Saving the Uchiha clan starts with becoming the clan leader.

Nine o'clock is the time for most Konoha villagers to relax before bed, and it's the busiest time for shops like taverns in the village. Almost all the taverns are packed at this time. But for Sogen, it's still working hours.

The damage caused to Konoha by Hiruko's attack two days ago was not significant.

However, this has brought Zongxian a considerable amount of extra work. He worked overtime until 1 a.m. yesterday, slept for five hours, and then got up to handle new official business. So far, he has had no rest time except for eating, drinking and using the restroom.

Under the fluorescent lights,

Zongxian was hunched over his desk reading an official document.

At this time,

"Dong dong!"

A knock sounded on the door

"Please come in. Just say what you need to say. I don't have time right now... Jiraiya-senpai, Tsunade-senpai?"

Zongxian looked up and saw Jiraiya and Tsunade walking in. He was stunned for a moment, thinking they were building staff. The words that were about to come out of his mouth came to an abrupt halt. It took him a second to come to his senses. "Jiraiya-senpai, when did you get back?"

"This afternoon."

"No wonder, I knew it... Never mind, there's nothing to say. Jiraiya-senpai, Tsunade-senpai, is there something you need from me?" As Zongxian asked, he already had a few ideas in mind. Considering the recent events, it wasn't hard to guess the answer.

“Zongxian-kun, we came to you hoping to see Beiliuhu. As you know, he was our classmate and comrade-in-arms.”

Jiraiya said in a deep voice.

"See Beiliu Hu?"

Zongxian nodded; it matched his guess.

"This matter..."

Sogen did not give an immediate reply to Jiraiya's request, but instead fell into contemplation.

"What's wrong, Zongxian-kun? Is there something troubling you?"

Jiraiya couldn't help but press for more information.

"That guy Hiruko should still be alive, right?" Tsunade's eyes widened as the thought suddenly popped into her head and she blurted it out.

"Haha! Tsunade-senpai, rest assured, Hiruko won't die so easily." Sogen shook his head with a smile. "I specifically captured him alive not to execute him quietly in secret. At least until Hiruko's value is completely squeezed out, you don't need to worry about his life or death. Seeing Hiruko won't be difficult... However, senpai, I wonder if I can accompany you?"

"A fellow traveler? You're also planning to see Biljuk?"

"That's right. To be honest, the police department's interrogation of Hiruko has not gone smoothly these past two days. Because of the modification of the Oni-Garra Technique, even though the sealing technique was used to suppress Hiruko's chakra, ordinary interrogation methods were still useless against him. Even the Sharingan's genjutsu could not make him speak the truth."

"Why not just have someone from the Yamanaka family read your memories directly?"

"There are members of the Yamanaka clan in the police department, but according to the reports, after fusing the four bloodline limits, Hiruko's mind has also changed. Although he can still be affected by genjutsu, his consciousness is always clear. In other words, you can deceive his five senses, but you can't deceive his mental will. The Yamanaka clan's mind-reading technique is also ineffective."

Zongxian's expression was quite conflicted when he said these words.

He truly hadn't expected Hiruko to become such a persistent pest. He even tried it himself and found that killing Hiruko wasn't difficult, but reading Hiruko's memories was incredibly difficult. As for having Shisui use Kotoamatsukami to modify Hiruko's consciousness, that wasn't an option for the time being.

I used it on Black Zetsu before, and although it didn't work, I can't use it a second time for a while.

Even though he no longer had to worry about going blind after using a certain achievement that Sasori developed based on the White Zetsu's corpse, the ridiculously powerful Kotoamatsukami eye technique couldn't be used continuously just by restoring eye power; it required an interval of several days before it could be used again.

"...In short, the police department and the interrogation department have tried every possible method, but to no avail. So I would like to ask the two seniors to try to help us and see if we can persuade Hiruko to confess on his own."

"Is the Demon Sprout Technique really that powerful?"

Tsunade was surprised.

