Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

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A Water Formation Wall sprang up, blocking the incoming shuriken. These shuriken, known for their near-impossible evasion, could only be stopped by large-scale water-style jutsu.

Muzan had deliberately sacrificed his outer defense to allow the Water Fang Bullet to pierce through the first barrier layer. The second layer, however, was designed to halt the high-speed Water Fang Bullets, which carried far more impact and destructive power than ordinary shuriken.

Muzan concentrated on deflecting these water bullets.

With two layers of defense, his protection fully formed. From outside, it looked like a giant turtle shell, encapsulating him entirely.

Nearby, Itachi Uchiha watched as ripples spread across Muzan's Water Formation Wall, expanding with increasing intensity.

"Break!" Muzan's voice echoed sharply.

In response, the central wall of water surged outward, merging the two defense layers and instantly neutralizing the approaching Water Fang Bullets. Even Itachi had to step back, nearly thrown off balance by the blast.

The lake below churned violently from Muzan's powerful jutsu, while the previous explosion of explosive tags and the roaring waterfall behind them shrouded the area in thick, swirling mist.

Hidden within the mist, Itachi prepared to unleash the pinnacle ability of his Uchiha bloodline—his Sharingan.

Muzan sensed Itachi's growing intent and felt the pressure mounting. Despite his youth, Itachi was talented. Yet Muzan's immense physical prowess, mastery over ninjutsu, and deep chakra reserves posed a challenge even for an Uchiha.

At this point, Itachi's Sharingan had reached its most advanced form before the Mangekyō Sharingan—the Three Tomoe Sharingan. Muzan could sense Itachi's chakra intensifying, signaling that he was on the verge of evolving further.

Suddenly, a crow appeared in the sky, drawing Muzan's attention.

For a moment, Muzan felt his chakra fluctuate—genjutsu.

"The Uchiha clan's genjutsu is always troublesome…" Muzan muttered.

However, with the heightened awareness from his Sage Mode (Sennin Mōdo), which granted him resistance to illusions, Muzan quickly noticed the disturbance. Moreover, the dual nature of his thought process—honed through training—allowed him to dispel foreign influence almost instantly.

Itachi's Crow Genjutsu had little effect on him.

Realizing his genjutsu had failed, Itachi swiftly transitioned to his next attack.

"Boom!"

The crow exploded into a flurry of black feathers. In an instant, countless shuriken flew through the air, their paths masked by the falling feathers—all aimed directly at Muzan.

"Shurikenjutsu Mastery," Muzan acknowledged, noting the silver glint of the shuriken cutting through the mist to trap him.

But surrounded by dense natural energy from Sage Mode, Muzan flared with power. Just before the shuriken reached him, he vanished, reappearing behind Itachi.

"The test is over. I have no reason to continue with you," Muzan said in a low tone.

Itachi's eyes widened as he felt Muzan sever the chakra threads linked to the shuriken, rendering them ineffective.

"Clap, clap, clap!" The shuriken fell harmlessly into the lake, splashing around as Muzan continued, "Congratulations. From today, you are an official member of ANBU. Grow strong, Itachi Uchiha."

With those words, Muzan disappeared, leaving Itachi alone, gazing at his reflection in the water below. His eyes, now bearing the Three Tomoe Sharingan, gleamed back at him.

"So… I've awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan," Itachi murmured.

Among the Uchiha, it was an unwritten rule—only those with the Three Tomoe Sharingan were considered at the level of a jōnin. This newfound power would elevate him quickly, giving him strength on par with the elite.

For the other ANBU candidates, the night had been long and grueling. Their trials had pitted them against elite Root ninja under Danzo Shimura's harsh training. Those who survived were now official ANBU under the command of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

At dawn, those hiding within the forest emerged, breathing sighs of relief. Yet as they regrouped, they noticed several candidates were missing. The survivors exchanged wary glances at the three elite jōnin before them, each understanding the cost of survival.

Only Itachi remained calm, though his clothing was torn and his body weary. The fierce battles throughout the night had drained him, but his Sharingan glowed with newfound strength.

The others watched him cautiously. Though the Uchiha clan had faced recent turmoil, their pride was undiminished, and none dared meet Itachi's gaze.

"Your ANBU training will begin soon," Muzan told the group, casting a fleeting look at Itachi. For now, Itachi's power didn't fully intrigue Muzan. After all, until Itachi awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, he was merely another Uchiha in Muzan's eyes.

"Yes, sir!" the group replied in unison.

Joining ANBU required more than just raw strength. The upcoming months would push them to their limits, honing skills in teamwork, stealth, and operations in the shadows.

The knowledge they'd gain as ANBU would surpass what any ordinary shinobi could learn. Even the elite clans of Konoha lacked access to such clandestine techniques. For ANBU, loyalty to the village took precedence over everything, even family.

"All for the village," they murmured, steeling their resolve.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Minato Namikaze reviewed the reports from the previous night's trials. Since the Nine-Tails Rebellion, ANBU vacancies had increased, and he was responsible for recruiting promising members to fill these positions.

