Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

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The Third Ninja World War had not yet begun, but ninjas from different villages were already appearing around Konoha. Several small countries near Konoha were nearly invaded and controlled by major ninja villages.

As the dominant force in the area, Konoha would not stand idly by while enemies encroached on its territory.

Konoha was still holding back from full-scale war, but friction continued. Many ninjas felt the tension, sensing that a small spark could ignite the entire ninja world.

Orochimaru's task for his team was simple: inspect the situation around Konoha. This was their first mission outside the village.

Unlike ordinary team leaders, Orochimaru did not accompany them. Konoha's current situation demanded his attention elsewhere. Thus, there was no teacher leading the team this time. The three genin faced significant danger even within Konoha's borders.

"Sensei, you really don't need to worry about us patrolling!" Muzan said, confident in his abilities. He was skilled in perception, able to detect any scent carried by the wind. Mari, an excellent sensory ninja, used vibrations in the ground to determine the direction of enemies, especially in dense woods where his ability shone.

Anko, bored, sat on a branch eating dango to replenish her strength. "I'm starving. The front line isn't as glamorous as they said. I want to go to the battlefield and kill enemies, not lie here and watch birds!"

"Going to the battlefield and killing enemies?" Muzan smiled helplessly. "Genin will go to the battlefield, but killing enemies? You'll be lucky not to become cannon fodder."

The tragedy of the Third Ninja World War was unimaginable. All the ninja villages were involved, with Madara Uchiha pulling the strings behind the scenes, stirring up chaos. The Akatsuki organization was also recruiting rogue ninjas from major villages, and their terrifying power loomed over all.

"Listen to me. The waters are deep. You can't control everything, Anko. Let's just focus on the mission."

"Bastard!" Anko threw a bamboo stick at Muzan, but suddenly noticed his tense posture. "You shouldn't be so stingy. I didn't mean to—"

Muzan's scarlet eyes were fixed on the forest ahead. Mari immediately grabbed Anko and hid behind a tree.

The two sides discovered each other almost simultaneously. Only then did Anko realize an enemy had appeared.

"Get down and stay quiet."

Muzan could smell a mixed scent on the wind. Mari placed his ear to the ground, listening to vibrations, and whispered, "There are three people approaching quickly. We can't rule out they're enemy ninjas."

"They're not one of us."

The smell was different—a hint of seafood. Although part of the Land of Fire was near the sea, Konoha was in its center. These ninjas had a scent distinct to Kirigakure.

"Kirigakure ninjas!"

Kirigakure, the Village of the Bloody Mist, was the cruelest among the major villages, currently under the rule of Yagura.

"Alright! Here's our chance to make a difference!" Anko was eager to engage. A battle with enemy ninjas was comparable to a B-rank mission.

"Don't rush in without knowing the enemy," Muzan cautioned. "Mari, determine their exact location and tell me when they're close."

The three of them hid behind a tree, using the darkness to their advantage. The Kirigakure ninjas likely had more combat experience, so they needed to be cautious.

Shiraishi Koji, the leader of the Kirigakure team and a chuunin, was walking through the forest, listening to his subordinates praise Konoha's prosperity.

"Is this Konoha? It's indeed the richest of the Five Great Villages. But mapping this area won't be easy."

Konoha had high-quality land and was near the port of the Land of Waves, giving it a unique geographical advantage. In contrast, the Land of Water consisted of islands, and Kirigakure's development had always lagged behind Konoha's.

"Don't be careless! This is Konoha territory. We could encounter their ninjas at any moment. If the mission fails because of you, I'll kill you myself!"

This was the rule of Kirigakure. Missions came first; ninjas were mere tools without emotional ties.

"Yes, Shiraishi-sama!"

To effectively attack Konoha, Kirigakure had sent numerous teams to scout the area. Conflicts with Konoha teams were common, but they were minor skirmishes, avoiding full-scale battles.

A ninja team with one chuunin and two genin...

Muzan's blood-red eyes spotted three figures in the darkness. Cruelty glinted in his gaze.

"The chuunin is mine. I'll support you as soon as I'm done. Remember, deal with the others quickly!"

Kirigakure ninjas could be nearby, so they had to act fast. As Muzan moved, Shiraishi Koji sensed danger.

"Who's there?"