When they were ordered to hunt down Hiruko, they had some understanding of the Oni-Garara Technique. They knew very well that the Oni-Garara Technique was classified as a forbidden technique because its ability to combine humans and beasts was a violation of human ethics. Unable to bear the monsters that his brother created, which absolutely did not exist in nature, Hashirama Senju immediately classified the Oni-Garara Technique as a forbidden technique.

honestly,

Hashirama Senju was completely numb at that moment.

Four-fifths of the forbidden techniques in that thick book of seals were developed by his younger brother.

“This is also one of the things we want to interrogate him about. According to the research on the Oni-Garra Technique left in Konoha, the Oni-Garra Technique shouldn’t have such an ability.” Sogen spread his hands. “But the reality is that Hiruko really withstood the joint interrogation by the police department and the interrogation department, so… for now, we can only try to see if we can use emotional appeals to get him to talk.”

After discovering the special nature of Hiruko's soul

Zongxian was genuinely interested.

"I understand, let's go together then!"

Jiraiya nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.

"Pocket! Pocket!"

"Sir, what is it?"

Kabuto Yakushi, looking exhausted and exuding the aura of a corporate slave working overtime, appeared before Sogen.

As a secretary, Zongxian was already incredibly busy, so his job as secretary was naturally even busier. To be honest, if it weren't for his limited chakra, he would have loved to create ten or eight shadow clones to help with the work. The workload these past two days had been so heavy it was giving him a stomachache.

"I need to go to the police department. These things are temporarily in your hands."

"Huh?"

The pharmacist adjusted his glasses, his eyes widening in disbelief. "But...but these are already selected and must be processed by you personally!" As he spoke, the dejected aura of a corporate slave emanating from him grew even stronger.

"Handle it as you see fit. You should understand my thinking, as I am used to it. Unless it's a document that I absolutely have to sign, get rid of the rest!" Zongxian patted Yakushi Kabuto on the shoulder. "Kabuto, I believe you can do it."

"what?"

Kabuto opened his mouth as if to speak, but then hesitated, unsure of what to say.

"By the way, Tsunade-senpai, Shizune doesn't need to come with us, right? Let her stay here and rest... I think Shizune is quite capable, why don't we have her help out with my secretary?"

"Shizune, you stay here!"

then,

Sogen, Tsunade, and Jiraiya disappeared outside the Hokage Building, leaving only Kabuto Yakushi and Shizune, who was holding a piglet, standing blankly in the Hokage's assistant's office.

[Chapter 320. A Dream That Has Long Become Unrecognizable]

Police Department, Dungeon.

Contrary to what outsiders might imagine, the place was not dark and gloomy. The bright lights made Jiraiya and Tsunade, who were used to the darkness outside, subconsciously squint. It took them a few seconds to adjust. As they followed Sogen and looked at the scenery around them, which was completely different from the prison in their memories, they suddenly felt a sense of the vicissitudes of life.

This wasn't the first time similar thoughts had crossed their minds.

Konoha today is very different from what it was five or ten years ago.

The science and technology of the ninja world... well, not really, it has embarked on a unique development path that suits the conditions of the ninja world. In particular, after Sogen became the Hokage's assistant, he approved almost all the research and development funding applications submitted by the equipment research and development department, which allowed Konoha's science and technology to enter a stage of rapid development.

"It feels a bit deserted here!"

Jiraiya suddenly spoke up.

From the moment I entered until now, all the dozen or so cells I've seen have been completely empty.

"The prisoners are all in Konoha Prison! This is just a temporary detention center. Before the interrogation department completes its final judgment, some prisoners awaiting interrogation will be held here. The reason you can't see anyone now is because Hiruko is here. In order to concentrate resources on keeping an eye on Hiruko and ensuring that no accidents happen, all the prisoners who were originally held here have been moved to another location."

After answering Jiraiya's question, Zongxian stopped in his tracks.

"Alright, seniors, we've arrived."

