Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

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Muzan did not act immediately, choosing instead to let his subordinate handle the situation. Relying solely on Blood Demon Arts and innate talent wasn't enough—actual combat experience was crucial, and this was the perfect opportunity to hone Haku's skills.

"Now's my chance!"

Yoshino's eyes gleamed with determination. Seeing Muzan seemingly distracted, he seized the moment and dashed toward him, aiming to strike Muzan's neck.

However, just as Yoshino thought he had succeeded, his eyes widened in horror. His blade was mere inches from Muzan's neck when Muzan's hand shot out, gripping Yoshino's arm with inhuman strength and halting the attack.

"Crack!"

A sickening sound echoed as Muzan's grip shattered Yoshino's bones, drawing a cry of agony from him. His arms hung limply, twisted at unnatural angles. Before Yoshino could react further, Muzan's fist connected with his abdomen.

"Boom!"

The impact sent Yoshino crashing into the snow, creating a crimson spray that stained the pure white ground. He lay there, battered and broken, blood pooling around him.

"No! We have to save the captain!"

"You handle the boy; I'll go after the leader!"

One of the team members shouted as they rushed to the battlefield. They had managed to restrain Haku using teamwork, but they knew Muzan was a far greater threat.

"Don't come any closer…"

Only those who had faced Muzan knew the terrifying extent of his power. As another ninja approached Muzan, a kunai suddenly appeared in Muzan's hand, sinking into the attacker's heart with lethal precision. The ninja collapsed, lifeless, his mission unfulfilled.

"Had you relied on strategy, you might have delayed me. But engaging me in close combat was foolish."

Muzan's voice was calm, almost mocking, as he addressed Yoshino, who was barely clinging to life.

With Haku temporarily held back by the other ninjas, Muzan decided to handle the target himself. He stepped into the room, his presence filling the space with an oppressive aura. Three masked figures materialized before him—the elite ANBU of Konoha.

As soon as they saw Muzan's black robe and blood-red eyes, recognition dawned on them. Despite the hood obscuring part of his face, there was no mistaking his identity.

"Hatake Muzan! It's you!"

Their voices were laced with shock. The ANBU stared at their former comrade, once hailed as Konoha's finest medical ninja, now standing before them as an enemy.

"I never expected to meet you again under these circumstances," Muzan said, his tone almost regretful. "Step aside. My mission lies ahead."

The ANBU knew Muzan's strength well. They understood that merely relying on the present members would not be enough to stop him.

One of them hesitated, then slowly stepped back, positioning himself in front of Muchuan Songhe, who lay unconscious.

The remaining two ANBU took positions on either side of Muzan, preparing for an all-out attack. Despite knowing the mission's importance, they raised their weapons, ready to face the formidable opponent before them.

"It's unfortunate that we meet again like this," Muzan muttered.

In an instant, blue light flickered in Muzan's palm, and he moved with blinding speed. The two ANBU didn't even have time to react. Before they knew it, Muzan was behind them, his hands lightly touching their necks.

"Crack!"

Both ANBU collapsed, unconscious from the chakra disruption Muzan had applied with expert precision. The last remaining ANBU, sweating under his mask, watched in horror as his comrades fell.

"You should have known better," Muzan said, approaching the final ANBU.

With a swift motion, Muzan knocked him out cold. He then walked over to the unconscious Kakashi, who had been caught in the earlier battle, and draped a blanket over him.

"You're lucky it was me, Kakashi. You still don't play it safe enough."

Outside, the sounds of battle were fading as Haku finished his fight. Muzan noticed the shattered ice—remnants of Haku's Blood Demon Art. The ice was so cold that it shattered on impact, turning its victims into mere fragments.

"Good work. The mission is complete, but there's still much to do."

Muzan glanced at the unconscious ANBU members. After this incident, Konoha's efforts to capture him would intensify. Attacking the Daimyo's mansion so openly would undoubtedly escalate tensions.

As they prepared to leave, Muzan decided to send a final message. Gathering chakra, he unleashed a massive fire jutsu.

"Katon: Gōka Mekkyaku!"

The flames roared to life, fueled by Muzan's chakra, and consumed the mansion in a blaze of destruction.

"This is just the beginning," Muzan thought as he surveyed his handiwork.

By the time they left, the Daimyo's mansion was reduced to ashes, and news of the attack spread quickly.

Only Konoha's ANBU knew Muzan's true identity, but they chose not to reveal his involvement to the public. Instead, they reported directly to the Fourth Hokage.

Upon hearing the news, Minato Namikaze stopped mid-task, his pen hovering over his paperwork.

"So… no one else knows about this?"

The Daimyo's affairs were a national concern, and even Minato had to respect the Daimyo's position. If word got out that a rogue Konoha ninja had attacked the Daimyo's mansion, it could destabilize the village, which had just found some semblance of peace.

"His target was Muchuan Songhe… It seems related to the Muchuan family. Deploy ANBU to track down Muzan."

Since Muzan's disappearance, he had evaded the village's surveillance. Now that they finally had a lead, they couldn't afford to lose it.

"Don't send Hatake Sakumo after him. I'm concerned he won't be able to handle it."

In their last encounter, Muzan's abilities had a natural advantage over Sakumo's swordsmanship. Combined with Muzan's cunning, Minato struggled to find a suitable candidate to capture him.

"It looks like I'll have to send sensei. Hopefully, he can apprehend Muzan before this situation spirals out of control."

