Chapter 388 Punishment

Hokage's Office.

Minato looked at Kanpū, who was kneeling on one knee, with a surprised expression: "Apologize? Kanpū, you should get up first, tell me what's going on."

Kanpū stood up with his head down, and said with guilty tone: "Hokage-sama, this happened during Sandaime-sama's reign. I was still in Anbu at that time and suddenly received a mission to monitor Orochimaru-sama. As a result, I was discovered by Orochimaru-sama during the surveillance period, and was invited by him to drink tea, and then made a deal with him…"

Minato felt that the amount of information in Kanpū's words was a bit too large, so he hurriedly quickly reached out his hand to ask him to stop, and then started contemplating.

'Monitor Orochimaru?'

Minato remembered the content of his chat with Hiruzen before, and asked softly: "The order to monitor Orochimaru which was issued by Sandaime after the Battle of Kikyo Pass?"

Kanpū thought for a while, and affirmed: "Yes, it is the period after the Battle of Kikyo Pass."

Minato nodded, thinking that he's on the right track. After the Battle of Kikyo Pass, Hiruzen began to suspect Orochimaru and Danzo's unusual relationship, so he sent Anbu to monitor Orochimaru.

However, as one of the Sannin, Orochimaru is powerful, and the probability of wanting to monitor him without being discovered is minimal, so Kanpū cannot be blamed for being discovered by Orochimaru.

'It's just, what is going on with the transaction during the monitoring period?'

'Kanpū was Anbu at the time. Even if he is discovered, he should not trade with the surveillance target. This is a serious violation of the Anbu's Code of Regulations!'

'Once this incident is exposed, Kanpū will inevitably be severely punished!'

'Wait, in that case, why did Kanpū suddenly surrender himself?'

Also, at that time, Kanpū hadn't learned the Flying Thunder God Technique, and was just an ordinary Chunin, while Orochimaru was a legendary Sannin. Whether in terms of strength, status, or background, the difference between them are like heaven and earth, so what can they trade with each other?

'Could it be... Anbu's intelligence?'

Minato's heart sank, his face gradually became serious, and then he asked solemnly: "Kanpū, what did you trade with Orochimaru? Is it Anbu's intelligence?"

Kanpū was startled, and quickly shook his head: "Of course not, how could I betray the Anbu by giving its intelligence?"

After saying that, Kanpū neatly took out a azure scroll, a huge Ninjutsu scroll and the Kusanagi Sword.

"I used my Body Revival Technique, and obtained Kusanagi Sword and this Ninjutsu scroll from Orochimaru-sama." Kanpū bowed his head.

"Kusanagi Sword?!"

Minato was taken aback, and hurriedly left the intelligence and so on behind his head, grabbed the bamboo-like sword on the table, and gently draw the sword out of its sheath. The clear sword body is suddenly imprinted in the depths of Minato's blue pupils.

Minato turned the blade slightly, refracting the warm sunlight coming in from the window from time to time, looking bright and cold.

He stretched out his hand to caress the blade, feeling the cold, smooth, sharp touch on his fingertips, and his heartbeat couldn't help but speed up slightly: 'Is this sword really the legendary Kusanagi Sword?!'

Faced with Kusanagi Sword, even Minato, who did not train Kenjutsu, is a little moved, let alone Kanpū, who trained Konoha-Style Kenjutsu.

'The temptation of this sword to him is probably far superior than anything else!'

'But what is worth for Orochimaru to exchange for the legendary Kusanagi Sword?'

'Moreover, there's also such a huge Ninjutsu scroll!'

Minato sheathed the sword, then opened the Ninjutsu scroll, and roughly estimated that there were nearly a thousand Five-Attributes Ninjutsu recorded in this scroll!

'Is Orochimaru crazy?!'

Minato put down the Ninjutsu scroll and set his sights on the last azure scroll.

'Body Revival Technique…'

Unfolding the azure scroll, Minato the densely packed characters on it, and frowned slightly: "Kanpū, where did this scroll come from?"

Kanpū shyly said: "I got it from Dr. Shinno."

"Dr. Shinno?" Minato put down the scroll, feeling a little pain in his head, 'If I remember correctly, Dr. Shinno is a well-known doctor in the Shinobi World. He practices medicine everywhere, saved lives and healed the wounded. He is a doctor with extremely noble morals!'

'And this Body Revival Technique is his?'

Kanpū took a deep breath. He knew that it was time to test his acting skills!

"Hokage-sama, when I was young, the Academy's teacher said that my talent was too poor, and no matter how hard I tried, I could only become a Genin. My father also said that I did not have the talent to train Konoha-Style Kenjutsu. At that time, I, I…"

Kanpū tried hard to make the most despaired expression. He wanted to cry, but did not shed tears for a long time, as the emotion he brew was not enough.

Minato fell into thoughts after hearing this, 'Indeed, Kanpū's performance at the Academy was really poor. At the time, I thought it was because he didn't work hard enough. But now, it seems…'

Kanpū couldn't brew his emotions, so he could only continue to talk dryly: "At that time, my dream was to be a doctor, so I go to the hospital with my mother to work every day. Later, a doctor named Shinno came to the hospital, and I got this scroll from him."

Minato didn't care too much about how Kanpū got the scroll from Dr. Shinno, after all, the point of this matter is not here.

"So you showed a talent far beyond ordinary people after training this Body Revival Technique?" Minato looked at Kanpū with a serious expression, always feeling that something was not quite right.

"At that time, Orochimaru-sama wondered why I could jump from a mediocre person to a genius, so he investigated me, and even found Dr. Shinno, until he knew the existence of Body Revival Technique."