He pointed to the cell at the end of the corridor ahead, "Hiruko is inside."

Jiraiya and Tsunade stepped forward and stood outside the cell. Looking over the thick iron bars, they saw Hiruko hanging from the cell by chains. Five chains held Hiruko up in a spread-eagle position, and the chains were covered with dark magic symbols.

Jiraiya glanced at them and realized that they were all incantations used to bind and suppress chakra.

and,

It's not over yet,

Upon closer inspection, Jiraiya noticed that Hiruko was still bound by an iron chain around her waist, which was connected to the wall behind the cell. In addition, there were black spell marks on Hiruko's chest and abdomen. Jiraiya pondered that, to be honest, if such tight restraints were used on him, let alone escape, he would probably have great difficulty even breathing.

However, Biruhu still had the strength to greet them.

"Jiraiya, Tsunade... Haha! Long time no see!"

Hiruko raised his head and looked at the two guests who appeared outside the cell, letting out a chilling laugh. But what was even more chilling was his aged face, which looked like that of an eighty or ninety-year-old man.

"Hiruko, what is this?"

Jiraiya was also startled.

"Just a minor side effect!"

Hiruko said in a harsh voice, "It's proof that my evolution is incomplete. It's a pity I was just one step short. If I hadn't been so greedy... perhaps we would have met in a different way. Meeting like this is really unpleasant."

"Imperfect evolution? You mean fusing the five bloodline limits will achieve perfection? How naive... But whatever, I don't care if your delusions are perfect or not. I only have one question," Tsunade stared at Hiruko and asked sharply, "Where did you get your Wood Release from?"

Everyone has their own reasons for acting.

Just as Jiraiya wanted to know Hiruko's motives for doing these things, Tsunade readily agreed to come with Jiraiya to see Hiruko, most likely because of Hiruko's mastery of Wood Release.

"Delusion! Delusion! Delusion..."

Hiruko seemed not to have heard Tsunade's question.

He kept muttering the word "delusion" over and over, his expression suddenly turning ferocious. He raised his head and roared angrily, "Delusion, is all of this just my delusion in your eyes? Hahaha! Tsunade, Tsunade, you are still as arrogant as ever!!! Everything I have done is just a mere delusion in your eyes... I have always despised your arrogant disdain for others."

"You wanted to know where Wood Release came from? I can tell you, but I don't know either! I don't know!! Kazuma brought it to me, that Kazuma from the original Twelve Guardian Ninja. This thing definitely isn't something a piece of trash could get his hands on. But unfortunately, I don't know who's behind him, so I'm sorry to disappoint you. Go and investigate who defiled the First Hokage's invincible Wood Release! Hahahaha!!!"

The iron chains vibrated violently.

If it weren't for the sealing technique suppressing his chakra...

Breaking free from these chains is an easy task.

"Tsunade, calm down. Don't get angry at Hiruko. He's deliberately trying to provoke you."

Seeing that things were not going well, Jiraiya immediately reached out and pressed down on Tsunade's shoulder, fearing that an enraged Tsunade would punch the cell and break it open, thus releasing the prisoner.

but,

After restraining Tsunade, he realized he might have been wrong. Tsunade wasn't planning to punch Hiruko to teach him a lesson; she simply watched calmly as Hiruko went mad, and her cold gaze gradually weakened Hiruko's maniacal laughter.

"Hiruko, I have never looked down on you. Whether you believe it or not, before you came into contact with forbidden techniques and betrayed the village, in my heart you were a more reliable comrade and ally than Jiraiya. Also, thank you for the information you provided."

"Hey, Tsunade, I'm reliable too, okay?"

Jiraiya muttered something to himself, but Tsunade ignored him and simply slapped away Jiraiya's hand that was on her shoulder with a look of disgust.

Hiruko stared intently at Tsunade, trying to find evidence that she was putting on a brave face. However... he didn't find anything. Instead, he felt a strange emptiness looking at Tsunade's calm demeanor. Was everything she did really meaningful?