Revitalizing the Uchiha clan starts with becoming a Kage.

That was an ending countless times more terrifying than death!

They will be forever nailed to the pillar of historical shame!

However, their struggles were destined to be futile. With each of them already severely injured and having been forcibly fitted with special devices that could restrict the extraction and flow of chakra within their bodies, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two were no longer capable of making any effective resistance.

Moreover, what Jiang Si said next shocked the three of them once again.

"Don't make a futile struggle. I will not let you die so easily. Even if you could, I would forcibly revive you using the Impure World Reincarnation technique. Besides, although I have no intention of involving innocent people, if you do not give me the pleasure of revenge, I may not be able to maintain such a rational appearance!"

The three people, who had almost subconsciously stopped struggling, could still fully understand the threat in Jiang Si's words.

Can you guarantee that innocent people will not be implicated?

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared intently at Shoji in front of him with his cloudy eyes and asked, while Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane also kept their eyes fixed on Shoji.

"Hmph, do you think I'm as shameless and despicable as you? Hiruzen Sarutobi, and you even think you have the right to negotiate? I'm just stating a fact for you. But, well, as long as those people are sensible and behave themselves, what's wrong with that?"

To reiterate, Shoji is not an ultimate bloodthirsty killer. Even if he seeks revenge, he will repay evil with justice. Of course, the premise here is that in this life, his Uchiha clan has not been wiped out. Most importantly, Shoji has not lost his loved ones, so he can maintain his last shred of rationality.

He only chose to take revenge on Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other three. The rest of the people, including Hiruzen Sarutobi's son and grandson, were not saints, but they were not so evil as to kill their entire families and exterminate their entire clans for revenge.

As long as these people are pragmatic enough, they can all survive.

This was also the last act of mercy from the general.

Upon hearing these words from Shoji, the expressions of Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two seemed to calm down considerably.

Let him be infamous for eternity; at least he can ensure that his family won't be implicated. Perhaps it sounds a little unbelievable, but for a fleeting moment, less than a second, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two felt a tiny bit of gratitude for Shoji's 'mercy'.

After all, the world of ninjas is incredibly cruel.

Leaving aside the era of the Ninja Village, in the chaotic period decades ago, fueled by the flames of revenge and the struggle for interests, the extermination of clans was commonplace. For Shoji to make such a "statement" was already far beyond their bottom line.

“Okay, I understand what you mean. The three of us will cooperate with you to the very end. However, I also hope that I can have a good talk with my son Asuma before that final moment arrives.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi said sadly.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, who were sitting nearby, clearly had similar thoughts.

Shoji was able to immediately grasp the meaning behind Hiruzen Sarutobi's words; it was simply a final warning to his family and the Sarutobi clan, which was perfectly understandable.

At this moment.

Jiang Si nodded with a detached expression.

It would be best if Asuma and the others could listen to reason, but if they were truly stubborn, then don't blame Shoji for being impolite.

He could indeed make some concessions for the sake of future peace and tranquility in the ninja world, but his bottom line is set here: anyone who crosses it will be killed without mercy!

"Then for the next few days, the three of you can enjoy the appetizers I've prepared for you!"

Jiang Si gave a cold smile, and then the kaleidoscope-like shape that appeared in his pupils met the gazes of the three people the moment they met.

"What!?"

As Hiruzen Sarutobi had anticipated, but the other two advisors were taken aback, their eyes narrowed and flashed a crimson light, directly pulling Hiruzen and the other two into the illusionary world that Shoji had specially prepared.

Before the formal execution.

Shoji was going to thoroughly torment these three on a mental level, especially Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage. Shoji wanted to make him fully experience what endless regret, pain, and immense torment meant!

These were three people who had absolutely no chance of resistance.

After seeing Shoji's Mangekyou Sharingan reflected in their pupils, they both showed a very blank expression.

Along with Danzo, who was still wailing and rolling around on the lower left side.

"Hmph, Shisui, for the next few days, I'll leave the care of Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other three to you."

After glancing at each other, Jiang Si turned his gaze to Shisui, who was sitting to the side, and said in a calm tone.

"Yes, don't worry, Jiang Si."

Shisui nodded slightly in response.

Then.

Shoji's gaze also shifted to Tsunade at the very end. The figure approached lightly, and the faint pressure emanating from it was overwhelming. Yet, Tsunade was able to maintain a calm and composed expression as she looked at Shoji, having already prepared herself mentally.

However, it only lasted for that moment.

"Crack!"

With a wave of his right hand, Shoji destroyed the special device that was imprisoning Tsunade's chakra.

"!?"

At the moment when Tsunade looked puzzled.

"Tsunade-san, this is a promise I made to Hashirama-sama. Besides, I still admire Jiraiya-san. For the sake of both of them, I can let you off this time. Of course, as an enemy, you have the right and reason to seek revenge, but next time, I won't be so lenient."

The words that Sina spoke.

Tsunade was taken aback for a moment, and after taking a deep breath, she said, "I am not the kind of irrational person, Mr. Jiang Si."

Listen to Tsunade's words.

The general was unconvinced.

Seeing that Shoji did not respond, Tsunade naturally did not say anything more. She only took a deep look at Shoji and Orochimaru, who had remained silent from beginning to end, before leaping into the air.

He left the spot and sped off in a direction away from Konoha Village.

Watching Tsunade walk away.

Orochimaru gently clenched his fists, then slowly released them, and a rare, peculiar, and complex emotion appeared in his eerie snake eyes.

