Guidance!

After six days of arduous travel, Ming Jing and the others finally reached the outskirts of the Royal Capital. Their caravan had arrived three days prior, and the reason for their separation was...

Yakumo sat on her small, dark red horse, humming an unknown tune. The little girl, on her first long trip, was naturally very excited, wanting to stop and study everything new she saw. Unfortunately, she had a doting older brother, which turned a journey that should have taken three days into six...

This was why they had to travel separately from the caravan. After all, the caravan was transporting supplies to disaster areas and couldn't afford delays. It was better for the two brothers and Hizashi Hyuga to lead the caravan forward. Besides, Hizashi Hyuga had experience commanding troops, so controlling a caravan wouldn't be a big problem for him.

Next, after Ming Jing took Yakumo to Koji Kurama, he would meet the Daimyo, hand over his work, and then head to the disaster area.

"Brother, why can't I go with you to the border of the Land of Rain? I've never been abroad before!" Yakumo asked, tilting her head to look at Ming Jing.

"You're still young. You can go when you're older," Ming Jing said with a smile. The Naruto world wasn't that big, and going abroad wasn't difficult. Look at Naruto, who easily went abroad to be a hero.

"Oh, oh, oh, Brother, do you think Dad will be happy to see me?" Yakumo's thoughts jumped from going abroad to her father. Only Ming Jing could keep up with such a leap in thinking.

"Of course, he will. Hmm... the Clan Head is so eager he's personally come out to greet you!" As he spoke, Ming Jing pointed ahead. Yakumo turned her head and saw three figures approaching from a distance. It was her father—Koji Kurama.

"Dad!" Yakumo excitedly kicked her pony, making it run towards Koji Kurama.

"Oh my, my little darling, slow down, slow down!" Koji Kurama quickly calmed the pony and then lifted Yakumo from its back.

"Dad, are you happy to see me?" Yakumo asked, smiling at Koji Kurama.

"Of course, I am! I was complaining yesterday that time was going too slowly, wishing I could see Yakumo sooner!" Koji Kurama said with a smile.

"Uncle (Clan Head)," Ming Jing, Yuexi, Qing Yan, and Mirai, all six of them, stepped forward to greet him. Asuma merely nodded slightly at Koji Kurama.

"Yes, you've all worked hard on the journey. I've prepared some drinks in the Royal Capital. Follow me, let's rest first!" Koji Kurama nodded at Asuma first, then spoke to Ming Jing and the others.

"Thank you, Uncle (Clan Head)!" the six said in unison.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Kurama," Asuma added politely.

"Hahaha, Asuma, don't be so formal," Koji Kurama laughed heartily, then walked at the front, carrying Yakumo. With his current status, he was polite enough to Asuma, so he didn't intend to let Asuma go ahead. Asuma didn't mind and walked behind him with ease.

After arranging for everyone to rest in the Royal Capital, Koji Kurama found Ming Jing alone and asked with a wry smile, "Ming Jing, I know about your situation. Can you tell me what you're thinking? I want to know your true thoughts."

Ming Jing sighed inwardly. The more familiar someone was, the harder they were to fool!

He took a letter from his embrace and handed it to Koji Kurama, saying, "This is my plan. Burn it after you read it." Yes, Ming Jing had specifically taken time to write this on the road, writing it entirely for Koji Kurama.

Koji Kurama gave Ming Jing a speechless look, took the letter, opened it, and read it carefully. After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Koji Kurama crumpled the letter into a ball, controlled his Chakra to cut it into strips, and then threw it into the fire to burn it.

After a moment of silence, Koji Kurama asked, "How confident are you?"

"Fifty-fifty. We have to try," Ming Jing said with a smile.

"Sigh... You really dare to think big!" Koji Kurama sighed helplessly.

"There's no loss if we fail. It's equivalent to having no worries about the future, so why not try?" Ming Jing retorted.

Koji Kurama thought for a moment and smiled, "You have a point. Let's try it then!"

"Thank you for your understanding, Uncle," Ming Jing said, cupping his hands in a salute.

