Rated M scenes have been temporarily relocated into the complementary story titled SGTSSJ: Universe.

Chapter 53: Power Levels

Tenten's eyes flickered in the dim light of her massive PC, the screen casting a cool glow across the dark, cold expanse of the cave. She typed rapidly, narrating the past 21 months of the shinobi world below Kami's Lookout with a mixture of satire and nostalgia. Beside her, Neji sat with his arms crossed, a slight smirk on his face as he listened to her recount the events that had transpired.

"Let's start with the big news," Tenten began, her voice echoing slightly in the sealed chamber. "Sasuke and Haku had a baby girl. Can you believe it, Neji-kun? Sarada Uchiha. Rumors have it that she already got the Sharingan, and she's not even two yet."

Neji chuckled softly. "I suppose that makes her the youngest Uchiha prodigy. But what did you expect from Sasuke and Haku?"

"True," Tenten agreed. "But it still amazes me. They're actually pretty good parents, despite Sasuke's... well, Sasuke-ness."

Neji leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "Sasuke's changed a lot. Haku's been a good influence on him. And speaking of change, let's talk about Lee. Poor guy never managed to win Ino over."

Tenten laughed, a sharp, amused sound. "Lee's too intense for most people. But it's worked out for him in a way. He's embraced his role as the Black Fist of Konoha completely. Training under 100x gravity? It's like he's trying to catch up to Goku or something."

Neji nodded. "He's been humbling me regularly too, pushing me to keep up. I reckon he's determined to challenge Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi as soon as he can."

"And speaking of Kakashi," Tenten continued, her fingers flying over the keyboard, "he's the new Hokage. Tsunade retired and left Konoha in his capable hands. Though it's kind of hilarious that he needed fuinjutsu and Sakura's help to manage the effects of the Double Mangekyo Sharingan. Who would've thought he'd become Hokage before Naruto?"

Neji shrugged. "Naruto's still got some growing up to do. Kakashi was the logical choice. And Shikamaru as his advisor? That's a power duo right there. Especially with Shikamaru's relationship with Temari. They've been traveling back and forth between Konoha and Suna, solidifying our alliance."

Tenten smiled, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "And speaking of Suna, Goku and Chi-Chi's restaurant is a global sensation. People are flocking to Suna just to eat there. Who knew Goku could cook?"

"Chi-Chi knew," Neji corrected. "And now she's engaged to Gaara. That's a power couple if I ever saw one."

"Absolutely," Tenten agreed. "It's amazing how much has changed in such a short time. But some things stay the same. Like us, right here in our personal Iron Cave."

Neji glanced around the cavernous space, its walls lined with dense lead and fuinjutsu seals to remain undetected. "It's not exactly the Hyuga Compound, but it has its charm."

Tenten laughed again. "You're just saying that because I let you train here without anyone watching."

"Maybe," Neji admitted. "But it's been effective. We've both gotten better. And we get to keep an eye on everything."

"True," Tenten replied. "But back to the updates. Tsunade and Jiraiya have left Konoha again. They're enjoying their retirement... or something like it. Maybe they're not a couple, but they're definitely very close friends. And sake buddies. Probably fuck buddies too."

"That sounds about right," Neji agreed. "They deserve some peace after everything they've been through."

"And Kakashi is doing a great job as Hokage," Tenten continued. "With Shikamaru's help, of course. They're a formidable team. And Shikamaru's relationship with Temari has only strengthened the bond between our villages."

Neji nodded. "And Lee's relentless training has kept us all on our toes. He's pushing everyone to be better, whether they want to or not."

"Speaking of pushing," Tenten said, her tone lighter again, "have you seen how Naruto's been training lately? He's still an immature guy, but he's getting stronger every day."

Neji smirked. "Indeed. And with Tsunade's retirement, Sakura's stepping up in a big way."

"Alright, let's move on to the next big update," Tenten said, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "Nagato and Konan got married and had twins! They're reviving the Uzumaki clan in Amegakure. Who would've thought the feared leaders of the Akatsuki would settle down and start a family?"

Neji smiled at that. "Life has a funny way of surprising us. I bet those twins are going to be a handful. With Nagato and Konan as their parents, they'll be powerhouses for sure."

"Definitely," Tenten agreed. "And speaking of surprises, Kisame is now the greatest Mizukage in history. He rebuilt the entire village during the time-skip. Can you imagine that? Kisame, the shark-like, bloodthirsty swordsman, is now a fair and just leader."

Neji chuckled. "He's demanding and strict, but he's earned the respect of his village. Who knew he had it in him?"

Tenten nodded, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "And then there's Kurotsuchi. She decided to chase Tien around the world instead of becoming the Yondaime Tsuchikage. But guess what? She came back, dragging Tien along kicking and screaming, and ultimately became the Tsuchikage anyway. Now Tien's her personal assassin and lover in the shadows."

Neji raised an eyebrow. "That sounds like quite the dynamic duo. Tien must be a patient man to put up with her."

"Or maybe he just likes the challenge," Tenten quipped. "In any case, they're a force to be reckoned with. And in Kumogakure, Ay, Bee, and Darui have been training extensively in their Gravity Rooms. Ay's determined to make his village the strongest in the world once again as he would put it."

Neji nodded thoughtfully. "They're pushing hard. With the Gravity Rooms, they're setting a high standard for the rest of the shinobi world. It seems like everyone is leveling up these days."

"Even Itachi," Tenten added, her tone shifting to a more serious note. "He rejoined the ANBU as a part-time leader alongside Yugao and Haku. And he's also one of Kakashi's advisors now. Oh, and speaking of Yugao.. rumors have it she's been pronounced pregnant."

Neji's expression softened. "Itachi deserves some happiness after everything he's been through. I wonder if he has anything to do with Yugao's unexpected child looming..."

Tenten's fingers paused over the keyboard, her brow furrowing slightly. "It's certainly possible. Then there's Naruto and Sakura. They're... complicated. Their relationship isn't as natural as it should be. Naruto loves Sakura, but she's struggling. It's not about Sasuke anymore. At times, she just feels she doesn't deserve someone like Naruto."

