On September 1st, the Konoha Ninja School began its term. Koji Kurama brought Ming Jing to register at the school. Meanwhile, Fugaku Uchiha brought Uchiha Itachi as well, and the two boys parted with their respective parents at the school gates.
"Itachi, do you think we'll end up in the same class?" Ming Jing asked with a grin.
Itachi could not be bothered to respond to Ming Jing and silently walked ahead. Ming Jing was not offended and continued chattering in Itachi's ear, talking about what he had eaten yesterday and what he planned to eat tomorrow. Ming Jing fully demonstrated the traits of a citizen of the Great Foodie Empire, to the point that even Itachi, the listener, began to feel hungry.
When the two arrived at the classroom door, a cute little girl ran over and said happily, "Itachi, are you in this class too? That's wonderful!" This was Izumi Uchiha, Itachi's future sister-in-law—a tragic figure who got killed off without ever knowing what had happened...
"I see! So that's how it is. I understand now!" Ming Jing looked from one to the other, wearing an expression of sudden realization.
Understand my ass!
Itachi roared inwardly. He nodded to Izumi Uchiha and walked into the classroom.
"Hahaha..." Ming Jing laughed heartily. "Itachi must be embarrassed!" The moment he finished speaking, a book flew at him and struck him squarely in the forehead.
"Ow! Itachi, what was that for?" Ming Jing shouted angrily, rubbing his forehead as he glared at Itachi.
"Hmph!" Itachi coldly turned his face away. Even he had not expected that he would fail to restrain himself and throw a book at Ming Jing...
"See? I told you he was embarrassed. Such a tsundere!" Ming Jing clearly had not learned his lesson and continued whispering into Izumi Uchiha's ear. The little girl covered her mouth and giggled. Itachi heard Ming Jing too, and veins bulged across his forehead as he forcibly resisted the urge to throw another book at him.
"Alright, students, return to your seats! Class is about to begin." At that moment, a nameless chunin entered the classroom, clapped his hands, and called out. Ming Jing hurriedly ran over to sit beside Itachi. Itachi turned his face away; he could not be bothered to look at this guy.
After school, Ming Jing returned to the clan. Koji Kurama said with a smile, "Ming Jing, the clansmen we sent out to search for promising candidates have returned. They brought back thirty people in total, two of whom possess Kekkei Genkai."
"Oh? Looks like we got lucky. What Kekkei Genkai do they have?" Ming Jing asked curiously.
"One is a girl we encountered in the Land of Waves, named Tsukishiro Yuexi. She excels at Ice Release. The other is a girl discovered in the Land of Rice, named Hong Lian. She excels at Crystal Release." As Koji Kurama spoke, he clapped his hands, and two girls entered under the guidance of clan members.
"Greetings, Clan Head. Greetings, Young Master!" Hong Lian and Yuexi knelt on one knee and called out in clear voices. Tsukishiro Yuexi had fled from the Land of Water. By the time the Kurama Clan found her, she had been starving and barely clinging to life. Hong Lian, meanwhile, had been bought back.
Because their experiences differed, the two held different attitudes toward the Kurama Clan. Tsukishiro Yuexi's expression was filled with gratitude, respect, and absolute obedience. Hong Lian, however, looked at Ming Jing somewhat provocatively. Perhaps she believed that defeating him would make the Kurama Clan value her more highly.
Ming Jing sized up Tsukishiro Yuexi. It had to be said that the Yuki Clan and the Uchiha Clan had many things in common—for instance, looks, looks, and looks. Looking at this exquisite little girl, he could not help recalling the kind-hearted boy who had followed Zabuza—Yuki Haku!
"Yuexi, stay by my side from now on," Ming Jing said with a smile. He decided to cultivate Tsukishiro Yuexi into his right-hand assistant.
"Yes, Young Master!" Tsukishiro Yuexi had no objections. She rose to her feet and moved behind Ming Jing, like a shadow.
"As for you..." Having settled Yuexi's matter, Ming Jing began assessing Hong Lian. He had seen this character in the anime! In a sense, Crystal Release overlapped with Ice Release, and Hong Lian's personality was not particularly easy to get along with either. How to arrange her was indeed a headache. Keeping her by his side would also be troublesome.
"You should stay by my side too!" Ming Jing thought it over. Abandoning her like this seemed rather wasteful, so he might as well keep her close and train her properly.
To his surprise, the moment Ming Jing finished speaking, Hong Lian stood up and looked at him with fighting spirit blazing in her eyes. "Please, Young Master, show me the strength needed to command me!"
"How dare you! You actually disrespect the Young Master!" Two members of the Kurama Clan appeared behind Hong Lian. One on each side, they seized her arms and forced her back down. The stubborn girl knelt on one knee again, but her gaze did not waver.
"Hahaha..." Watching Hong Lian's performance, Koji Kurama could not help laughing. "This child has quite the personality. I like her! Ming Jing, leave her to me!"
"Then I'll leave her to the Clan Head." Ming Jing nodded without hesitation. He was already quite satisfied to have Yuexi at his side.
Koji Kurama waved to the two guards, signaling them to release Hong Lian. At the same time, he said, "However, when you graduate from the Ninja Academy, you'll need to form three-man squads. Ming Jing, why not choose one more from among the remaining children?"
"That works." Ming Jing nodded, rose to his feet, and said, "Then I'll head down first."
"Go on!" Koji Kurama watched Ming Jing's departing back, then looked at Hong Lian. "Still dissatisfied? If you are, then work hard! I hope that one day, you can become someone capable of keeping him in check."
"I won't disappoint you!" Hong Lian dropped to one knee and made the promise with utmost solemnity.
Ming Jing brought Yuexi toward the camp. The children had all been placed in the Kurama Clan's secret camp. Over the coming period, they would receive ninja training before being assigned to different positions based on their individual circumstances. Training alongside them were ten children from the Kurama Clan, whose purpose was to help those orphans integrate into the clan more quickly.
Upon arriving at the camp, Ming Jing found dozens of children training diligently, with almost no one slacking off. After all, these children had been found in slums or war-torn regions. Given an opportunity to grow stronger, none of them would let it pass.
"Yuexi, do you recognize all the children here?" Ming Jing suddenly asked.
"Yes, Young Master. There are thirty-seven children here in total: seventeen girls and twenty boys. After half a month of recuperation, the clan gave us physical examinations the day before yesterday. Every one of us is in excellent health," Tsukishiro Yuexi replied in a gentle voice.
"I need an honest, loyal boy with Earth Release Chakra. Do you know whether anyone here fits the bill?" Ming Jing continued.
Tsukishiro Yuexi said apologetically, "Forgive me, Young Master. Yuexi can only identify the honest and loyal boys. I'm afraid Yuexi cannot determine their Chakra affinities."
Ming Jing looked back at Tsukishiro Yuexi and found the little girl wearing a guilty expression. Clearly, she was extremely upset that she could not complete the first task Ming Jing had given her.
Ming Jing could not help patting her little head. "Sorry, Yuexi. I made things difficult for you."
"No, Young Master, Yuexi..." Tsukishiro Yuexi had the air of someone who would die for her lord's humiliation. Upon hearing Ming Jing apologize, she almost instinctively tried to kneel.
But how could Ming Jing possibly let a little girl truly kneel before him? He grabbed Yuexi and said, "Don't waste time. Go bring over that honest and loyal person you mentioned!"
Before you continue