Saving the Uchiha clan starts with becoming the clan leader.

Zongxian remained silent for a moment, then wrote down the sentence for the clansman who had arbitrarily mobilized a large army to the front lines and confronted the Iwa ninja: fifty years in prison. If war broke out during his imprisonment, he would have to fight as a member of the vanguard battalion.

The death penalty is no longer an option.

This is not to say that Zongxian acted out of personal favoritism.

Rather, Konoha simply lacks a systematic legal system, especially for ninjas, where there is a lack of clear criminal law. Moreover, Konoha, or rather, the ninja world, does not have concepts like human rights. The interrogation department exists as a major department alongside the Anbu and the police department largely because it assumes the role of a court.

How should it be reviewed?

How should it be judged?

This is all the work of the interrogation department, which works entirely according to the ideas of the department's leaders and subordinates. When ninjas interrogate other ninjas, generally speaking, as long as they do not harm their own people, no matter what crimes they have committed, they will at most be imprisoned for a period of time, ranging from a few months to several decades.

But overall, none of them were sentenced to death.

Konoha Village is almost sixty years old, but in those sixty years, not a single criminal ninja has been sentenced to death.

However, there are quite a few people like Sakumo Hatake who die by suicide due to mission failure. Whether they are forced by circumstances or genuinely do not want to live, they all choose to end their own lives. They are strangled by an invisible rule, rather than being sentenced to death by the law.

This incident appears to involve an unforgivable crime.

The problem is that no one died this time because of this clansman's violation of the rules, so even if he is handed over to the interrogation department for sentencing, he will most likely be imprisoned for twenty or thirty years. A fifty-year sentence would be almost like dying of old age in prison for that clansman who is almost forty years old.

Of course, he could also look forward to the outbreak of war, and as long as he could make meritorious contributions in the vanguard battalion, his sentence could be reduced.

However, the most likely outcome of joining the Vanguard Battalion is death in battle. In any case, none of the criminals selected for the Vanguard Battalion during the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars survived and received sentence reductions.

"Dou, do you think we should recall my clansmen from the border guard force? My clansmen seem to be a bit prone to acting on emotion." Zongxian put down his pen. "Forget it, changing orders frequently is not a good thing. Besides, with the lessons learned from this incident, we can take some targeted measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again."

beside,

The pharmacist, Kabuto, who was helping to organize the documents, remained silent.

As a competent secretary, he knows when to speak and when to remain silent.

"However, why attack the border guards? Do they want to provoke a conflict between us and the Iwa ninja?" Zongxian pondered the connection. The information sent by Shisui only identified the real culprit behind the attack on the border guards, but it only confirmed the identity of Uchiha Obito.

The tracking expert from the Inuzuka family had investigated the scene of the Barrier Squad's crime and could identify Obito Uchiha's scent. However, he did not have the opportunity to go to the area below the Naga Shrine to broaden his horizons and could not recognize Sasori's identity. Therefore, the report that Sogen received only stated that Obito Uchiha and an unidentified person attacked the border patrol ninja.

Key information is missing.

Even Zongxian couldn't have imagined that Sasori would be recruited by Obito Uchiha so quickly.

but--

As the saying goes, if one road is blocked, then try another.

There are many roads to Rome; there's no need to be fixated on just one.

While Sogen's main body was still handling official business in his office, one of his shadow clones had already silently left Konoha Village and arrived deep in the forest north of the village. There was a research base of Orochimaru there, but now this research base had become a platform for Sogen and Orochimaru to make transactions.

"Sōgen-kun, no, I should address you as Hokage-sama now?"

Orochimaru, who was waiting there, smiled as he watched Sogen enter the room.

"up to you."

Zongxian adopted an indifferent attitude.

"Call me whatever you want, just don't piss me off."

"Hmph! That's quite frightening. Never mind, Sogen-kun... I heard that Konoha and Iwa ninja almost came to blows?" Orochimaru ultimately didn't refer to Sogen as 'Hokage,' as that name might easily bring up past events for him.

And he,

I don't like the feeling of dwelling on the past.

"It was just a little short, but even if a real fight broke out, it wouldn't matter. The current Iwa ninja doesn't have any strong ninja to speak of; they're all relying on Onoki to hold them up." Sogen picked up the hot tea that was served to him and took a sip. If a shadow clone eats too much, it will disappear, but drinking a couple of sips of tea won't have any effect.

"The reason I contacted you this time is also related to this matter. I don't know if your spy in Konoha has found out the cause and effect, but I'll say it again here! That guy who claims to be Uchiha Madara attacked the border guards, making the border guards mistakenly believe that it was Iwa ninja who did it, which is why there is a standoff in the border area between the Land of Grass and the Land of Earth."

"That guy who claims to be Uchiha Madara?"

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"What a coincidence! I've also just gotten my hands on information about Madara Uchiha's true identity..."

"You mean Obito Uchiha?"

Zongxian spoke first, not giving Orochimaru a chance to betray information.

His relationship with Orochimaru was a business transaction.

The so-called transaction means that if the other party pays for valuable information, you must also pay for corresponding information. This transaction relationship is not bound by any coercion. However, Sogen previously wanted the Six Paths Ninja Tools in Orochimaru's possession, but now he thinks it's not bad to have an inside man like Orochimaru to help him keep an eye on the Akatsuki.

Orochimaru was also very envious of the secrets that Sogen possessed that he knew nothing about, such as the fact that the Senju, Uchiha, Uzumaki, and Kaguya clans all originated from the same bloodline.