"We are family. There's no need for such formalities," Koji Kurama waved his hand. Then he looked at Ming Jing seriously, frowning, and asked, "Ming Jing, have you encountered any problems?"

"Hmm?" Ming Jing was stunned and looked up at Koji Kurama, asking, "Why do you ask, Uncle?"

"It seems you have encountered a problem," Koji Kurama confirmed with a nod before saying, "Perhaps my strength is not as great as yours, but in terms of experience with Illusion Techniques, I understand them better than you. When I saw you today, I instinctively resisted. Do you know why?"

Hearing Koji Kurama say this, Ming Jing realized that he seemed to be having some trouble researching The Goose Illusionary Book recently, something he hadn't realized himself. So Ming Jing sat up straight, looked at Koji Kurama, shook his head, and said solemnly, "Please enlighten me, Uncle!"

"Ming Jing, have you observed how a newly adult fierce tiger catches its prey?" Koji Kurama asked back.

"No, I haven't," Ming Jing shook his head again.

"The first few times, the fierce tiger couldn't catch its prey. It only succeeded after it was half-starved. Do you know why?" Koji Kurama continued to ask.

"I don't know." Ming Jing actually wanted to ask, "Is that so?" But considering that the other person was sincerely teaching him, he didn't act mischievous.

"Because a newly adult fierce tiger doesn't know how to hide its aura yet. You are the same now. From far away, I could sense that you intended to deceive me," Koji Kurama said with a smile.

"Huh?? Uncle, are you joking?" Ming Jing was embarrassed. He really didn't intend to deceive Koji Kurama!

"What do you think?" Koji Kurama glared at Ming Jing before continuing, "The essence of Illusion Techniques is deception. The prerequisite for deception is trust. You make people wary of you from afar, so how can you deceive them? What you need to do now is to let go of Illusion Techniques. When you forget about Illusion Techniques, you will succeed!"

Ming Jing nodded thoughtfully. He felt like he was getting a clue. He was amazed by Koji Kurama's research into Illusion Techniques and couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, have you let go?"

"No, I'm already used to it. I can't let go at all. But you are different, Ming Jing. I only reached your current level at the age of twenty-five. Unfortunately, I'm already set in my ways. Even if I know the way forward, it's of no use," Koji Kurama sighed helplessly. This was also a great regret in his life!

"Then how did you know that you needed to let go?" Ming Jing continued to ask.

Koji Kurama smiled and said, "No matter what, our Kurama Clan is the most skilled in Illusion Techniques. Even if our ancestors left few notes, there are still some."

So that's how it was. Ming Jing had thought it was Koji Kurama's own conclusion! At the same time, he sighed, finally understanding why he had been so on edge recently. It seemed he had been putting too much pressure on himself unconsciously?

But speaking of which, what did it mean to forget Illusion Techniques?

Ming Jing thought of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," a novel by Jin Yong. There was a plot where the martial arts grandmaster Zhang Sanfeng, after teaching Zhang Wuji the Tai Chi Sword, asked him how much he remembered. Each time he asked, Zhang Wuji forgot more. In the end, Zhang Wuji forgot everything, but Zhang Sanfeng said Zhang Wuji had mastered the Tai Chi Sword.

This was the benefit of having a grandmaster by your side! Someone casually teaching him was more effective than Ming Jing meditating for days.

Should he go and consult the grandmaster of Illusion Techniques in the Naruto world?

This thought was quickly dismissed by Ming Jing. Was there really a grandmaster of Illusion Techniques in the Naruto world?

The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, developed the "Night Evening Technique," but he was already dead. Moreover, his achievements in Illusion Techniques couldn't be considered very high; he didn't reach the level of a grandmaster.

Shisui Uchiha's "Kotoamatsukami" was indeed powerful. However, Shisui's Sharingan was probably only at the three-tomoe level right now?

Itachi Uchiha... His current level of Illusion Techniques was inferior to Ming Jing's!

Right, there were also the two Toad Sages. Together, they should be comparable.

This meant he had to set aside some time to look for Jiraiya