Neji sighed. "Their relationship has always been a rollercoaster. But it sounds like they're both realizing that love isn't just about convenience. It has to be genuine and challenging."

"Exactly," Tenten agreed. "It's like Ino and Lee. Lee loves Ino, but she only sees him as a friend she can use for perks and benefits. It's hard to maintain love when it's not challenging or satisfying. Ino needs someone difficult to appease and control, like Goku was."

Neji's smirk returned. "And what about us, Ten-chan? I claimed you the moment I saw those fat pockets of ryo, and we've been off the market ever since."

Tenten laughed. "You did Neji-kun, you did. And your visual prowess has helped me perfect my armors. Speaking of which, you even have your own suit of armor now, to help you survive your training with Lee."

"Speaking of Lee," Neji added, his tone serious again, "the man has been pushing me hard. Like we said earlier, he's determined to challenge Naruto, Sasuke, and even Kakashi for the title of strongest shinobi. And honestly, he might actually get there."

Tenten nodded. "Lee's relentless. But that's what makes him amazing. And it's why he's the Black Fist of Konoha. Even if he never wins Ino over, he's destined for greatness. Anyways, with the newest Mark 4 Armor, Tetsu—that's me—has reached a level beyond those Red Ribbon Army androids that nearly wiped us out two years ago," she paused, her tone a mix of pride and humor. "I mean, those androids were tough, but this armor? It's a game-changer."

Neji nodded, leaning against the coldness of his chair. "And it's not just the armor. You've reverse-engineered the entire Red Ribbon arsenal. Tanks, jets, robot guards, drone surveillance, laser guns, rocket launchers, even mech suits. Konoha is a technological powerhouse now."

Tenten grinned. "Thanks to me and my team of engineers and experts. And let's not forget the financial aspect. I'm officially the wealthiest person in Konoha history. I even met Bulma Briefs, the Capsule Corporation heiress. We had a very productive meeting. Imagine that, two of the richest people in the world in one room."

Neji smirked. "I bet you two hit it off."

"Oh, we did," Tenten replied, typing away. "She's brilliant. And the technology exchange has been incredible. Konoha's defenses are impenetrable. We've got robot guards at the village gates, radars, and all sorts of new weaponry. It's a different world now."

As she continued, she shifted the topic. "Now, let's talk power levels. This part can get tricky. People might be confused about who's stronger than who and what the author Sin was thinking. So, let's break it down."

Neji stretched his arms. "I'll make some coffee. Sounds like you have a lot to cover."

Tenten smiled, giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "Mwah. Thanks Neji-kun. I could use the caffeine."

While Neji prepared the coffee, Tenten raved about her boyfriend for a moment, a break from their discussions. "Neji is amazing, isn't he? The perfect partner in every way."

Neji's voice echoed from the makeshift kitchen. "I heard that, Tenten."

Tenten laughed, then resumed her narration. "Alright, power levels. First, let's address the obvious. Goku and Hinata have grown exponentially stronger under Kami's training. Goku's ki control is off the charts. He could probably destroy the Earth hundreds of times over. And Hinata? She's transformed into a genuine martial artist, blending chakra manipulation with raw physical prowess."

Neji sighed. "And also as we discussed a bit, love isn't easy, even for heroes. Sakura is realizing that her feelings for Naruto might not be what she thought they were. It's complicated. Meanwhile, Ino and Lee never managed to become a couple, because deep down Ino still pines for the Goku likeness, and Lee has chosen to fully embrace his role as a dedicated warrior due to being rejected."

"Alright, let's dive deeper into the power levels and some context," Tenten began, her tone both sarcastic and informative. "So, remember Goku's humble beginnings? When he crashed on Earth, he had a mere power level of 2. Grandpa Gohan, bless his soul, was around 50. And then, of course, Goku turned into Oozaru and skyrocketed to 100, crushing poor Gohan in the process."

Neji interjected, "Hiruzen, our dear old Hokage, had a power level of 115. I guess being an island-level ninja comes with some perks."

Tenten chuckled. "Yeah, and let's not forget Jiraiya at 110, ANBU Kakashi at 103, and teenage Yugao at 62. Kid Naruto was at a solid 5, while Kid Hinata was a 7. Kid Ino and Sasuke were at 5 and 8 respectively. Young Tenzo hit around 70, and Danzo was a menacing 105. Itachi, with his Mangekyo Sharingan, stood at a whopping 120. Kid Sasuke got a boost to 10 with his own Sharingan. Krillin from Goku's world was a 9, and Goku himself was a 12 before training with Roshi, who was a casual 139."

Neji leaned forward, his interest piqued. "By the end of the first time-skip, Goku was around 97, Krillin was 85, and Roshi stayed the same. Tao Pai-Pai was slightly stronger than casual Roshi at 140. Bora was a 15, and Upa was... irrelevant."

Tenten smirked. "Korin's true power was 190, but he casually stayed at 100. Goku, after drinking the divine water, shot up to 105. Meanwhile, in the village, pre-genin Naruto was 25, Sasuke 29, Ino and Sakura were 9, Hinata was 27, and the rest didn't matter much. Iruka was at 39, Mizuki at 42, and a motivated Naruto rose to 44. Sensei Kakashi, motivated and less depressed thanks to Goku, was at 110, and Yugao was around 80."

She continued, "In the next arc, Haku was stronger than Zabuza at 90, with Zabuza himself at 83. Due to training and amps, Naruto's base level was 37, his rage boost hitting 85, strong enough to hold his own against a holding-back Haku. Sasuke grew to 50 with the Sharingan. Sakura stayed at a lowly 15. Oroka was around 92, and Yugao grew to 94 thanks to Goku's influence. Goku, on Team 4 with Yugao, was encroaching on casual Roshi at 137."

Neji nodded. "Hinata's growth was impressive. She reached 64 after training with Goku. Sakura grew to 30, Sasuke to 58, and Naruto to 55, closing the gap on Sasuke. At the beginning of the Chunin Exams, Gaara was at 65, Neji at 58, Lee at 55. Temari was at 52, Kankuro at 43, and Kabuto around 100. Orochimaru was at 117, slightly above an old man Hiruzen but weaker than Itachi."

