Ming Jing, Yakumo, and the others arrived at the agreed meeting spot early. After a while, they suddenly saw a commotion in the crowd. Before they could figure out what was going on, a path opened up through the people.
A mature woman with long, straight black hair emerged aggressively, dragging a child along with her. Ming Jing took a closer look and nearly cursed. Wasn't that child his fiancée, Hinata?! Had she been kidnapped again?
"Everyone... sorry, I'm late. Ah, Brother Ming Jing... h-hello..." Hinata was delighted to see Ming Jing and Yakumo as well. Her little face flushed red as she greeted them.
"It's fine, we only just arrived too. Hinata really is getting cuter and cuter." Ming Jing smiled gently and reached out to pat Hinata's head. But the moment he extended his hand, a figure stepped in front of him. Ming Jing froze, only then noticing that the other person had activated her Byakugan. Combined with that cold expression, she was actually kind of scary!
Ming Jing narrowed his eyes. This was the threat only one of the same kind could sense!
This woman liked Hinata too, didn't she?!
Ming Jing thought silently, raising his guard at the same time. He had finally snatched Hinata away from Naruto. If he got cuckolded by a woman now, he would really be taking a massive loss!
"Eh? Hinata, who's this big sister???" Yakumo stepped out from behind Ming Jing, tilted her head at Hinata Mai, and asked curiously.
Oh!!! Another adorable little girl! Though she was just a tiny bit inferior to my Miss Hinata, she was still really cute! Especially that sickly, obsessive charm so different from Miss Hinata's—it definitely deserved bonus points!
Hinata Mai's breathing grew a little rapid. She was considering how likely it would be for her to abduct Yakumo. After all, the Kurama Clan members present did not seem very strong!
Ming Jing was stunned. This woman actually dared set her sights on his adorable little sister! Konoha really was too dangerous. He had to take his sister and leave as soon as possible. It would be even better if he could take Hinata with them, but at the thought of Hyuga Hiashi, Ming Jing decided it was best to give up. He had just abducted the man's beloved younger brother, and now he wanted to come knocking and take away his adorable daughter too. Hyuga Hiashi would probably erupt on the spot and slap Ming Jing to death...
"This is Sister Mai. Father arranged for Sister Mai to take care of me," Hinata introduced.
"Ohh! Just like Sister Mirai! Sister Mirai was also arranged by Dad to take care of me. Hello, Sister Mai." Yakumo greeted Hinata Mai with a cheerful smile. Hinata Mai merely nodded coldly in response.
"Yakumo, don't mind her. Sister Mai usually doesn't like talking." Hinata hurriedly explained. She did not want her good friend to get along unhappily with Mai.
"It's okay, it's okay. Our Sister Kanon is pretty much the same, so I'm used to it. Oh, right, Hinata, let's hurry up and try that Anko Dango! I can't wait anymore." Yakumo threw her arms around Hinata without the slightest concern.
Ming Jing sighed inwardly. Foolish little sister, Kanon and this woman named Mai were not the same type at all! Hm, would Ming Jing go around telling people that Kanon liked Qing Yan?
"Mhm, Sister Mai already told me where it was when we came here. I'll take you." Hinata smiled and stroked Yakumo's head, looking very much like an older sister.
Ming Jing and Mai, who had both been secretly watching the two little girls, shuddered at the same time before revealing blissful expressions. Little girls really were so lovable! Then the two looked at each other, and the hostility between them left Yuexi behind them confused again. Hadn't the Kurama Clan and the Hyuga Clan formed an alliance? What was going on with these two now?
Behind the two chatting and laughing little girls followed a man and woman, each with their own hidden motives. Behind them was the confused trio of Yuexi, Qing Yan, and Mirai. When the group arrived at the shop selling Anko Dango, they unexpectedly discovered another acquaintance there.
"Yo, long time no see, Itachi." Ming Jing walked over and greeted him naturally. Looking at the food Itachi had ordered, it was indeed Anko Dango. Ming Jing directly picked up a skewer and tasted it, then frowned. "Dried tangerine peel, glutinous rice flour, raisins, and red beans soaked beforehand. Hm... too bad they weren't soaked long enough!"
