Holding Hinata's tiny hand, white as a scallion stalk, Ming Jing appeared calm on the surface. If a member of the Yamanaka Clan entered his mind right now, they would find it in complete chaos, with hundreds of identical little figures causing all kinds of mayhem in his head. The scene probably looked something like this:
"We're holding hands! We're holding hands!"
"Aahhh! The goddess's little hand is so warm!"
"What do I do, what do I do? Should I say something?"
"Hurry up and make a post—I'm holding hands with Hinata!"
"Mom, Dad, your son is holding the goddess's hand! Tonight, we consummate the marriage!"
"Coach, I want to learn how to flirt with girls!"
"Calm down! Were all those books you read for nothing?! Confucius once said... No, no, I'm too excited!"
"Should we go eat mapo tofu later, then pretend it's spicy so the goddess will kiss me?"
"Or should I pretend to fall and say I can't get up unless the goddess kisses me?"
"Hahahahaha..."
Hinata curiously looked around, completely unaware of the schemes brewing in the heart of the well-dressed pervert holding her hand. The two of them walked quietly for about ten minutes before Ming Jing finally woke up from his perverted inner world.
He lowered his head and looked at little Hinata. After walking so far, she had to be tired, right?
So Ming Jing crouched down and, amid little Hinata's cry of surprise, picked her up. Then he said apologetically, "Sorry, I was thinking about something important just now and made Hinata walk so far with me. I'm sorry!"
"N-No... it's okay... You, you know me?" Although little Hinata had not grown up yet, her shy nature already seemed to be taking shape. That was very good. Thanks to Father-in-law Hyuga Hiashi's upbringing.
"Mm, I know Hinata! Mr. Hiashi's precious daughter, the young lady of the Hyuga Clan, right?" Ming Jing carried Hinata as he slowly headed toward the Kurama Clan compound, smiling as he spoke.
"Yes..." Hinata lowered her head and answered softly. After hesitating for a moment, she asked in a pleading tone, "C-Can you let me go home?"
"I can't do that!" Ming Jing shook his head. Seeing Hinata's disappointed expression, he gently explained, "I'm not trying to make things difficult for you, Hinata! I just hope you can visit my home, and Mr. Hiashi won't blame you for it. I have an agreement with Mr. Hiashi!"
"Father really won't blame me?" Hinata looked up at Ming Jing hopefully.
"Of course!" Ming Jing looked at Hinata too. His future wife looked so adorably cute! He really wanted to kiss her! No, no, he had to hold himself back!
So Ming Jing looked ahead and continued, "That Hyuga Clan ninja from earlier will tell Lord Hiashi that you've gone to my house. You don't need to worry, Hinata. Just have fun. Oh, right, my younger sister Yakumo is the same age as you! Maybe you two can become good friends!"
"Really? Yakumo... she won't dislike me, will she?..." Hinata's voice rose slightly before falling again.
"She won't." Ming Jing shook his head with certainty, then said somewhat sadly, "Yakumo isn't in good health and gets sick easily. She might even need Hinata to take care of her! Just don't dislike Yakumo when the time comes, okay?" Mm, for his future wife, his foolish little sister would have to make a sacrifice!
"She won't!" Hinata fell for it as expected. She hurriedly shook her head and said, "I-I'll take care of Yakumo."
"Mm, then I'll be counting on you, Hinata." Ming Jing revealed a warm smile. Little Hinata did not notice anything wrong; her little head was already busy thinking about how she should face Yakumo later.
When they arrived at the Kurama Clan compound, Hinata felt as though her Byakugan had become useless. This was practically the common reaction of every guest who had visited the Kurama Clan this year. Over the past year, Ming Jing had completely renovated the entire Kurama Clan compound, inside and out.
This time, he had not merely drawn inspiration from the Suzhou Gardens; he had also referenced the layout of the Grand View Garden from Dream of the Red Chamber. Thus, the Kurama Clan compound had become the most beautiful and uniquely styled residence in the Land of Fire, and even the entire Naruto World.
