Saving the Uchiha clan starts with becoming the clan leader.

but,

The Gedo Mazo did indeed attack Orochimaru.

This... means that Uchiha Sogen controlled the Gedo Mazo? But how is that possible? Even if Uchiha Sogen awakened the Rinnegan, according to the notes left by Uchiha Madara, the Rinnegan doesn't have the ability to forcibly seize other people's summoned objects?

and many more,

Speaking of,

After losing the Flame Fan, he tried to summon it, but it didn't work after many attempts. He thought the Flame Fan was sealed away, and the ninja world had ways to remove the contract seals left on ninja tools, so he didn't think much of it.

But now it seems,

Could it be that... there's something fishy going on here?

"You still have the leisure to pay attention to this kind of thing? Go ponder it slowly in the belly of the King of Hell!" Zongxian didn't waste any words. He slowly pulled out his right hand, which had grabbed Orochimaru's head. As his five fingers left Orochimaru's head, you could see a soul that was visible to the naked eye in his palm.

Orochimaru's Eight-Headed Serpent Technique is indeed very powerful.

However, while the physical body can regenerate almost infinitely, the soul is a unique entity, and it is unrelated to the size of the physical body. The human path's ability to extract souls means that as long as it touches the target's physical body, it can forcibly extract their souls. No matter how strong the physical body is, it cannot withstand this move.

Orochimaru's expression,

Extremely distorted.

Clearly, the moment his soul was touched, Orochimaru, as an expert in soul research, immediately realized that he had been careless. However, unfortunately, at this point, there was no room for regret. Even if he roared like thunder in his heart, he could not stop Sogen from extracting the soul.

It takes a long time to explain.

In fact, in less than a second, Sogen extracted Orochimaru's soul.

With the loss of its soul, the eight-headed, eight-tailed white snake deflated like a punctured balloon, its massive body instantly shrinking into a large white-scaled snake as thick as an ordinary pillar. These scales were not fish scales, but rather 'scales' formed by hundreds and thousands of small white snakes.

but,

At this moment, the white-scaled serpent was merely a lifeless corpse, lying motionless atop the head of the Gedo Mazo. Not far away sat Nagato, who had been stabbed in the heart and had his eyes gouged out, yet was still clinging to life in that mobility machine.

Zongxian stood on the back of the dark bird and slowly descended.

Then it jumped down and stood on top of the Gedo Mazo.

The slippery guy Obito Uchiha used the space-time technique Kamui to escape the moment he extracted Orochimaru's soul. Although he may still be hiding nearby, unless Obito Uchiha shows himself, Sogen can't break into Kamui's alternate dimension.

"We've obtained the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and Orochimaru has been temporarily dealt with. Next..."

Zongxuan stood atop the head of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Looking at the corpse of the white-scaled serpent and Nagato, who was clinging to life and refusing to become a corpse, he thought for two seconds and then made a decision.

Next,

It's time to retrieve those Rinnegan eyes.

The Gedo Mazo has already been acquired. If we can also bring the Rinnegan belonging to Madara Uchiha under our control, then... it will be equivalent to taking control of the ninja world's ship and being able to decide the fate of the ninja world.

prior to,

Upon seeing the eight-headed, eight-tailed white snake coiled around the demon statue of the heretic, Zongxuan was surprised but immediately realized that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

He made a decisive decision.

He stopped attacking Nagato and summoned a Deva Path clone using a summoning technique. The clone took the place of his Susanoo, drawing attention from both overt and covert observers, while also monitoring the battle between Nagato and Orochimaru. Meanwhile, Sogen donned a white cloak and silently infiltrated underground, stealthily making his way to the feet of the Gedo Mazo.

and,

He stood on the instep of the demon statue of the heretic.

He reached out and touched the ankle of the Gedo Mazo.

Then--

At this moment,

Orochimaru gave him an even bigger surprise.

Haku's strike rendered Nagato powerless to resist, and his control over the Gedo Mazo plummeted to its lowest point. Sogen decisively unleashed the power of his Noble Phantasm, "Knights Never Die Bare Hands," seizing control of the Gedo Mazo and bringing this weapon of war under his own command.

Knights do not die unarmed.

This invisible treasure can bring anything that Muneaki perceives as a "weapon" under his control and grant it enhanced attributes. Whether it's a kunai, a shuriken, a large tree, or even a thigh bone... anything that can be used in battle is a weapon and can be forcibly taken over by Muneaki.

The Greatsword Samehada and the Flame Fan were both forcibly taken from different people in this way.

These two ninja tools are undoubtedly weapons, and there is no room for argument about that.

As for the Outer Path Golem... to be honest, Zongxian couldn't lift this withered wood-colored humanoid behemoth as a weapon, and he wasn't sure if he could really take it over. However, he was certain in his heart that the Outer Path Golem was a weapon of war, even though he knew that the Outer Path Golem's essence was the shell of the Divine Tree.

