Chapter 22

After a few minutes, Fugaku enters the cell.

"It's time for you to leave," says Fugaku, holding a seal removal symbol.

Sindbad jokes, "My hero," then asks, "How did you get it, Fugaku-san?"

Fugaku replies seriously, "I stole it from the Hokage's storehouse."

Sindbad pleads, "Please, I can't bear to stay in this shell any longer."

Fugaku removes the seals one by one from Sindbad. After removing the last seal, Sindbad's emaciated body is revealed due to malnutrition and lack of training.

Sindbad touches his abdominal muscles, a tear falling from his eye. "Don't worry, my children, I will reclaim you again."

Fugaku nods, "Let's go stop the Kyuubi."

Sindbad insists, "I must retrieve my sword first."

Inside the Hokage's building storage, Sindbad searches for his sword.

Sindbad searches, "Where are you, [sword]?" Before he finishes, he finds the Damascus sword. "Hehehe, there you are."

He smiles and says, "Why not witness your final moments, Yondaime-sama?"

Sindbad walks outside to find a giant toad descending on the Kyuubi, which then disappears.

Alert, Sindbad focuses all his senses using the enhanced Lightning Body Technique. "Where are you now?" Suddenly, he opens his eyes wide. "Found you. That's a long distance indeed."

Sindbad disappears, leaving a swirling dust behind as he races towards the Kyuubi.

Sindbad mourns, "I've become slower, my muscles stiffened."

After a short while, Sindbad arrives to find something different from the actual story: Minato pierced by the Kyuubi's claw, but this time Kushina is not with him.

Sindbad raises an eyebrow, thinking to himself, "This is significantly different from the story."

Sindbad walks up to Minato and looks into his eyes. "You can definitely hear me."

He pauses as Minato smiles, then continues, "Good. If you can hear, I'll let your wife live because you kept your promise to me by keeping Anko-chan. But what will happen to your family from today is none of my concern."

Then he looks at Naruto, noticing the seal on him. "It seems the world insists that you and the Kyuubi won't stay apart." He walks over to Kushina and looks at her.

"You won't last much longer like this, probably two years at best," he says, glancing again at Naruto. "Though your father is my enemy, my heart doesn't push me to make your childhood sad." Sindbad buys a healing charm.

Name: Spirit Healing Charm

Grade: Rare

Effectiveness: Restores damaged spirits to their natural state.

Price: 30,000 system coins.

Sindbad says, "I can see someone asking why I didn't buy this for Anko-chan. The answer is clear. What I want for her is the mythical grade, which is insanely expensive (1,000,000 system coins)."

Sindbad attaches the charm to Kushina and says, "This way, you'll return like new." Then he walks over to Naruto and picks him up. "You're extremely cute. I want to have a child with Anko-chan soon."

Footsteps are heard from behind.

Sindbad says, "You're very late, old man."

Hiruzen cautiously steps back. "How did you escape the seal?"

Sindbad playfully replies, "That's a secret~," then continues, "Don't worry, I won't cause any trouble. You have enough troubles of your own right now."

He hands Naruto over to Hiruzen and says, "Kushina-san is alive and well."

Hiruzen orders an Anbu, "Take her to the hospital," then looks at Sindbad. "Did you hear Minato's final words?"

Sindbad answers, "No, but they were probably about taking care of the child. His name's Naruto, by the way."

Then Sindbad adds, "I'll quietly leave Konoha after marrying Anko." He walks away and disappears into the darkness, leaving Hiruzen to stare after him.