"Danzo's methods are too harsh…" Minato murmured as he scanned the reports. Some candidates were discreetly marked for elimination; for the sake of the village's secrecy, any failed candidate would be "disposed of."

"These are valuable shinobi… it would be a great loss to waste them," Minato sighed, aware of the importance of nurturing these young elites as Konoha's future pillars.

At the top of the list, one name stood out.

"Itachi Uchiha… an impressive shinobi, highly recommended by the judges," Minato noted.

His thoughts were interrupted by a small stir beside him. His infant son, Naruto, was nearly out of his crib.

"Not so fast, little one," Minato chuckled, lifting Naruto into his arms. "You're going to be a great shinobi someday, too. Jiraiya-sensei has high hopes for you."

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The ANBU's shortage of manpower was becoming a pressing concern. Namikaze Minato was fully aware of Danzo's covert tactics, so he permitted him only minimal control to select a limited group.

Despite Danzo's influence, ultimate authority over the ANBU lay with the Hokage. Even the Third Hokage found it challenging to intervene in ANBU matters, much less restrain Root, Danzo's shadowy organization. However, the power of Root couldn't be allowed to grow unchecked—it threatened the village's delicate balance.

After all, shinobi weren't simply weapons devoid of emotion.

Yet, what Minato didn't realize was how deeply cruel Root's practices were. In Danzo's world, emotions held no value, and only the strong survived. Brutal competition and death were commonplace in Root's ranks.

Muzan shook a vial, scrutinizing a newly concocted serum with a hint of dissatisfaction.

"This still isn't the breakthrough I want," Muzan muttered. "Evolution adapts unpredictably to circumstances, making complete control difficult."

He observed a group of frenzied, low-level mutants writhing before him. After extensive experimentation, Muzan concluded that while evolution was chaotic, it could be guided.

"Environment shapes their abilities," he mused. For example, those exposed to extreme cold might develop a limited ability to manipulate ice. Yet, without an innate bloodline limit, such as Ice Release, their growth would remain stunted.

Just as Muzan prepared to resume his research, he sensed approaching footsteps. Instantly, he disposed of the subjects, erasing all traces.

Moments later, Danzo entered, his face as unreadable as ever. Without preamble, he shared troubling news.

"Kumogakure's provocations at the border are intensifying. If not for the tensions from the Nine-Tails incident, I'd have acted by now."

"Now," he continued, "they're pressing us for negotiations—and compensation. When they come to Konoha, I'll make sure they regret it."

Muzan had already heard about the skirmishes, but he remained unconcerned. The once-great Kumogakure had suffered severe losses in the Third Shinobi World War, while Sunagakure was steadily rebuilding. Their demands for compensation likely hid a greater interest in Konoha's Hyuga clan.

However, Muzan was confident. Hyuga Hizashi had already sworn loyalty to him, and with Hizashi's Byakugan and demonic abilities, Muzan had eyes throughout the village. If Kumogakure tried anything suspicious, Hizashi would be there to intercept.

"The shinobi of Kumogakure are fools if they believe a few incidents have weakened Konoha," Muzan remarked dismissively.

Danzo noted his indifference but continued, now in a graver tone. "The one leading the negotiations is your father. But there's a complication—his team has gone missing without a trace."

Muzan's relaxed demeanor vanished. A deadly aura flared around him, prompting Danzo's guards to shift defensively.

"Calm yourself," Danzo said quickly, gesturing for his guards to stand down. "We're on the same side. I'd never target the White Fang of Konoha."

"I suspect it's a Kumogakure ambush. But Sakumo is no easy target—not even for the A-B Combo."

Muzan knew his father's strength well, but the news of his team's disappearance was troubling.

"Where was his last known location?" Muzan asked coldly.

Danzo replied, "Near the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers. If he was attacked, he should have fallen back, but we've had no contact."

With most of Konoha's elite already on missions, there was no one to search for Sakumo. Muzan resolved to go himself, hoping he wasn't too late.

"I'll handle it," he said, turning to leave.

Meanwhile, Sakumo was in a dire situation. He had managed to retrieve vital intelligence from Kumogakure but had been ambushed mid-route by a mysterious puppet master, an expert in hidden weaponry.

Despite Sakumo's efforts, two of his elite Chunin allies had perished in the initial clash. Forced to retreat under cover of smoke bombs, he decided not to risk further confrontation.

One of his remaining Jonin companions, however, had been poisoned by a concealed needle. Though Sakumo had administered an antidote, it seemed ineffective—the poison spread, and his comrade's life hung in the balance.

"Ishitaro, hang in there," Sakumo urged.

The team medic struggled to keep Ishitaro stable, but his chakra reserves were nearly depleted.

Suddenly, Sakumo sensed movement. He tensed, listening intently, his sword poised to strike if the puppet master returned. But with two weakened teammates, he knew their chances were slim if they were found.

As Muzan tracked through the forest, he stopped, inhaling deeply. He recognized the faint scent.

"They were here," he murmured, focusing on a dense patch of trees.

"Found you."

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