Moyu exhaled lightly, his expression helpless as he lowered his head. "Teacher Iruka, really, this isn't necessary. The two children already told you the truth. Do you honestly think they'd lie to you?"
Beside him, Naruto and Sasuke nodded earnestly.
"That's right," Naruto said quickly. "Moyu-sensei was helping us get stronger. You're overthinking it!"
Yet Iruka's suspicion didn't fade. Something about Moyu's calmness made him uneasy. He couldn't shake the thought that Moyu had deliberately lured the two most talented students of the academy to the back mountain. And worse—he'd entered Konoha's restricted area without authorization, without reporting to anyone. To a teacher bound by duty, that alone was too suspicious to ignore.
"According to Regulation 390 of the Academy Administration," Iruka said firmly, "anyone entering a restricted training zone must file an entry report. You didn't. That alone makes you suspicious. I'll need to take you in for questioning."
Moyu tilted his head slightly, sighing. "I didn't know there was such a rule. Isn't there a saying—those who don't know shouldn't be blamed? Maybe you could just overlook it this once."
But Iruka shook his head. "Rules exist for a reason. Don't worry. If you're innocent, I'll make sure your name is cleared."
He was unrelenting. To him, this was procedure—nothing personal. But in his heart, Iruka couldn't deny it: Moyu's spiritual pressure, even when suppressed, felt far beyond ordinary. It carried the weight of someone equal to a Jōnin—or worse, something deeper.
Seeing Iruka's resolve, Moyu didn't argue further. "Fine," he said mildly, "let's go."
He followed without resistance, hands tucked loosely into his sleeves. Naruto and Sasuke trailed close behind, their expressions uneasy. Both of them knew Moyu had only ever tried to help them grow stronger, yet now he was being treated like a criminal because of it. The guilt weighed heavy.
Feeling their tension, Moyu reached out and ruffled their hair lightly. "Relax," he said with a faint smile. "Teacher Iruka already said it—if I'm innocent, I'll be cleared."
That simple warmth made Iruka falter for a brief moment. Moyu's presence didn't carry malice—it was calm, composed, even kind, like an older brother watching over them. But still, Iruka's sense of duty refused to bend.
By the time they reached the Hokage Building, Iruka's tone had hardened again. "We'll have the Intelligence Division confirm your identity."
The members of the Intelligence Division—mostly from the Yamanaka clan—were already waiting. Their eyes flickered as they assessed Moyu, their minds sharp and wary. They were experts in probing thoughts, peeling away lies like layers of cloth.
Yet even they hesitated. The spiritual pressure around Moyu was unnerving—quiet, controlled, but deep enough to make the air tremble faintly. He looked harmless, almost gentle, but that very composure felt dangerous.
"Iruka," one of the officers muttered, "you didn't bring us a problem, did you? If this man snaps, even we might not be able to…"
Iruka gave an awkward smile. "Relax. This is still Konoha. From the founding until now, there's never been an enemy who could cause real chaos here."
Moyu smiled faintly at that, sensing Iruka's reassurance was more for himself than anyone else.
But the other officers didn't share his confidence. They exchanged glances, unbothered by hierarchy, and began to dismantle Iruka's words without hesitation.
"You're joking, right?" one of them said flatly. "Konoha's been through war after war. Peace has never been stable. We're constantly being tested."
"Exactly," another added. "We can't afford blind optimism. That kind of thinking gets people killed."
The sharpness of their replies left Iruka stiff, and even Moyu couldn't help but laugh under his breath. The warmth in the room dissolved into something else—an uneasy mix of tension and irony, where no one seemed to truly trust the calm standing before them.
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