But who says the divine tree isn't a weapon?

try,

It was a success in the end!

With the power of the invisible treasure, Knights Never Die Bare Hands, successfully activated, and at the moment when Nagato's control over the Gedo Mazo plummeted, Sogen effortlessly seized control of the Gedo Mazo.

then,

He immediately joined the battle between Obito Uchiha and Orochimaru, taking advantage of Orochimaru's complete ignorance of the Rinnegan's power. He caught Orochimaru completely off guard and swiftly defeated him, 'temporarily killing' him.

Given Orochimaru's tenacious vitality...

He didn't dare say that Orochimaru was really dead, so he could only use the contradictory description of "temporarily killed". But he figured that Orochimaru wouldn't be able to jump up and oppose him for the time being. The next thing to do was to find Haku and retrieve the Rinnegan that had been dug out of Nagato's eye sockets.

[Chapter 397. Immortal Technique: Ice Escape - Snow Cellar and Icy Heaven]

The world is so unpredictable!

One moment he was full of ambition and glory, the next he was lying dead in the field, all his efforts were in vain. Seeing Orochimaru end up like this, Obito Uchiha felt a mix of emotions. Because of Orochimaru's betrayal of Nagato and his act of taking the Rinnegan, he felt very happy to see this scene!

however,

The problem is that Orochimaru died at the worst possible time!

Of all times to die, he had to be killed by Uchiha Mugen. Now... where am I supposed to get the Rinnegan back? To that boy named 'Haku'? But where am I supposed to find it? That kid also possesses some rather peculiar space-time techniques; it's not so easy to get my hands on.

Furthermore, Uchiha Sogen was clearly also eyeing those Rinnegan eyes covetously.

Condition,

It is extremely urgent.

"We must find that boy before Uchiha Mugen."

Obito Uchiha had sorted out his thoughts.

The Gedo Mazo has likely fallen into the hands of Uchiha Sogen. It's unclear how Uchiha Sogen managed to do it, but the facts are undeniable, leaving him no choice but to acknowledge them. Based on this fact, the Rinnegan belonging to Uchiha Madara absolutely cannot be lost.

If even those Rinnegan eyes are lost, how can the Eye of the Moon Plan be carried out?

Moreover, without the Rinnegan, he couldn't even revive Madara Uchiha to help him!

Thinking of this,

He also deeply resented Orochimaru's betrayal of Nagato.

What a waste!

Nagato wasn't saying that death was unacceptable, but rather that such a waste would be to die... He wouldn't even be able to contribute his remaining energy. Although he didn't particularly want to revive that old man, Uchiha Madara, given the current situation, reviving him was no longer an unacceptable option.

Faced with two unsatisfactory options: the complete failure of the Eye of the Moon Plan and having Madara Uchiha oversee its implementation, the choice remained unchanged.

He would rather choose the latter.

only,

The most urgent task is to find Orochimaru's subordinate.

Just then—

A thin ice mirror appeared above the head of the Gedo Mazo, and the boy's slender figure emerged from it, returning once again to the place where Nagato and Orochimaru had stumbled and fallen.

"Lord Orochimaru!!"

Looking at the corpse of the white-scaled serpent,

The eyes are white and the canthus is split.

anger,

In an instant, the 'string' of reason in my mind was extinguished.

After obtaining the Rinnegan, he immediately retreated as Orochimaru had instructed. However, before he had gone far, he saw the sight of a giant white snake with eight heads and eight tails 'collapsed'. Feeling uneasy, he decided to turn back to investigate after a brief moment of thought.

then,

Then they saw the corpse of the white-scaled serpent.

"Long time no see! Haku, how about it? How about coming to work for me this time?" Upon seeing Haku's appearance, Zongxian did not rush to snatch the Rinnegan, which was still unknown whether it was in Haku's possession. Instead, he once again extended an invitation to Haku to join him.

They were probably used to their roles as clan leader and Hokage.

While pursuing personal gain, they also try to secure sufficient benefits for the village and their family.

This boy named Haku is undoubtedly a walking treasure. Not only does he possess the bloodline limit of 'Ice Release', but he is also Orochimaru's confidant. If he can be recruited into the village, perhaps Konoha will have another great clan that inherits the Ice Release bloodline limit in the future.

"Mr. Zongxian, did you... kill Lord Orochimaru?"

Ignoring Zongxian's invitation,

Bai lowered his eyes and asked a question in return.

"Yes."

Zongxian readily nodded.

"So--"

Bai closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I can't accept your invitation."

"That's it!"

Zongxian sighed regretfully.

Putting everything else aside, Orochimaru is indeed very good at bewitching people. Kimimaro took advantage of his young age and spent several years in the village educating him to correct his values. As for Haku, who is already a teenager, it is obviously much more difficult to change his values.