This game makes no sense.
Branch 5: I can save 103 frames in 1-3 and somehow managed to save 12 frames in 1-4. I lose 91 frames in 2-1, because I can't pick up the aimbot shuriken.
Compared relatively to the start of 2-1 to the published TAS it's extremely slower.
Branch 8: Saved 3 frames in 1-3, couldn't reproduce saving frames in 1-4, lost 2 frames. In 2-1 I can get the aimbot shuriken, but it isn't faster than Branch 5. Lost 8 frames compared to Branch 5
Compared relatively to the start of 2-1 to the published TAS it's equally fast.
Comparing Branch 5 and 8, 8 is 8 frames faster.