Plans Can't Keep Up With Changes (Part 2)

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

This time, he was truly stunned!

He quickly retreated and looked up at the sky. It was cloudless and sunny – what a beautiful day!

But that was absolutely no reason for Naruto to be inside!

Yes.

Ming Jing saw Naruto sitting inside, happily eating dango skewers one after another while laughing heartily. Ming Jing felt a headache coming on. He'd only gone out to meet a friend, and he comes back to find this guy? Was Itachi working with Naruto? Was that why Itachi had so confidently entrusted his beloved brother to him later?

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

"Oh!!! The big brother from that day!" Naruto turned and saw Ming Jing, shouting excitedly.

Ming Jing's eye twitched. He decided to quickly move past this topic. What if Hinata found out he'd played a trick on her that day? So, he adjusted his expression and asked with a hint of curiosity, "Oh, what are you doing here?"

"I saw this child standing outside, looking like he really wanted to eat the food here, so I invited him in," Tsukishiro Yuexi said gently.

Sigh, Ming Jing really, really, really wanted to flip the table right now. Yuexi, that idiot! What do you call a "pig teammate"? This is a pig teammate! He'd calculated everything, but in the end, he was outmaneuvered by his assistant. How could Ming Jing not feel heartbroken?

"Hm??" Tsukishiro Yuexi tilted her head in confusion. She felt the aura around Young Master was off!

"Brother, try this, the dango here is really good! Hmm, but it's still not as good as ours," Yakumo handed Ming Jing a skewer of dango, saying with a grin. The little girl had already eaten several skewers, while Hinata ate considerably less.

"It is quite good," Ming Jing took it, took a bite, and nodded. He needed to take Yakumo and Hinata away quickly. Naruto was too dangerous; if he started using Talk no Jutsu, it would be troublesome.

"Hmph, the dango here is the best, how could yours be better?" Ming Jing was worrying when Naruto started talking.

"Our Kurama Clan are famous gourmet experts, how do you know mine isn't?" Yakumo retorted, glaring at Naruto.

Naruto blinked and turned to Tsukishiro Yuexi. "Sister Yuexi, is the Kurama Clan famous?"

"When it comes to food, the Kurama Clan is quite famous," Tsukishiro Yuexi nodded.

"Oh! Then I believe Sister Yuexi," Naruto thought for a moment, then lowered his head and continued eating.

"Hmph, hmph!" Yakumo snorted triumphantly, then said to Hinata, "Hinata, Hinata, want to come over to my place later?"

"Okay!" Hinata nodded. Hyuga Hiashi no longer stopped her from visiting the Kurama Clan, as long as she was home before 10 PM. Her father-in-law still didn't quite trust Ming Jing!

"Since that's the case, why don't we head home early? There's a movie with good reviews recently, we could watch it together," Ming Jing nodded at Qing Yan, signaling him to pay the bill. Hinata Mai, however, remained as steady as a rock, showing no intention of getting up to pay. Hinata cautiously tugged at Mai under the table, but her guard remained unmoved.

"Young Master, the bill is settled," Qing Yan reported back.

"Th-that... Brother Ming Jing, this is money from Mai-sister and me," Hinata took out a pile of coins from her small wallet and placed them in front of Ming Jing without counting.

Ming Jing smiled and pushed the money back. "If it weren't for Hinata, we wouldn't have known there was good dango here! Let me treat you this time!"

"Th-this..." Hinata held the coins, unsure whether to accept or refuse, her conflicted expression almost melting Ming Jing and Mai.

Hyuga Mai quickly grabbed Hinata's small hand and tucked the coins back into Hinata's small purse. "It's okay, Hinata, you can treat Miss Yakumo next time."

"Mhm, mhm, Hinata, remember to treat me next time!" Yakumo chimed in.

"Okay, okay," Hinata nodded with a slightly flushed face and didn't dwell on it anymore.

"I'm done eating! Thanks for the meal!" Naruto had also finished his share by this time. The child was quite honest, directly taking out his frog wallet and handing some money to Ming Jing. "I don't need Big Brother to pay for me."

