Chapter 93: I Was Here First

In the end, Thin-Ice Bro saved himself.

"So, you're really Gin?" The girl, still skeptical, furrowed her delicate brows, eyeing him after he revealed his signature curly hair.

"Guaranteed authentic!" Gin, slumped on the ground, panted, wary of the girl in the sarcophagus, fearing another Susanoo beatdown if he misspoke.

Humiliated, he vowed inwardly, Once my Susanoo's rocking a Great Buddha, you're toast!

"Why do you look so old?" She frowned, struggling to reconcile the fresh-faced childhood friend with this weathered man.

Her youthful features, untouched by time, mirrored her sealed state. Gin chose his words carefully. "It's been over a decade since you were sealed."

"That long?" Trapped in the timeless sarcophagus, she'd guessed days or months, never years.

"How old are you now?" she asked, peeking out.

"Just hit thirty!" Gin hummed proudly.

"Tch!" Panic struck her. After so long, a catch like Gin must've had girls throwing themselves at him. His kids might even be casting Fireball Jutsu by now.

It was supposed to be me first… A sense of urgency hit. Glancing at her soot-blackened body, she called out, "Get me water and clothes."

Determined to make a good impression, she needed to clean up.

Understanding her plight, Gin, cautious not to upset her, formed hand seals. He'd picked up plenty of Water Release from NPCs. [Water Release: Wild Water Wave]

Controlling chakra, a water jet shot from his mouth into the sarcophagus.

Bathing in the stream, the girl glanced at Gin, cheeks puffed from effort, and smirked slightly, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. She scrubbed off the char, revealing pale, delicate skin.

"Done. Clothes," she said, halting Gin's jutsu. Wet hair clung to her shoulders, her vulnerable look stirring him.

Her appearance tugged at Gin's heart, but recalling her true age, he quashed any stray thoughts, rummaging for clothes.

After digging, he frowned. Mission-focused, he'd packed ingredients, not spares. Then, he spotted a dark green hooded cloak in his system bag—perfect to cover her fully.

"Catch! Make do for now." Without hesitation, he tossed it to her.

Having dried her hair with Fire Release chakra, she caught the cloak, nodding at its soft texture, and slipped it on.

Instantly, her mind cleared, chakra slowly recovering. [Quicksilver]: Triggers on control effects, granting temporary control immunity and boosting chakra regeneration (once daily).

Feeling the cloak's quality, she smiled smugly. Gin still spoils me. She'd show those "vixens" who's boss later.

??? Gin, waiting, eyed the barefoot girl hopping out, twirling in her cloak, his gaze complex.

What came next would be tricky, but manageable. Time to settle things.

"Koharu, let's head up. Uncle's waiting," Gin said.

"Uncle? The clan leader's here?" She'd hoped for alone time with Gin, pouting at Tajima's third-wheel presence.

"My legs are weak," she whined, leaning "frail" against the sarcophagus.

"No strength. Need a piggyback."

You weren't holding back when you thrashed me. Sighing, Gin hoisted her soft frame, suppressing distractions, and leapt from the pit.

Sensing Tajima nearby, he rushed to regroup, wary of lurking threats.

"Gin, you did it!" Tajima, still in Gin's borrowed magic-resistance cloak, opened his eyes, spotting Gin with a petite figure on his back. Nameless is freed.

"Clan Leader, hello!" Koharu greeted warmly. After receiving Gin's eyes, Tajima treated her like a daughter, their bond tight.

"We need to leave for clan grounds," Gin urged. With Koharu freed, lingering was risky, especially with hidden eyes on Tajima.

Tajima nodded, ready to depart.

"Jie jie jie, where're you going?" A raspy voice cut through, freezing them.

Recognizing it, Gin groaned inwardly, while Tajima, alert, eyed the emerging figure. "Who are you?"

"Your killer, Uchiha Tajima. Your end is here!" Wangliang rose from the shadows, his featureless face radiating long-suppressed resentment.

Black sludge writhed, and a hunched figure stepped out. "Hmph, Tajima, remember me?"

The figure lifted his head, a single gray eye glaring at Tajima.

"Yao… Uchiha Yao?" Tajima said, incredulous. "You're locked in the dungeon. How are you here?"

"You're surrounded, Tajima," Yao said coldly, his twenty-year vendetta for his son nearing fruition. "Now, let's tally your sins!"

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