Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

---

"Strength..."

Uchiha Shisui muttered quietly, a burning resolve driving him to achieve true power. A surge of energy pulsed within his mind, but a sharp, searing pain forced him to clutch his head tightly, his body trembling.

Muzan, standing nearby, was taken aback by the sudden outburst. He hadn't expected Shisui to be so close to unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Driven by his loyalty to the Uchiha clan and love for the village, Shisui's desire for strength teetered on the edge of obsession.

Muzan remained calm, using a Water Release technique to cool Shisui down.

"Power should be gained gradually," Muzan advised. "During the Fourth Hokage's reign, the Uchiha face no immediate threats."

Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, had embraced a policy of reconciliation with the Uchiha, fostering improved relations. Yet Muzan knew that everything could change if Minato were to fall.

"You have time to grow stronger. But if you're willing to gain power by any means, follow me. Don't forget the blood I entrusted to you," Muzan reminded him.

Shisui, still shaken from the pain, recalled the mysterious blood Muzan had given him in the past. He'd never fully understood its purpose, but Muzan's words made him reconsider.

"Thank you, Muzan-Sama," Shisui replied humbly. "I'll work hard to become stronger, to protect both the Uchiha and the village."

Drenched and now calmer, Shisui couldn't shake the intense feeling he'd just experienced. He resolved to tap into the potential within his Sharingan, sensing there was a power beyond the three tomoe.

Though he was unfamiliar with the Mangekyō Sharingan, one thing was clear to Shisui: a higher form of the Sharingan had to exist. Without it, the Uchiha could never overcome the village's greatest threats.

If training alone couldn't bridge the gap between the Uchiha and the village, Shisui might have no choice but to consider the power of Muzan's blood—despite its unknown cost.

Meanwhile, news of Shisui's recent visit to the Hatake estate quickly reached the higher-ups. The newly inaugurated Hokage, Minato Namikaze, found the report intriguing. There had been tension between Uchiha and the Hatake clan recently, yet Shisui had left the estate soaked, with no sign of anger.

"Was he humbled?" Minato wondered aloud. Though he held the title of Hokage, Minato knew he had much to learn about village politics. Even the ANBU agents he deployed were now heavily influenced by Danzo and his Root organization.

Muzan, meanwhile, headed to the Forest of Death, where Orochimaru had hidden one of his more secretive laboratories. Compared to Root's base, this location was far more concealed.

Orochimaru had set up multiple labs across Konoha. Some were public and monitored by the Hokage or in collaboration with Danzo, while others lay hidden deep underground.

If not for Orochimaru's explicit directions, Muzan would never have guessed a secret entrance lay beneath the seemingly ordinary creek before him. Submerging himself, he reached a metal door leading to Orochimaru's hidden lab.

The air inside reeked of blood and chemicals. Despite air filtration seals, the smell was nauseating.

Rows of test subjects lay in heavy anesthesia, a testament to Orochimaru's gruesome experiments. Muzan even spotted malformed, half-formed flesh scattered nearby.

Despite Orochimaru's efforts, Muzan knew that without further advancements, his attempts to replicate unique power would ultimately fail.

In one corner, some test subjects weren't as fortunate. Awake and aware, they endured Orochimaru's experiments fully conscious.

"Kill me… please," one of them whimpered.

"You're all monsters," another murmured weakly. "I'll see you in the afterlife…"

Muzan remained indifferent. These were failed experiments, grim reminders of the cost of failure. He knew that if his own plans fell apart, his fate could be worse than theirs.

"I thought fear might hold you back," Orochimaru's voice echoed from the shadows. "But from your expression, it seems I was mistaken. You are truly my disciple."

Orochimaru emerged from the darkness, his cold gaze fixed on Muzan. The man before him barely resembled the Orochimaru once known by the Third Hokage or Jiraiya. The pursuit of immortality had warped him beyond recognition.

"You underestimate me, Orochimaru-sensei," Muzan replied calmly. Though he too had engaged in human experimentation, his methods were refined, unlike Orochimaru's indulgent cruelty.

"Jijiji… haha!" Orochimaru cackled, a crazed gleam in his eyes. Muzan sensed the madness growing within him. Whether due to the trauma of war or the endless pursuit of life, Orochimaru was slipping further from his humanity.

