To be honest, under the scorching midday sun, this was hardly the best time to be outside. The girls' exposed pale skin stung under the relentless heat.
Especially Itama, who was carrying the huge Amber Purification Bottle—sweat beaded on her chin and dripped down in steady streams.
"Gin-sensei, aren't you hot?"
Walking beside Uchiha Gin, Uchiha Chiri tugged at her high collar to let out some fragrant body heat, trying to cool herself down. Her dark eyes watched her teacher curiously as she asked,
"A Gin, how come you're not even sweating?"
Uchiha Hikari, just as flushed from the heat, wrinkled her small face in discomfort. Even the gaps between her toes felt sticky with sweat.
"Ah… sorry, forgot about that."
Gin looked slightly embarrassed.
Everyone else was drenched, but he was perfectly composed—without a single drop of sweat.
Having enjoyed a personal air conditioner all the way, Gin waved them in and adjusted the Eternal Winter necklace around his neck to its maximum range.
"Closer will just make it hotter, won't it?"
The girls didn't understand, but their feet moved faster than their words—none of them wanted to lose the best spot.
"Ah? Why is it so cool here?"
Resting against the large bottle, Itama secured the spot at Gin's right. Her black-and-white hair bobbed with curiosity.
"Gin-sensei, is this a new ninjutsu?"
Sensing the chilly air, Chiri touched her chin in thought.
Sure, he could use Ice Release—but why waste chakra when a gadget could do the job? Using ninjutsu for this would make him look… well, dumb.
"Another ninja tool? A Gin, you always pull out the weirdest stuff."
Hikari smiled faintly from behind, enjoying the cool breeze without competing for position.
"That's right. Straight from the Land of Craftsmen—once you try it, you'll never go back."
Gin promptly credited Seimei, calling him a once-in-a-millennium genius.
"Wow~ Then make me one too!"
Now that she knew the answer, Itama's eyes lit up. She grabbed Gin's sleeve with her sweaty hands—how dare this curly-haired monkey keep such a thing to himself!
"Hey hey hey~ Ever heard of men and women keeping proper distance? Who raised you ? Have some modesty, will you?"
As her grip nearly yanked down his loose shirt, Gin rapped her lightly on the head before fixing his clothes, looking at her as if she'd greatly disappointed him.
"I don't care! Give it to me!"
Rolling her eyes, Itama made to search him on the spot.
"Stop, stop! Your inventory's full!"
He pressed a finger to her forehead, exasperated.
Completely baffled, she blinked up at him.
"Can't give it now. I'll swap your loadout when we get back."
"…I've read enough to know you'd better not be lying!"
"I only tell the truth—if I lie, I'll give you a bonus~"
With Eternal Winter keeping them cool, they moved quickly and soon reached the guarded forest entrance, where two familiar figures awaited.
"You damn curly-haired brat, didn't you say you'd be here in the morning?"
Tobirama, waiting with his sister in tow, immediately scolded him upon seeing her burden.
Gin's casual tone only made the white-haired man grit his teeth.
Before tempers could flare further, Hashirama stepped in, smiling apologetically.
"Gin-nii, sorry. The real me's been too busy to come."
"No problem, Brother Hashirama's dedication is Konoha's good fortune."
Gin waved off the apology, already aware they were both clones.
Tobirama just snorted and stepped back.
Following the brothers deeper into the forest, Hashirama briefed them.
"The eight tailed beasts, except the Nine-Tails, are sealed in my Four Pillars Prison. I'll release them one by one so you can seize control."
"And the Nine-Tails?"
"I made a deal—if it won, it'd be free. It was the last victor, so I let it go."
"Tsk. Didn't even pluck a few tails?"
Hashirama gave a weary smile. Tobirama added dryly, "If we had a sealing method ready, we wouldn't have let it go."
"Shame… but at least that makes things easier for us."
Gin stayed out of the brothers' talk of the Uzumaki, knowing his own ties there.
"Gin-nii, there they are~"
The forest opened up to reveal seven massive cages. Inside, the tailed beasts lay listless, eyes shut.
"Think you can handle it? We can skip it if it's too much."
Chiri's crimson eyes gleamed with curiosity. Hikari's own eyes shone red, cold energy rising around her.
"Big turtle! It's the big turtle!"
Itama nearly ran to see Isobu up close.
Gin snagged her by the bottle.
The Senju brothers, meanwhile, were murmuring over Gyūki's dry state.
"Just give it more water," Gin suggested casually.
The brothers nodded approvingly.
Meanwhile, the tailed beasts' mental "chat room" came alive with complaints, insults toward the "traitor" Nine-Tails, and plans for revenge. Somewhere far away, Kurama basked in his freedom, determined to lie low.
Back at the cages, Gin's voice cut through.
"Chiri, try controlling this big kitty."
But the Nibi was still half-asleep. "Hashirama, loosen the seal a bit—it won't work if its eyes are shut."
"All right, but be careful."
Hashirama released the seal. In the beasts' "chat," Matatabi immediately noticed.
The blue flames flared, its chakra surging, the prison cracking under the pressure. Fire built in its jaws—only for a calm voice to sound below.
"Hey, odd-eyed kitty."
Looking down, Matatabi saw a purple-haired woman casually touching its fiery fur, no fear in her face—only curiosity.
Feeling insulted, its flames flared hotter, mismatched eyes full of killing intent.
"Human… you have chosen the path to death!"
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