Naruto smiled but didn't answer Yūgao's question directly. Instead, he asked, "Sister Yūgao appears here. Did the Third Hokage assign you a mission?"
Although Yūgao was slightly dissatisfied, she was, after all, a professional Anbu. After regaining her composure, she said, "Third Hokage-sama has arranged a place for you, and asked me to take you there."
Yūgao is also one of the few people who know Naruto's true identity, and she had received a positive response from the Third Hokage about him.
When facing the Seventh Hokage, as an Anbu member under her Hokage, she naturally had to use honorifics.
"Oh?" Naruto's eyes suddenly lit up.
Whenever he felt sleepy, he'd take a pillow. That old man from the Third Hokage was quite considerate!
It seemed that he had made him happy with all the nonsense he had made up before, and now he was sending Yūgao to keep him company?
Very good! It was worth all the brain cells he had spent.
"Then trouble Sister Yūgao!" Naruto glanced at Yūgao.
"It's your duty!" Yūgao turned around and left silently.
She didn't use the Body Flicker Technique, nor did she run fast. She just walked forward slowly, her head slightly lowered.
It was clear that there were many things weighing on her mind.
"Seventh H...Naruto..."
After walking for a while, Yūgao finally couldn't help but speak.
"Just call me Naruto!" He interrupted with a smile. "You will always call me by my name in the future."
Yūgao was in a daze for a moment. Naruto's smile was so warm and sincere, it was as if they were old friends.
After a slight hesitation, she still didn't refuse. After all, the Third Hokage had warned them to be careful not to reveal Naruto's identity in public.
Although no one was around now, she was a professional Anbu.
"Naruto, can you... tell me about my future situation?" Yūgao asked, slightly embarrassed.
Under her mask, a pretty face had turned red.
Even a cold beauty like Yūgao couldn't resist the urge to be curious about her future. Moreover, she wanted to understand the relationship between herself and the Seventh Hokage through her future.
If their relationship was close, it would be easier for her to convince herself to forget the scene at the beginning.
Naruto naturally had no idea how complex Yūgao's thoughts were. He would definitely agree to the beauty's request.
"This is just a small matter. After all, you are my future Minister Anbu. I told you in advance that you will only become better, right?" Naruto said with a smile.
Minister Anbu?
Yūgao was stunned for a moment. With her qualifications, could she really hold such a position?
Yūgao is a little unsure of herself. She knows her own worth.
Without any special abilities, she's only as powerful as an ordinary Jōnin at best.
But these words came from the mouth of the Seventh Hokage, who also called her sister and acted so close to her, so there was no reason to lie.
In other words, how could the Seventh Hokage lie?
"Is this real?"
Yūgao still couldn't believe it and confirmed it again.
Naruto said seriously, "Don't doubt yourself, Sister Yūgao. You are very outstanding. Be more confident and let your own light shine."
"Are you confident..." Yūgao was a bit confused.
Confidence also requires capital!
Others rely on family, secret techniques, and blood inheritance.
What does she have to be confident about?
Naruto wanted to slap himself at this moment. He was so tactless to bring this up!
Even he, a time traveler, couldn't think of a reason to convince Yūgao.
To be honest, in the original work, Yūgao is just a vase.
Minister Anbu?
Okay, this is indeed an exaggerated portrayal.
But the words had been spoken, and for the moment, Naruto couldn't think of a reason for Madoka to return. Thus, he remained silent.
Fortunately, Yūgao didn't press for more information or think too deeply into the matter. After all, this was still too distant a concept for her to grasp.
Perhaps sensing the depth of Naruto's feelings for her, Yūgao also lost some of her initial hostility and inquired, "Then, can you tell me why you call me 'sister'?"
A relationship between the Seventh Hokage and an Anbu minister should be one of superior and subordinate.
But my sister is much closer.
Naruto sighed gently and spoke in a low voice, "I've been contemplating something for quite some time, and I believe it's crucial that I tell you first."
"Go ahead!" Yūgao's heart raced as she anticipated what he might say, a sense of foreboding washing over her.
"Well... in the future, you will marry Moonlight Hayate, and, frankly speaking, your married life will not be particularly fulfilling."
Naruto seemed to struggle with his words.
"Married life..." Yūgao's cheeks flushed, and she appeared to understand what he was hinting at.
Clearly, Moonlight Hayate's physical condition would not bring her happiness.
But since she had chosen Gale, Yūgao didn't concern herself with it.
However, what did this have to do with Naruto addressing her as 'sister'?
It couldn't be that she cheated on the Seventh Hokage because she wasn't satisfied, could it?
If Naruto truly meant to suggest such a thing, even as the Seventh Hokage, Yūgao would be justified in attacking him.
This is utterly disrespectful!
Of course, Naruto wasn't that superficial.
"I don't intend to cause trouble, I just feel pity for Sister Yūgao."
Naruto tried to defend himself preemptively, though he knew his words might have been too strong.
But in the world of the Hokage, surely no one would overhear, right?
Naruto took a deep breath and explained, "You are fully aware that Hayate-senpai's condition makes his body less than human."
"But this is between you and your spouse. It's alright if you're both content."
"It's just that, let's put it this way, Hayate-senpai is quite jealous. Perhaps it's due to this aspect that he has low self-esteem and is very sensitive."
"I have noticed that Sister Yūgao tends to get upset when he is around other men."
Yūgao's brow furrowed slightly as she felt uncomfortable with Naruto's belittling comments about her beloved.
What he said was true and had merit, so she couldn't dispute it.
But when she heard the last part, she couldn't help but interject, "Even so, I can understand him. I will not argue with him, much less blame him!"
"I know, and that's precisely what you've done." Naruto quickly added.
Yūgao finally calmed down, feeling a tinge of embarrassment.
Her reaction just now could be seen as questioning the Seventh Hokage project.
"However," Naruto continued, "you can handle it once, twice, ten, or even a hundred times, but what if it's like this every single day? What if you cause trouble like this constantly?"
Yūgao was left stunned by the question.
As a ninja and Anbu minister, she faced numerous arduous tasks daily and encountered various people.
It was unavoidable that she would interact with many men.
Could a man with such low self-esteem and sensitivity remain calm under these circumstances?
Yūgao had never considered this question before, but Naruto's inquiry truly took her aback.
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More Chapters available on Patreon(dot)com(slash)EroskillerTL. I will start a poll for the next story once I get 20 paid members.