Ch344. Date in Takigakure

Rei and Tsunade in her guise of the dark-skinned Nadetsu Juusen walked the streets of Takigakure, hand in hand as they enjoyed the bustling atmosphere of the streets with various stalls where merchants tried to sell their wares.

For a ninja village, Takigakure was oddly weird, yet familiar. They clearly tried to imitate Konoha's way of doing things if the number of merchants and civilians inside the village was any indication but it was also obvious they simply failed to imitate everything.

The overall strength of their ninjas, for one, was quite pitiful.

Alas, while the couple could not just turn off their instincts and NOT notice these things, they indeed did their best to ignore it and casually enjoy their time together.

"This is quite tasty, try it." Tsunade's eyes lit up as she took a bite from Takigakure's special takoyaki before gently putting the stick in front of Rei, beckoning him to try with a wide expectant look.

'She is too cute for her own good.' Rei smiled and took a bite as Tsunade turned them around and pulled him back towards the stall with the takoyaki before buying five more sticks.

"If you are hungry, we can go to a proper restaurant." He said before patting her head, making her puff out her quickly reddening cheeks like a squirrel. "You know, somewhere where we could sit down and cuddle a bit while eating." He temptingly added.

Hearing that, Tsunade deflated and embarrassedly nodded in consent. "Just give me a moment."

Seeing a pair of kids nearby, Tsunade briefly let go of Rei's hand and approached them. She didn't really need five takoyaki sticks if they were going to a restaurant. A moment later, she returned to Rei, three takoyaki sticks lighter, and gave one of the remaining two to him as she again took a hold of his arm and snuggled into his side.

"Onwards, then!" She exclaimed with a grin before starting to munch on the meat on her stick.

Rei amusedly shook his head, finding her unbothered attitude funny. Especially since they were followed and observed almost from the second they entered the village. Tsunade's persona of Nadetsu Juusen was an internationally known woman with a lot of pull, both political and economic. It was only natural the leader of Takigakure would instantly order his men to follow her and try to find out the reason for her visit so he could attempt to gain some benefits from it.

Tsunade obviously knew about their little stalkers but since she was on a date with Rei, she didn't care. If they crossed the line, however...

Both Rei and Tsunade decided to be extremely frustrating for their observers and the current leader of Takigakure, Shibuki, who probably expected Nadetsu to pay him a visit. They slowly walked through the village, buying things like plushies, make-up, clothes... just like any ordinary couple on a vacation, giving no indication that they were present for a business deal or anything similar.

Having somebody like Nadetsu visiting and being unable to even greet her properly without coming off as pushy and potentially making her disgruntled... the village leader must have been quite aggravated and nervous.

Needless to say, Tsunade enjoyed making the boy squirm in his seat quite a lot, making sure to enjoy her time with Rei to the fullest, and being extremely affectionate. That way, she not only got the most out of her date but also got the satisfaction of watching how dismayed their observers were, not knowing how to invite her for a chat with their leader without offending her.

In the end, the duo eventually ended up in a booth of one of the high-class restaurants in the village.

Tsunade sat on Rei's lap and snuggled her back into his chest much to the dismay of the poor waitress who was selected to serve their booth. Rei had his arms around her waist and leaned his head over her shoulders to read the menu in Tsunade's hand, their cheeks affectionately nuzzled together as they enjoyed the warm and quiet atmosphere.

"We... aren't really choosing, are we?" Tsunade giggled, realizing they were staring at the menu for the last twenty minutes, not moving an inch from their position.

"I suppose not." Rei tightened his hold on her. "Even with the menu in front of me, it is kinda hard to concentrate on it with such a delicacy just an eye-flicker away." Tsunade wearing a sexy loose-ish kimono was quite the problem for Rei. One that Tsunade clearly felt and enjoyed, considering the hardening of a particular part of his body on which she currently sat.

"Pervert." Tsunade teasingly whispered and subtly wiggled her butt, making Rei almost let out a moan.

"You are one to talk." He gently chided into her ear, causing a shiver to run up her spine. Rei could see she was starting to get excited from the way she bit her lower lip. Unfortunately for him, he had to cut the mood short. He was not keen on bending Tsunade over the table in front of the waitress. "But we should already order food or the girl in the corner will faint from embarrassment."

Tsunade pouted but obediently listened. They both picked their food and relayed their orders to the waitress. As she left the booth with their orders, Tsunade turned towards Rei, "Faint from embarrassment, my ass. You do realize what kind of restaurant this is, don't you? If you demanded it, she would join." She rolled her eyes.