Therefore,

Both of them honestly adhered to the principle of equivalent exchange.

"...Does Konoha already know?" Orochimaru was slightly disappointed. He thought he could get a good price, but it turned out to be worthless!

"Hiruko's invasion of the village was due to Obito Uchiha's machinations behind the scenes, and he even personally participated. However, unfortunately, he clearly did not have Madara Uchiha's abilities, but he encountered the same setback as Madara Uchiha. We confirmed Obito Uchiha's identity from the spoils of war we captured."

"I see."

Orochimaru suddenly realized and said thoughtfully, "So... I'll just be frank. Just a few days ago, two new members joined the Akatsuki organization, Obito Uchiha and Sasori. And after hearing the information you gave me, I think Obito Uchiha might have taken the initiative to remove Madara Uchiha's disguise because he knew he couldn't hide anymore."

Then--

"Scorpion? That Crimson Sand Scorpion?"

Zongxian looked over in surprise.

"That's right, it's that genius puppeteer from Sunagakure, Sasori of the Red Sand. By the way, we're partners now."

"...Is this also the power of fate? Sasori of the Red Sand." Sogen chuckled. Knowing that Sasori and Obito Uchiha had joined the Akatsuki, the unidentified person who attacked the border guards with Obito Uchiha must also be someone else.

"What? Zongxian-kun, do you know that old-fashioned brat Sasori?"

"Kid?"

"What's the problem?"

"No."

Not only does Sasori have a childlike appearance, but his actual age is also considered junior in front of Orochimaru. It would be perfectly normal for him to be called a brat.

"We have a bit of a connection. I've been employing him for the past few years, but we had a small dispute recently, and I never expected him to switch sides and join the Akatsuki! The penalty for breach of contract stipulated in the contract hasn't been paid yet. Now that we know his whereabouts, well... it's time to collect the debt!" Zongxian explained simply.

"Hehe! Zongxian-kun, as expected of you."

Orochimaru simply chuckled.

Good guy,

Hire a scorpion to work?

If they weren't acquaintances, he might have actually believed it.

Perhaps it's because Scorpion has been treated like a slave for years and couldn't stand it anymore, so he looked for an opportunity to escape... That might be the truth!

[Chapter 331 Forbidden Technique Research Base]

It turns out that

Having Orochimaru, the mole, to help tip off people was indeed a good choice. Once they figured out what had happened in the north, dealing with it became much simpler. They also managed to learn about the personnel changes within the Akatsuki organization, making it a very rewarding experience.

As for what was sacrificed?

Having hired Sasori as a worker, this piece of information was enough. Orochimaru was quite satisfied with this gain, because it gave him a little bit of unspeakable pleasure when watching Sasori, and the days of traveling together might not be too boring.

·······

Next,

The ninja world was peaceful and harmonious.

The absence of conflict between Konoha and Iwa ninja was a great disappointment to the Kumo ninja, but many were delighted by the precious peace they were enjoying. Even among ninja, there weren't many war-loving fanatics, and for the time being, Konoha's ninja had no shortage of missions to pass the time.

As for the situation in the other villages...

What does that have to do with Konoha?

Sogen was merely the Hokage of Konoha, not the savior of the ninja world. He only needed to fulfill his responsibilities to his clan and village. He never believed he had the ability to be everyone's savior, nor could he satisfy everyone's wishes. Even within his clan and village, there were voices of opposition to him, but the few dissenters were suppressed by the voices of his supporters.

then,

Peace and tranquility prevail in this world.

Especially under the instructions of the Sixth Hokage, the Anbu and the police department jointly and sustainably cleaned up bandits and thieves within the Land of Fire, creating a favorable environment for the economic prosperity and development of the Land of Fire, and attracting more merchants, tourists and even nobles from all over the ninja world.

Everything seemed so perfect, as long as one ignored the forbidden research base in Konoha Village that devoured people without spitting out the bones.

of course,

Ordinary people have no access to such secret information.

Even among the village's higher-ups, only a very few people knew about this forbidden art research base. They knew that at least nine out of ten death row inmates in the village had been sent to this research base. Even the campaign to eliminate bandits and thieves was launched because there wasn't enough research material, which led to the nationwide crackdown on organized crime.

This is a forbidden research base.

Opinions among the informed high-ranking officials were divided. Some felt it wasn't a bad thing, since the Second Hokage loved doing this, developing forbidden techniques as easily as eating and drinking, essentially leaving behind a Book of Seals for Konoha single-handedly. Others believed that forbidden techniques requiring human experimentation were too cruel, and that the First Hokage's prohibition against the Second Hokage spreading the forbidden techniques he developed was justified.

However, these opinions don't have any impact.

As the saying goes, "A new emperor brings a new court."

There's no point in talking about the past. The Sixth Hokage is now in charge of Konoha. When Sogen decided to lift the ban on researching forbidden techniques, no one could stop him. Even the retired Fifth Hokage couldn't influence this decision.

Unlike the young Fourth Hokage who was hampered by the previous Hokage, and unlike the Fifth Hokage who was put in power to maintain a balance, the Sixth Hokage, Sogen, wields power comparable to Hiruzen Sarutobi at the height of his fame. Unless his decisions affect the interests of most of the village's ninjas, there is currently no opposition that can challenge him.

The current Konoha,

It was his one-man show.

Zongxian deeply appreciated the allure of power.

It was truly worth the effort he put into getting this position.

······

"what!!!!!"

A piercing scream escaped from the crack in the door that wasn't closed properly.