News of the clash between the Hidden Sand Village and the Hidden Cloud Village could hardly be kept from the other major nations.
The Third Kazekage and the Third Raikage had even fought each other in person, immediately drawing keen interest from the other Kage.
After all, this was the first open conflict between Kage since the Shinobi World War ended. How could anyone fail to notice?
But just as they settled in to enjoy the spectacle, the Hidden Cloud Village swiftly pulled back its defensive line. No matter how the Hidden Sand Village provoked it, the Hidden Cloud Village refused to strike first.
Seeing this, the Hidden Sand Village had no intention of charging recklessly into Hidden Cloud territory. Its shinobi could only shout insults about their opponents' families from afar now and then.
The Hidden Cloud Village could give as good as it got. Its shinobi might not be allowed to attack, but no one had forbidden them from insulting the Hidden Sand shinobi's families in return.
And so a military clash that might have escalated into something far worse turned into a shouting match.
The Hidden Sand Village called the Hidden Cloud Village a pack of barbarians.
The Hidden Cloud Village called the Hidden Sand Village a pack of rabid dogs.
The other nations found the exchange tedious. What a disappointment.
There was no thrill in watching people trade insults. They wanted to see the two sides tear up the land and leave rivers of blood behind.
Yet both villages showed restraint. Even when someone lost patience and threw a punch, the fighting stayed minor. Most of the time, they stuck to insulting each other's families.
As time passed and October arrived, both sides seemed to tire of the pointless war of words. In the end, they