Naruto: Konoha’s Kanpu

Chapter 752: Deception

As the sky began to brighten, Taki turned around and returned to the hot spring just now. Unfortunately, Orochimaru had already left. He chuckled and headed into the deep forest outside Konoha, and soon find Orochimaru.

At this moment, with the early sun rising, Orochimaru looked at Taki, who is approaching by the sun, narrowed his golden vertical pupils into a slit, coldly staring at him.

Every white snake created by Orochimaru has its own soul. Once it dies, their memories would be transmitted to Orochimaru, so it was difficult for him not to know what happened with Kimimaro.

“Don’t look at me like that, Orochimaru, I'll be embarrassed.” Taki lowered his head bashfully.

Orochimaru grinned, showing a meaningful smile: “Taki, let’s cooperate!”

“Cooperate?”

Under the big sunglasses, Taki’s eyes flickered as he asked, “What do you mean?”

“Aren't you trying to remove the Caged Bird?”

Orochimaru said gloomily, “I can help you resurrect the ancestors of the Hyuga Clan with Impure World Reincarnation!”

The last time he cooperated with Taki, one to provide Impure World Reincarnation, and the other provided the remains of the Uzumaki Clan’s ancestors. They performed Impure World Reincarnation on each one, but unfortunately, Uzumaki Clan’s Fuinjutsu couldn't break the Caged Bird.

Later, Taki, the not-so-filial descendant, suggested resurrecting his ancestors Impure World Reincarnation as well. However, the idea was abandoned due to Pain issuing a mission, and Orochimaru's hidden agenda.

At this time, Orochimaru brought up the matter again, hoping to rekindle old dreams and form an alliance with Taki again. At the same time, this is also a test from Orochimaru!

He was probing whether someone within the Abyss had mastered the Impure World Reincarnation!

Taki pushed the sunglasses on the bridge of his nose, showing a hint of hesitation deep in his eyes.

According to his character setting, Orochimaru's proposal for cooperation should have been eagerly accepted, but he couldn't shake the feeling that it was a trap.

Seeing Taki hesitated, Orochimaru sneered inwardly: ‘There must be someone within the Abyss who had mastered Impure World Reincarnation!’

‘Which means, Shodaime Hokage, Senju Hashirama, is in the hands of the someone in the Abyss!’

‘But, who could it be?’

Orochimaru pondered while saying, “Taki, why are you hesitating? Don't you want to remove the Caged Bird and gain your freedom? Or could it be… you know the second Shinobi who has mastered Impure World Reincarnation?”

Taki raised an eyebrow when he heard this: ‘So he was waiting for me here.’

He didn’t refute, and merely said softly with a smile: “Orochimaru, you're overthinking. I just think you are too ambitious to cooperate with you.”

“Is that so?”

Orochimaru sneered. He didn't believe a single punctuation mark of Taki’s words, but he believed that even if Taki agreed to cooperate with him, he would not be sincere!

‘It seemed I had to find other members within the Abyss to collaborate with.’

As of now, Orochimaru knows only four people of the Abyss, namely Kanpū, Taki, Hyōketsu and Ōmadara, excluding Kanpū, who had a grudge against him, and Taki in front of him, he had two remaining targets.

But considering that Taki was recommended into Akatsuki by Hyōketsu, Orochimaru also ruled him out.

‘Which means, the only remaining target was the Uchiha Shinobi.’

‘It’s just… what is his identity?

Orochimaru contemplated.

……

At the same time.

Kanpū, who had returned to Konoha, is hungry, so he has breakfast at Ichiraku Ramen. After eating, he ran to Hokage Tower and waited downstairs.

As it approaches eight o’clock, Minato comes to work.

“Kanpū?”

Seeing Kanpū, Minato was quite surprised, ‘Wasn't he on a mission in the Land of Grass with the sixth team?’

‘Why did he come back alone?’

“Hokage-sama, I have something important to report!” Kanpū said quietly.

Minato nodded, and immediately took Kanpū to Hokage’s Office. After closing the door, they began discussing official matters.

