Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

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"Quack, quack!"

A row of crows flitted through the woods. Muzan glanced upward briefly before dismissing their presence, his crimson eyes gleaming with indifference.

On the forest floor lay Uzumaki Karin, unconscious. She stirred as the moon climbed higher into the sky, finally waking with a groggy start.

Her eyes fluttered open, scanning the shadowy woods around her. The faint rustle of leaves and distant animal calls only heightened her disorientation. When her gaze fell on Muzan, standing nearby with an aura of quiet menace, she bolted upright and shrieked, "Who are you?!"

She hastily checked her clothing, her breath hitching in relief upon finding nothing amiss. Yet her relief was short-lived as her gaze returned to Muzan. The fear etched across her face was unmistakable, but she steeled herself and shouted, "I'm from Kusagakure! You'd better think twice before messing with me!"

Muzan turned to face her fully, his expression unreadable. A low chuckle escaped his lips, soft but brimming with contempt. "Kusagakure? Are you certain they see you as one of their own?"

He gestured to the faint bite marks on her arm, the scars stark against her pale skin. "Those marks tell a different story. You were nothing but a blood bag to them. If it weren't for me, you'd have been drained dry by their leeches."

Karin stiffened, her mind racing. She hadn't realized the depth of her exploitation in Kusagakure. Before she could respond, Muzan's cold voice cut through the night.

"As for Kusagakure, they won't be coming to save you. I've killed every last ninja in that village."

His words, spoken with casual certainty, sent an icy chill down her spine. Karin wanted to dismiss his claim as a lie, but the sheer weight of his presence made her falter.

"Prove your worth, or you'll be discarded," Muzan added, his tone devoid of emotion. "People without value don't deserve to live."

Karin lowered her gaze, trembling. Years of survival in Kusagakure had taught her the harsh reality of obedience. If she wanted to live, she'd need to comply.

Muzan turned his attention to the woods beyond. "Come. We're heading to the nearest town."

They were at the edge of the Land of Fire, far from any sanctuary. The journey ahead would be perilous, but Muzan moved forward without hesitation. Karin struggled to keep up, her breaths growing labored. At one point, she nearly collapsed, her body overwhelmed by his relentless pace.

Muzan finally paused, glancing back at her with mild irritation. "Useless," he muttered under his breath, waiting just long enough for her to regain her composure before continuing.

By dawn, they reached a small town. Muzan, cloaked in black, kept his movements precise and calculated. He secured a room at an inn and began planning their next steps. Karin, meanwhile, lingered in the shadows, her fear of him warring with a faint hope of escape.

As she overheard the townsfolk, her heart sank.

"Did you hear? Muzan, the rogue ninja from Konoha, wiped out Kusagakure!"

"Yeah, they say he's a medical genius turned monster. Merchants are terrified to travel these roads."

Karin froze, her blood running cold. Her last shred of hope—rescue by Kusagakure—had been crushed. The enormity of her situation hit her like a tidal wave. She was alone with a man capable of destroying entire villages.

The door to the room creaked open, and Muzan's piercing gaze landed on her. Her panic did not escape his notice. "Stop cowering," he snapped. "Pack your things. We're leaving."

Karin scrambled to obey, her hands trembling. Muzan's sharp eyes scanned the room before turning toward the window. "They've found us," he murmured, sensing the presence of ANBU operatives closing in.

Outside, Muzan activated Sage Mode, his chakra flaring. The familiar black cloak billowed around him as he crafted two shadow clones to mislead their pursuers. Using the Substitution Jutsu, he vanished into the surrounding buildings, Karin following in his wake.

When the pair emerged on the outskirts of the town, Muzan unsheathed the Sword strapped to his back. The blade gleamed faintly in the morning light. Without a word, he stepped in front of Karin, shielding her from the unseen threat.

"It's not as simple as I thought."

The danger hadn't disappeared, but with the enhanced perception granted by Sage Mode, Muzan could roughly pinpoint his enemies.

"Even my sense of smell is blocked. It seems Konoha has done extensive research on me."

Forced to stay vigilant, Muzan addressed Karin Uzumaki behind him in a low tone.

"Listen, kid. Get out of here now. I'll find you when this is over."

Though Karin wasn't his weakness, her capture by Konoha would be an unnecessary complication. Ensuring her escape beforehand was the best move. While escaping alone was easy for Muzan, having her along would only slow him down.

Without hesitation, Karin fled, vanishing from sight without looking back.

"This brat..."

Muzan clicked his tongue in irritation but focused on the situation at hand. He glanced up at the blazing sunlight above. Attacking him during the day, were they? Too bad they didn't know he had discovered a way to temporarily suppress the sun's effects.

A cruel smile tugged at his lips. "I hope the Akatsuki makes their move soon."

If Konoha captured him, his position would weaken momentarily. But right now, he had a rare opportunity to slip away.

"Rustle..."

A subtle rustling of leaves from all around caught Muzan's attention. His sharp eyes scanned the area.

Under a nearby tree, a small black line slithered toward him. Reacting instantly, Muzan vanished in a flash.

As he moved, he felt a strange sensation—a mark had been placed on him.

"So... the Ino-Shika-Cho trio is here."

Muzan smirked. He wasn't afraid of Yamanaka Inoichi's Mind Transfer Jutsu. His brain's structure was far superior to that of ordinary shinobi. Anyone attempting to read his mind would encounter a torrent of relentless, violent thoughts, far beyond human comprehension.

Hidden in the trees, Yamanaka Inoichi staggered back, his face pale.

"What did you see?" asked Nara Shikaku, his voice calm but firm.

Inoichi wiped the sweat from his brow. "A sea of pure violence. It almost broke me."

"Stay focused," Shikaku warned. "Hatake Muzan isn't a simple enemy."

Fire Release ninjutsu had created an inferno around the battlefield, blocking all possible escape routes. Even an elite jōnin would struggle to escape such flames unscathed.

"What now?" Akimichi Chōza asked, glancing at his teammates. His role was straightforward—protect his comrades with his massive frame.

"Wait it out," Shikaku replied. "The sunlight restricts Muzan. He's more anxious than we are."

The trio knew defeating Muzan alone was impossible, but they weren't fighting alone. Hatake Sakumo was nearby, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Muzan, meanwhile, continued to assess his surroundings. His enemies suppressed their chakra to the bare minimum, making them nearly undetectable—even with Sage Mode.

"They've studied me thoroughly."

Dodging two more strikes, Muzan calmed himself, keenly observing his surroundings. Though the wind carried no scents, the shadows cast by Nara Shikaku betrayed the trio's positions.

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

A massive wave of fire erupted from Muzan's mouth, engulfing the area.

"Just as I thought," Shikaku muttered, crouching low as the flames raged past him.

The sheer scale of Muzan's chakra reserves allowed him to wield large-scale jutsu effortlessly. As the flames roared, Shikaku signaled his team to prepare for their next move.

"We're drawing his attention," he said, his voice steady.

"I'm ready," Inoichi quipped. "Once this is over, I'm taking a long vacation."

"You dream too much," Chōza retorted. "I'm the one taking the hits here!"

Despite the danger, the trio maintained their composure, a testament to their bond and the pride of the Ino-Shika-Cho formation.

Muzan, sensing their intent, smirked.

"Blood Demon Art: Black Blood Tri-Blade Thorn!"

From the cracked earth, crimson thorns erupted, spreading rapidly. Sunlight failed to hinder the demonic attack.

Chōza, bracing himself, leaped forward to intercept the thorns with his Partial Expansion Jutsu.

The moment his enlarged fists clashed with the thorns, he realized something was wrong...

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