In an instant, Sakamoto Kenji vanished without a trace, as if he had never existed.
Shin knew he had simply returned to the Lord God Space. It was a routine part of life for every Reincarnator.
Still, a pang of regret hit him. He had wanted to talk with Kenji a bit longer, to learn more about the world he came from. Now, that seemed unlikely.
All he had left was the watch.
Shin's reflexes were sharp. The moment Kenji threw it, he had caught it. This was an artifact from that other world, something precious.
He brought the watch up for a closer look and found it was just as he'd imagined. It wasn't a mechanical watch—too delicate for the kind of combat they faced in infinite worlds.
No, this was an exquisite touchscreen watch, its screen barely an inch across. He wondered how a big guy like Kenji managed to operate something so small.
Shin pressed his finger to the screen, and it projected a larger display into the air. A dark purple light flickered to life, and a large, red triangular exclamation mark appeared.
A line of text glowed beneath it: "System Link Error. Initiate Forced Return?"
Shin froze. He had assumed it was just an ordinary watch, a keepsake. He never imagined it was a genuine, Lord-God-brand item.
'Can I use this to travel to the Lord God Space?'
The thought struck him immediately. This was huge. And Kenji's last-ditch decision… was this his way of accepting Shin, of giving him a way out because he didn't know how else to bring him along?
Shin thought about it and felt it was highly likely. Kenji was no fool. Leaving this behind had to have a purpose.
Shin's finger hovered over the 'Yes' button, but he hesitated, then pulled back. He still had things he wanted to do. He wanted to say a proper goodbye to Kushina, to spend a few more days in this Dragon Ball world. Once he entered the Lord God Space, it felt like his fate would no longer be his own.
'Would my system still work then? Could I ever get back to Earth?'
No matter how beautiful this world was, no matter how powerful he became, the pull of his home world was undeniable.
Shin switched off the watch. He admired the intricate patterns, the delicate craftsmanship, and the faint aura of the Lord God Space that clung to it. He saw a glimmer of hope, but also a new layer of uncertainty.
Tucking the watch away, he turned and left. He had no idea how long he'd been flying with Kenji. The place was so remote that even he didn't recognize it.
Shin had arrived in this world only a short time before the Reincarnator team, and almost immediately he'd been forced to use the time machine, sending himself into the past. As a result, he had no idea how to get around. This world wasn't exactly as he remembered, and he didn't have a map.
He could fly, but that felt a bit too conspicuous, so he decided against it.
Watching the vibrant, complex tapestry of life in the Dragon Ball world, he felt a pang of conflict about leaving. All these days of struggle, protecting this world, fighting for its people… he had earned their respect. He thought of Goku's sacrifice, of Android 16's death.
He felt a bit hesitant. He could have easily escaped, after all.
Time was slipping by too fast, and these feelings were becoming hard to bear. He wasn't a weak person, but when it came to matters of the heart, making a decision was always difficult. It was like raising a child for days, only to suddenly have to send it away.
The feeling was deeply unsettling.
He walked slowly, using Instant Transmission to clear obstacles, and soon, despite having no map and not flying, he quickly and accurately reached his destination.
He stretched his body, letting out a long, weary sigh. Today had been utterly exhausting. He didn't know what to do, how to choose.
That evening, Shin returned home.
Kushina was lying in bed alone, hugging a pillow.
Shin still preferred it when Kushina called him 'brother.' He felt that the bond of family was somehow more enduring than romance. He found himself reflecting on his own mistakes, on the true nature of his feelings for her.
Was it love? Not exactly. Love required devotion, and his body… it hadn't been exclusively hers.
He landed heavily on the bed, pulling back the covers and sliding in beside her.
Shin reached out, drawing Kushina into his arms, and whispered softly in her ear, "I'm sorry."
Kushina didn't know what he meant, but after a passionate embrace, they both felt a wave of exhaustion.
Shin didn't know if he could bring Kushina out of this world. His system made decisions he couldn't always change. He wanted to take her to Earth, back to his original world, to live with him.
But the chances felt slim. And would Kushina even agree? She would probably choose the world of Naruto—that was where her roots were.
In the end, Shin drifted into a heavy sleep. After all, they had made love three or four times that night, a long, drawn-out affair that was a huge, draining burden on them both.
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