Tenten's fingers flew over the keyboard. "In the Forest of Death, Goku revealed his true power at a whopping 146, demolishing Orochimaru. Peak Naruto at 85 was stronger than Curse Mark Sasuke at 80, who was stronger than the Sound-nin who had a combined power level of 77. Anko was at 69, Hayate at 72. During the preliminary exams, Ino was at a paltry 23, Choji at 32, Shikamaru at 30. Gai, even without gates, was at 100."

As Tenten wrapped up her narration, she took a moment to breathe and looked at Neji, who was preparing more coffee. "This concludes the first 16 chapters of our story. Things only get more interesting from here."

Neji handed her a fresh cup, a playful smile on his lips. "Let's dive into the power levels for clarity, shall we?"

Power Levels:

Goku (Infant): 2

Grandpa Gohan: 50

Oozaru Goku: 100

Kid Goku (post-training): 97

Roshi (casual): 139

Tao Pai-Pai: 140

Korin (true power): 190

Korin (casual): 100

Goku (divine water): 105

Pre-genin Naruto: 25

Pre-genin Sasuke: 29

Pre-genin Hinata: 27

Iruka: 39

Mizuki: 42

Motivated Naruto: 44

Anbu Kakashi: 103

Sensei Kakashi: 110

Tenzo: 70

Anbu Yugao: 62

Sensei Yugao: 80

Haku: 90

Zabuza: 83

Naruto (base): 37

Naruto (rage): 85

Sasuke (Sharingan): 50

Sakura: 15

Oroka: 92

Yugao (post-Goku): 94

Goku (Team 4): 137

Hinata (post-training): 64

Sakura (post-training): 30

Sasuke (post-training): 58

Naruto (post-training): 55

Gaara: 65

Neji: 58

Lee: 55

Temari: 52

Kankuro: 43

Kabuto: 100

Orochimaru: 117

Goku (true power): 146

Naruto (peak): 85

Curse Mark Sasuke: 80

Sound-nin unit: 77

Anko: 69

Hayate: 72

Ino: 23

Choji: 32

Shikamaru: 30

Gai: 100

Tenten adjusted her seat in the Iron Cave, the eerie glow of the PC illuminating her determined expression. Neji, by her side with a fresh cup of coffee, leaned in to hear her continue the narration of the last 21 months.

"Alright, let's get into the nitty-gritty of the Chunin Exams finale training," Tenten began with a wry smile. "During that period, Goku received his first training favor from Bulma: a gravity room. That room was a game-changer. Training with Hinata inside, Goku's power level soared to a staggering 220. Hinata, pushing her limits, became the second strongest genin at 100. Peak Lee came in at 93, Peak Naruto was a 97, and Peak Sasuke was a 91. Shikamaru, motivated as ever, rose to a 53, just edging out Temari."

Neji took a sip of his coffee and added, "The Red Ribbon Army bots were pretty pathetic at 20 a piece. It was their strength in numbers and unfamiliar arsenal that made them a threat. But let's not forget Enraged Hiashi, who momentarily surpassed Goku's level at 250 before settling back to 86. Shino, our bug-loving friend, was at a 48, enough to take down Kankuro. And peak Gaara, before Shukaku's full awakening, was at 105. Shukaku fully unleashed was 137, more powerful than anyone not named Goku, Tao Pai-Pai, enraged Hiashi, or Roshi."

Tenten continued, her eyes glinting with amusement. "But then Orochimaru reentered the scene at a power level of 150, surpassing the level of Goku who defeated him in the forest. He proved his strength by evaporating Hiruzen with ease. Speaking of enemies, let's run through the Red Ribbon Army HQ baddies: Major Metallitron was at 150, Ninja Murasaki at 155, General Blue at 180, General White at 150, Commander Red at 100, State Officer Black at 150, Eighter at 200, and Shenron, as strong as Kami and stronger than a 15-year-old Goku, clocked in at 300."

Neji smirked. "Don't forget the Tsuchikage, weaker than Old Man Hiruzen, so he was at 111, surpassed by the Raikage Ay at 113. Bee was at 108, and Yagura at 103. Orochimaru continued to grow, hitting 160 when he approached Tsunade, who herself was around 110. Poor Shizune, at a mere 55, didn't stand a chance. Sakura grew to 35 from training with Naruto, while peak Naruto during the Tsunade retrieval mission was at 100, essentially equal to Kabuto."

Tenten leaned back, her fingers never stopping their dance over the keyboard. "During the Konoha 11 training arc with the gravity room, the Sound Four had a collective power of around 250, but individually, they were fodder compared to Sasuke, who was boosted to 104 due to his training, and Haku, who grew to a level of 99 due to her proximity to Sasuke. Ino, surprisingly, surpassed Sakura, rising to 55 while Sakura rose to 53. Naruto's base grew to a level of 98, Shikamaru grew to 63, Neji's progress was stymied by his depression, Hinata rose to 106, and Kakashi rose to 125 to stay ahead of his encroaching students."

Neji chuckled. "It's quite the power struggle. Let's summarize those power levels for clarity."

Power Levels:

Goku (gravity room): 220

Hinata (gravity room): 100

Peak Lee: 93

Peak Naruto: 97

Peak Sasuke: 91

Shikamaru: 53

Temari: 52

Red Ribbon Army Bots: 20

Enraged Hiashi: 250

Hiashi (calm): 86

Shino: 48

Peak Gaara: 105

Shukaku: 137

Orochimaru: 150

Major Metallitron: 150

Ninja Murasaki: 155

General Blue: 180

General White: 150

Commander Red: 100

State Officer Black: 150

Eighter: 200

Shenron: 300

Tsuchikage: 111

Raikage Ay: 113

Hiruzen: 115

Bee: 108

Yagura: 103

Orochimaru (post-growth): 160

Tsunade: 110

Shizune: 55

Sakura (post-training): 35

Peak Naruto (Tsunade mission): 100

Sound Four (collective): 250

Sasuke (post-training): 104

Haku: 99

Ino: 55

Sakura: 53

Naruto (base): 98

Shikamaru: 63

Hinata: 106

Kakashi: 125

Tenten and Neji exchanged a glance, both smiling at the absurdity of it all. "And that's just the beginning," the former said with a grin. "Things are only going to get more intense from here."

