Hong Lian, Qing Yan, and Yuexi!

September 1st, the Konoha Ninja School opened. Koji Kurama brought Ming Jing to the school for registration. On the other side, Fugaku Uchiha also brought Uchiha Itachi, and the two parted ways with their respective parents at the school gate.

"Itachi, do you think we'll be in the same class?" Ming Jing asked with a grin.

Itachi ignored Ming Jing and walked forward silently. Ming Jing wasn't angry and continued to chatter in Itachi's ear about what he ate yesterday and what he planned to eat tomorrow. Ming Jing fully embodied the persona of a "great foodie empire," even making his listener, Itachi, feel hungry.

As the two reached the classroom door, a cute little loli ran over and said happily, "Itachi, are you in this class too? That's great!" This was the future sister-in-law of Itachi, Izumi Uchiha, a tragic character who, without understanding anything, met her end...

"So that's how it is! I get it now!" Ming Jing looked from one to the other and then put on a look of sudden realization.

Get what, you idiot!

Itachi roared internally. He nodded at Izumi Uchiha and walked into the classroom.

"Ahahaha..." Ming Jing chuckled heartily and said, "Itachi must be shy!" As soon as he finished speaking, a book flew towards him and hit him squarely on the forehead.

"Ouch! Itai, what are you doing?" Ming Jing shouted, rubbing his forehead and glaring at Itachi with mock anger.

"Hmph!" Itachi coldly turned his face away. He hadn't expected himself to actually throw a book at Ming Jing...

"See, I told you he was shy! Such a tsundere!" Ming Jing clearly hadn't learned his lesson and continued to whisper in Izumi Uchiha's ear. The little loli covered her mouth and giggled. Itachi also heard Ming Jing's words. Hashtags appeared above his forehead as he forcefully suppressed the urge to throw another book at Ming Jing.

"Alright everyone, please return to your seats! We're about to start class." At this moment, an extra Chunin walked into the classroom and clapped his hands, shouting. Ming Jing quickly ran to Itachi's side and sat down. Itachi turned his face away, too lazy to look at the guy.

After school, Ming Jing returned to his clan. Koji Kurama said with a smile, "Ming Jing, our clan members who were sent out to find promising talents have returned. They brought back thirty people in total, two of whom are Kekkei Genkai users."

"Oh? Seems like good luck! What Kekkei Genkai are they?" Ming Jing asked curiously.

"One is a girl we met in the Land of Waves, named Tsukishiro Yuexi, who excels at Ice Release jutsu. The other is a girl we found in the Land of Rice, named Hong Lian, who excels at Crystal Release jutsu," Koji Kurama said, clapping his hands. Two girls were led in by clan members.

"Greetings, Clan Head, greetings, Young Master!" Hong Lian and Yuexi knelt on the ground, their voices clear and crisp. Tsukishiro Yuexi had escaped from the Land of Water. When the Kurama Clan found her, she was so starved she was barely hanging on to life. Hong Lian, on the other hand, was bought.

Due to their different experiences, the two girls had different attitudes towards the Kurama Clan. Tsukishiro Yuexi was filled with gratitude, respect, and absolute obedience. Hong Lian, however, looked at Ming Jing with a hint of provocation. Perhaps in her heart, she felt that defeating Ming Jing would make the Kurama Clan value her more.

Ming Jing sized up Tsukishiro Yuexi. He had to admit that people from the Mizuki Clan had many similarities with the Uchiha Clan, such as their looks, looks, and looks. Looking at the exquisite little girl, he couldn't help but think of the kind boy who followed Zabuza—Haku Mizuki!

"Yuexi, you'll stay by my side from now on!" Ming Jing smiled. He decided to train Tsukishiro Yuexi to be his deputy.

"Yes, Young Master!" Tsukishiro Yuexi had no objections. She stood up and walked behind Ming Jing, like a shadow.

"As for you..." After resolving Yuexi's situation, Ming Jing began to assess Hong Lian. He had seen this character in the anime! Crystal Release overlapped with Ice Release in a sense, and Hong Lian's personality wasn't exactly easy to get along with. How to arrange her was indeed a bit of a headache. Keeping her by his side would be troublesome.

"You'll stay by my side too!" Ming Jing thought. It seemed like a waste to just abandon her. It would be better to keep her close and train her well!

As soon as Ming Jing finished speaking, Hong Lian stood up and looked at Ming Jing with fighting spirit, saying, "Please, Young Master, show me the strength to control me!"

"How dare you be disrespectful to the Young Master!" Two Kurama Clan members appeared behind Hong Lian, grabbing her arms from either side and pressing her down. The stubborn girl knelt on the ground again, but her gaze did not waver.

"Hahaha..." Koji Kurama laughed heartily at Hong Lian's reaction. "This child has spirit, I like it! Ming Jing, leave her to me!"

"Then I'll leave her to the Clan Head." Ming Jing agreed without hesitation. He was already very satisfied with Yuexi by his side.

Koji Kurama waved his hand at the two guards, signaling them to release Hong Lian. At the same time, he said, "However, when you graduate from the Ninja School, you'll need teams of three. Ming Jing, why don't you pick another one from the remaining children?"

"Alright," Ming Jing nodded and stood up. "Then I'll be going."

"Go ahead!" Koji Kurama watched Ming Jing's retreating back and then looked at Hong Lian, saying, "Are you unconvinced? If you're unconvinced, then work hard! I hope one day you can become someone who can counterbalance him."

"I will not disappoint you!" Hong Lian knelt on one knee and made a very solemn promise.

Ming Jing led Yuexi towards the camp. The children were all housed in a secret Kurama Clan camp. In the coming time, they would undergo ninja training and then be assigned to different positions based on their individual circumstances. Training alongside these children were ten Kurama Clan children, whose purpose was to help the orphans integrate into the Kurama 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 were found in slums or war-torn areas, and they wouldn't give up any opportunity to become stronger.

"Yuexi, do you recognize any of 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 rest, the clan gave us a physical examination the day before yesterday, and everyone is very healthy," Tsukishiro Yuexi said in a soft voice.

"I need a boy who is honest, loyal, and has an Earth Release chakra affinity. Do you know if there's anyone suitable among these children?" Ming Jing continued.

Tsukishiro Yuexi said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Young Master. Yuexi can only identify honest and loyal boys for you. I'm afraid I can't determine their chakra attributes."

Ming Jing looked back at Tsukishiro Yuexi and saw that the little girl looked guilty, clearly upset that she couldn't complete Ming Jing's first task.

Ming Jing couldn't help but pat her little head and say, "I'm sorry, Yuexi, for putting you in a difficult position."

"No, Young Master, Yuexi..." Tsukishiro Yuexi had the demeanor of "if the lord is insulted, the servant must die." Hearing Ming Jing's apology, she almost instinctively wanted to kneel.

But how could Ming Jing really let a little girl kneel to him? He grabbed Yuexi and said, "Don't waste time. Go and bring over the honest and loyal person you mentioned!"