Bring Orochimaru before me

Konoha has over 300 Jonin, excluding a few Jonin such as the Sarutobi Clan, Mitokado Clan, and Utatane Clan who were Jonin the Fifth Hokage.

There are over a hundred Konoha who are Jonin for the Department Head position.

In other words, each of the current 15 Department Head has seven or eight more Konoha Jonin waiting to take their place.

Countless eyes were wide open, fixed intently on the Department Head, eager to seize their positions.

Given the sheer volume of work the Department Head are responsible for, they make numerous mistakes every day.

The Fifth Hokage could easily find several mistakes, pinpoint any Department Head's faults with seemingly valid reasons, and then easily remove them and replace them with a new Department Head.

It is the Department Head ' duty to do their job well, and it is a sin to do it poorly.

The criteria for judging good and bad only exist in the words of the Fifth Hokage.

Under such circumstances, which dim-witted Department Head would have the confidence to challenge the Fifth Hokage for power?

However, despite all 15 Jonin understanding their dire situation, not one of them wanted to give up their Department Head position.

The position of Department Head is indeed a trap, but the Department Head will automatically become a member of the Jonin Council.

The members of the Jonin Council hold the highest decision-making power in Konoha, sharing the supreme power that originally belonged exclusively to the Lord Hokage.

At the same time, they also have the highest level of right to know.

Even if they can't become crucial decision-makers, the fact that they have access to information that only the Hokage would normally know makes the Department Head's value far outweigh any grievances they might experience at work.

With such a huge carrot dangling in their mouths, the Department Head, without exception, bitterly mourned their future while secretly resolving to work diligently.

At the same time, one must try to please the Fifth Hokage and pray that he will forgive the mistakes one is bound to make. If one can gain the favor of the Fifth Hokage, that would be perfect.

The power structure designed by the Fifth Hokage meticulously calculated the greed and desires of people, completely controlling the Jonin Konoha.

If Shazo had lofty ambitions, he could delegate authority to the Department Head, remain aloof, and leisurely cultivate, striving for greater strength.

But if Shazo were to crave power, he could tighten the reins of censorship, manipulate Department Head at will, and subject them to a life of unbearable pleasure.

As long as Shazo doesn't do anything reckless and suddenly decide to take down all nine Department Head at once, putting himself at a disadvantage in the Jonin Council, he doesn't need to worry about being retaliated against by the Konoha Jonin.

Of course, nothing in this world is perfect.

Shazo's power system also had flaws, but its only weakness was the Fifth Hokage Shazo.

As the Fifth Hokage, Shazo does not directly wield power within this system; he must go through 15 Department Head to mobilize Konoha's resources.

Because the process must be followed at the Council, a time lag will occur.

At the same time, the Fifth Hokage only had 70 Anbu Ninja under his direct control, and these Anbu Ninja were still responsible for covert assassinations and protecting the Hokage Building and the Hokage's residence.

In other words, not a single Anbu Ninja was responsible for protecting the Fifth Hokage.

If we can seize the opportunity when Shazo is alone, we can launch a surprise attack on him, defeat him, and kill him.

However, this is impossible.

Although the Fifth Hokage Shazo, was only 17 years old, he dared to lead Shisui Uchiha to confront the Kumogakure army head-on.

The Fifth Hokage defeated the Fourth Raikage and also routed a nearly 10,000-strong army of Cloud Ninja Cloud Ninja Army, killing more than 700 of them and capturing nearly 8,000.

Shazo proved with this exaggerated record that he was a replica of the First Hokage, an invincible monster. Since the Fifth Hokage Shazo was invincible, then the power system he designed was flawless.

He was also able to leverage the power balance and competition among the Jonin to completely control the appointment and dismissal of the 15 Department Head, and rightfully held the reins of power in Konoha.

It's just a matter of adding a step to the process.

He has no assigned tasks, plenty of free time, and can mobilize the manpower and financial resources of Konoha to serve him.

Thinking of this, Shazo couldn't help but smile, and he couldn't suppress it no matter what he did.

If Orochimaru knew, he'd be green with envy.

As the morning sun shone through the windows into the Meeting Hall, Shazo, who had been lost in thought, snapped out of his daze.

He stood up, smiling, and said to the Konoha Jonin, "All topics have been discussed; therefore, this Konoha Jonin Assembly is now adjourned."

"It's already dawn. All Jonin may return to their respective posts. We'll meet again at next year's tournament."

More than 300 Konoha Jonin unison and bowed in salute.

"I obey the Fifth Hokage's command!"

"Respectfully bidding farewell to the Fifth Hokage!"

At this moment, Shazo's position as the Fifth Hokage is unshakeable.

After seeing off more than 300 Konoha Jonin were heading to various places, Shazo Zuo left Shisui Uchiha behind.

He asked with a smile, "Do you feel wronged that we didn't manage to get you a Department Head position this time?"

Shisui Uchiha chuckled, "How could that be?"

"I believe that although I am not the Department Head, I am definitely one of the Ninja most trusted by the Fifth Hokage."

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Shazo Zuo laughed heartily, "That's right. The system I designed for Konoha is based on dynamic balance, ultimately because I can't completely trust the integrity of Konoha Ninja."

Shisui Uchiha was dumbfounded. "Huh?"

The Fifth Hokage's distrust of Konoha Ninja is utterly absurd.

Shazo slapped Shisui on the head. "Idiot, you can't trust people's hearts. How can you be so easily trusted?"

"Has Konoha never had missing-nin? Hasn't it had any cowardly Ninja who were afraid of the truth in critical moments? Hasn't it had any Ninja who were willful and shirked responsibility?"

Shisui was speechless, unable to utter a word.

There were too many missing-nin in Konoha. Orochimaru, Shimura Danzō, and Uchiha Itachi defected for political reasons, but there were also those Himiko purely out of their own volition.

Shisui Uchiha had seen many Ninja faltered at crucial moments on the battlefield.

Jiraiya and Tsunade are prime examples of Ninja willfully shirk responsibility, and if we're being strict, Hatake Sakumo could also be considered one.

Shazo sighed, "Besides, people change."

"Thirty-five years ago, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu were definitely not the disappointing figures they are today."

"Therefore, I adopted a system of balance and competition to urge the Konoha Ninja on and prevent them from falling into depravity as much as possible."

"But I trust you, Shisui, and I believe you don't need the pressure of the Department Head position."

Shisui Uchiha clenched his fists, his breathing quickened, his face flushed, and he stared intently at Shazo.

"Lord Hokage, what do you need me to do?"

Shazo was very satisfied with the success of his deception and nodded, saying, "I need you to do something big, something that I can't fully trust anyone but you!"

"Shisui, I want you to find Orochimaru and bring him before me."