the previously empty branches became crowded with people.
They looked at each other in surprise, seemingly not understanding why everyone was here.
At that moment, Ryun spoke, saying, "Let's put our matters aside for now. I need to go check on Naruto."
"Wait a minute, Ryun. Your relationship with him isn't that good, we don't need to bother with him."
Sakura grabbed Ryun's shoulder, but Ryun gave her a meaningful look.
Seeing that the remaining few held the same attitude, Ryun smiled slightly and said, "It seems you don't really understand me."
These words, like a heavy hammer, struck the several girls whose hearts had been rippling with emotion because of Ryun's note.
Seeing their confusion, Ryun began to explain.
"Don't you think Naruto and I are alike?"
Sakura tilted her head, puzzled. Where were Ryun and Naruto alike? In every way, wasn't Ryun infinitely better than Naruto?
Ino, however, seemed to understand, a forced smile appearing on her face as she said, "Ryun means you're both orphans and haven't graduated from the Ninja Academy yet, right?"
Ryun nodded and continued, "With your help, I've gotten to where I am today, but Naruto doesn't have many friends."
"He might indeed have a lot of faults, but maybe if I give him a hand, things could be different?"
"Don't worry, you know my strength. Wait here for me to return safely."
Having said that, Ryun vanished in an instant using the Body Flicker Technique, his speed startling the girls.
Even Tenten was learning for the first time that Ryun had mastered the Body Flicker Technique, which required a high level of physical fitness and chakra control from a ninja.
"What should we do? It seems like I said the wrong thing again!"
Sakura was so anxious she was on the verge of tears. Ryun had already been upset with her over their backgrounds, and now she had made the same mistake again. Would Ryun come to hate her because of this?
"We need to chase after him too. Ryun's strength is considerable, but the current situation doesn't feel right."
Hinata had already activated her Byakugan and could see Ryun's figure in the distance.
But she also saw many ninjas moving about, a scene that made her realize Naruto had caused a major incident.
She briefly explained what she saw to the other girls, and all three of their expressions changed simultaneously.
"Right, let's go after him."
"I'll take the lead, then Ino and Sakura, and finally Hinata, you observe and guard the rear."
Tenten took a deep breath, gave a thumbs-up, and said, "Consider this a mission exercise led by me, a senior who graduated a year ago." Then the group swiftly moved out, their movements also within Ryun's perception.
Ryun, meanwhile, focused on Naruto and Iruka ahead. It was time to act.
Of course, Ryun wasn't doing all this for the sealing scroll. In the simulation route where he became the Hokage's advisor, he could even take that thing home and use it as a pillow.
What he wanted was the chaos itself.
Although Naruto had learned tree climbing and water treading from Ryun, his speed still couldn't match Iruka's, a Chūnin, and he was soon caught up to.
Realizing he couldn't escape, Naruto began to spill everything, claiming it was all Mizuki's idea.
Mizuki had told him that if he could learn the Shadow Clone Technique from the scroll, he could graduate.
Just as Naruto was about to demonstrate the Shadow Clone Technique, Mizuki's shuriken came whistling through the air.
To protect Naruto, Iruka was hit by several kunai, blood staining his green Chūnin vest.
Believing victory was at hand, Mizuki then revealed that Naruto was the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, and that Naruto was the one who had killed Iruka's parents.
Stimulated by this revelation, Naruto's mental state became unstable, and Mizuki took the opportunity to hurl a giant shuriken at him.
Originally, Iruka would have had to use his body to block this attack, but now it was deflected by Ryun's kunai.
As for Iruka, he was still lying protectively over Naruto.
"Huh? You are... why are you here?!"
Mizuki recognized Ryun, surprised by his skill.
Ryun calmly replied, "My being here is just a coincidence, but the Konoha-nin who came with me are here for you, Konoha traitor Mizuki."
The composure on Mizuki's face instantly vanished. He knew just how much trouble he was in.
In his original plan, he could have killed both Iruka and Naruto, then quietly flee with the sealing scroll. But now, with Ryun here, everything was different.
However, he decided to give it one more try.
Mizuki feigned a soft sigh and said, "If I remember correctly, you're an orphan too, right? Weren't your parents also killed by the Nine-Tails?"
'I do want the sealing scroll, yes, but I also want to kill this Nine-Tails to avenge the Konoha people who died that day. Our goals are the same.'
"Am I right, Iruka?"
Before Iruka could explain, Naruto, already provoked, had run off.
To him now, all three were enemies who had killed his parents and loved ones. How could he not run?
Mizuki clicked his tongue in annoyance, glanced at Ryun then at Iruka, and decided to kill Naruto first.
Dealing with these two here would inevitably waste some time, and time was something he didn't have now.
"Stop!"
Iruka tried to give chase but coughed up blood and fell to the ground.
Ryun quickly checked on him, but Iruka grabbed Ryun's arm, saying, "Please, come with me to restrain Mizuki. I know you don't like Naruto, but he really isn't the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. He's Uzumaki Naruto, a ninja of Konoha!"
"Help me, I beg you!"
Looking at Iruka's tear-streaked face, Ryun smiled slightly and asked, "Iruka, if I'd had the chance to attend the Ninja Academy back then, would you have cared for me, the dead last, the way you care for Naruto?"
Iruka was momentarily stunned. He remembered that he had indeed seen Ryun's records before.
In principle, he didn't want to give up on any student, but back then, Ryun couldn't even refine chakra, leaving Iruka feeling helpless.
Yet, faced with Ryun's question, he had to answer.
"Ryun, if I were given another chance, I swear I would!"
Ryun nodded and said, "If someone else said that, I wouldn't believe them. But since you're saying it, I do."
Ryun knew that the Hokage was watching all this through his crystal ball, and half of his words were meant for the Hokage.
Of course, Hiruzen Sarutobi was probably only concerned about Naruto's mental state. If Naruto were to lose control and rampage because of this, Hiruzen's gamble today would be a complete loss.
"Let's go, Iruka. It's a shame I can't call you 'teacher,' but today we can fight side-by-side as comrades."
"Cough... alright!"
Iruka forced himself to stand. Without a shuriken embedded in his back, he was in much better shape than in the original timeline.
The two advanced, following the trail, and finally caught sight of Mizuki's back again.
Mizuki clicked his tongue in annoyance as shuriken rained down on them like a storm. Ryun and Iruka dodged, hiding behind trees.
Naruto was not far from them, and Ryun could clearly sense everything.
This meant he was now back within Hiruzen Sarutobi's field of vision.
How should he act?
"I really don't understand. You two are just that magnanimous, able to set aside the hatred for your parents' murder?"
"Some filial sons you are!"
"Iruka is Naruto's teacher, so maybe it's his duty, fine."
"But I heard that you, Nojuro Ryun, were nearly beaten to death by others and went hungry your whole childhood. All of this was brought upon you by the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. Aren't you angry?"
"There's a limit to being a pushover."
Mizuki's taunting voice came through, and Iruka looked anxiously at Ryun.
He had forgiven Naruto, but he also didn't really understand why Ryun would forgive him.
Naruto, recalling Ryun's previous attitude towards him, also thought anxiously, 'Did he really come to help me?'
"Ryun, don't listen to him! Naruto is not the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox."
But at that moment, Ryun stepped forward and said something no one expected.
"So what if he is the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox?"
Mizuki tilted his head, looking at Ryun as if he were an idiot.
Ryun calmly stated, "Explaining this to history-blind people like you would be too troublesome, so I'll keep it simple."
"My idol is the First Hokage. If I can't even tolerate a mere Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, then how can I even begin to practice the Will of Fire of the First Hokage?"
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