“Kanpū, how did the mission in the Land of Grass go?” Minato asked first.

Kanpū said: “We've identified the culprit as Deidara, a disciple of the Sandaime Tsuchikage’s Onoki. This Shinobi has Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai, allowing him to create various items using explosive clay and has the ability to fly. Capturing him will be challenging.”

“Deidara? Sandaime Tsuchikage’s disciple?”

Minato’s expression turned serious. As far as he knew, Onoki might not be highly esteemed, but he wouldn't condone senseless killings, so why is his disciple doing something like this?

Of course, if Minato knew that Onoki had privately hired Akatsuki to bully small nations and cause chaos, it would be a different story.

“I'll personally negotiate with Onoki about this matter! Kanpū, bring your team back.”

Minato said, and then he asked the reason for Kanpū’s sudden return.

Kanpū solemnly said: “While I was in the Land of Grass, Ryōshi Tenkū found me. He…”

Minato suddenly said happily: “Could it be that the leader of Abyss has agreed to meet with me?”

Kanpū quickly shook his head to stop Minato’s wild speculation and said: “It’s about Orochimaru.”

“Orochimaru?” Although Minato felt somewhat disappointed, since it was something about Orochimaru, he still valued it and asked carefully.

Kanpū didn't waste time and explained the situation where Orochimaru sent Shinobi World’s only Shikotsumyaku Shinobi, Kimimaro into the Abyss.

Minato’s expression turned grim when he heard this.

He had previously suspected that Orochimaru and the Abyss were cooperating, resurrecting the Hashirama using Impure World Reincarnation. Now, with Orochimaru sending Shikotsumyaku Shinobi to Abyss, doesn’t this indicate that their cooperation has deepened?

Seeing Minato’s serious expression, Kanpū quickly tried to ease his concerns, and said: “However, this time, Orochimaru overstepped his bounds and offended Yuki Hyōketsu and the others.”

Minato is puzzled by this.

Kanpū took the initiative to explain: “The one responsible for receiving Kimimaro is Yuki Hyōketsu. He discovered a small snake left by Orochimaru in Kimimaro’s body, but he was unable to take it out, so he asked Ryōshi Tenkū to call me, and asked me to deal with it.”

Minato breathed a sigh of relief and said: “In other words, Orochimaru might find it difficult to cooperate with the Abyss in the future?”

Kanpū shook his head with a wry smile: “Although Yuki Hyōketsu and the others are not fond of Orochimaru, they still accepted Kimimaro, and Kimimaro seems to be very loyal to Orochimaru. If he stays in Abyss…”

Kanpū hesitated in his words.

Minato suddenly noticed something, and asked: “They?”

Kanpū let out a long sigh, expressing his sorrow: “I only recently found out that Yuki Hyōketsu has two downlines in the Abyss!”

“Who are they?” Minato seemed to realize something, and looked at Kanpū nervously.

Kanpū’s expression gradually became serious as he said: “One of them is Hyuga Taki, and the other is from the Uchiha Clan. However, I can’t confirm his identity.”

Minato sighed, and said: “I guess he joined Abyss after faking their deaths on the battlefield.”

Seeing that Minato wasn't shocked at all, Kanpū couldn't help but ask in a somewhat strange tone: “Hokage-sama, about Hyuga Taki…”

Minato nodded: “I've learned about it from Amu. After faking his death in the Third Shinobi World War, Hyuga Taki joined Akatsuki under the recommendation of Yuki Hyōketsu. Although they both have dual identities, there is no doubt that they are both part of the Abyss!”

Kanpū blinked a couple of times, realizing that Minato had also put a lot of effort into investigating from behind the scenes.

However, he quickly thought of his mission and said: “If we could erase Kimimaro’s memory, then it would be great.”

‘Memory?’

Minato was taken aback.

‘That’s right, erasing Kimimaro’s memories would sever the bond between him and Orochimaru!’

‘What a great idea!’

“Kanpū…” Minato suddenly showed a mysterious smile.