When morning came, the warm, clear light of the sun poured through the window, illuminating the entire room. Kushina woke with a start.
She looked at the window, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks.
She reached out, her hands gently exploring Shin's body, her fingers brushing against the undeniable evidence of his morning enthusiasm, which was all the more conspicuous in the sunlight.
Glancing outside again, she realized they had even forgotten to draw the curtains last night. A wave of shyness washed over her.
Just as Kushina pulled back the covers, Shin stirred and woke up. He had decided to take the next two days to prepare before leaving for the Reincarnation World.
In truth, there wasn't much to prepare. It was more about arranging things for his absence.
If he had transmigrated alone, things would be simple—he wouldn't have to worry about anyone else. But bringing Kushina with him had changed everything. It was a completely different ball game now.
Their relationship was a complicated mix of husband and wife, brother and sister. It wasn't a clean dynamic; their love and familial bonds weren't entirely pure, but rather a tangled mess of complex feelings.
Of course, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. But from their own perspective, and certainly from an outsider's, it was a little strange. After all, their relationship seemed to defy the fundamental ethics of human society.
Shin wrapped his arms around Kushina from behind, resting his head against her soft, pinkish hair. Kushina turned and kissed his cheek before closing her eyes again.
"Let's go for a walk today," Shin said softly.
Kushina's eyes snapped open. A curious look on her face, she shifted slightly and asked, "Don't we go for walks all the time? Why today? Isn't there something more important to do?"
Shin knew what she was hinting at. Now that she'd gotten a taste for their intimacy, she wanted more. For so long, he had been too busy to spend much time with her. These last few days had been a rare exception.
But today was different.
He had to leave soon.
He released his embrace and gently twirled a lock of her hair, his voice tinged with sadness. "I have to go away for a while. Let's go buy a few things, take a walk together."
The joy on Kushina's face instantly vanished, replaced by a cold, hurt expression. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Why? We just got a moment to rest. Why do you have to leave again? Where are you going? Take me with you!"
Shin knew he couldn't take her with him. For one, his watch probably couldn't transport two people. For another, the Reincarnation World was no place for Kushina. It was incredibly dangerous.
The risks involved were his to bear alone. Bringing Kushina along would weigh on his conscience. Besides, this was his journey—his desire to return to Earth.
He knew that if he told her everything, she would probably agree to go with him, but Shin didn't want that.
He shook his head. "I want to take you, but it's too dangerous. And they only want me to go alone. Please, stay here. Will you do that for me?"
Tears welled in Kushina's eyes. The last thing she wanted was to be separated from Shin, but it seemed there was no other way. She was a strong woman, always trying to be optimistic, but this was hitting her hard.
Shin hadn't wanted to leave Kushina here either. This world was exceptionally dangerous; a single mistake could cost you your life. Even if an individual was safe, what would happen if the entire planet was destroyed? Personal survival wouldn't mean much then.
But he had no choice.
His system was a stubborn thing; it didn't always answer when he asked. Even if he wanted to use its power to send Kushina back to the world of Naruto, he couldn't.
—
The two of them wandered through the streets, lost in their own thoughts. The impending separation hung heavy in the air, casting a pall over everything. The world suddenly felt meaningless.
They walked aimlessly, the vibrant city streets a blur around them.
That evening, they returned to their apartment. Trunks seemed to sense that something was wrong. He found a moment alone with Shin.
"Shin, did something happen between you two? You both seem so down."
Shin shook his head. "It's not that. I might have to leave soon, and I can't take Kushina with me. She's upset, and I don't know what to do."
Trunks looked at him, concerned. "Where are you going? And what are your plans for the future?"
Shin thought for a moment before confiding in Trunks. "I'm planning to leave Kushina here on Earth. It might be a very long time before I can come back."
"It could be a long time... I might not even be able to return at all. So, I'm going to have to ask you to look after her."
Trunks didn't know the full story, but hearing Shin's words, he decided to honor his request. He could see that Shin didn't want to leave, but for some reason, he had to.
Shin decided not to tell Kushina he was leaving tonight. He would slip away in the morning without a word.
It was another heavy, silent night. Two people who cared for each other, forced to part.
They lay in bed, wrapped in silence, unsure of what to do. Kushina, who had enjoyed their intimacy so much, now had no desire for it. Shin was leaving.
She just wanted him to rest. Shin hadn't told her the details, so she had no idea where he was going. She imagined he was heading into space on some grand adventure, or perhaps to fight an enemy to save the Earth.
The concept of the Reincarnation World was something that, even if he explained it, they would never understand. It was too difficult to grasp. If he hadn't come from Earth and read those kinds of stories, he wouldn't have understood it either.
It was something that went beyond common sense. He could talk for a whole day, and they still wouldn't get it. He barely understood the logic behind it himself.
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