Chapter 373 - The Usual
The whole event ended after about four hours, and currently, Yuna, Naruto, Tsunade, and around 10 ANBU were standing in the Hokage office. While Tsunade and the ANBU were directing quite a bit of killing intent at Yuna and Naruto, Yuna looked completely unbothered, while Naruto at least had the decency to have a sheepish grin on his face.
Naturally, the event wasn't over because someone reached Yuna and Naruto, but because there were no more willing participants.
Since no one managed to reach them, Yuna considered making the change to the Hokage Monument permanent, but after Naruto's insistence, she decided that she would return it to its original form…soon.
"This time, you two definitely went too far. What were you thinking when you decided to play a prank that would make me mobilize Konoha's shinobi force?"
While Naruto looked a little guilty after hearing Tsunade's words, Yuna chuckled in amusement before shrugging her shoulders.
"Isn't it fine? It's not like anything bad happened. Besides, this should have been a good experience for those that never stood on a battlefield and should have improved everyone's skills at finding traps as well…"
Yuna nodded in approval at her own words and decided that there was something else she should clarify.
"…No need to thank me and payment isn't necessary either."
*BOOM*
Tsunade's fist impacted on her table, leaving a massive dent behind, while the veins on her forehead popped up in anger.
"PAYMENT!? I SHOULD THROW YOU IN PRISON RIGHT NOW!!!"
Despite facing Tsunade's fury head-on, a merchant-like smile appeared on Yuna's face while she started rubbing her thumb and index finger together.
"Now, now, don't be like this, Tsunade. I'm sure we can come to a settlement that satisfies both parties."
However, Tsunade only snorted in disdain when she heard Yuna's words.
"Really? Bribery? Do you really think you could get out of this with a bottle of alcohol?"
A disappointed expression appeared on Yuna's face, as she wagged her index finger at Tsunade.
"Tsunade, Tsunade, Tsunade, you really disappoint me. Do you really think that gifting you expensive alcohol is my only trick? Do you think I wouldn't have already calculated that I would be in this exact situation before the prank even started? That I wouldn't have at least three strategies to prepared to get out of it?"
Tsunade gritted her teeth so hard that they almost shattered but didn't answer Yuna. After all, she was fully aware of what kind of person Yuna was. She loved causing chaos, yes, and she appears to do many random things, but at the end of the day, Yuna is never unprepared. Even if she pushes her pranks too far, she always has something prepared to get out of the situation.
"Hehe, considering your constipated expression, you must have realized that I have prepared something in advance. That is indeed the case, so here it is."
Yuna took out a teal ring and put it on the table, causing Tsunade's face to be deadpan.
"I'm not joining you harem, Yuna."
Yuna rolled her eyes at Tsuande's statement and casually waved it away.
"What a joke. As if I would use the privilege to join my harem to get out of such an unimportant situation. Even destroying half the planet wouldn't garner such an offer."
Tsunade rolled her eyes at Yuna's arrogant words and picked the ring up. She noticed that there were multiple seals engraved into it but had no clue what they did.
"So, what's the purpose of this ring? Since no one got hurt… physically hurt, I'm willing to reduce the punishment if this ring is worth it."
An amused smile appeared on Yuna's face when Tsunade claimed that she would only reduce the punishment instead of waving it away since she was absolutely sure that the ring was significantly more critical than Tsunade could imagine.
"Hehe, that ring is one of the tools the Akatsuki members use to communicate with each other. I will tinker with it a little so that it is possible to listen in on all of their conversations without them even knowing about it. Oh, but I might forget how to do that if Naruto or I were to be punished for such a silly little prank."
*Thud*
Tsunade's whole body stiffened, causing the ring to fall back on the table, while a combination of rage, helplessness, and awe welled up from the ten ANBU in the room. Rage and helplessness, because they did not doubt that Yuna and Naruto would get out of the situation completely unscathed, and awe, because Yuna yet again managed to weasel herself out of a punishment.
Tsunade swallowed the lump in her throat and resumed speaking with a shaky voice.
"Y-Y-You are not joking, right? This isn't just another prank, right?"
Yuna chuckled in amusement before yet again wagging her finger in front of Tsunade.
"I am a woman of my word. My bribes may contain other pranks, but they are always what I promised at the essence."
Tsunade gritted her teeth before nodding her head in acknowledgment. Although she loathed to admit it, that was indeed the case. She might occasionally receive alcohol bottles that whispered to her in an attempt to get her drunk, but the alcohol itself was always top-notch.
Frankly, this weird contrast between total untrustworthiness and total trustworthiness made her crazy, but there was nothing she could do about it and only accept what she got.
Yuna easily saw that Tsunade came to her own conclusion, which caused a broad smile to appear on her face.
"Well, Tsunade, how will you handle this case? What is your final verdict?"
Yet again, Tsunade gritted her teeth as she looked at Yuna with hatred in her eyes. However, her gaze landed on the ring for a brief moment, causing her to take a few deep breaths. Then, a hideous smile appeared on her face that looked a little like she was about to cry.
"Haha, it was just a little prank after all; there is no need to take it so seriously. There will be no punishment. You two are dismissed."
"Alright, see ya, Tsunade."
"Okay, bye-bye, Tsunade."
Both Yuna and Naruto said their farewells, leaving a tired Tsunade and ten dissatisfied ANBU behind. Naturally, Tsunade saw that the ANBU weren't happy that the twins got away again, causing her to smile wryly.
"Well, what was I supposed to do? Considering the status of those two, I can't exactly take a hard stance against them. Instead of dishing out some punishment for a prank that went too far, I would rather have a direct spy-line to Konoha's greatest threat."
Naturally, the ANBU knew that as well, so they didn't answer Tsunade, causing her to chuckle in amusement.
"Well, if you have any misgivings, you are free to look for the twins yourself and talk it out."
A shiver went through the ANBU before they quickly left the room.
"I love my retirement~"
Tsunade's eyebrows started twitching when he heard Hiruzen's relaxed words.
'That's right, retirement… I planned to stop being Hokage after my debts were paid; why am I even still doing this job? I need to find a replacement as soon as possible.'
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