In any case, he himself had been a partner with Tsunade and Jiraiya since childhood. If he didn't have any emotional fluctuations, that would be abnormal. At most, it just means that Orochimaru's emotions are more special or even twisted than those of ordinary people.

"Well then, next... um, Third Hokage, I'll leave the affairs of Konoha and some other matters to you for now. Orochimaru-san, please help the Third Hokage with some matters for the time being. After all, you're very familiar with Konoha, aren't you?"

Jiang Si paused for a moment, then continued.

Onoki, Shisui, and Orochimaru did notice something amiss.

But none of the three said much.

"Yes, don't worry, Fourth Generation."

Onoki nodded slightly and said.

"Yes, I will obey Lord Tsuchikage's orders."

Orochimaru nodded in agreement.

Immediately afterwards.

Led by Onoki, the group left the area one after another and headed towards the location of Konoha Village.

This area, which was previously crowded with people.

Only Jiang Si remained.

After watching Onoki, Shisui, and their group depart, and glancing at the Iwa ninja who were left behind to clean up the battlefield and escort the prisoners, Shoji leaped away and headed towards a more remote area.

Until they reached a point where they could be sure no one else could see them.

"Now that you're here, why don't you show yourself? Ancestor Yu Yi? Or should I call you the Sage of Six Paths? Don't think you can keep hiding. As soon as you emerge from the Pure Land, I will be able to sense you clearly."

Jiang Si looked to his right, a purple halo emanating from his pupils, revealing the nine-tomoe Rinnegan. He spoke with a faint expression.

And it was almost exactly the moment Si finished speaking.

"Ring ring!"

In the void, a clear bell sound rang out, followed by a peculiar spatial vibration and a unique energy fluctuation.

"Buzz!"

As the world seemed to distort, a special passage appeared, and the vision darkened. In that instant, the whole world seemed to freeze, or even stand still.

Then, in that dimly lit passage, an old man dressed in white robes and holding a staff stepped out. The horns that were the hallmark of the Otsutsuki clan were visible on his forehead, the endless reincarnation patterns in his eyes, and the most conspicuous scarlet eye in the center of his forehead, all exuding an endless aura of power.

The identity of the newcomer was obvious: it was none other than Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the eldest son of Kaguya Otsutsuki, the goddess of the rabbit, who founded the Ninja Clan and was known as the Sage of Six Paths!

"You were able to sense my presence the moment I appeared. It seems that after absorbing the primordial power from the Tenseigan of Hamura's descendant and thus awakening the Rinnegan with tomoe, you are already infinitely close to Mother in terms of power level, or to be more precise, bloodline level, Uchiha Shoji-kun."

The illusory figure, seemingly real yet unreal, hovered in mid-air.

With a distinctly serious expression, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo looked at the commander opposite him and said in a deep voice.

A strange light flickered in his pupils.

If an ordinary person were to only glance at it, they would probably be completely captivated.

Jiang Si remained unmoved, instead smiling slightly as he looked directly into the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths and asked, "So, does the Ancestor think that I will become as dangerous as your mother? And therefore want to take action against me?"

And with that sentence...

The purple halo around Shoji's nine-tomoe Rinnegan eyes grew even more intense, exuding an incomparably cold aura, coupled with the surging, powerful chakra energy.

At this moment, Jiang Si undoubtedly showed his strongest side.

Even considering the original plot and some related settings, there's a 99.99% chance that the Sage of Six Paths, who can be considered his ancestor, wouldn't attack him. As long as it doesn't involve his mother, the Goddess of the Rabbit, he wouldn't interfere in the mortal world.

To put it even more bluntly.

This Sage of Six Paths may not be able to use much more power.

There's absolutely no need for me to worry too much.

Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, the commander cannot afford to be careless. Who knows if there are other potential dangers involved?

When dealing with groups that are not "one of us," Shoji never hesitates to assume the worst and prepare for the worst possible outcome. As long as he can do this, he will never find himself in a helpless predicament.

"It seems you really know a lot of things, Mr. Jiang Si. But I'm really curious, where did you learn all this? Even if your eyes can see through the content that Black Zetsu altered on the stone tablet, I didn't record all the truth on that stone tablet. In this ninja world, apart from me, Hamura, and Black Zetsu, it should only be the three sages from the three holy lands who know."

Instead of directly answering Shoji's question, Hagoromo Otsutsuki changed the subject, staring intently at Shoji with a probing look in his eyes, his words carrying a hint of aggressiveness.

"Where I got this information doesn't matter, sir. The point shouldn't be what I'll do or what you'll do, right? We should be talking about the present and the future. Or if you want to determine whether to take action against me by knowing how I obtained this information, then I can tell you!"

Jiang Si raised an eyebrow and said in a calm tone.

"Hehe, these things are indeed not important. However, Mr. Jiang Si, you don't need to keep testing this old man. Now that you have met with Hamura, you should understand that I am not holding back much power in my current state, and it is impossible for me to easily interfere in the present world. Moreover, in my opinion, your actions are indeed more beneficial to the future development of this world. I have even less reason to interfere with you. You should be very clear about this, shouldn't you, Mr. Jiang Si?"

Hagoromo Otsutsuki smiled gently and replied with a calm expression.

On this point, Hagoromo Otsutsuki did not lie at all, and Shoji himself could clearly realize this. Not to mention that if Hagoromo really had enough power to interfere in the present world in the original work, he would not have needed to rely on Naruto and Sasuke to deal with Madara Uchiha, Black Zetsu, and Kaguya Otsutsuki who was eventually released from the seal.