"And then you would kill her for it." Rei chuckled, "I like to think myself not desperate enough to visit high-end restaurants to have my wicked ways with the waitresses. That's honestly below me and I have no idea why they even provide that kind of service." He shook his head. Sometimes the medieval-like mentality of his world still surprised him. "You girls are enough for me."

"Eh~, is that why you not-so-subtly intend to make Kaguya our new sister?" Tsunade teased. She didn't really mind overly much. As long as Rei didn't neglect her, it was fine by her. It really helped that Rei put more effort into keeping his girls happy than his actual work in the village.

"Well, that's not my fault. It kinda just... happened." Rei helplessly shrugged.

"I see. The same way I, Mei, Ringo, and Pakura just happened, huh?" Tsunade amusedly giggled.

"Mhm. Can't argue about that." Rei straightforwardly stated and kissed Tsunade's cheek.

"Looking for you and Konan was the best thing that happened to me in my life." Tsunade said, shuffling in Rei's lap to turn around enough to face him. Her hands clutched at Rei's shirt as she looked straight into his eyes, "I am very glad that I 'kinda just happened'." She smiled and leaned forward, planting a quick kiss on Rei's lips. "I am sure you can make that grumpy Goddess happy again."

"You know she can hear you, right?" The corner of Rei's lips twitched.

Rei would normally cut the mental connection with Kaguya but she made sure to ask for permission from Tsunade to 'eavesdrop' on them during their date because she was extremely curious about it. He had no idea why Tsunade agreed but she did.

"I do. That's why I called her grumpy. I tried to be polite to the harlot." Tsunade cutely nodded, unable to suppress her smirk, and Rei sighed as his head was filled with the impression of pouting and disgruntlement. He decided to make Tsunade feel a bit of it so he put his forehead on hers and connected her mind to the connection with Kaguya...

"She is quite butt-hurt, isn't she?" Tsunade smugly smirked when she felt Kaguya's feelings bleeding through the connection.

"You would be too, after spending a millennium in a seal." Rei tried to play it off. He didn't need Kaguya raging, huffing, and puffing in his head for the rest of the day.

"I know. I am just a bit angry that she can spend all of her time with you thanks to the mental connection." Tsunade confessed and the couple fell silent.

Rei and Tsunade stared into each other's eyes, their foreheads connected, hugging each other. There was no need for more words. The wonder of the mental connection was that it was capable of relaying feelings and emotions. While it also sent these emotions to Kaguya, right now, neither Rei nor Tsunade cared as they flooded the other with their care and love for each other.

Poor Kaguya was rendered a blushing wistful mess without either of the two lovers even noticing.

---

Author Note (and rant that is as usual longer than the chapter):

Okay, I have noticed people discussing the upper power levels in this fanfic and how it works since I forgot to explain it so I decided to enlighten you, noobs!

And don't give me hate when you disagree, please.

(Yes, I said please because I got manners and shit.)

Anyway. I said there are S-ranks, SS-ranks and SSS-ranks. No, this is not linked with any kind of self-made power level you may or may not have created. And yes, I say self-made as there is no such thing as official power level scaling in Naruto canon.

Genin, Chunin, Jonin, Sannin, ANBU, Kage are not power levels. They are titles and ranks. They don't have much to do with power level. Chunin could be jonin level but also genin level, same as jonin can be S-rank ninja since there is no higher rank than jonin in the villages.

An example would be Anko who could definitely be Jonin in canon. If Kurenai could pass the tests, then Anko could ace them too. But politics...

You get my drift yet?

Writers use genin, chunin, jonin, etc, exactly because Narutoverse doesn't have power scaling. The closest thing we got is S-rank which means stronger than your usual jonin chump. These are the real special individuals one should fear but even then... Hidan is S-rank same as Pain. So... there goes using it as any sort of power scaling.

You can't use bounties either because depending on the crime committed, a genin could have been given a bounty worth of jonin.

Also, Kage level. What does it exactly mean when somebody is Kage level? Kage is a freaking title! Sure, it is 'assumed' that Kages are stronger than other ninjas in the village but just look at Rasa! Or at the fact, Gaara became a Kage before even reaching fifteen. Or look at Danzo as Kage and then compare him to Eight Gates Gai. How am I supposed to use that as power scaling with cases like this?

Do I mean Madara level, Hiruzen level, Raikage level, or Rasa level when I say Kage? Or do I mean Terumi Mei level from canon?

