Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

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Muzan stood out, a figure of unparalleled uniqueness in the chaos. With both feet firmly planted on the wall, he blocked the rushing torrent, preventing it from causing widespread destruction.

The earth wall, stark against the collapsed stone forest, drew the attention of many ninjas.

The Hidden Cloud Village (Kumogakure) was eager to eliminate Muzan quickly. Meanwhile, the Konoha ninjas, aware of Muzan's true identity, tried to rush to his aid, but they were held back by the enemies surrounding him.

"He's just one man—take down the wall together!" one of the Kumo ninjas shouted.

Multiple ninjutsu were unleashed in unison, all targeting Muzan on the wall.

*"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"* (Katon: Gōka Messhitsu!)

Flames roared into the sky and descended like a fiery avalanche. The approaching water-based ninjutsu evaporated instantly in the intense heat.

Screams echoed as bodies contorted within the flames. When the inferno subsided, only charred remnants lay scattered on the ground.

The earth wall beneath Muzan, weakened by the combination of water erosion and the sudden surge of heat, began to crack.

Finally, it could bear no more and split down the middle!

An explosion of smoke and debris filled the air as the wall collapsed, and Muzan leaped into the air, using the falling rubble as footholds.

The Kumo ninjas weren't about to let this chance slip by, especially those proficient in taijutsu, who rushed at Muzan with kunai at the ready.

One ninja even approached from behind, aiming for Muzan's back with a swift strike.

But at that moment, Muzan suddenly vanished.

"A Substitution Technique? When did he—?"

They stared in disbelief at the shattered rock that now lay where Muzan had stood. The ninjas quickly formed a defensive circle, back to back, scanning the surroundings for any sign of Muzan's next move.

*"Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique!"* (Doton: Moguragakure no Jutsu!)

Without warning, Muzan emerged from beneath the ground. A ninja on the far right felt his ankle seized and was dragged into the earth.

Only his head remained above ground, staring in terror as Muzan's kunai approached.

"Help me!" he cried out.

But before he could utter another word, he was silenced, pinned to the ground by Muzan's swift strike.

In mere seconds, Muzan had eliminated a ninja using basic chakra ninjutsu. But in Muzan's hands, the coordination of various jutsu was a work of art. The speed at which he switched between the five chakra natures left the ordinary Kumo ninjas exhausted, unable to keep up with his relentless onslaught.

Muzan pulled out a short chakra blade from his back, and in his other hand, formed a translucent chakra scalpel.

"He's here!" one of the Kumo ninjas shouted in fear.

The genin and chunin stood no chance against Muzan's precise strikes. A thin red line appeared along the path of his blade, and then their bodies crumbled to the ground, lifeless.

Despite the strength of his ninjutsu, Muzan's taijutsu was even more formidable.

His body, seemingly impervious to injury, overwhelmed any ninja who dared to face him.

*"Boom!"*

Suddenly, a figure appeared, intercepting Muzan's advance. The man was strong, taking advantage of an opening to deliver a powerful kick that sent Muzan flying.

Muzan crossed his arms to absorb the blow, skidding back before regaining his footing. He glanced down at his arm, noting the slight pain, which faded as his body healed instantly.

Motoi, the man who had struck him, was astonished. He knew the power of his own kick, yet Muzan had withstood it!

"This kind of strength... truly worthy of Kumogakure, renowned for its taijutsu," Muzan remarked, flexing his wrist. He then gripped his chakra blade with both hands, assuming a fighting stance that was unmistakably that of the *Hatake Sword Technique*.

His slash was like a white crescent, sharp enough to cleave through steel.

Moreover, Muzan's ninja sword was forged from special materials, capable of withstanding most collisions.

*"Crack!"*

Muzan moved with incredible speed, his explosive power evident in every step. The ground beneath him cracked under the force of his movement, stones shattering as he launched himself forward.

With a horizontal slash, he aimed to cut down both his opponent and the stone forest behind them.

But Muzan didn't stop immediately—his blade had drawn no blood.

At the last moment, Motoi had also used a *Substitution Technique* (Kawarimi no Jutsu) to escape the fatal blow.

"Impressive... the legendary Hatake Swordsmanship," Motoi murmured, wiping his brow. He touched his head lightly, realizing that his hair was gone, sheared off by Muzan's strike.

Motoi, though now sporting a bald spot, was not to be underestimated. He was a seasoned warrior of Kumogakure, having broken through the battlefield's defenses to confront Muzan directly.

It wasn't until he faced Muzan that Motoi fully understood his opponent's strength. If he had been even a fraction of a second slower, the blade would have taken his head instead of just his hair.

"All Kumo ninjas, fall back!" Motoi ordered, forming hand seals rapidly. Lightning chakra crackled around his body, creating a web-like formation.

*"Lightning Release: Spider Web!"* (Raiton: Kumo no Jutsu)

Powerful currents surged across the ground like a spider's web. This technique was indiscriminate, affecting friend and foe alike. Only Motoi, protected by his own lightning chakra, was immune. The others could only endure the electric shock.

It was no wonder he had ordered his comrades to withdraw.

Now, only Motoi and Muzan remained. Under such powerful currents, not even a wall could block the lightning's assault.

Muzan, recognizing the futility of resisting with ninjutsu, chose instead to withstand the attack with his body.

Of course, he wasn't the type to just stand there and take a beating. As soon as Motoi began forming seals, Muzan's own hand signs were completed.

*"Water Release: Water Wave!"* (Suiton: Mizu Nami)

The jutsu itself wasn't particularly powerful; it merely summoned a large quantity of water. But Motoi's eyes widened in shock.

"What a madman! He's using water-style ninjutsu!" Motoi exclaimed.

The summoned water swirled around them, forming a small river that submerged both combatants.

At that moment, Motoi's lightning attack struck. Even Motoi, standing at the center of the web, couldn't avoid it and had to endure the shock with his body.

But as a taijutsu specialist, Motoi had some resistance to electricity and was confident in withstanding it.

He was certain Muzan would be the first to fall!

The battle turned into a standoff. Whoever succumbed first would lose.

As the lightning coursed through them, both men stiffened, their movements involuntarily slowed.

Motoi's hair curled slightly from the electrical stimulation, but when he glanced at Muzan, his shock deepened.

Muzan's body showed no signs of damage, even though they were both submerged in water.

Muzan, however, had his own struggles. The heat generated by the lightning was causing his clothes to disintegrate. He had to release more water to bring them into deeper currents, minimizing the impact of the electricity.

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