When Plans Fall Through (Part 2)

When Ming Jing returned to the shop with Qing Yan, he was stunned once again!

This time, he was genuinely stunned!

He quickly backed out, raised his head to look at the sky, and saw not a cloud in sight beneath the brilliant sunshine. What wonderful weather!

But that was absolutely not the reason Naruto was inside!

Yes.

Ming Jing saw Naruto sitting boldly inside, laughing heartily while stuffing Anko Dango into his mouth one skewer at a time. Ming Jing felt a headache coming on. He had only gone out to meet a friend, and when he came back, he ran into this guy? Could Itachi and Naruto be working together? Was that why Itachi had been so relieved to entrust his beloved little brother to him?

"Brother Ming Jing, y-you're back..." Hinata was the first to notice Ming Jing, which made him feel considerably better. No matter what, Hinata was still firmly in his grasp!

"Oh!!! That big brother from that day!" Naruto turned around, spotted Ming Jing, and shouted excitedly.

Ming Jing's eye twitched. He decided to skip over that subject quickly. What if Hinata found out he had used a little trick that day? So he adjusted his expression and asked curiously, "Oh, how did you end up here??"

"I saw this child standing outside. He seemed to really want to eat the food here, so I invited him in," Tsukishiro Yuexi said gently.

Mm, Ming Jing really, really, really wanted to flip the table right then. Yuexi, you idiot! What was a Pig Teammate? This was a Pig Teammate! After calculating everything so carefully, he had been checkmated by his own assistant. How could Ming Jing not be heartbroken?

"Hm??" Tsukishiro Yuexi tilted her head in confusion. She could sense that something was off about the Young Master's aura!

"Brother, try one. The Anko Dango here is really good! Though it still can't compare to ours," Yakumo said with a grin, handing Ming Jing a skewer. The little girl had already eaten several skewers, while Hinata had eaten much less.

"It is pretty good." Ming Jing took it and bit into one, nodding. He needed to hurry up and take Yakumo and Hinata away. Naruto was far too dangerous; it would be troublesome if he started using his Talk-no-Jutsu.

"Hmph, the Anko Dango here is the best! How could your family possibly have anything better?" Just as Ming Jing was worrying about it, Naruto spoke up.

"Our Kurama Clan is famous for its culinary expertise. How do you know my home doesn't have better food?" Yakumo glared at Naruto and retorted.

Naruto froze, then turned to Tsukishiro Yuexi and asked, "Sister Yuexi, is the Kurama Clan really famous?"

"When it comes to food, the Kurama Clan is indeed quite famous," Tsukishiro Yuexi said with a nod.

"Oh! Then I believe Sister Yuexi." Naruto thought about it, then lowered his head and continued eating.

"Hmph hmph!" Yakumo snorted proudly, then said to Hinata, "Hinata, Hinata, want to come play at my house later?"

"Sure!" Hinata nodded. Hyuga Hiashi no longer stopped her from visiting the Kurama Clan, so long as she returned home before ten at night. Her future father-in-law still didn't trust Ming Jing all that much!

"In that case, why don't we head home early? A recent movie has gotten pretty good reviews, so we can watch it together." Ming Jing nodded at Qing Yan, signaling him to pay the bill. Hinata Mai, however, remained as steady as a mountain, showing no intention of getting up to pay. Hinata discreetly tugged at Mai beneath the table, but her guard did not budge.

"Young Master, the bill has been paid," Qing Yan returned and reported.

"U-um... Brother Ming Jing, this is the money for Mai and me." Hinata took out a pile of coins from her little wallet and placed them before Ming Jing without even counting them.

Ming Jing smiled and pushed the money back. "If it weren't for Hinata, we wouldn't have known there was such delicious Anko Dango here. Let this one be my treat!"

"Th-this..." Hinata held the coins, unsure whether to take them back or not. Her troubled expression nearly melted both Ming Jing and Mai.

Hinata Mai quickly took Hinata's little hand and tucked the coins back into her small pouch. "It's fine. Next time, Miss Hinata can treat Miss Yakumo to a meal."

"Mm-hm, Hinata, remember to treat me next time!" Yakumo added.

"O-okay." Hinata nodded with a faint blush, no longer dwelling on it.

"I'm done! Thanks for the meal!" Naruto finished his portion as well. The boy was straightforward enough to pull out his frog wallet, pour out some money, and offer it to Ming Jing. "I don't need big brother to pay for me either."

"Since I've paid for everyone together, wouldn't it be rude to charge only you? Put it away!" Ming Jing shook his head. He only hoped this boy would stay farther away from his Yakumo.

