Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

---

Danzo believed that Muzan should understand his position in Konoha—one that, in some ways, exceeded even the Hokage's authority. They represented the darkest side of the village, a realm untouchable by ordinary people.

He extended his hand toward Muzan, inviting him to join Root.

As a master of manipulation in Konoha, Danzo knew how to gather loyal subordinates. However, Muzan was fully aware of Danzo's selfish nature. While Danzo's offer might seem like a chance to gain influence, Muzan understood that the true power would always remain under Danzo's control.

*Muzan thought to himself, "I'm a time-traveler. How could I possibly stay under someone else's thumb for long? Ridiculous. It's the perfect opportunity to seize power and make my own moves."*

"I refuse," Muzan replied coldly. "Even if I can't stand in the light, I'm fundamentally opposed to everything you stand for."

Danzo was momentarily stunned by Muzan's words.

The allure of Danzo's offer was undeniable, but Muzan's rejection brought him back to reality. Danzo had expected Muzan to join him, but he had refused outright.

"Why would you refuse?" Danzo demanded, his voice edged with irritation. "You know I'm the only one in Konoha who can help you! I could make you a high-ranking member of the village, grant you influence and control. Neither Orochimaru nor Sakumo can offer you that!"

Danzo's initial anger quickly subsided, replaced by cold calculation. Muzan's rejection meant that he could not be allowed to live. The threat he posed to Konoha and Danzo's ambitions was too great.

The atmosphere became charged with tension, both men fully aware of the other's murderous intent.

Danzo didn't act immediately, knowing that ANBU were nearby and that the village's defenses had been heightened due to the ongoing war.

"If that's your decision, be prepared to face the consequences. This world is full of geniuses," Danzo said before turning to leave the Forest of Death.

Muzan remained in place, his brow furrowed in contemplation. Danzo's words had been an ultimatum, and Muzan knew he needed to be ready for whatever Danzo would throw at him.

As Muzan prepared to leave, he caught a faint scent in the air and sensed a presence nearby. He sneered, realizing that Danzo had wasted no time.

*Muzan had been observing the area for a week but had not detected this individual until now. Root's operatives were indeed formidable, likely on par with those from his previous missions.*

Muzan decided not to return home immediately, not wanting to drag Kakashi into this mess. He hoped Danzo wouldn't be foolish enough to threaten his family—otherwise, Muzan would show him the true meaning of cruelty.

As the sun set, Muzan thought, "Night is falling. Let's see what surprises you have in store."

Night was Muzan's domain, where he could unleash his power without restraint. Root was also waiting for nightfall, when the Forest of Death would be deserted, and their preparations complete.

As the last rays of sunlight disappeared, darkness enveloped the forest.

"I didn't expect them to be so well-prepared," Muzan mused as he observed a barrier forming in the sky. The enemy had used sealing techniques to isolate the area and genjutsu to mask their presence.

Danzo had orchestrated countless assassinations to eliminate threats to his power. Muzan knew that if he killed all of Danzo's operatives, it would leave the old man reeling.

Muzan watched as the last light of the setting sun vanished.

"Come out, all of you. I've been waiting," Muzan called out, revealing his form-fitting ninja attire as he shrugged off his cloak.

He heard rustling in the darkness but saw no one, suspecting that the enemy was too afraid to show themselves.

"Something's not right," Muzan thought, sensing the air thick with chakra. There were far too many signatures for this to be a simple ambush. He glanced at the glowing dots around him, realizing that his enemies had arrived.

"Could it be the Aburame clan?" Muzan speculated. *Not Aburame Torune—he's too young at this time.*

"These insects are troublesome," he muttered, recalling how Aburame Shino's bugs could form a devouring swarm. It made sense for Danzo to send the Aburame clan to deal with him.

Muzan considered using fire to disperse the insects, but he knew they fed on chakra, which would weaken his flames.

"As expected of the Aburame clan. Any clan that survived the Warring States period has its own strength," Muzan thought, confident that he could still overcome them.

Muzan's hands blurred as he formed seals at an incredible speed, his fingers a flurry of motion until the final seal was complete.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

The B-rank ninjutsu, enhanced by Muzan's chakra, unleashed a massive wave of fire. The barriered area glowed red-hot, the intense heat distorting the air and incinerating the forest.

The chakra insects resisted the flames, but Muzan's power was too much. The sea of bugs was torn apart by his fireball!

The Root members hidden behind the insects were shocked.

"The intensity of this flame—there's no way a young man should be capable of this!" one of them exclaimed.

"He's even more dangerous than Danzo implied. This Fire Style jutsu surpasses that of many Uchiha. We must kill him before he becomes a threat to Konoha!"

"Agreed! For the sake of Konoha, he cannot be allowed to live!"

With their insects burned away, the three Aburame emerged from hiding. Muzan recognized only one of them, but their teamwork was formidable, even for an elite jonin. Danzo had chosen his operatives well.

"This might be more difficult than I thought," Muzan acknowledged, but he was ready for the challenge.

"Secret Technique: Insect Tornado!"

The signature jutsu of the Aburame clan, its size and power depend on the number of insects employed. Aburame Kawaki had skillfully dispersed his insects around the area in advance, keeping them hidden until the right moment. As his jutsu activated, the barrier quickly filled with swarms of bugs.

Muzan eyed the dense cloud of insects, recalling that many members of the Aburame clan were fiercely loyal to Danzo, with some even serving as his direct subordinates. Kawaki's strength and tactics were proving to be quite troublesome.