The latter nodded, leaning in closer. "Indeed. The power levels are climbing, and so are the stakes."

"Alright, let's dive into the Kill Orochimaru mission," Tenten began, her voice dripping with dry humor. "Android Kabuto stood at a whopping 210, eviscerating Kiba and then demolishing everyone who opposed him except for Son Goku. Even Peak Naruto, who was in a 4-tailed state at a power level of 120, was trash in comparison. Peak Hinata and Peak Sasuke stood at 112 and 108 respectively with their powers activated. Kimimaro was at a 102, Jūgo was at a 101, Suigetsu at 68, and Karin at 62. Kiba and Akamaru were equal at a power level of 65 post gravity training."

Neji smirked, adding, "Goku and Orochimaru began their battle at a whopping 260 power level, but as the fight went on and events such as Kabuto killing Kiba took place, Goku's true power emerged at a staggering 300. Sasuke, post-Mangekyo, became the second strongest, clocking in at 121."

Tenten's fingers flew over the keys, her eyes glinting with amusement. "In the prelude to the Piccolo Daimao saga, Sasori was at a level of 108 and Hidan was around a power level of 84. Old, out-of-prime Piccolo Daimao sat high at a 235 power level, and Tobi was no slouch, his level being around 159 due to his latent abilities. The sons of Piccolo: Tambourine, Cymbal, and Drum, had power levels of 170, 150, and 227 respectively. His fourth son, Snare, had a power level of 215, slightly weaker than the strongest son of Piccolo Daimao but equipped with easily the sharpest mind, making him the best among them."

Neji leaned back, his coffee cup empty. "These power levels are insane, Tenten. It's a wonder how they even manage to stand against each other without blowing up the entire village."

Tenten laughed. "Tell me about it. But that's the beauty of it all, isn't it? The constant struggle for power, the relentless pursuit of strength... it's what makes this world so fascinating."

Neji nodded, his expression thoughtful. "And dangerous. Each fight, each mission, it all shapes them, makes them who they are. But it also puts them at constant risk. One wrong move, and it's game over."

Tenten's face grew serious for a moment. "Yeah, but that's the price they pay. It's not just about power levels; it's about strategy, teamwork, and the will to survive and protect what they care about. That's what truly defines them."

Neji placed a hand on Tenten's shoulder. "And that's why we keep going, why we keep pushing ourselves. To be ready for whatever comes next."

Tenten smiled, her fingers still typing. "Exactly. Now, let's summarize those power levels for clarity."

Power Levels:

Goku (true power): 300

Goku (initial battle): 260

Android Kabuto: 210

Peak Naruto (4-tailed state): 120

Peak Hinata: 112

Peak Sasuke: 108

Kimimaro: 102

Jūgo: 101

Suigetsu: 68

Karin: 62

Kiba: 65

Akamaru: 65

Sasuke (post-Mangekyo): 121

Sasori: 108

Hidan: 84

Old Piccolo Daimao: 235

Tobi: 159

Tambourine: 170

Cymbal: 150

Drum: 227

Snare: 215

"Alright, let's dive into the next segment," Tenten began. "Six months of training later, and Goku managed to train in 80 times gravity due to his unfair genetics, giving him a massive boost to... 8,500. He should actually be much stronger, but his inefficient and untrained ki control handicapped him severely. Even when he 'lost' to Roshi, who had also grown stronger with a true power of 200, surpassing his previous battle power of 180, Roshi figured Goku was holding back considerably. He just didn't know... by just how much."

Neji smirked, adding, "Tien's power level was a cool 180, and Krillin was killed off by Tambourine at a power level of 139. Darui was at a level of 101 as he watched the Raikage get fodderized by Son Goku. Chi-Chi's power level was a surprising 90 despite her lack of genuine training, and this is proven by her canon power level of 130 during her fight with Goku, the difference being she was 4 to 5 years younger here. It still went on to show the disparity and disadvantages chakra users have in terms of power potency relative to a ki user. Yajirobe had a power level greater than that of the Raikage and Krillin, so he comes in at a power of 157, which is greater than Cymbal, who he killed and ate in canon."

Tenten's eyes glinted with amusement as she continued. "Ino had a massive increase, growing into a power level of 107 at her peak, while you yourself grew to a 76, Shikamaru to a 68, Temari to a 68, and Gaara to a 105, his peak before unleashing Shukaku. Lee... his peak was shown to surpass even that of Snare's, his level reaching that of 216 with the 7th gate."

Neji nodded thoughtfully. "After the five months of reconstruction, Goku increased to a power level of over 9000! In typical Dragon Ball fashion, unlocking higher levels of power only generated a snowball effect, allowing for quicker gains and more ridiculous boosts. Again, his ki control or lack thereof was his biggest and only handicap here. The others barely increased at all, to the point that it wasn't significant enough to register here, except Chi-Chi who shot up to Gaara's level of 105 herself due to her ability to channel her ki as taught by the novice known as Son Goku."

Tenten grinned as she typed, "For the others in Konoha or the Akatsuki, Deidara clocked in at a 107, Kakuzu came in at a 106, Kisame was at 113, the adult Itachi was at a 140, and Pein (specifically Nagato) came in at 150. Hinata, due to having the gravity room and Sasuke for training at her disposal, nearly broke the power scale at a whopping 163 at her peak. Sasuke and Kakashi were at 165 and 170 respectively due to their Mangekyo amps and constant training. Gai at his peak sans the Eighth Gate was at a power level of 160, having been surpassed by Lee by a wide margin at this point, and Haku came in at a level of 108 due only training sparingly with her lover in Sasuke."