It just doesn't work...

So, I have a simple system. S-rank in my story is around S-ranks in canon as are the earlier ranks. It also means that one's specialization, experience, hidden trump cards actually matter. But S-rank firepower or capability means being placed in S-rank even if one lacks experience. This will be slightly relevant later in one chapter.

Also, most Kages are S-rank.

Don't even try to argue that point. Most of Akatsuki are just S-ranks and they can definitely match Kages. Again, there is no such thing as 'Kage level'.

SS-rank in my story is Madara/Hashirama/Pain... of course, they are not on the same level but they all fall into this category.

I get the hype around Madara and Hashirama but they are not really as strong as people are making them out to be in their fanboy-driven delusions. They are definitely the pinnacle of ninjas but... they have nothing on Hagoromo, Hamura, final form Naruto and Sasuke.

(And I don't mean Six Path Madara because that is different from his original power level)

Hence, they are SS-rank but it is not as easily quantified because they all have their tricks and specializations.

As for SSS-rank where Rei and his girls are... well, they have their own bijuus they can fully use! If you need a blunt assessment, they are around the level of final form Naruto and Sasuke.

Therefore far above Madara and Hashirama.

First of all, the Madara we are seeing in the Fourth Ninja War is NOT showing his real strength. He has Edo Tensei body and with it, infinite chakra, stamina, and indestructible body in peak condition. Of course, he would perform far above his usual paygrade with that. With all the Jutsus he used, he should have been spent thrice over by the time he was resurrected for real.

You gotta consider this angle, at the very least.

Now, Kaguya is obviously much stronger than even this SSS rank. Call it me simping but... yeah, you would probably be right but I have my reasons, alright!?

You can not scale Kaguya properly according to Naruto and definitely not according to the Boruto series.

You can't just give the girl capability to create dimensions and then make her power level as low as it was in the series. Just... use some damn common sense, please.

Creating whole dimensions is definitely a Dimensional Level of power. That's like... far above planetary, no?

I can agree she is weak but not because she doesn't have the necessary power in her. She lacks control.

But okay, let's say she is not a dimensional level but planetary level to make those skeptical satisfied.

And I am not going lower because the bullshit she showed in the final fight can't be rated lower if one uses common sense. Especially not when one considers that's her untrained and control-lacking self.

Creating dimensions, reality-bending, traveling between dimensions, instant-annihilation on hit ability, do I need to go on?

In neither fight, nor the one she had with Hagoromo and Hamura or the one she had with Naruto and Sasuke, she did not get a scratch. Yes, they landed hits on her but she was never injured and she barely moved in these fights!

In the end, they had to seal her. And the word 'seal' matters. They did not 'defeat' her. They sealed her.

Which is a form of defeat but it is not as if they had beaten her in a fight. Far from it, actually.

Kaguya's problem is that she never really explored her powers, taking what she could do instinctively for granted and thinking it was the end of it. She never trained, thinking in her arrogance she was powerful enough.

I mean, even an academy student can do Kawarimi but Jonins can do it with much less chakra required and without hand seals. Because they trained!

Look at what Kaguya can do without training and then think about her trained self.

From what little of her powers she has shown during her fight against final form Naruto and Sasuke, if one takes into account what she actually does and thinks what the techniques she uses and their effects really say about her prowess... I have a hard time believing Kaguya is not the most powerful thing in the entire Narutoverse.

I don't take into account the crap called Boruto. If the Otsutsuki clan is more powerful than Kaguya then Naruto's planet is toast. There is no need for hundreds of chapters of anime. The ending is obvious. It wouldn't matter how many power-ups Boruto can get. Not when fighting against somebody capable of busting an entire planet. Because Kaguya might not have explored her powers in their entirety but the other Otsutsuki definitely would have.

But yes, this is just my own bias. Don't take it too seriously.

Back to my petulant rant about Kaguya's OPness...

Where did I end? Oh, yeah, I remember... And that is not even mentioning the fact Hagoromo was basically just a budget version of Kaguya! What he could do with Rinnegan, Kaguya would certainly be able to do better considering Hagoromo's father was just a normal human. Hagoromo and Hamura's powers came entirely from Kaguya and they were a form of a bloodline. Which was diluted in them because of the blood of their father.

Hagoromo just explored his powers, unlike Kaguya.

Well, that's my rant and yeah, I feel better now after getting it out of my system.

Have a good day!