"Oh, then next time I'll treat Yakumo to Ichiraku Ramen!" Naruto chuckled and scratched the back of his head.

Then you'd better give me the money!

Ming Jing complained inwardly, but did not say it aloud. Fundamentally, he was a kind child.

After tidying up, the group headed toward the Kurama Clan. Ming Jing held Yakumo's hand and walked at the very front, terrified that Naruto, that little brat, would run over and bring disaster upon his little sister. Hinata Mai held Hinata's hand, mainly to guard against Ming Jing.

"Naruto, do you want to come play at our house?" Yet what Ming Jing had not expected was for Tsukishiro Yuexi to jump in once again. Ming Jing almost wanted to cry. Yuexi was usually very clever! What was going on with her today? Or had he offended her somehow recently?

"Can I?!" Naruto practically lit up. It was the first time anyone had invited him to their home to play! And the person inviting him was the first person to acknowledge him. How could he not be happy?

This time, Tsukishiro Yuexi did not answer Naruto. She had also realized she had overstepped. Only the Young Master and Miss Yakumo, the true owners of the Kurama Clan, had the right to invite others into their home as guests! But when she had seen Naruto standing there alone and dejected, her heart had softened, and the words had slipped out. Now, she could only hope the Young Master would understand. Yuexi felt as if she had been caring for Naruto as though he were her younger brother.

"Not this time!" Ming Jing spoke before Yakumo could refuse him. He continued, "It's getting a little late now. Hinata and Mai can stay at our home, but Naruto is a boy after all. With the clan head absent, it would be inappropriate to let a boy stay the night. Naruto, if there is another opportunity, you're welcome to visit the Kurama Clan." The last part was just politeness, so don't take it seriously!

"Oh... all right! Thank you today, Sister Yuexi and big brother." Naruto was only disappointed for a moment before immediately putting on a brilliant smile.

"Mm, I'm sorry, Naruto. Your sister didn't think it through just now. Next time, I'll take you out for a big meal to make it up to you!" Yuexi apologized to Naruto as well.

"It's okay!" Naruto waved his hand carelessly. "I don't really understand what big brother meant, but I believe Sister Yuexi, hehehe..."

"Mm-hm, go home early!" Yuexi gently patted Naruto's head, then watched the blond boy leave.

Hinata Mai gave Ming Jing a slight glance. She knew Naruto's true identity. In her view, the Kurama Clan's current situation truly was not suitable for them to have too much contact with this child. After all, the more they interacted with him, the longer they would remain under the Third Hokage's watchful eye.

After bidding Naruto farewell, everyone chatted and laughed as they returned to the Kurama Clan grounds. The moment Yakumo got home, she released Ming Jing's hand, grabbed Hinata, and ran toward the home theater. Mirai Kurama and Hinata Mai followed after them, leaving only Ming Jing, Yuexi, and Qing Yan behind.

Yuexi dropped to one knee, lowered her head, and said remorsefully, "I'm sorry, Young Master. Your subordinate overstepped her bounds. Please punish me!"

Ming Jing looked at Yuexi kneeling before him without saying a word. This reaction was also a way of telling Qing Yan and Yuexi that Ming Jing was truly angry this time. Only then did Yuexi realize that she seemed to have caused a terrible problem. She did not dare say more and could only quietly await the Young Master's judgment.

"That child is the Fourth Hokage's orphan, and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of Konoha Village. Both the Third Hokage and Danzo are watching him. Yet you wanted to bring him into the Kurama Clan. Yuexi, you are clearly a calm person. What happened today?" Ming Jing sighed and told Yuexi Naruto's identity.

With every sentence Ming Jing spoke, Yuexi's body trembled involuntarily. She finally understood why the Young Master, who had always been tolerant, courteous, gentle, and warm, had ignored Naruto. It was not that the Young Master did not want to; it was that he could not!

Tsukishiro Yuexi fell to both knees, pressed her forehead to the ground, and said in a trembling voice, "I don't know why, but when I saw how lonely that child was, I couldn't help wanting to treat him better. Please forgive me, Young Master. Your subordinate... your subordinate has lived a good life for too long and became presumptuous."

"Ah..." Ming Jing sighed. He did not know whether Yuexi's kind nature had caused what happened today, or whether the consciousness of this world had manipulated the plot.

He turned and walked toward the home theater. Since he would be leaving, he should spend more time with Hinata.

"Qing Yan, give Yuexi thirty strokes of the rod."

"Yes, Young Master!"