Ch353. The rightful reward

Rei's eyes twitched at how easily Kaguya dealt with Zetsu. It was ridiculous in his very justified opinion. The guy who was indirectly responsible for more nefarious plots than Danzo, Hiruzen, and Madara combined during his existence turned into a puppy wagging his tail at the mere sight of Kaguya.

Rei had a hard time accepting what he just witnessed.

Seeing Kaguya's smug and satisfied expression, he couldn't help but groan, 'Great. Now she will think she is good at making plots and try to advise me on a constant basis. How could one innocent joke bring such a disaster?'

It was really easy to manipulate a guy who would do anything you asked of him with a megawatt smile on his face, even if that thing was for him to kill himself. Manipulating someone who didn't want to be manipulated and having to make sure they didn't notice said manipulation was a different matter altogether.

And Kaguya... she sucked at that hard. It was not her keen, politically inclined mind that enabled her to weather through her time as a princess and ruler of a nation. For she had none of that. It was her overwhelming and unsurpassable power that made any scheme against her obsolete, enabling her to simply avoid all the unpleasant political maneuvering.

Not many dared to scheme against somebody who could squash them like bugs. Especially since the people had no chakra back then.

"What's wrong?" Tsunade asked after noticing Rei's sour face, causing him to give her a bitter, hopefully reassuring smile.

"Something just went incredibly wrong, yet right. Don't worry about it." He rubbed his thumb on the upper side of her hand in a calming manner.

"Kaguya again making problems for you without even realizing it?" She knowingly asked, a small smirk worming its way onto her face.

"I am not even going to try denying it." Rei snorted, causing Tsunade to giggle.

"And she is not even out of her seal yet." Tsunade offhandedly quipped, making Rei sigh.

"Oh, woe is me." He dramatically shook his head.

"Uuh... who was that auntie?" Fuu curiously asked with a small head tilt. Unlike Kankuro who was on a mission and prying into the business of the client was considered rude, Fuu had no such reservation. She didn't ask straight away because she was still feeling a bit shy but her curiosity eventually won over her.

It was no wonder, really. With how quiet and subdued Chomei became the second the woman appeared. He usually watched the world through Fuu's eyes but when he spotted Kaguya, Fuu only heard a frightened mental squeak and her head felt suddenly empty... er, emptier than usual as Chomei fully retreated into his seal.

Fuu really wondered what that was about.

"She is just a weird old lady that likes uncle Rei." Tsunade smiled at Fuu, gently deflecting the question and teasingly nudging Rei who sat next to her and gave her an eye roll in reply.

That didn't tell Fuu anything but she felt asking more would be rude so she decided to keep her curiosity to herself. Even Kankuro who secretly listened to the conversation was a bit disappointed there would be no big reveal.

It was then that Kaguya reappeared from the treeline, still as unbothered and careless as she first arrived but now with a small, almost unnoticeable smug undertone in her expression while her eyes were shooting Rei meaningful looks that simply screamed 'Praise me! Praise me!'.

She obviously knew he was watching her interaction with Zetsu.

Sighing, Rei simply decided to indulge her and beckoned her closer with his hand, making her perk up and quickly walk towards him before making herself comfortable in his lap.

"Where are my sweets?" She asked as Rei started caressing her head and Tsunade had to avert her eyes to prevent herself from laughing at Rei's disgruntled expression.

"No sweets for you. You will get fat." He deadpanned.

Kaguya's blissful expression instantly grew blank as her eyebrow twitched, "Is that so?"

"That's right." Tsunade decided to join the fun with a roguish smile spreading on her lips.

Kaguya turned towards her and narrowed her eyes, pointing her gaze at her chest for a long moment before firmly nodding, "You would know."

Needless to say, Tsunade's smile quickly fell for a second before returning in full again, this time a bit too sweet and fake. "Yes, I would. I am a medic ninja, after all."

"Maybe I want to get fat." Kaguya pouted, shuffling in Rei's lap, her eyes still aimed at Tsunade's chest, making both Rei and Kankuro sweatdrop as Tsunade became speechless. Kaguya nodded in satisfaction at her small victory and then turned slightly in her victim's lap and gave Rei a pointed look. "So... my sweets?"

Clearly, she was on the roll.

Unfortunately for her, that was when Rei felt the sand ninjas returning with his senses and inwardly grinned.

"The redhead who has no idea about our identity is returning. Off with you." He smoothly changed the topic, making Kaguya gobsmacked, her mouth slightly open in disbelief at the casual way her reward was disregarded before her body was forcefully dispelled in a puff of smoke.

After all, it might have her consciousness imbued but it was still Rei's shadow clone.

'One of these days, I will have my revenge!' Rei heard in his head before he got an impression of an angry huff as the mental connection between him and Kaguya went silent.

'I will be looking forward to it.' Rei smirked, knowing she was no longer hearing his thoughts. He did intend to reward her with her favorite foods but Kaguya was kinda spoiled. If he made it easy for her, she would demand rewards endlessly for the smallest of things.

The smoke barely managed to dissipate before Sasori came into view, followed by Temari and Gaara.

"Done already? That was quick." Rei asked in feigned surprise, looking at Sasori.

"Yes. Unfortunately, Kakuzu managed to run away." Sasori grunted, clearly not in the best of moods.

Rei just lifted his eyebrow at Temari since Sasori didn't seem very forthcoming with information. One would think the puppeteer would get a hint and realize that Rei was fishing for information with his praise.

"When we arrived, Kakuzu and four thread-like monsters with masks were engaging Sasori and his puppet of the Third Kazekage. We destroyed fire and lightning using monsters with our initial sneak attack and from there it was relatively easy. I took on the monster using wind and Gaara battled the one using Earth while Sasori dealt with Kakuzu himself. Needless to say, both I and Gaara had an overwhelming advantage in our elemental proficiency over the monsters so it was easy to kill them. Unfortunately, Kakuzu realized he wasn't winning the fight far too soon and retreated before we could corner him." Temari gave her report, getting a pointed look from Sasori whose eyebrows were furrowed.

He had no idea why she decided to narrate their fight to a civilian and wasn't happy about it. Sadly, he couldn't really reprimand her.

Eventually, he disgruntledly grunted in gruff acknowledgment. "Yes. That's pretty much what happened. Let's go." And turned around, beckoning the group to follow him.

Rei looked at Temari who just apologetically smiled before turning his gaze towards Tsunade who just shrugged at him before he felt her telepathic connection snap in the place.

'Guess we now know why the guy prefers puppets over humans. It was a long time since I saw someone so socially awkward.' Tsunade's voice amusedly spoke in Rei's mind.

'I guess carrying your shopping bags will teach him how to socialize.' Rei relayed back and both grinned at each other.

Oh... they did not intend to make it easy for Sasori these following days. Not at all.