Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

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Dodai rushed in, glaring at the miserable trio sprawled on the ground, and pointed accusingly at Muzan.

Muzan deflected the flying debris with his ninja sword, his gaze locked onto Dodai. The tension between them was palpable.

"Sir! Help..." gasped Dashihe, lying on the ground. Seeing Dodai arrive to rescue them, he tried to call out but his injuries were too severe. His weakened body gave out, and he fell unconscious.

"Muzan, you've gone too far this time!"

Muzan grabbed one of the men on the ground and tossed him onto another injured person, their bruised faces colliding. He spread his hands in mock innocence.

"I just arrived and found them lying here. And if I accidentally stepped on the face of a Kumo ninja, well, that's on him for putting his face in my way. I didn't even notice."

With no witnesses or physical evidence, Muzan could easily deny his involvement in the assault.

This was Konoha Hospital, and while Dodai was strong, he couldn't risk using large-scale ninjutsu here. Minato Namikaze wouldn't let him off lightly if he caused any destruction.

But in close combat within a small room, Muzan had the advantage. His superhuman strength and mastery of Hatake Swordsmanship could overpower Dodai, giving Muzan the opportunity to strike.

"I'll be reporting this to the Hokage. I hope you have the courage to face him at the negotiation table!" Dodai declared, positioning himself protectively in front of the injured trio as he glared at Muzan.

News of the Kumo ninja attack at Konoha Hospital quickly reached Minato Namikaze. Hearing that Muzan was involved, he chose not to intervene immediately. Muzan was a medical ninja, and as long as no one was fatally injured, there wasn't a critical issue.

Of course, if things escalated, Minato would make it clear to Kumo that Konoha was not a village to be taken lightly.

After examining the injured Kumo ninjas, it was clear their condition wasn't severe enough to incapacitate them permanently. The cost of treatment would be significant, but without proper care, Dashihe's ninja career might be over.

Kabuto's attack had damaged his nerves, and Muzan's blow had dealt a severe injury to his heart. It was a miracle he was still alive.

The arrival of the Kumo ninjas had little impact on Konoha, but ANBU operatives were now keeping a closer watch on them to prevent any further incidents.

During the peace talks, Dodai requested a delay until their injured comrades had recovered enough to participate in negotiations.

As Muzan left the hospital, he felt a sharp gaze upon him. Looking up, his pupils narrowed as he spotted a small white dot in the distance.

"Hizashi's Byakugan is getting more precise. With him watching over Konoha, nothing escapes his sight."

Kumo's intentions weren't limited to peace talks; they had their sights set on Konoha's Byakugan. The Byakugan, renowned across the ninja world, was a powerful bloodline limit coveted by every major village for its value in warfare.

Back in the hospital, Dodai was aware of the surveillance. He spent his days lifelessly tending to his injured comrades, appearing as though he was simply passing time.

"Master Dodai, our injuries are healed. When will we begin?" Dashihe asked, barely containing his anger. If not for their secret mission, he would have already challenged Muzan to a death match.

"During the negotiations, you'll handle the discussions. I'll slip away when the opportunity arises to complete our mission."

They exchanged determined glances, ready to sacrifice everything for Kumogakure.

Once Dodai obtained the Hyuga clan's Byakugan, Kumogakure would gain a powerful bloodline limit, not only to strengthen their forces but also to exact revenge on Konoha for any past transgressions.

They knew the mission might lead to Konoha's wrath. Death—or worse—awaited them, yet they remained unafraid.

"Leave Konoha as soon as possible. Your role is to delay Namikaze Minato. The Flying Thunder God Technique is too dangerous to leave unchecked."

"Yes, Lord Dodai! We'll buy you the time you need!"

The Kumo ninjas soon announced that negotiations would resume in the afternoon. With important issues at stake, all senior Hokage officials were present.

Minato Namikaze led the negotiations as Hokage, with the Third Hokage and Danzo strategizing ways to gain an advantage. The talks extended throughout the day with intense discussion on all fronts.

This mattered little to Muzan until Hizashi approached him. Despite Hizashi's skill with the Byakugan, his role was more support-focused than combat-oriented.

"Sir, a Kumo ninja dressed in black has infiltrated the Hyuga compound. I'm tracking him," Hizashi informed him.

Hizashi had anticipated Kumo's intentions and organized a network of Byakugan eyes to monitor their every move. They even watched the negotiations with Byakugan.

During a break, Hizashi noticed a figure slipping away from the meeting.

As the figure neared the Hyuga compound, he encountered a Hyuga jounin. The Kumo ninja attacked swiftly, killing the jounin instantly. Unfortunately for him, the jounin was a branch family member and of no use to their plan.

When the intruder moved toward Hinata's room, Hizashi recognized their target.

Though disappointed with the Hyuga clan's politics, Hizashi's love for his family remained unwavering. He would not allow harm to come to Hinata.

