The Nations' Delegations Gather (Third Update)

PS: Guys, it's the middle of the New Year celebrations, and Xiao Ye hasn't gone out to have fun. I'm still working diligently on the chapter, so please give me a few more subscriptions and votes! I'd be incredibly grateful!

"Mm, I understand, Naruto. I'll tell the people in Konoha to keep a close eye on things. As for the Cloud Ninja delegation, I'll go make contact with them and sound them out in a bit."

Neji nodded lightly and replied with a knowing look.

Kirigakure had already been dealt a heavy blow by Snow Ninja Village, and it remained an important target in the next stage of their plans. The villages they still needed to be wary of were Konoha and the Cloud Ninja—especially Konohagakure. Naruto and Neji's identities were undoubtedly a very sensitive matter. The makeup of Konoha's delegation to this summit would reveal quite a bit, so for the sake of their future plans, Naruto and Neji had to handle this with the utmost caution.

If they weren't worried about how Konoha and the Cloud Ninja might react,

this great victory

would have been enough for Snow Ninja Village to swallow up all of Kirigakure in one go. Even if they struggled to digest it, they would only need some time to adjust, and it wouldn't be a problem. But that was only true if there were no outside interference. If Konoha and the Cloud Ninja got involved, not only would the annexation process run into unexpected complications, but even if they successfully took over the entire Land of Water and Kirigakure, the problems that followed would overwhelm the Land of Snow and Snow Ninja Village.

That was why Naruto had chosen to pressure the Land of Water and Kirigakure into admitting defeat, then demand a hefty