Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

---

The assembled shinobi stared at Muzan. At this moment, everyone respected him deeply, though a lingering fear was evident in their eyes. His plan had taken root in the hearts of all present, its effectiveness undeniable. Had their roles been reversed with those of the Kumo ninja, their camp might well have been littered with their own charred corpses.

The camp had been utterly destroyed in the explosion, necessitating the selection of a new defensive line to prevent a desperate counterattack from the Kumogakure shinobi. However, Muzan's involvement wasn't required in organizing these defenses. The elite Jōnin present took charge of the arrangements.

Meanwhile, at Kumogakure's base camp, the ground quaked as if a massive earthquake had struck. C suspecting it to be an earth tremor, rushed outside. A tremendous noise filled the air, like thunder from the heavens, and a towering mushroom cloud rose in the distance.

"What in the world happened there?" he muttered, a deep unease gnawing at him. That was where the Konoha camp had been. In such an explosion, no one could have survived.

"I hope my instincts are wrong," C whispered, staring sorrowfully at the fading mushroom cloud. He was about to return to the camp when a panicked voice cut through the air.

"Lord C! Lord C!"

These cries snapped him back to reality. C rushed toward the source and saw A and B (A and Killer B) staggering toward him, both drenched in blood. They looked utterly defeated, and it was hard to imagine what kind of devastation could have caused such severe injuries.

The evidence was undeniable. A bore a grievous wound across his back, and blood trickled from B's mouth. As C carried A into the camp, B finally collapsed, unconscious.

C felt as if the sky had fallen. The explosion must have been aimed at them, and with such a catastrophic impact, only a few shinobi could have survived. He feared that the Chūnin and Genin they had brought along had been wiped out entirely.

"Treat them both immediately! And have the remaining shinobi prepare to retreat from the front line!"

It was a disgrace for Kumogakure to be forced into retreat, especially after suffering such heavy losses. But what was done, was done. There was no undoing it now. C dreaded returning to the village, knowing that the consequences might lead to his seppuku.

With A and B severely injured, the entire front line was at risk of descending into chaos. C knew he had to hold everything together and organize their next steps.

As C feared, once Konoha received word of the situation, several elite Jōnin and their squads swiftly launched a counteroffensive. In just half an hour, they had regained all the ground lost earlier.

The remaining forces in Kumogakure's base camp stood no chance against Konoha's renewed onslaught. Konoha's shinobi pushed through, all the way into the enemy camp, which they found completely abandoned.

Unlike Konoha, the Kumogakure ninjas had left in such haste that they hadn't even set up any traps. Fortunately, Konoha had plenty of fertile land, so there was no need to pursue their enemies into the barren mountains.

Destroying Kumogakure was impossible with the forces Konoha currently had at its disposal, and strong opponents still remained in the enemy village. Aburame Koji led a team to establish a defensive line around their position, ensuring that further combat would not damage Konoha's valuable land. It was a solid plan, protecting their interests while maintaining their advantage.

This victory significantly influenced the outcome of the Third Shinobi World War. The border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning stabilized after this battle, allowing Konoha to divert more forces to other fronts, particularly the one bordering the Land of Wind.

Sunagakure's forces, combined with the looming threat of the Third Raikage, had been pressuring Konoha heavily. In response, Hatake Sakumo immediately ordered a large portion of his troops, including a powerful unit led by the Inuzuka clan, to head to the Land of Wind as quickly as possible.

Word of this great victory soon reached Konoha, where the Third Hokage and his council were deep in discussion. When they first heard the news, they couldn't believe it, suspecting the messenger of lying or even treason.

It wasn't until ten more shinobi reported the same information that the truth began to sink in. The room fell silent as the weight of the news took hold. This unprecedented victory had shifted the balance of power in Konoha's favor, giving them a significant advantage in the ongoing war.

But one more piece of intelligence left everyone stunned. The mastermind behind the plan was revealed.

"He really did it. He used that kind of plan…" someone muttered in disbelief.

"I can't believe a mere boy's strategy could devastate Kumogakure like this," another whispered.

"Thankfully, he's Sakumo's son and Orochimaru's disciple. He's one of Konoha's own."

While the others discussed Muzan's plan, Danzo studied every detail carefully. The plan's key was its authenticity—every element, from the outbreak of war to the conflict at the border, had been meticulously crafted to ensure its success. Sacrificing the entire camp had been a calculated move to secure a decisive victory.

But Danzo saw beyond that. For a war to be truly convincing, bloodshed and sacrifice were necessary. The others knew this as well, though they remained silent, considering the small number of casualties as a necessary price for Konoha's peace.

"It wasn't Muzan's fault. It's better to adjust the records and blame it on the ruthlessness of Kumogakure," Danzo thought, a smirk creeping across his face. His laughter drew the attention of everyone present.

He realized that Muzan was truly born for darkness. Everything he did aligned perfectly with Danzo's vision. It would be a waste not to recruit him into Root.

"You're not thinking of doing anything foolish, are you?" The Third Hokage asked, eyeing Danzo warily. He hadn't seen Danzo smile like that in a long time, and it made him uneasy.

Danzo repressed his smile, retreating into the shadows. "If I were to act…"

He didn't finish the sentence, but his glance at the Hokage spoke volumes. The council still had to discuss matters concerning the front line, but Muzan's accomplishments couldn't be ignored. A title was to be bestowed upon him, recognizing both his strength and his strategic brilliance. Muzan had become a rising star in the Third Shinobi World War, while Kumogakure's misfortune had become a tale of ridicule throughout the ninja world.

---