"Cherry Blossom Impact!"

Muzan focused explosive chakra into a single point, smashing the ground before him. The resulting shockwaves spread outward, disrupting the formation of insects.

Just as Muzan prepared to press forward, he felt an ominous presence.

"Ninja Art: Mind-Body Disturbance Technique!"

A yellow-haired ninja, Yamanaka Kumota, approached Muzan, using his spiritual power to disrupt his movements. The jutsu was a natural counter to those proficient in taijutsu, as any misstep in close combat could be fatal.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

The third ninja created multiple shadow clones, surrounding Muzan and cutting off all avenues of escape.

Confident in their strategy, the three Root ninjas believed they had Muzan cornered.

Three kunai struck Muzan simultaneously, one piercing directly through his heart.

"It's over. Geniuses who haven't fully matured can never become truly powerful! We can finally report back to Danzo," Yamanaka Kumota said, his eyes fixed on the blood-soaked Muzan. Seeing Muzan's shattered heart, he was certain no one could survive such an injury. But the next moment shattered his understanding.

Instead of succumbing to his wounds, Muzan calmly pulled the kunai from his chest. Within seconds, the wound closed entirely, as if it had never existed.

Before his opponents could react, Muzan's Cherry Blossom Impact connected with Yamanaka Kumota.

"Boom!"

Inheriting Tsunade's monstrous strength, Muzan's blow sent the Yamanaka flying. The impact was so great that it splintered a large tree behind Kumota. As the dust settled, Yamanaka Kumota stood, his arms encased in a protective layer of earthy yellow armor. Cracks ran along its surface, evidence of the force behind Muzan's strike.

"How... how are you still alive?!"

The physical pain paled in comparison to Kumota's shock at seeing Muzan unharmed. Suddenly, he recalled a rumor.

"The Strength of a Hundred Seal!"

The three Root ninjas stared in disbelief at Muzan's fully recovered body. With the power of Tsunade's Cherry Blossom Impact and the regenerative abilities of the Strength of a Hundred Seal, Muzan was an overwhelming force.

Muzan didn't bother explaining his abilities but knew he needed to be cautious against their coordinated attacks. Their teamwork demonstrated the elite level of Konoha's Root. Even an elite jonin could easily fall against them.

"You're strong, but kunai alone won't kill me," Muzan declared, leaping backward to break free from their encirclement. He couldn't afford to be surrounded.

Among the three Root ninjas, Muzan was most wary of the Yamanaka clan member. Spiritual manipulation could compromise his control, and he knew Kumota needed to be dealt with first.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Muzan summoned a swarm of venomous snakes, directing them toward Yamanaka Kumota at the rear.

"Clang!"

Several kunai intercepted the snakes, pinning them to the ground. Though not proficient in taijutsu, Yamanaka Kumota was still a jonin, carefully tracking Muzan's every movement.

Kumota's primary goal was to seize the right moment to use his Mind-Body Disturbance Technique to control Muzan's body.

Though partially recovered, Kumota knew he had narrowly escaped death thanks to his Earth Style: Earth Spear technique. Even so, he felt the fractures in his bones—a testament to the destructive power of Tsunade's technique. An ordinary ninja wouldn't have survived such a blow.

"Cover me! I refuse to believe he can withstand this!"

Aburame Kawaki formed hand seals, summoning his scattered insects once more to obscure Muzan's vision. This time, Muzan did not evade.

Channeling his strength through the Cherry Blossom Impact, Muzan shattered the insect barrier, driving straight toward Yamanaka Kumota.

Unfortunately for them, they had underestimated his power.

Muzan's fist collided with Kumota, shattering the Earth Spear armor and worsening the fractures in his arm.

"Damn it!"

"Secret Technique: Insect Swamp!"

In a desperate move to protect his comrade, Aburame Kawaki sent a swarm of insects underground, turning the soil beneath Muzan's feet into a shifting quagmire.

The unstable ground robbed Muzan of the leverage he needed, forcing him to abandon his pursuit.

"Fool! Do you think you can withstand Tsunade's legendary strength?" Kumota shouted, though he knew that if he fell, the team would lose its edge.

As the team leader, Aburame Kawaki quickly assessed the situation. Despite their tight coordination, Muzan, empowered by the Strength of a Hundred Seal, would be difficult to defeat without exhausting his chakra.

Seeing the calm expression on Muzan's face, they abandoned their plan to outlast him and decided to rely on their insects.

But Muzan wasn't about to give them that chance.

As the ground beneath him shifted, Muzan made his move.

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bomb!"

"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bomb!"

Muzan unleashed a hybrid ninjutsu, seamlessly switching between chakra natures. The combination caused the flames to adhere to the soil, creating a devastating attack that far surpassed ordinary jutsu.

The exploding fire-infused earth created a burst of molten debris, igniting the surrounding trees.

"No! My insects are being destroyed by the debris!" Aburame Kawaki felt his connection to countless insects sever. He had invested significant effort into cultivating them, and their loss greatly diminished his strength.

The power of the Aburame clan was directly tied to their insects.

"Damn you! You'll pay for this!" Aburame Kawaki shouted. But for Yamanaka Kumota, the situation was even direr. The cover of smoke allowed Muzan to break through their defenses. Without the insects obstructing his path, Muzan reached Kumota in an instant.

"Cherry Blossom Impact!"

---