Hyuga-Kurama Alliance (Part 2)

Outside the cell, a gentle spring rain began to fall on the spring evening. Qing Yan stood outside like an iron tower, unaffected by the slight chill. Beside him, a young man holding a katana occasionally shifted, adding a touch of vitality to the scene.

Inside the cell, the nine dishes on the table had gone cold. Hyuga Hiashi closed his eyes in thought. After a while, Hiashi opened his eyes and stared at Ming Jing, asking, "What do you plan to do?"

Ming Jing glanced at Hizashi Hyuga and said, "I'll ask Mr. Hizashi to fake his death. I'm confident I can trick everyone."

"Including Fugaku Uchiha, who has the Sharingan?" Hyuga Hiashi asked, knowing that the Sharingan had some resistance to genjutsu. Coupled with Fugaku Uchiha's strength, ordinary illusions would likely not fool him.

"Even the Mangekyo Sharingan might not be able to see through my genjutsu," Ming Jing said with a confident smile. The genjutsu in The Goose Illusionary Book was worlds apart from the genjutsu in the Naruto world; they weren't even in the same system. He didn't believe the Sharingan could see through it.

"If we can save Hizashi, I can do my utmost to foster an alliance between our clans!" Hyuga Hiashi said seriously. No matter how he looked at it, the Hyuga Clan wouldn't lose out, so he had no reason to refuse.

"Very well, consider it my sincerity," Ming Jing said, not refusing after some thought. After all, he had ulterior motives from the beginning.

"Wait a moment," Hizashi Hyuga interjected. He looked at Ming Jing and asked, "While what you say sounds good and sincere, how can we believe it's all true? After all, the current head of the Kurama Clan is Koji Kurama, not you, Ming Jing Kurama!"

"Please take a look at this, sirs. I believe it will prove my words." Ming Jing calmly reached out. Tsukishiro Yuexi took a letter from her embrace and placed it in her Young Master's hand. Ming Jing took it, held it with both hands, and presented it to Hyuga Hiashi.

Hyuga Hiashi nodded slightly. Ming Jing Kurama was showing him, the head of the Hyuga Clan, a great deal of respect.

He took the letter and opened it. It was a personal letter from Koji Kurama, with Koji Kurama's personal seal at the bottom. The summary was one sentence: Ming Jing Kurama's actions represented the will of the Kurama Clan.

Hyuga Hiashi handed the letter to Hizashi after reading it. After Hizashi finished reading, he continued, "Since we have the Kurama Clan Head's personal letter, it seems trustworthy. Although we haven't formed an alliance yet, I'd still like to know how you can guarantee that both sides will abide by it after the alliance is formed?"

Ming Jing wanted to give Hyuga Hizashi a thumbs-up upon hearing this!

This uncle's assist was too perfect!

Ming Jing quickly straightened his attitude, tidied his clothes, and respectfully cupped his hands in a bow to Hyuga Hiashi. "I recently heard, Mr. Hiashi, that you have a daughter. She is gentle, elegant, fresh, and lovely, suitable for managing a household. I have admired her in my dreams for a long time. If you do not find me unworthy, I humbly request you to marry your daughter to me."

What the hell!

The two Hyuga brothers were stunned by Ming Jing's actions!

Hizashi Hyuga looked at Hyuga Hiashi as if to say, "If I remember correctly, aren't you're daughter Hinata only two years old? 'Fresh and lovely' is understandable, but what the heck is 'suitable for managing a household'?"

Hyuga Hiashi returned a look, "I want to know how this brat knows my little Hinata is suitable for managing a household!"

"What should we do now? This brat is so serious. It looks like he really intends to marry Hinata!" Hizashi Hyuga shot a look.

"I want to know what to do too! Isn't this a bit too soon?" Hyuga Hiashi winked. Using the Byakugan like this was quite something!

Hizashi Hyuga glanced at Ming Jing and continued to signal with his eyes, "Just let him get up first! It must be tiring to stay bowed like that!"

"Cough, cough, cough..." The two brothers finally finished their silent exchange. Hyuga Hiashi cleared his throat and looked around, changing the subject, "Where were we?"

"Mr. Hizashi asked how I would ensure the reliability of the alliance. I personally believe there is no better way to solidify an alliance than through marriage," Ming Jing said with a serious expression.