Kanpū said in a low voice, "Orochimaru-sama said that I was originally a genius. Whether it is Ninjutsu's talent or Konoha-Style's talent, they are all excellent, but due to my physical fitness, I can neither extract too much chakra nor have physical strength to complete the Kenjutsu training, so others would think that I was a mediocre person. However, after I trained this Body Revival Technique, my physical fitness gradually improved, and my innate talent naturally exploded."

Minato's eyes lit up, and he found the answer and the truth as if he was enlightened.

'Kanpū's talent is good, but was trapped in physical fitness, so he was not able to show it, but after training this Body Revival Technique that can develop cell activity, the biggest factor that restrained Kanpū gradually disappeared…'

'No wonder his talent is bursting out a little bit. First, Ninja Tools throwing, then Ninjutsu, then Konoha-Style Kenjutsu, it is because his physical fitness is gradually improved.'

If so…

"Kanpū, are you still training this Body Revival Technique?" Minato asked solemnly.

Kanpū nodded: "I have been training all the time."

"How effective is the training?" Minato asked.

"The effect is very good. I feel that I am about to break through the Elite Chunin's Chakra Reserves." Kanpū said frankly.

'Sure enough!'

Minato realized it, 'I was still wondering why Kanpū had learned the Flying Thunder God Technique all of a sudden, even though he didn't have the talent to train it.'

'It turns out that Kanpū's physical fitness has been improved by this Body Revival Technique. In other words, his innate talent has not been fully tapped!'

'He's a super genius!'

Minato was both surprised and happy, but the expression on his face was still serious.

After being silent for a while, Minato asked: "The importance of this Body Revival Technique is self-evident to you, but it is dispenseable for Orochimaru. Why did he pay such a large price to trade this Forbidden Technique with you?"

Kanpū shook his head and said: "I also asked, but Orochimaru-sama didn't say it. I didn't want to trade at first, but, but…"

"But he took out the Kusanagi Sword?" Minato stared at Kanpū.

Kanpū bowed his head: "Hokage-sama, I am wrong, I am willing to accept any punishment!"

Minato changed the subject and asked: "Only you and Orochimaru should know about this matter, so why did you suddenly confess this matter to me?"

Kanpū said with bitter expression: "Someone threatened me with this."

Minato frowned: "Orochimaru?"

"It's not him, it's Advisor Danzo." Kanpū said.

Minato's expression darkened when he heard this: "Gekko Tavern?"

"Hokage-sama, how did you know?" Kanpū's eyes flashed with surprise, flickering in an instant, it perfectly explains what details are.

"Cough."

Minato coughed dryly, but did not answer.

It's not that he is afraid of leaking secrets, but Minato feels that he has pitted Kanpū.

At first, Kanpū reported about the small gambling hall to him. Later, Minato checked that it was Danzo who did it, so he sealed all these small gambling halls with a wave of his hand.

After that, Danzo, who had lost this large source of funding, started having idea about Gekko Tavern.

Minato didn't stop him even when he knew it, but instead instructs Hoshino to drag Danzo. It would be best to irritate him and make him do something like robbing him. At that time, Minato would have the reason to 'attack' Danzo. Although this incident is not enough to take down Danzo directly, it is enough to rescue the genius youngster, who is suspected of mastering Wood Release, from the Root!

Kanpū gave Minato the opportunity to pit Danzo. He didn't expect that he put Kanpū into the pit instead.

"Kanpū, haven't you ever thought about compromising with Advisor Danzo?" Minato changed the subject again.

"If you compromise once, there will be a second and third time, and you'll finally consigned to eternal damnation. I would rather surrender than to bow my head to evil forces!" Kanpū said righteously.

"Advisor Danzo is the village's higher-up, not an evil force." Minato shook his head with a wry smile.

Kanpū didn't argue, but lowered his head and said: "Hokage-sama, no matter what, I was at fault for this matter, please punish me!"

Minato didn't speak, but pondered again.

'Kanpū indeed did something wrong. As Anbu, he should monitor the surveillance target during the execution of the mission, and try to not have contact with him.'

'But fortunately, Kanpū did not sell any confidential information, and at that time, Orochimaru was the hero who led the victory of the Battle of Kikyo Pass, so no one can say that Kanpū was wrong when he made a deal with him.'

'So, Kanpū's fault was limited to his violation of Anbu's regulations.'

'But now that Kanpū has withdrawn from Anbu…'

'And Kanpū's Anbu contribution has been replaced with a big house… '

'This is a bit awkward.'

Minato looked at Kanpū with a gloomy gaze, picked up the Kusanagi sword instead, and said: "In that case, this Kusanagi Sword…"

"Cough cough, Hokage-sama, that… I personally prefer physical punishment." Kanpū interrupted Minato with embarrassed smile.

"Physical punishment?"

Minato snorted coldly, and said in a pretentious manner, "Then go to the Land of Rain to guard the border for one year!"

'One year?!'

Kanpū was terrified, and quickly bargained: "Hokage-sama, a year is too long, what about a month?"

Minato's face twitched upon hearing this, 'Who did you learn your bargaining skills from?'

"Ten months!" Minato said sternly.

"Two months!" Kanpū.

"Half a year!" Minato.

"Four months!" Kanpū.

"Five months!" Minato.

Kanpū calculated the time when he heard this, 'It's the end of April, and five months is the end of September, there is still time!'

"Deal!" Kanpū agreed immediately.

Minato felt as if he was being cheated by Kanpū, and he said with a sullen face: "The Kusanagi Sword and these two scrolls will be temporarily placed with me, and I will return them to you when you come back."

Kanpū smiled flatteringly: "It's fine."

Minato's expression became a bit unbearable, and he hurriedly said: "What are you still doing in a daze? Hurry up and go!"

"Yes!"