It was still daytime, limiting his strength, but Muzan was nearby and could reach him in time.

Dodai hadn't yet reached Hinata's room, but an unsettling feeling gnawed at him.

Earlier, he'd been spotted by a Hyuga branch member. There was no guarantee that others hadn't noticed him as well. He needed to act quickly.

As Dodai vaulted into the yard, he saw two figures awaiting him, as if they had anticipated his arrival.

"Muzan… and a Hyuga jounin. This won't be easy."

His instincts had been correct. The feeling of being watched hadn't left him, even after avoiding the ANBU.

"A thief sneaking into the Hyuga clan—how bold."

Muzan didn't reveal Dodai's identity. If he did, he'd lose the chance to kill him.

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Dodai surveyed the scene, realizing his stealth mission had already gone awry. Now, his only option was to make a swift escape. His eyes met Muzan's, and he gripped his kunai tightly, prepared for the worst.

"Earth Release: Earth Spear Jutsu!"

Massive earth spikes erupted around Dodai, creating a dense barrier to separate himself from his opponents.

But Muzan's reflexes were quicker. The instant Dodai formed the seals, Muzan's blade flashed as he sliced through the earth spikes with one swift slash.

Meanwhile, Hizashi, a skilled Hyuga, used his Gentle Fist technique to cut off Dodai's escape routes. Muzan's swift, unrelenting attacks left Dodai little room to maneuver, and their teamwork ensured there were no blind spots in their defense.

Dodai knew he'd stand a better chance at range; the Hyuga's Gentle Fist was unmatched in close combat. But Muzan's relentless sword strikes balanced out Hizashi's approach, creating a seamless offensive that left Dodai struggling to find an opening.

"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"

Dodai's defenses faltered under the continuous barrage. The pressure mounted, and each misstep opened him up to Hizashi's pinpoint strikes, his Byakugan ensuring no mistake went unnoticed.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

The fiery explosion rocked the courtyard, sending debris and flames in all directions. Hizashi quickly spun, activating his Rotation technique to shield himself from the blast.

Dodai, however, struggled to defend against the flames, though he managed to erect a quick Earth-Style Wall. He was famous for his Melting Release techniques, but the Hyuga clan's swift counterattacks in their own territory caught him off guard.

Just then, a small voice drifted from nearby. Little Hinata, curious and oblivious to the danger, had ventured outside to see the commotion.

Dodai spotted her instantly—an opportunity!

He lunged toward Hinata, his eyes gleaming with intent. Hizashi's face paled.

"No!"

He couldn't reach her in time. Dodai was just too fast!

"Strange Fist!"

Muzan smashed the ground beneath Dodai's feet, halting his momentum. With swift precision, Muzan stepped in front of Dodai and scooped up Hinata, shielding her from harm.

"Damn it! I was so close!" Dodai cursed, glaring at Muzan, who held Hinata protectively, making sure she wouldn't stumble into danger during the chaos.

A kunai whizzed through the air, grazing Muzan's back and tearing his clothes. A faint trail of white smoke rose from his exposed skin as sunlight hit the wound. Muzan clenched his jaw, quickly drawing on natural energy to mitigate the burning sensation.

"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"

Hizashi resumed his attack, giving Dodai no chance to escape. Despite Dodai's fierce gaze and swift moves, the sounds of combat had attracted the Hyuga clan members.

Several branch family members rushed into the yard, alarmed by the sudden attack in their core territory.

"Protect the heiress! The rest of you, capture the intruder!" ordered Hyuga Nishikawa, an experienced Jonin who understood the severity of the situation. Any harm to Hinata would not only disgrace the clan but also mean severe punishment for those tasked with her protection.

Seeing Hinata safe in Muzan's arms, Nishikawa breathed a sigh of relief, though tension remained.

"I never imagined someone would dare to infiltrate so deeply," he muttered as Hiashi arrived.

The entire encounter had spanned only a few moments, but for elite Jonin, a single error could spell disaster. The slightest lapse could have cost Hinata her life.

Muzan handed the trembling Hinata to Hiashi, prepared to depart. But then a stern voice cut through the tension.

An elder of the Hyuga clan stepped forward, his gaze hard and unforgiving as he turned from Muzan to Hizashi. Despite being Hiashi's younger brother, Hizashi was of the branch family and thus subject to the elder's authority.

"Pathetic! Have you grown so complacent that you let an enemy slip into our midst? If it weren't for Muzan, this could have ended in disaster!"

The elder's scorn was evident, and in his eyes, reprimanding the branch family was akin to disciplining an unruly subordinate. This incident served as a reminder of the main family's power.

Hiashi averted his gaze, feeling the weight of his role and the constraints placed on him by the elders. Even as clan head, he lacked the power to shield his brother.

Nishikawa came forward and knelt down, accepting his place. "Lord elder! I will atone for this failure. Please grant us a chance to apprehend the intruder and protect Lady Hinata!"

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