"We're all paying together. Wouldn't it be rude of me to only charge you? Take it back!" Ming Jing shook his head. He just hoped this child would stay away from his Yakumo.

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

Then you should just give me the money!

Ming Jing thought to himself but didn't say it aloud. Fundamentally, he was a kind child.

The group tidied up and headed in the direction of the Kurama Clan. Ming Jing held Yakumo's hand, walking at the front, afraid that brat Naruto would come running to pester his sister. Hyuga Mai pulled Hinata along, mainly to keep an eye on Ming Jing.

"Naruto, want to come to our house to play?" However, Ming Jing hadn't expected Tsukishiro Yuexi to jump out again. Ming Jing felt like crying. Yuexi was usually so smart! What was wrong with her today? Or had he offended her somehow recently?

"Can I?!" Naruto's whole body lit up. It was the first time someone had invited him to their home! And the person inviting him was the first one who had acknowledged him. How could he not be happy?

Tsukishiro Yuexi didn't answer Naruto this time. She realized she had overstepped. Only Young Master and Miss Yakumo, the true owners of the Kurama Clan, had the right to invite guests to their home! But seeing Naruto looking so dejected just now, her heart had softened, and she had spoken without thinking. Now, she could only hope Young Master would understand. Yuexi felt like she had started to care for Naruto like a younger brother.

"Let's skip it this time!" Ming Jing spoke up and refused before Yakumo could. He continued, "It's getting a bit late. Hinata and Mai can stay at home. Naruto is a boy, after all. It's not appropriate for a boy to stay overnight when the Clan Head isn't here. Naruto, you're welcome to visit the Kurama Clan next time there's an opportunity." The last sentence was just a polite remark, don't take it seriously!

"Oh... Okay then! Thank you, Sister Yuexi and Big Brother, for today," Naruto's dejection lasted only for a moment before he immediately put on a bright smile.

"Mhm, I'm sorry, Naruto. I wasn't thinking clearly just now. I'll take you out for a big meal next time as compensation," Yuexi said apologetically to Naruto.

"It's fine!" Naruto waved his hand carelessly. "I don't understand what Big Brother means, but I trust Sister Yuexi, hehehe..."

"Mhm, mhm, go home early," Yuexi gently patted Naruto's head and watched the blond boy leave.

Hyuga Mai, however, glanced at Ming Jing. She knew Naruto's true identity. In her opinion, the current situation of the Kurama Clan was indeed not suitable for further contact with this child. After all, the more contact with this child meant longer periods of being under the Third Hokage's gaze.

After bidding farewell to Naruto, everyone returned to the Kurama Clan's residence, chatting and laughing along the way. As soon as Yakumo arrived home, she let go of Ming Jing's hand and pulled Hinata towards the home theater. Mirai Kurama and Hyuga Mai followed, leaving only Ming Jing, Yuexi, and Qing Yan behind.

Yuexi knelt on one knee, her head bowed, filled with remorse. "My apologies, Young Master. Your subordinate overstepped. Please punish me!"

Ming Jing looked at Yuexi, who was kneeling, without saying a word. This reaction was actually telling Qing Yan and Yuexi that Ming Jing was truly angry this time. Yuexi realized at this moment that she seemed to have caused a huge problem. She didn't dare to say more, only waiting quietly for Young Master's judgment.

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

With every word Ming Jing spoke, Yuexi's body trembled. She finally understood why their usually generous, polite, gentle, and enthusiastic Young Master had ignored Naruto. It wasn't that Young Master didn't want to, but that he couldn't!

Tsukishiro Yuexi knelt on both knees, her forehead touching the ground, and said with a trembling voice, "Your subordinate doesn't know why, but seeing this child alone, I couldn't help but want to be kinder to him. Please forgive me, Young Master. Your subordinate... your subordinate has lived too comfortably and become presumptuous."

"Sigh..." Ming Jing sighed. He didn't know if it was Yuexi's kind nature that led to today's events, or if the consciousness of this world was manipulating the plot.

He turned and walked towards the home theater. Since they were leaving, he might as well spend more time with Hinata.

"Qing Yan, thirty strokes of the cane for Yuexi."

"Yes, Young Master!"