Neji leaned back, finishing his coffee. "Kurotsuchi clocks in at 104, weaker than her grandfather as of that point in time. The others do not matter enough to be scaled, except Master Shen who was at 120, Chiaotzu who was around 117, and Tien who was still at 180. Also, Tetsu (Tenten) also had a power level of 120 given her feats with her Mark 1 armor. Androids 9 and 10 were menacing, their power levels coming in at 400 each, both far stronger than prime Piccolo Daimao was in canon."

Tenten's fingers paused over the keyboard as she summarized the power levels for clarity.

Power Levels:

Goku: 8,500

Roshi: 200

Tien: 180

Krillin: 139

Darui: 101

Chi-Chi: 90

Yajirobe: 157

Ino: 107

Neji: 76

Shikamaru: 68

Temari: 68

Gaara: 105

Lee (7th gate): 216

Goku (post-reconstruction): 9001

Deidara: 107

Kakuzu: 106

Kisame: 113

Itachi: 140

Pein (Nagato): 150

Hinata: 163

Sasuke: 165

Kakashi: 170

Gai: 160

Haku: 108

Kurotsuchi: 104

Master Shen: 120

Chiaotzu: 117

Tenten (Mark 1 armor): 120

Android 9: 400

Android 10: 400

"Alright, let's get into the juicy bits," Tenten began. "Piccolo Daimao as Android 11 had a power level of 9,500, becoming over 35 times stronger with Gero's technological enhancements. However, his issue was that he was facing Son Goku, who instinctively rose his power level quickly to match Piccolo Daimao's, his alien blood not allowing him to miss the fight of his life."

Neji chimed in, "After Obito's wish, his power level skyrocketed to that of 400 as Juubito. Bardock's power level is 10,000 just like in canon, and upon meeting his son through the dreamscape, Goku's power also becomes that of 10,000 due to the awakening of his Saiyan spirit. Naruto and Sasuke surpass Juubito by meeting Hagoromo, and their powers shoot up to 450 a piece, with certain abilities and techniques allowing them to surpass this level. Kakashi, receiving Obito's will and essence as an act of permanent redemption, also shoots up to that 450 power level, with abilities that allow him to exceed even that as well."

Tenten nodded, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "Kaguya was reborn, and her power level was that of 500 at the beginning, stronger than Hagoromo who is listed at 490. Secretly and unconsciously, Goku's level of power has been typically tailored to his opponent, meaning he would only play according to their level, Kaguya included. If he applied himself properly, there would be no chapter to write about because Goku would have destroyed her in one-shot."

Neji added, "In canon, she was damaged by Sakura for crying out loud, and even if she was off-guard her durability should have allowed her to tank it if she were that much superior. However, her ability to create dimensions and the Expansive Truth-Seeking Orb does make this contentious, as her abilities themselves extend far beyond her physical attack potency and durability itself. However, the nature of the truth-seeking orb itself is that it negates conventional durability and erases everything it touches, which makes it questionable as to if being able to destroy dimensions with stars in them is a raw power thing or an innate quality of her jutsu that is applicable to all forms of matter."

Tenten continued, "Due to these arguments, I'd contend that Kaguya's raw physicals were able to be contested in canon by Team Seven, especially Naruto and Kakashi. Therefore, they are not on the same level as her greatest HAX or techniques. With those HAX in play, Kaguya's maximum potential is around Namek to Android Saga levels, but before she could reach those levels of power through time, she would be killed off by any of those characters due to a hard speed blitz. The ranges of power with the 400-500 levels indicate that you are at least small planetary and potentially higher, given how seamlessly Piccolo with a power level of 408 erased the moon from existence with a flick of the wrist. End of Shippuden Naruto and Sasuke should be stronger than him at the very least, with ways to increase much further due to their HAX and jutsu."

Neji chuckled. "Back to this current timeline, after Piccolo Daimao killed Hinata, Goku erupted into the Ikari transformation which had a power level of... 100,000?! This power was what registered on Raditz's scouter from his unknown position in the universe, and what may become the next plot point."

Tenten's fingers paused for effect before she continued, "After the saga ended, Konan came in with a power level of 111. Fast forward to the beginning of Kami's training, and none of Baba's warriors are worth mentioning, except maybe Grandpa Gohan who becomes a respectable 120 due to training in the afterlife. Kami still has a power level of 300 at this point in time, Hinata was still at 163, Akamaru was at an 80, Goku remained at 10,000... and Popo was... at least at 150,000,000."

Neji smirked, "In canon, he held his own against Goten and Trunks, and despite being weaker, it was not glaringly obvious, nor is it shown to what extent they held back against him. The fact that the boys felt it necessary to go Super Saiyan against him spoke volumes... insinuating that Popo was stronger than them in base form. And Goten's base form is implied to be comparable to Base Gohan earlier in that saga... who can then be argued to be stronger than SSJ Goku from Namek due to a surprisingly legitimate but gross Pui-Pui narrative argument over the Supreme Kai, who was stated to be equal to Cell Games SSJ Goku in power and far superior to Piccolo in the Buu Saga, who was stronger than Piccolo from the Cell Saga, who was equal to Android 17 and easily stronger than Super Saiyan Vegeta before he trained in the ROSAT. Semantics aside, the point is Mr. Popo will be kicking Goku's ass for a while."

Tenten grinned as she concluded, "By the end of the training, however, Hinata was... so much stronger. In her base state, she was at a level of 3,423... and her Tenseigan chakra mode boosted her to around 68,460! As for Son Goku, well... his base form surpassed 100,000 and capped off at 112,500. And his Ikari form... was literally 1,125,000! Talk about power cliffing."