"Your home... is so beautiful!" Little Hinata did not know what words to use to describe it. Her pure white eyes wandered everywhere, cheering at the surprise of "just when the road seemed to end amid mountains and rivers, another village appeared beneath dark willows and bright flowers," and delighting in the design of "a single ladle of water standing in for a river, a fistful of earth standing in for a mountain."
"My name is Akira Kurama. Hinata can call me Ming Jing Oppa—cough, cough... Brother Ming Jing." He had almost said the wrong thing! Good thing he stopped himself in time!
Facing Hinata's innocent gaze, Ming Jing became a little embarrassed. "Cough, cough, just call me Brother Ming Jing. This is the Kurama Clan compound. I designed the entire estate myself. Do you like it, Hinata?"
Hinata wore an expression that said, "I don't really understand, but it feels amazing." She nodded and said happily, "It's very beautiful here. I-I like it."
"It's wonderful that Hinata likes it. Let's go greet my aunt first, then I'll take Hinata to see Yakumo, okay?" Ming Jing smiled happily. Behind him, Tsukishiro Yuexi and Qing Yan exchanged glances, somewhat unable to understand what their Young Master was up to. Even they could tell that their Young Master treated the little princess of the Hyuga Clan completely differently from everyone else!
Come to think of it, Young Master Itachi probably would not get jealous, right?
That question suddenly popped into Tsukishiro Yuexi's mind, frightening her so much that she quickly shook her head and threw the terrifying thought away.
Yuexi's movement drew little Hinata's attention. Ming Jing turned back to look at her as well and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
"Ah! Nothing, nothing, Young Master, please continue!" Tsukishiro Yuexi broke out in a cold sweat. If her Young Master found out what she had just been thinking, he would probably go berserk, wouldn't he?
Ming Jing gave Tsukishiro Yuexi a puzzled look, but this was his date with little Hinata, so he could not be bothered to care about Yuexi's little thoughts. Still, now that he thought about it, Ming Jing had previously wanted to sell Yuexi off to Naruto. In a sense, Yuexi's wild imagination counted as "revenge," didn't it?
The group passed through a garden filled with strange rocks and arrived at Mai Kurama's small courtyard. The mistress of the Kurama Clan was reading beneath the sunlight. Hearing the noise, she looked up and revealed a kindly smile. "Ming Jing, you're back! This is... a child from the Hyuga Clan!"
Ming Jing nodded, set little Hinata down, and explained, "There was an accident, so I invited Hinata to visit the clan. I also hope Hinata can become friends with Yakumo. Hinata, this is my aunt, the mistress of the Kurama Clan. Aunt, this is Hinata Hyuga, the young lady of the Hyuga Clan."
"Oh my! Welcome, welcome! It is truly an honor for Miss Hinata to visit our Kurama Clan." Mai Kurama looked at Hinata happily. Because Kurama Yakumo was in poor health, she could only stay at home and was looked after by Mirai Kurama every day. She did not have a single companion her age around her. Now that Hinata had come, how could Mai, as her mother, not be happy?
"Ming Jing, keep Miss Hinata company here. I'll go call Yakumo over." As she spoke, Mai Kurama set the book in her hands aside and hurried away.
Ming Jing smiled awkwardly at Hinata and said, "Sorry! I didn't expect Aunt to get so excited just because she was introducing a friend to Yakumo."
"It's okay, it's okay." Hinata hurriedly waved her hands, lowered her head, and asked softly, "I-I... Yakumo won't be unwilling to become friends with me, will she...?"
"She won't!" Ming Jing crouched down and looked directly into Hinata's pure white eyes. He said seriously, "Hinata is so gentle and kind. Yakumo will definitely be willing to become friends with you. I guarantee it!" Yakumo, for your brother's future happiness, you have to do your best!
Looking at Ming Jing's encouraging gaze, Hinata's little face suddenly reddened. She hurriedly lowered her head and said softly but firmly, "I-I'll do my best!"
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