Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

Motoi's hair stood on end as he stared at the figure submerged in the deep water. The surface crackled with electricity, blue lightning snaking through the water, creating a web of energy that paralyzed several nearby shinobi who were unable to evade in time.

The scale of the attack was immense.

Even from within the water, Muzan was being bombarded by the electrical currents that danced across his skin.

The chūnin and genin on the sidelines were not experienced enough to intervene, but a few seasoned Konoha jōnin, recognizing Muzan, were startled and prepared to assist him. They knew they couldn't afford to lose him—Hatake Sakumo's son was too important.

But rescuing Muzan under these circumstances seemed impossible. They could only hope he could withstand the attack; otherwise, Konoha's White Fang, driven by the loss of his beloved son, might unleash a fury that would devastate their entire plan.

Despite the continuous shocks, Muzan's condition was not as dire as it seemed. While water did conduct electricity, the depth of the water diffused the current, weakening its effects on him. He endured the pain, biding his time.

His opponent's chakra wasn't limitless, and Muzan knew this well. Motoi's reserves were depleting with each passing second.

As Muzan had predicted, Motoi's control over the lightning was waning. Seeing no movement in the water, Motoi assumed Muzan had been stunned or electrocuted to death. The lightning gradually diminished until the last arcs faded.

The surrounding shinobi hesitated, their focus entirely on the water.

"If Muzan's dead, how do we explain this to the higher-ups?" one of them muttered nervously.

"Hah, we actually killed him. Master Motoi is indeed a force to be reckoned with!" another one laughed.

But their relief was short-lived.

"No! The water's surface is rippling!" a voice shouted.

The Kumo ninja, who had been celebrating just moments ago, now looked on in dread. If Muzan had survived, they would have to reconsider their strategy.

The ripples grew larger, and suddenly, a massive water dragon surged from the lake, roaring toward Motoi.

"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu!" (Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!)

Muzan had completed 44 hand seals underwater, and as the water dragon formed, he couldn't help but curse silently. "I need to find a way to streamline this jutsu when I get back to Konoha. If I keep this up, my hands will cramp."

The appearance of the water dragon reassured the Konoha shinobi—Muzan was alive. They could now report back to Lord Sakumo with confidence. Energized by Muzan's counterattack, the Konoha ninjas rallied, launching their own attacks with renewed vigor.

The elite Konoha jōnin overseeing the battle grimaced. They had to remember their mission—to lose, and lose in a manner that seemed genuine.

As the Konoha forces began their strategic withdrawal, the responsibility to maintain the illusion of a desperate retreat fell squarely on the shoulders of the elite jōnin. His eyes narrowed as he focused on Muzan, who was still standing on the water, his form obscured by a dark cloak.

In water-rich environments, Suiton jutsu became even more potent. Combined with Muzan's considerable chakra reserves, the Water Dragon Bullet was far more powerful than usual, the impact tearing open the surface of the newly formed river and revealing the crumbled stone forest below.

Motoi, still reeling from the attack, found himself flung backward by the force of the water dragon, skidding across the muddy ground. The mixture of rocks and sludge left him bruised and battered.

He had underestimated Muzan, not just in his ability to withstand the electricity, but also in his capacity to retaliate with such devastating force. The Water Dragon Bullet was top-tier B-rank ninjutsu—no easy feat for a shinobi of Muzan's age.

"What an extraordinary kid," Motoi muttered, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth as he gazed at Muzan. The dark cloak obscured Muzan's injuries, if he had any, but Motoi couldn't believe he was still in peak condition after enduring such an attack.

Scanning the battlefield, Motoi saw that Konoha's defenses were faltering, with Kumo shinobi pushing into their rear lines. Just a bit more pressure, and Kumogakure would break Konoha's ranks completely.

Muzan had to be contained. If he could hold out until the main force arrived, the odds of his survival would plummet.

As Motoi predicted, Konoha's elite jōnin led the retreat, understanding the situation all too well. They suppressed the eager shinobi who wanted to charge ahead, maintaining the illusion of chaos. Traps were laid out as they withdrew, causing the pursuing Kumo shinobi to stumble and hesitate.

"Quickly! We can't hold this position any longer—we must retreat immediately!" one jōnin ordered.

"Fall back! I'll cover you!" another shouted, staying behind to delay the enemy.

Both chūnin and genin followed the designated escape routes, their retreat timed to perfection. The traps along the path slowed the Kumo forces, giving the Konoha shinobi a head start.

Dodai, leading the Kumo forces, believed Konoha's retreat was genuine. The AB team had already locked down Hatake Sakumo and the Ino–Shika–Chō formation, so it made sense for Konoha to fall back.

Watching the disorganized retreat, Dodai saw an opportunity. "A and B, pursue the fleeing ninjas! We can cripple Konoha's forces here!"

Killing Hatake Sakumo and the Ino–Shika–Chō trio seemed unlikely, but if B transformed into his bijū form, they could decimate Konoha's forces, tipping the scales in Kumogakure's favor.

Meanwhile, still in the stone forest, Muzan sensed the Kumo ninjas closing in. He knew the frontline strategy was in motion—now wasn't the time to engage Motoi any further.

Outside the stone forest, Anko and Mari had followed Muzan's orders, retreating with the rest of the troops. Muzan needed to find a way to escape as well, but Motoi stood in his path, determined to prevent his exit.

Motoi had pieced together Muzan's identity—Hatake Sakumo's son! Whether due to his extraordinary talent or the significance of his lineage, Muzan was no ordinary shinobi.

"Everyone in the stone forest, listen up! Abandon your current targets and focus all your efforts on killing Muzan!" Motoi commanded.

Muzan, hidden beneath his cloak, gritted his teeth in frustration. "Can't handle me alone, so now you want to gang up on me, huh?"

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