Power Levels:

Goku (Base): 112,500

Goku (Ikari): 1,125,000

Hinata (Base): 3,423

Hinata (Tenseigan): 68,460

Piccolo Daimao (Android 11): 9,500

Juubito: 400

Bardock: 10,000

Naruto (Pre-Time-Skip): 450

Sasuke (Pre-Time-Skip): 450

Kakashi (Pre-Time-Skip): 450

Kaguya: 500

Hagoromo: 490

Konan: 111

Grandpa Gohan (Baba Tournament): 120

Kami: 300

Akamaru: 80

Mr. Popo: 150,000,000

"Alright, let's dive into the reality check," Tenten began, her voice tinged with a mix of humor and seriousness. "At this point in the story, the DBZ characters who are still alive will begin to take over, and the Naruto characters who had zero logical ways of keeping up would be weeded out quickly. Humans and especially chakra users simply do not respond to gravity training or training in general the same way Goku does due to his distinct biology and insane potential on top of being a ki user, and this will only be shown to greater and greater extents as time went by. The gap shown here is just the beginning!"

Neji nodded, setting his coffee aside. "The reason why Goku received such a massive increase was for a few reasons. First, in canon, Goku literally grew from a power level of 416 to 90,000 within a year of training with King Kai and then six days of training in 100 times gravity, an insane 216x increase which enabled him to break the limits of Saiyan potential entirely. In this timeline, replace the King Kai training with extensive time with Kami on a more advanced level, over two years with a gravity room that went up to 100x gravity at his disposal, training against someone stronger than him in Mr. Popo and someone uniquely different from him in Hinata, and a heavy emphasis on ki control and meditation during his training."

Tenten continued, "This culminates in him catching up to and then surpassing his canon power level due to having more years of Gravity Training and high-level combat in general under his belt. That being said, he is not massively stronger than he was in canon due to his lack of Zenkai's. He has not been made aware of a Saiyan's ability to grow stronger due to recovery from a near-death battle, as he has never come close to dying at any point in his life. Canon Goku's power growth was attributed to his exploitation of his genetic gifts, growing from over 8,000 to 90,000 in just six days of training. This version of Goku did not do the same thing; instead, he worked far longer in order to achieve similar results of an 11.25x increase in power."

Neji added, "Even though it may not appear to be so, Piccolo Jr. in canon stated that he was thousands of times stronger than everyone other than Goku himself put together when the concept of jumping him was thrown around, and Roshi confirmed the truth in this statement. How is that possible if Piccolo's power was less than the 408 he clocked in at from the Raditz fight, and Tien had a confirmed power level of 250 or less at that time, or in other words weaker than Piccolo Daimao was confirmed to be at a level of 260 during his fight with Goku. The gap was less than 160 units between Tien and Piccolo Jr., but it was confirmed that Piccolo Jr. at that point was 'thousands of times' stronger than him."

Tenten smiled. "Case in point, power levels in the early Dragon Ball era specifically were not linear. In DBZ, power levels become linear because of the Kaioken, transformations, and percentages confirming that Kaioken x3 was a direct 3x increase of linear proportions, whereas in earlier power levels the farmer with a shotgun has a power level of 5 and Roshi has a power level of 180. If the power levels were linear, then that would mean the farmer is capable of destroying 1/36th that of the moon with an attack or blast, which would make him at minimum a large country buster."

Neji laughed, "And yet, we know that the farmer being this strong is obscenely disingenuous and untrue, hence why power levels in the Dragon Ball stage of the game were not linear yet, they were more on the side of exponential. Ergo why Piccolo Jr's statement of being thousands of times stronger than the others put together is not a fallacious or flagrant statement, especially because Roshi agreed with his assessment. The only one able to challenge Piccolo for the title of strongest under the heavens was Goku; the rest of them were fodder."

"Alright, Neji-kun, let's get into the nitty-gritty of Hinata's growth," Tenten started. "She had a lot going for her: direct rivalry and the proper motivation to be stronger, Goku's ki consistently wrapping around her in the form of his Ikari energy, Mr. Popo's black force activity rituals, Kami essentially teaching her the ins and outs of senjutsu without the summoning or animal aspect of it, which meant it was directly correlated to Genki or energy itself and how to harness it, the highest levels of meditation possible, the awakening of the Tenseigan, and training in a format that addressed the weaknesses of being unable to perform without her usual power-set via strict Byakugan restrictions."

Neji nodded, listening intently as Tenten continued. "And let's not forget the 23 months of training, including two months spent in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. In canon, Krillin was able to grow from a power level of 206 to 1770 in only a year of Kami's training. That's roughly an 8.6x multiplier. Hinata's growth was even more significant. She quite literally became 21 times stronger during her training. Goku, on the other hand, couldn't be physically pushed, so his growth came more in the mental and spiritual sense of meditation, seeking one's self, and absolute refinement of his previously atrocious ki control relative to his canon self."

Tenten grinned, glancing at Neji. "As for everyone else in the current scheme of things, those questions would be answered in another note. We may not be the top tiers, but we can hold our own against most of the Earth and win against mostly everyone. Naruto and Sasuke are the strongest in the leaf, with Kakashi curtailing his training to be a respectable Hokage. Lee is third or fourth on that list, next to Kakashi, but he doesn't have the same potential or impetus for growth. As much as I love you I have to call a spade a spade, training with you didn't help Lee get to where he wanted to be. It was frustrating for him, even though he's usually so mannered."

Neji raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a half-smile. "No offence taken. And Gai-sensei? He's fifth strongest, with Itachi, Ino, Haku, Yugao, and then Sakura rounding out the top ten in the village at the current moment. Well, maybe we should insert ourselves into that top ten and remove Sakura and potentially Yugao. I think you could take Yugao in a fight with your armor."

Tenten laughed, "Hell yes I could. Sakura? Easily. Haku? Probably, but it wouldn't be easy. Ino? That fight could go either way. Itachi? Absolutely not. And you, Neji-kun? I'd kick your ass with an EMP to shut down your own set of armor."

Neji chuckled, giving her a quick kiss on the lips. "Without the armor, though, you wouldn't stand a chance, Ten-chan."

Tenten rolled her eyes playfully. "Why would you want to do that to me?"

Neji's expression softened. "Because as much as I love you, I still need to maintain a level of dominance. I'm a 17-year-old about to officially enter manhood."

