The impact of Tsunade's fist was nothing short of spectacular, resembling a cannonball as it slammed into Carnes' chest with a resounding thud.
The air around them vibrated, and everyone held their breath.
Yet Carnes stood unfazed, a testament to his resilience, prompting murmurs among the onlookers.
Tsunade's anger radiated like a stormy cloud.
"Is..... Is Tsunade-sama really that furious?"
"Why did she hit him so hard? Striking him so forcefully? Carnes-sama won't be beaten to death, will he?" a ninja speculated.
"Probably not. Maybe Carnes-sama might have used the Body Replacement jutsu?" another ninja suggested.
"But isn't that a violation of the rules?" questioned another.
"Yeah, if he uses Body Replacement jutsu, what's even the point of this bet?" someone chimed in.
"Well, I don't know."
"Well, I don't know. Let's just keep watching," came the nonchalant response.
The ninjas of Konoha buzzed with anticipation and speculation, their eyes fixed on Carnes in the arena.
Even Tsunade herself felt a tinge of uncertainty and unease.
'Was my punch too powerful?'
'Was Carnes one shot? That's not what I wanted to do.'
'Could it have actually been fatal, ending him in one strike?
Did Carnes pass out standing, due to pain?' She pondered.
Her annoyance at Carnes's teasing had fueled the punch, but she hadn't intended to cause harm to that extent.
While everyone acknowledged Carnes's strength, it didn't make him immune to death. Even the mightiest could face unexpected perils.
As Tsunade pondered over this, a sense of nervousness crept over Tsunade, contemplating the consequences of her powerful blow.
As she was about to approach and check on Carnes.
Carnes, with a puzzled expression, finally opened his eyes and spoke.
"Did you finish your first punch...? Surprisingly, I didn't feel anything?"
"Hmm...the massage wasn't up to the mark, want to try again, Tsunade?"
But in reality, the moment Tsunade threw her fist, Carnes used Armament Haki over his chest, completely protecting it.
With his mastery of Armament Haki, even the slashes from seasoned swordmasters could be easily blocked, let alone Tsunade's fist.
Her punch, formidable as it was, couldn't breach his defense.
That punch may have shattered lesser defenses, but against Carnes it did nothing.
And still the crisis looming over Konoha Village was imminent.
He raised his iron fists in preparation for a counterattack, daring anyone to intervene and try for themselves.
The challenge Tsunade issued was destined to fail, at least against Carnes.
However, against another opponent apart from Carnes, the outcome might not be as forgiving—perhaps a single punch from Tsunade could send them reeling.
As the spectacle unfolded, the entire village watched in awe, witnessing the throwdown between Tsunade and Carnes.
Carnes tilted his head, the slightest smile playing on his lips.
"Ahh... this didn't feel good. I can only give zero points for your massage service, Hokage-sama."
"Did you skip your lunch today?" he teased.
Yet Carnes was privy to the situation but still chose to make a joke.
Tsunade hearing this remained silent, her face showing a bit of anger.
Her demeanor resembles that of an enraged tigress.
No one could predict what move she might make in the following moment; it was an unpredictable mystery.
Yet, as the Konoha ninjas observed their Hokage's actions, they couldn't help but feel a peculiar unease, a strange expression crept across their faces.
While there is nothing inherently wrong with Tsunade words, there's an inherent unsettling atmosphere lingering around the room.
It's as if they've witnessed a similar scenario when someone's spouse flaunts their authority.
Most of them couldn't help but get reminded of the time when their wife flaunted her powers.
Witnessing Tsunade, on the verge of bursting with embarrassment and frustration, Carnes opted to avoid confrontation and decided against arguing with her.
Sometimes, as man, it's wiser to remain silent in some situations, even if it means enduring a bit of suffering.
But even then, he still wanted to make her angry so ignoring everything he smugly spoke, teasing Tsunade.
"Hokage-sama, did you skip your lunch today?"
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