News That Shook the Shinobi World

The final cleanup of the battlefield.

The redeployment of troops.

Communications with the homeland.

Renewed negotiations with the Land of Water and Kirigakure.

And preparations to guard against invasions by other countries.

Ending a war.

Wasn't something that could be done easily. There were countless matters to consider, especially for the Land of Snow and the Snow Ninja Village at this point. They couldn't expect to swallow everything in one bite, so they had to leave Kirigakure alone for now. That also meant that over the next few years, the Snow Ninja Village would have to station a large force along the border between the two countries. Of course, Naruto's plan was that someday, once the Shinobi World presented the right opportunity and the Snow Ninja Village had grown stronger on the spoils of this war, he would launch a second Snow-Mist War without waiting for Kirigakure to strike back. That time, he would wipe out Kirigakure and the Land of Water for good.

But not now.

Not while the conditions on all sides were still far from ripe.

Caution and restraint.

Those were the most basic principles Naruto needed to keep in mind.

So, after defeating Mei Terumi and reaching a preliminary agreement, Naruto returned at once to arrange the next steps for his subordinates. He was especially concerned with keeping an eye on Kumogakure and Konohagakure.

Fortunately, the Snow Ninja Village had defeated Kirigakure with overwhelming speed. From the initial friction between the two villages, to the limited fighting that followed, to the full-scale mobilization of forces for a decisive battle, the whole thing had taken less than two weeks. Half that time had been spent simply moving reserve troops to the front lines after both villages called them up.

Even by the standards of ninja warfare,

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