As Minato departed using the Flying Thunder God Technique, Nonou stared blankly at the spot where he had vanished.
She now felt utterly regretful!
She had been the first to arrive—
But because of Kushina, she had suppressed her feelings all this time, unwilling to interfere in their relationship.
And now she learned that Minato was actually seeing multiple women?
And Kushina had even agreed to it?
What about my three years of proper conduct? Was that just my bad luck?
If I had confessed my feelings earlier, at least I would have a place in his heart now, wouldn't I?
Unlike Kushina's fiery and headstrong temperament, or Mikoto's privileged upbringing as a heaven-sent beauty from a noble clan, Nonou was just an orphan who had been rescued from life-threatening situations by Minato more than once. Facing him, she couldn't help but feel somewhat inferior.
Nonou's feelings for Minato went beyond simple affection; they also contained a fan's admiration and longing.
Because of this, she mentally placed Minato on a pedestal while positioning herself far below.
So she didn't care about Minato's infidelity at all; she only regretted missing her chance with him!
Damn Danzo, always saying I have "dark traits"—
Now it seems my moral standards are too high!
The mere thought of Danzo made Nonou grind her teeth in hatred.
Danzo's earlier assessments of her were partly why she'd been too timid to confess her feelings.
Fortunately, she still had a chance.
Glancing sideways at Konan, who seemed slightly uneasy at Minato's departure, a faint smile crept across Nonou's lips.
Some things, once started, become unstoppable.
After delivering Konan to the orphanage, Minato recalled his Wood Clone and learned the full story.
He then sent another Wood Clone to the Land of Rain. This clone was tasked with both training Yahiko in cultivation and searching for Nagato.
The Land of Rain wasn't large, but searching for a single person without any leads was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Come to think of it, the Whirlpool Country hadn't yet been destroyed at this point, and Nagato should have been several years old. In that case, Nagato's mother was likely not a refugee, but a member of the Uzumaki Clan who had become separated from her family.
Or maybe it's just a plot hole?
Under the moonlight, Minato pondered silently.
Although he had the original storyline as a reference, this was a real world, and Minato didn't dare rely completely on the original plot. Besides, his own clumsy meddling had already thrown the narrative into utter disarray.
Moreover, Uchiha Madara had remained completely silent so far.
Logically, after causing such a stir in the Shinobi World, Madara should have at least sent a few White Zetsu to observe, even if just from a distance. After all, Minato possessed Wood Release. Given Madara's nature, he would have immediately dispatched White Zetsu to investigate upon learning of this ability.
To assess whether Minato had the potential to rival Hashirama, followed by a mocking remark like: "You mere speck of sand, you don't even compare to Hashirama in the slightest..."
But even after being in this world for so long, Minato hadn't sensed a single White Zetsu.
It was possible that Madara knew Wood Release could detect White Zetsu traces and, out of caution, refrained from sending them. But this level of caution seemed excessive.
Uchiha Madara, Black Zetsu, and Ōtsutsuki Kaguya—
To be honest, Minato could handle these enemies.
Though they put some pressure on him, their intelligence was largely transparent.
In contrast, the possibility of other Ōtsutsuki Clan members appearing in the future was what truly unsettled him.
However, considering that Shippuden and Boruto were written by different authors, especially given Ikemoto's abysmal art style and aesthetic, it was uncertain whether these two storylines would even connect in this "real world."
For now, he just needed to focus on Madara.
Kaguya had to be revived. Such an immortal existence was like a ticking time bomb that needed to be dealt with.
But before that, he had to grow strong enough to surpass Kaguya.
His immediate priority was steady development, waiting for his Rinnegan to awaken—
The next morning, early.
Kushina knocked on Minato's door before dawn, actually waking up earlier than Minato, the one in charge of breakfast!
Rubbing his messy blond hair, Minato looked at her in confusion. "Why are you up so early?"
"Heh heh~"
Kushina's lips curved slightly as she threw herself into Minato's arms, inhaling his warm scent and letting out a series of giggles.
"Now that we're dating, Minato, would you like to go on a date with me today?"
The red-haired ball of energy nestled in Minato's arms, her faint, sweet scent stirring a tender warmth in his heart.
Just as he was about to agree, Tsunade yawned and emerged from the bedroom. "I'm afraid not, dear."
"Ugh—why?!" Kushina pouted, her cheeks puffing in displeasure.
"That boy just achieved such a monumental feat. It's one thing that he returned yesterday, but today the old man will definitely summon him."
Tsunade counted off on her fingers. "He decisively crushed Sunagakure and Iwa's frontline forces, annihilating over a thousand enemies, including the Third Kazekage and the Tsuchikage. These merits are enough to let him treat the Forbidden Scroll like a manga."
"But I've already finished reading the Forbidden Scroll," Minato protested, spreading his hands. Not only was the Forbidden Scroll at his disposal, but even the Root's classified documents were open to his scrutiny.
"Then convert it to cash. After all, you have two girlfriends, which means your expenses are higher than most. And considering your bottomless appetite..." Tsunade smirked, leaning against the doorframe with arms crossed. "Besides, you're now famous throughout the Shinobi World. Get ready for a flood of special missions in the coming days."
Tsunade's prediction proved accurate. Barely had they finished breakfast when an Anbu agent arrived.
"Lord Minato, the Lord Hokage requests your presence."
A figure from Anbu materialized in the courtyard like a specter, addressing him with utmost respect:
"Lord Minato..."
Nawaki propped his chin in his hand, his voice tinged with a faint melancholy. He suddenly realized that a tragic, impenetrable barrier had already risen between him and Minato.
Kushina puffed out her cheeks, her expression displeased. But with important matters at hand, she didn't press Minato further.
After soothing Kushina, Minato followed the Anbu member toward the Hokage Building.
"Hey! It's the Yellow Flash!"
They hadn't gotten far when Minato spotted a four- or five-year-old boy, hand in hand with his mother, staring at him with unbridled excitement.
Noticing Minato's gaze, the mother smiled apologetically at him, and Minato nodded politely in return.
"The Yellow Flash, huh?" Minato chuckled softly.
"That title was given to you by Sunagakure. It resonated with everyone, so it spread," the Anbu explained considerately. "They seem to have a tradition of bestowing titles. Lord Sakumo's title, Konoha's White Fang, was also given to him by them."
"I quite like it, actually," Minato nodded. After all, this was the title he'd had in the original story.
In the Shinobi World, titles bestowed by enemies carried great weight. Iconic monikers like Konoha's White Fang, Copy Ninja, Shisui of the Body Flicker, and the Three Great Sannin had all originated from adversaries.
Titles self-proclaimed, however, were pure chuunibyou behavior—
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