"Let me show you the results of my latest experiment," Orochimaru said, pride evident in his twisted grin.

The two moved deeper into the lab, reaching a chamber where a cold, lifeless body lay on a metal table.

"Is this… a corpse?" Muzan asked, though something seemed off.

"No," Orochimaru replied with a sly smile. "He's alive, his heartbeat faint but steady."

Muzan examined the figure closely and realized Orochimaru was correct. The person was in a state akin to hibernation, their metabolism drastically reduced.

"Your cells are truly remarkable," Orochimaru said, placing the subject back into cold storage. "With this method, we could extend life indefinitely. The only thing left to perfect is soul transfer."

Orochimaru spoke of life and death as mere boundaries to be crossed with the right jutsu. In a world where techniques like the Reanimation Jutsu existed, Orochimaru's ambitions were disturbingly plausible.

What Orochimaru truly sought was a powerful, resilient body to contain his enduring soul.

" Orochimaru-Sensei," Muzan said cautiously, sensing the risk in Orochimaru's pursuit, "I urge you to reconsider this path."

Muzan placed a hand on Orochimaru's wrist, halting the experiment.

"Don't rush him to cold storage just yet. Let's see what happens next."

Muzan seemed to have anticipated this outcome. As the ice thawed, the man lying on the table began undergoing horrific distortions, with his blood rapidly taking hold, throwing everything into chaos.

In moments, the subject's body collapsed, reduced to a pool of blood as his genes were destroyed.

Muzan noticed Orochimaru's cold expression and guessed he hadn't anticipated such an intense reaction. "Your cells are similar to the First Hokage's in a way—highly xenophobic and incredibly infectious," he commented.

Orochimaru looked down at the blood and frowned. He had studied the cells of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, long enough to understand the complexities and challenges involved. Decades of experiments had shown him just how difficult it was to control such powerful cells, and now, examining Muzan's cells would pose an even greater challenge.

"Orochimaru-sensei, your Reanimation Jutsu is already highly advanced," Muzan suggested, steering Orochimaru's ambitions away from his own body. "You might have more success if you focus on developing your immortality technique further. There are many strong candidates across the ninja world, like the Uchiha clan..."

Muzan's suggestion was a subtle deflection, intended to dissuade Orochimaru from considering him as a potential vessel.

"Interesting…" Orochimaru's eyes gleamed, his thoughts now clearly drifting toward the Uchiha clan.

At Muzan's mention of "soul transfer," Orochimaru's interest deepened. In the shinobi world, where techniques like Reanimation Jutsu existed, experimenting with souls was a tempting idea.

"Reanimation Jutsu… to extend life through the constant replacement of soul containers…" Orochimaru muttered, pondering the possibilities.

A dark laugh escaped him, and he appeared to come to a decision. As Muzan watched, he sensed a sinister intent emanating from Orochimaru.

Snap!

Orochimaru's hand shot forward, transforming into a snake. Whether it was meant to harm Muzan or merely test him was unclear, but Muzan reacted instantly, gripping the serpent's head mid-attack.

Their hands became the battleground, chakra and skill intertwining in a contest of ninjutsu mastery. Muzan remained steady, knowing that, while Orochimaru was incredibly powerful here, he wouldn't risk a true confrontation just yet.

Eventually, Orochimaru ceased the struggle, a dark smile crossing his face as he began repairing the damage to the lab. Muzan kept his guard up, recognizing that for now, their shared interests would keep them from becoming enemies.

After the incident, Orochimaru's focus shifted. Instead of experimenting with Muzan's blood, he would turn his attention to the possibilities of immortal reincarnation. Muzan had already given him some insight, enough to spark Orochimaru's ambition to craft a powerful resurrection technique.

Reflecting on the nature of his blood, Muzan noted the complex parallels to Hashirama's cells. His blood held immense power but came with severe risks. For now, he refrained from telling Orochimaru about its controllable aspects, knowing that without Muzan's direct guidance, Orochimaru would reach a dead end.

----------------------------------------

Get early access to the next 15 chapters by joining my Patreon. Support my work and dive deeper into the story by becoming a member today!

Patreon.com/Shinchan_37