Roughly ten minutes passed before everyone saw a smiling, curly-haired man emerge from the pitch-black rainforest, followed by Senju Hi Shin, her face full of indignation.
And Kinkaku, on whom Ōnoki had pinned such high hopes, now wore a daisy-like smile on his fleshy face. Not only was that earlier brutality gone, he had even gained the kindly, benevolent look someone his age ought to have.
"What is going on? Has Kinkaku fallen under a genjutsu?"
Ōnoki watched with a dark expression as Kinkaku led Uchiha Gin over to Ginkaku's side, a murky, unreadable light flickering in his eyes.
"Teacher, why do I feel like the Third Raikage and that curly-haired guy are old acquaintances?"
Those involved were blind, while bystanders saw clearly. After carefully observing the familiar micro-expressions between Uchiha Gin and Kinkaku, Xiao Zi cautiously poked Ōnoki beside her.
"Old acquaintances?"
The moment those words were spoken, Ōnoki's already tightly knitted brows furrowed even deeper. As for the only two Tailed Beasts on their side who knew the truth, they silently exchanged a glance in the dark, then chose to remain quiet.
Who was Uchiha Gin?
Though it had never been stated outright, all the Tailed Beasts knew very well that this human definitely had the Old Man behind him. He was a proper earthly proxy of the Sage of Six Paths. If they could avoid provoking him, they would pretend to be the Three-Tails as much as possible; if they could play mute, they absolutely would not breathe loudly.
On the other side, Ginkaku had been tortured beyond recognition by the strange Chakra in his chest. Seeing someone approach, he forced his weakened body to lift his head. Once he clearly saw who it was, a light called hope instantly burst from his ashen eyes.
"Gin—"
"All