What the hell! It's back to this again!

Hyuga Hiashi had a constipated look on his face, unsure of what to say.

At this moment, Hizashi Hyuga chimed in, "Hmm, what Ming Jing says makes a lot of sense. But if Hinata marries you, won't the Byakugan of our Hyuga Clan be passed out of the clan?!"

Well done!

Hyuga Hiashi inwardly gave his brother a thumbs-up. He had been flustered by Ming Jing's sudden attack earlier. Now that he had recovered, it seemed impossible from the start!

"I have a solution for this matter as well," Ming Jing said with a slight smile. "If the offspring of Miss Hinata and I awaken the Byakugan, that child will naturally take the Hyuga surname. If they awaken the control of the five senses, the child will take the Kurama surname."

Uh...

The two Hyuga brothers looked at each other. This solution was amazing; they couldn't find a way to refute it for a moment.

However, Hyuga Hiashi was still unwilling to give up. He gritted his teeth and decided to use his trump card, "What if this child awakens both the Byakugan and the control of the five senses?!"

"Then this child will be the Hokage!" Ming Jing declared, exuding an aura of dominance and confidence.

Hokage?!

The two Hyuga brothers were stunned. If the child of Ming Jing and Hinata were to awaken both the Byakugan and the control of the five senses in the future, becoming Hokage would be inevitable! The Kurama Clan's wealth, the Hyuga Clan's strength, and the child's own talent – if he didn't become Hokage, who would dare?

This has potential!

Hyuga Hiashi rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought. Hizashi Hyuga was speechless. This was still just talk, and they hadn't even consulted Hinata herself! Asking a two-year-old child for her opinion...

Hizashi Hyuga suddenly felt a pain in his liver.

"In short, everything depends on saving Hizashi first!" Hyuga Hiashi decided. If Ming Jing really saved Hizashi, why not marry Hinata to him? They had already agreed that if the child awakened the Byakugan, they would belong to the Hyuga family. This way, they would gain an ally, a son-in-law, and save his brother... Hiashi suddenly felt like he was making a huge profit!

Ming Jing nodded. He turned to Tsukishiro Yuexi and said, "Yuexi, when we get back, arrange for a small courtyard to be built next to my Xiaoxiang Villa. I'll give you the design later."

"Yes," Yuexi replied softly, lowering her head.

With the serious matters settled, the atmosphere in the cell relaxed. Hyuga Hiashi looked at the table full of delicacies, about to try them, when Ming Jing asked Yuexi to call in the young man holding the katana outside. Seeing Hyuga Hiashi's confused gaze, Ming Jing smiled and explained, "These dishes have gone cold, and their taste isn't as authentic. This young man is a disciple of our Kurama Clan. He has fire-style chakra and can reheat these dishes."

That's right, Ming Jing had brought Taichi Odagiri this time. The young man had been diligently practicing his swordsmanship recently and had made considerable progress. When he entered, he first bowed slightly to Hyuga Hiashi, then drew his sword and struck nine times in quick succession, each strike hitting the base of one of the nine bowls. After finishing, Taichi Odagiri sheathed his katana and retreated from the cell.

"Good swordsmanship, excellent technique!" The Hyuga Clan was a taijutsu family, and both Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga were discerning judges. They both recognized Taichi Odagiri's extraordinary skill.

"You flatter us, sirs. Please, enjoy!" Ming Jing smiled. The reason he did this was to show them that the Kurama Clan wasn't just him; neither Tsukishiro Yuexi beside him nor Taichi Odagiri just now were individuals that an ordinary clan could cultivate.

"Indeed, the taste is excellent." Hyuga Hiashi tasted a braised lion's head and nodded.

"Since you like it, I'll have my chef specially cook for you at the Hyuga Clan's residence from now on!" Ming Jing said with a proud smile. How could people who only ate ramen, grilled meat, and curry imagine the greatness of Chinese cuisine?

"Hmm... In that case, I won't stand on ceremony." Hyuga Hiashi tasted the fish-flavored shredded pork and nodded reservedly. When he tasted the Mapo Tofu, he couldn't stop. This dish was clearly spicy and numbing, yet he couldn't stop eating it!

Damn it!

Has the Kurama Clan's genjutsu become this powerful? They could actually plant genjutsu in food!