Itachi looked up at Ming Jing, his deep eyes seeming to say, Are you fucking kidding me?
"Having a sensitive sense of taste is the most basic requirement for a chef!" Ming Jing proudly raised the bamboo skewer in his hand and said with a grin. In truth, there was no way he could taste how long the red beans had been soaked. He had only said all that to show off... ahem... to maintain his badass image.
Itachi said nothing. He took out money from his pouch, paid for the food he had consumed, then got up and left. He did not pay for the skewer Ming Jing had eaten...
"Who was that brother? He looked so cool!" Yakumo asked curiously as she watched Itachi's retreating back. Hinata, on the other hand, shook her head without much interest.
"Uchiha Itachi, a genius of the Uchiha Clan. He used to be someone people thought highly of alongside your brother," Hinata Mai said coldly. Though she became overjoyed whenever she saw little girls, she was also a jonin of the Hyuga Clan and paid close attention to the Uchiha Clan, their rival.
"Why don't people think highly of him now?" Yakumo looked up at Mai and asked cutely.
Mai's cold face stiffened in embarrassment. She did not know how to answer. Adorable little girl, the one people no longer thought highly of was your brother! Uchiha Itachi was currently shining as brightly as the sun at noon!
Ming Jing stared at Itachi's seat for a moment, then said to Tsukishiro Yuexi, "Keep an eye on Yakumo and Hinata. I'll be back soon."
"Yes, Young Master." Tsukishiro Yuexi nodded and stood guard beside Yakumo and Hinata together with Mirai Kurama. With a jonin from the Hyuga Clan there as well, Ming Jing could rest assured about the two little girls' safety.
Ming Jing led Qing Yan through the streets, turning left and right, and before they knew it, they had arrived at Uchiha Itachi's secret training ground. The instant they stepped into the training ground, a kunai flew at them from who knew where. Qing Yan stepped forward and caught the incoming kunai one-handed.
"Itachi, is this how you treat me the moment I arrive? That's too unfriendly, isn't it? No matter what, we're close friends!" Ming Jing said with a grief-stricken expression.
"I know about what happened to you." Uchiha Itachi emerged from the shadows, looking somewhat dejected as he asked, "Ming Jing, is this your choice?"
"I just wanted to try a different approach. Maybe it can achieve our ideal?" Ming Jing thought about it and decided it would be better to use the same spiel he had used on Hyuga Hiashi to deal with Itachi.
"You believe shinobi cannot bring peace?" Uchiha Itachi asked with a frown.
"Isn't that obvious?" Ming Jing spread his hands. "Shinobi possess power, and power itself is neither good nor evil. No matter what purpose it serves, it will cause harm."
"I see!" Uchiha Itachi fell silent for a while before speaking. "But your method will not work. The real power of decision rests in the hands of shinobi."
"How would you know it won't work unless you try?" Ming Jing asked in return.
"That would only be wasted effort," Uchiha Itachi said.
Ming Jing sighed. "Whether it is useful or not, someone still has to try. How about this, Itachi? Let's make an agreement. We'll each work hard in our own way. Ten years from now, we'll see the results. What do you think?"
"Fine!" Itachi nodded as he looked at Ming Jing's serious expression. He said slowly, "Ming Jing, don't lose yourself in worldly power."
Ming Jing merely gave a bitter smile. Even Itachi believed the shinobi world and the civilian world were separate!
Ming Jing looked at Itachi, opened his mouth, but did not know what to say. In the end, it became a single word: "Okay."
Itachi watched Ming Jing and Qing Yan's backs gradually disappear around the corner. His heart was nowhere near as calm as he appeared. He was only half-convinced by his friend's choice. After knowing him for so many years, he could be considered one of the few people in this world who understood Ming Jing. If he said this friend was truly doing it for peace, then deep down, Itachi felt that was unlikely.
But someone with godlike cooking skills probably would not stir up war. After all, cooking also required a peaceful environment. So what Itachi truly wondered was: what exactly was Ming Jing doing this for?
Well, Ming Jing felt that if he told Itachi the truth, Itachi would probably understand. As for everyone else...
Before you continue