Minato sighed, realizing that being Hokage was perhaps his greatest challenge yet.

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The news of the attack on the Fire Country's Daimyō Mansion spread swiftly across neighboring nations. The Land of Fire, renowned for its wealth and powerful military, was shaken to its core by the revelation that its elite guard had been effortlessly crushed by just two powerful shinobi.

The repercussions of this incident were far from over.

At the Daimyō Mansion, the Fire Country's Daimyō, barely recovering from the shock, stared in disbelief at the ruins of his home, now engulfed in flames. His furious roar echoed through the crumbling halls:

"Who dares to burn down my home?! Konoha shinobi! I demand that you catch the culprits immediately! Fail me, and this year's funding will be cut in half!"

This incident implicated many, especially the shinobi of the Fire Country. Whether they were Konoha's loyal defenders or rogue ninjas, all fell under intense scrutiny.

Fortunately, Konoha's shinobi, loyal to the nobles, complied with the investigations. However, the rogue ninjas, with their dubious allegiances, resisted fiercely, leading to numerous skirmishes. If not for the timely intervention of Konoha's forces, the Land of Fire might have plunged into full-scale chaos. Fear spread among the populace, who dreaded being unjustly accused.

"Who could be bold enough to attack the Daimyō's Mansion? Is nowhere safe anymore?"

"It's best to leave while we can. If two shinobi can topple the nobles, then maybe the aristocrats aren't as untouchable as they claim to be."

"Shh! Keep your voice down. I don't want to get dragged into trouble because of you!"

Amidst the chaos, Muzan and Haku returned from their mission, leaving behind a trail of false leads to obscure their movements.

The Fourth Hokage immediately deployed ANBU units to scour the surrounding forests, hoping to find clues to Muzan's whereabouts and prevent further damage.

The Hyūga Clan's sensory ninja joined the search, their Byakugan proving invaluable for tracking. Even Muzan had to tread cautiously, knowing how effective the dōjutsu could be.

"These Konoha shinobi are persistent," Haku remarked with a sly grin. "But this time, some sharp minds have started to see through the confusion."

Muzan didn't chastise him. The fire had done its job, drawing attention away from their true objectives. By sparing the ANBU during their escape, Namikaze Minato managed to keep the situation contained, though the tension remained high.

"Let them search to their heart's content," Muzan muttered, entering Sage Mode. His enhanced senses picked up the presence of nearby shinobi, and he left the area before the Byakugan could pinpoint his location.

Haku, with his low chakra signature and agility, slipped away unnoticed, blending seamlessly into the forest.

However, Muzan overlooked one critical factor: Konoha's ANBU were not the only ones on his trail.

At the edge of the forest, Jiraiya sat on a tree branch, casually flipping through a copy of Icha Icha Paradise. Though his outward demeanor was relaxed, his sharp mind was analyzing every detail of the situation.

"I should visit the Land of Rivers soon. I've heard rumors about a new mixed bathhouse that could inspire my next masterpiece," he mused to himself. Then his expression hardened. "But first, I need to catch that brat."

Initially tasked with locating Orochimaru, Jiraiya had shifted his focus to Muzan after the latter's appearance at the Daimyō Mansion. Acting on Namikaze Minato's direct orders, Jiraiya knew he couldn't let Muzan continue wreaking havoc.

Tiny toads, camouflaged among the leaves, acted as his spies. One of them croaked softly, "Ribbit! Muzan's heading east with a young boy."

Jiraiya's sharp eyes followed the toad's indication. Cross-referencing his map and recent intelligence, he narrowed Muzan's destination to the Muchuan estate.

"This kid's fast," Jiraiya muttered, vanishing from his spot without notifying the nearby ANBU. Confident in his own abilities, he believed he could handle Muzan alone.

Meanwhile, Muzan and Haku crossed the forest and approached the Muchuan Mansion as planned.

Inside the mansion, Muchuan Hui paced nervously in the courtyard, sweat beading on his forehead. His trembling hands betrayed his anxiety. Days earlier, he had sent assassins to eliminate Muchuan Songhe, his elder brother. If they failed, his own life would be forfeit.

"The old man will favor my brother no matter what," Hui muttered bitterly. "If we competed fairly, I'd accept my fate. But I was never given a chance. I had to take matters into my own hands!"

Sensing eyes on him, Hui suppressed his panic and retreated indoors, awaiting the return of his hired killers.

Moments later, Muzan and Haku arrived. Two shadows, one tall and one small, slipped through a window. Hui's tense expression relaxed as he saw them. Their presence signaled the mission's success.

"Click."

The door creaked open, and Muzan stepped inside, Haku following close behind. Hui's gaze was glued to the scroll Muzan carried. With a flick of his wrist, Muzan unfurled it, revealing the lifeless body of Muchuan Songhe.

The sight of his elder brother's pale, lifeless face brought Hui a twisted sense of satisfaction. Letting out a maniacal laugh, he exclaimed, "I knew I'd win! Now, I'm the sole heir! Hahaha!"

Haku frowned at Hui's outburst, feeling a twinge of disgust. The man's willingness to kill his own brother for power was appalling.

Muzan, unfazed by the display, reminded him coolly, "Congratulations. But don't forget our agreement."

Just as the words left Muzan's mouth, an elderly voice resonated from the shadows:

"Agreement? Let me inherit my position first!"

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