Tenten blushed slightly as Neji pulled her into a warm embrace. Their playful banter turned into a series of kisses, the girl giggling as she kissed him all over his face, her lips lingering on his. He then reminded her gently, "We need to finish recording the documentary of SGTSSJ before we get carried away."

Reluctantly, Tenten agreed, pulling away from Neji with a sigh. "In current news, there's an incoming UFO that's going to land on Earth any day now. We have no idea who or what it could be, but my drones and satellites in outer space are definitely picking up on an object moving at far faster than light speeds. It's ridiculous just how much speed is being calculated here, it's beyond the scale of human conception as of right now."

Neji tightened his embrace around Tenten, resting his lips on her forehead. "Whatever it is, I'll protect you with my very life."

Tenten grinned, whispering, "This is why I love you."

Neji smiled, "And I love you more than that."

"Neji," Tenten murmured, her voice barely a whisper. "It's been awhile since we've had a moment to ourselves."

Neji nodded, his eyes softening as he looked down at her. "I know. We've been so busy, but now we're here."

Tenten leaned up, her lips meeting his in a slow, deliberate kiss. Their mouths moved together in a gentle rhythm, each touch igniting a deeper connection between them. His hands slid up her back, pulling her closer as their kiss deepened. The friction of their bodies against each other created a warmth that spread through them, intensifying their desire.

She broke the kiss, her breath coming in softly as she looked into Neji's eyes. "I want this to last, Neji-kun. Slow and steady."

Neji nodded, his forehead resting against hers. "Slow and steady," he repeated, his voice a low murmur.

Read the rest of this scene in the complementary story titled SGTSSJ: Universe.

In the end, they lay together, their bodies entwined, the heat of their connection lingering. They were breathless, their bodies covered in a fine sheen of sweat.

"Neji-kun," she whispered, her voice filled with satisfaction. "That quickie was… incredible."

Neji nodded, his arms tightening around her. "Yes, Tenten. It was."

But they still had a video to finish... damnit.

"Alright, let's get back into it," Tenten eventually said after a prolonged cuddle on the mat, slowly beginning to redress herself.

Neji nodded, actively making himself presentable once more before plopping back into his seat. "Okay, let's see what we have here."

Tenten promptly read aloud the first review from Monster King. "'You're doing amazing work, please continue the story.'"

She smiled and glanced at Neji. "Short and sweet. Thank you for always dropping reviews! You're awesome!"

Neji chuckled. "It's nice to see the support. Keeps the morale up."

Next, Tenten read the review from AlanS. "'Great story, I read all of it in 2 days. I just couldn't stop reading. Loved the way you included the DBZ world into Naruto and not just Goku. The only thing I didn't like was Sakura being with Naruto as I would've rathered him to continue liking Ino from the beginning and not switching up. But in all, Great story so far!'"

Tenten leaned back, thinking. "Some of these pairings are certifiably not set in stone, so stay tuned..."

She then moved on to TheGoodDoctor13's reviews. "'Well seeing Kakashi actually train his team well instead of bumming off is nice, also Goku and Yugao's training is cool to see as well.'"

Neji responded to this one, "Yeah, Kakashi wasn't as depressed here. The advent of Goku's attack on Konoha ensured that he would be stronger than he was in canon at the same moment in time. Goku's presence really shifted the dynamics in the village. It's interesting to see how it all unfolds. Sin's goal in writing Goku and Yugao's dynamic was to present a creative clash of styles and mentalities, with Goku being the definitively more powerful of the two and Yugao being the skilled shinobi that she is. Glad you enjoyed it!"

Tenten continued with another review from TheGoodDoctor13. "'Why is Goku so weak? He was raised by Grandpa Gohan still and Gohan says "you're stronger than most people are" and yet Goku is tying and getting hurt in fights against a 7-year-old Naruto and is completely no-diffed by ANBU. I guess Gohan was a liar.'"

She sighed. "In canon and also here, Goku was born with a power level of 2. He's also car level at the beginning of Dragon Ball, and this Goku is five to six years younger than that same car level, bullet level Goku. That being said, he's still stronger than most people given his durability and basic superhuman characteristics."

Neji nodded thoughtfully. "It's all about perspective. Goku's growth is astronomical, but it has to start somewhere."

Tenten read the next review from Lioth. "'Orochimaru somehow getting Goku's DNA is already a stretch, but actually using it so quickly? I call bullshit. A mere month is not enough to do all of the things required for that.'"

She shrugged. "Orochimaru is crafty, and he made Goku bleed just enough. You may not agree, but for the purposes of fleshing out Orochimaru's potential, the author Sin had to have it happen that way."

Neji agreed. "Orochimaru's resourcefulness is a key part of his character. It makes sense in the context of his abilities."

Tenten moved on to bardaku el primero's review. "'Aunque es por mucho la más débil del equipo, el hecho de dejar a Sakura fuera de la batalla contra Kaguya se siente como algo incompleto para mí.'"

Neji translated, "'Although she is by far the weakest on the team, the fact of leaving Sakura out of the battle against Kaguya feels like something incomplete to me.'"

Tenten sighed. "In this timeline, Sakura is still fodder. It was only logical that Obito would steal the Dragon Balls and accelerate his plans if given the opportunity, therefore Goku was the only logical replacement."

She then read David Daniel B's review. "'I like how both Chi-Chi and Goku are acting more mature and better communication in a way that doesn't destroy their friendship. Good job.'"

She smiled. "Absolutely! I want this fic to be a moral compass of different strokes of humanity, in that people can react to others in all sorts of ways. In this case, Goku and Chi-Chi don't have to cut each other off because of their one-sided relationship."

Neji agreed. "It's a refreshing take on their dynamic. Growth and maturity are important."

Tenten read the next review from ItzMeSalazar. "'I humbly ask that Goku and Hinata get together and in idea I think it would be funny if one day Goku is short and the next day he is full size just like the show. I would like to see everyone's reactions to that. Also great story I finished it in 2 days.'"

She chuckled. "I believe this prophecy has been kinda sorta fulfilled with the whole Ikari spill."

