A week can be long or short depending on how you look at it.
When two Kage arrived in the Land of Grass simultaneously, the eyes of the entire shinobi world converged on this spot. Spies from the other three Great Nations were out in force, everyone seemingly anticipating a full-scale war between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire so they could swoop in and scavenge for scraps.
Unfortunately, their calculations were off.
Neither the Third Hokage nor the Third Tsuchikage had the slightest intention of going to war. On the contrary, both had issued strict orders forbidding their shinobi from leaving their posts, fearing any spark might ignite an unwanted conflict.
When the two stood face-to-face, neither Hiruzen Sarutobi nor Onoki showed a hint of hostility. Instead, they acted like two old friends who hadn't met in ages, exchanging polite greetings.
Watching two white-haired old men trade meaningless pleasantries, Allen couldn't help but yawn.
As he began to scan the Iwa retinue, he noticed a woman with short black hair projecting intense killing intent toward him. Her eyes were filled with naked, undisguised hatred.
Is that... Kurotsuchi?
Recognizing her distinctive attire and style, Allen instantly knew who she was, and exactly where that soul-searing hatred came from. He had just killed her father, after all; it would be weirder if she didn't hate him.
Sadly for her, glares and killing intent don't deal actual damage. Allen kept a faint smile on his face and even gave her a slight nod.
This blatant provocation nearly caused Kurotsuchi to lose it and charge forward to stake her life against her "father's killer." Before she could act, Akatsuchi held her back.
"Calm down. I know how you feel. But this is a negotiation site. Don't embarrass Iwagakure."
"Damn it! I swear I'll slaughter that brat!" Kurotsuchi growled, her face contorted with rage.
"Slaughter me? Sorry, but you don't seem to have the ability. In the entire Land of Earth, only your Kage, Onoki of Both Scales, counts as a powerful ninja. The rest of you are just trash living under his protection," Allen sneered, activating his "Toxic Tongue" skill.
He didn't exactly have a good temper, especially when someone threatened to kill him to his face.
"Hey! Kakashi! Are you just going to watch?" Akatsuchi, clearly a cooler head, ignored Allen's verbal barbs and tossed the problem to Kakashi, who was standing guard. "Don't forget, arrogant brats usually don't live long."
Kakashi sighed helplessly, stepped forward, and patted Allen on the shoulder. "Alright, settle down," he whispered. "The Hokage is watching. That woman is Kitsuchi's daughter. You killed her father; it's natural she'd be a bit emotional."
"Oh, so she's that loser's daughter. No wonder she feels so weak," Allen continued, ruthlessly striking her most sensitive nerve.
As the saying goes, if you don't pull the weeds by the roots, they'll grow back with the spring breeze. Since he'd killed the father, he might as well take out the daughter too.
An enemy is an enemy! It has nothing to do with gender or looks. In this regard, he practiced true gender equality.
"Brat! You're dead! I will torture you to death, bit by bit, in the most painful way possible!" Kurotsuchi squeezed the words out through clenched teeth. She was beyond fury; her only thought was finding the most agonizing way to end him.
"Hmph! Bored with the threats. If you actually had the strength, you wouldn't be standing there barking like a cowardly dog. It seems Iwa's 'Will of Stone' only teaches you how to be a professional turtle."
As a modern soul, Allen knew exactly how to stoke the deepest fires of someone's heart. There is an art to flaming people.
Cursing out someone's female relatives or ancestors is low-tier and boring. A person might get mad at first, but they eventually go numb to it. But if you pick at a scab or insult their most cherished beliefs or idols, even the most stoic person will lose their mind.
Calling Kitsuchi a "loser" was picking at a scab; insulting the "Will of Stone" was a direct assault on the collective nerve of every Iwa ninja present.
In seconds, the entire Iwa entourage radiated intense hostility. It felt like a powder keg ready to blow. Realizing this, Kakashi forcibly dragged Allen away before things escalated further.
In contrast, Onoki kept a hypocritical smile on his face. "Konoha's youth sure are lively! To kill Kitsuchi at such a young age and hold Iwagakure in such contempt... give him time, and he might become another White Fang or Yellow Flash."
"Hardly. That's just the arrogance of youth," the Third Hokage responded with a smile.
"And regarding the condition I proposed?" Onoki's eyes suddenly turned sharp.
"I can give you one chance. But whether you can grasp it is up to your village," Hiruzen Sarutobi said meaningfully.
"One chance?" The Tsuchikage's expression became guarded.
The Third Hokage nodded. "Yes. Once the agreement is signed, I will send Allen alone to the border on a reconnaissance mission. You will have five minutes. If you exceed five minutes, backup will arrive."
"Deal! I accept. Now, let's sign this agreement."
Onoki agreed after a brief thought. Five minutes was short, but for an ambush, it was plenty.
As the two Great Nations signed the peace treaty, everyone from the Daimyo to the commoners in the Land of Grass breathed a sigh of relief. The older generation still remembered the horrors of the Third War. But for the predatory Land of Lightning and Land of Wind, they could only curse these two "Old Foxes" for being so cautious.
As for Allen, he didn't know he had been sold out yet. He sat on the ground yawning while Kakashi lectured him. Just as he felt he was being hypnotized by the buzzing in his ear, he noticed a figure standing at the entrance.
Kakashi noticed too, his eyes filling with vigilance.