Tenten moved on to Pantera Azul's review. "'Te diré la verdad, me parece que estás desperdiciando una gran oportunidad, Haku podría unirse al equipo cuatro estrellas con Yugao y Goku. Es cierto que ella jamás estará al nivel de Goku, pero entrenar con él la haría mucho más fuerte y sí les das otro compañero podrían entrar a los exámenes chunin y me encantaría ver a Orochimaru enfrentando a Son Goku.'"

Neji translated, "'I'll tell you the truth, it seems to me that you're wasting a great opportunity. Haku could join the four-star team with Yugao and Goku. It's true that she will never be at Goku's level, but training with him would make her much stronger. And if you give them another teammate, they could enter the Chunin Exams, and I would love to see Orochimaru facing Son Goku.'"

Tenten nodded. "This was a clear missed opportunity, and you are right. I think Sin definitely wet the bed on having Haku be on the same team as Yugao and Goku. Who knows, maybe Sin could deliver a quick retcon punch at some point in the near future... after all, he isn't done updating and amplifying his story or its narratives. This is not a static thing."

Neji added, "Retcons are always an option. The story is ever-evolving."

Tenten read the next review from Civen434. "'So, if Goku finds out one of his friends died again... Heck, this might be the time he'll go SSJ for the first time, surpassing his main timeline counterpart in achieving the form age-wise. King Kai's not here so no Kaioken upgrade, and the Saiyans might arrive sooner than we expected... (Wonder if Goku will take in both Hinata and Ino as his girls simultaneously? Oh and Karin as well..)'"

Neji took this one. "Well... Karin's dead, so there goes that. The latter two things are true up to this point. The best thing that could happen for Goku was the Ikari form given how Bardock's wish and the Infinite Tsukuyomi clashed against one another on a conceptual, ethereal level. He needs to go through a lot more before he can even think about achieving the legend."

Neji nodded. "Goku's journey is far from over. There are still many challenges ahead."

Tenten read the final review from Dontus -not Donut- Powerus. "'Yeah, this no kill rule is over the top Bat-Man levels of no kill rule. Canon kid Goku killed evil people indiscriminately without remorse even after Roshi's training. As long as they're a threat to civilians. Which was only stifled by Kami's training. This Goku was raised by Konoha after Gohan. And I fail to understand why Martial Artists would have this mental conviction of not killing even if faced against evil people when Roshi himself is willing to, and even killed Freeza soldiers in the RoF. Especially in the Ninja world. Where killing is apparent and paramount for one's own survival. Goku finally used his wish and didn't just go towards the Konoha-nin to return to Konoha. His only place to call home. Goku's in a world and grew up in a world filled with killers of different make. The ones that protect, the ones that only want to harm others, and the ones that will kill for their goal. You made it sound like all Shinobi are in the other two while martial artists are in the first section. Not only that but Goku grew up in Konoha not in Roshi's home. You made Final OG Dragon Ball Goku become Kid Goku. Since when did Goku get trained by Kami here? You're not making it a crossover, you're just making it be divided just to create unreasonable tensions that shouldn't even happen when the main goal is to see how well things can mesh together, not make an obvious divide as clear as putting oil and water in the same glass of water. Not only that but you gave Kid Goku Adult Goku's mentality despite lacking the people that taught him to reach this mentality. You also made it apparent to confuse everyone by making Goku kill the Red Ribbon Army soldiers and suddenly caring for Hinata in killing people who you don't even consider a martial artist. What's this level of mental gymnastics? What am I even reading?!'"

Tenten laughed. "In hindsight, I bet Sin wishes he would have read all of his reviews over the past two years since he rebooted the story in 2023, as the reviews from this man are by far the best ones on the story. This review makes total sense, even going so far as to invoke Sin into reworking some of Goku's writing in order to nail the character that he is naturally and leverage that with the character that this composite universe would need him to become. That being said, Goku having doubts about killing others and his own morality in a world such as Naruto's should be fair here, given his brain and lines of thinking have expanded considerably beyond the simplicity that was his canon mind. And later in the story, Goku becomes more and more grounded with the realities of his power and what he may be forced to do with it in fights against Orochimaru, Kabuto, Piccolo Daimao, Tao Pai-Pai, and more. So he's not Batman level not even close, but it's still an outcome he would rather avoid."

Neji agreed. "It's a delicate balance. Goku's growth involves not just his physical abilities, but his moral compass as well."

Tenten leaned back in her chair, the glow from the computer screen casting soft shadows on her face. She glanced at Neji, who was reading through the last few lines of their narration with a thoughtful expression.

"Neji-kun," she began, her voice soft and a bit hesitant. "Do you think we're liable to die? Or, in my case, die again?"

Neji turned his head to look at her, his white eyes reflecting the faint light from the screen. He reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. "Anything is possible, Tenten. But I'd pray for your livelihood regardless. You've come back from death before, and you're stronger now than ever."

Tenten gave a small, wry smile, her eyes searching his for reassurance. "I'll pray for you too. I think you might need it more than me, especially with everything that's going on."

Neji chuckled softly, a sound that made Tenten's heart flutter. "I appreciate that. But you know I'll protect you with my very life. Always have, always will."

She smiled wider, feeling a warmth spread through her. Leaning in, she rested her forehead against his, their breaths mingling in the close space. "You're too good to me, Neji."

He gently tilted her chin up with his fingers, bringing their lips closer together. "I'm just as lucky to have you, Ten-chan. We make a pretty good team, don't we?"

Before she could respond, Neji closed the gap, kissing her softly. Tenten's melted into the kiss, her hand coming up to rest on the back of his neck. As they pulled back slightly, her fingers traced the lines of Neji's jaw, her eyes meeting his. "You really think we can survive all of this, don't you?"

Neji nodded, his expression serious. "I do. As long as we're together, I believe we can face anything that comes our way."

Tenten rested her head on his shoulder. "You always know what to say to make me feel better."

Neji wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "That's because I know you better than anyone else. And I love you more than you can imagine."

Tenten lifted her head, her eyes shining with emotion. "I love you too, Neji-kun. More than words can say."