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Several black poisonous snakes extended from Muzan's black robe, aiming to strangle Shiraishi Koji.

"Clang!"

Three kunai flew out, killing the snakes, but one managed to bite Shiraishi Koji's ankle.

"Argh!"

Pain spread from his ankle, and Shiraishi Koji saw Muzan emerge from the darkness.

"Orochimaru! No, Orochimaru's disciple."

If the enemy was Orochimaru, there would be no need for a sneak attack. The figure before him was a child, likely a genin.

Two more figures emerged from behind a tree, engaging Shiraishi's subordinates. They had encountered a Konoha ninja team.

"I didn't expect Orochimaru's disciple. Even if I fail and die here, killing you is worth it!"

"There are many people who want to kill me, but it's a pity that they don't have the strength to do so."

Muzan drew the ninja sword from his back. It wasn't Sakumo's White Fang, but an ordinary ninja sword. The man before him wasn't a powerful foe like Sakumo.

"Crack!"

His Hatake sword skills were a bit more refined than Konoha's White Fang. Shiraishi Koji took three steps back, thinking he'd dodged the attack, but felt a sharp pain in his chest.

Looking down at the bleeding wound, Shiraishi Koji was horrified.

"Hatake sword technique!"

As a ninja from a hostile village, Shiraishi knew how terrifying this technique was. The black-robed young man in front of him, combined with recent intel about the Hatake family's genin, made it clear.

"You are Hatake Muzan!"

Geniuses like Muzan were more valuable targets than powerful ninjas. Eliminating a budding genius prevented future threats to the village.

Muzan didn't deny it. The two clashed, but Muzan's strength forced Shiraishi Koji to retreat. The poison spreading from his ankle sapped his energy quickly.

"Clang!"

Muzan's extended slash cut through Kunai and Shiraishi Koji's neck. With a swift draw and sheathe, Shiraishi Koji's head rolled to the ground.

"Boom!"

The corpse fell stiffly, and Muzan closed Shiraishi Koji's eyes—a final act of dignity.

"The life of a ninja is truly sad."

Ninjas didn't engage in production; they plundered. Most died at the hands of enemies, a cycle with no end in sight.

After dealing with Shiraishi Koji, Muzan quickly moved to the battlefield ahead. Anko and Mari had the upper hand. Orochimaru's thorough training left no secrets about ninjutsu.

The two enemy ninjas were trapped and poisoned by snakes. Anko's kunai ended their lives swiftly.

"It seems you've gained a lot."

Muzan was surprised at their improvement. Mari, once barely able to use basic techniques, now killed Mist Ninjas alone.

"Yeah! The battle between ninjas is really dangerous."

Anko looked at the dead ninjas, realizing the true cruelty of war.

"Fortunately, I won. I will become a famous ninja!"

Muzan didn't dampen Anko's enthusiasm. He looked at the corpses and cut off their heads with his ninja sword.

Anko, still wanting to relax, looked at Muzan with disgust. "You're a pervert!"

Muzan's cold, ruthless eyes silenced her. His demeanor resembled Orochimaru's.

"Don't be naive, Anko. We're ninjas, and they were enemies. We need these heads for special investigations into Kirigakure's plans."

Dead ninjas were sometimes more useful than live ones. This experience was to acclimate them to the harsh realities of ninja life.

Anko, her hands stained with blood, suppressed her discomfort. Mari, though trembling, held his head high.

"Yes, Captain."

Anko finally respected Muzan's authority, understanding the need to follow orders.

"Let's regroup with the others!"

The presence of Mist Ninjas near Konoha hinted at an impending invasion.

Back at camp, the sight of the bloodied trio startled the ninja on duty. If anything happened to Orochimaru's disciple or Sakumo's child, it would spell trouble.

"What happened?"

The ninja on duty wanted to call for medical help, but Muzan, skilled in medical ninjutsu, interrupted.

"We encountered Mist Ninjas. Here's the head of their chuunin. Extract any useful information."

"Chuunin?"

After confirming the headband, the ninja on duty was shocked. Muzan, so young, had killed a chuunin. His reputation would now stand on its own merits.

Muzan's strength, combined with Mari and Anko's, made Orochimaru's lack of surprise understandable. He had confidence in them patrolling alone.

"You did well, but you made a mistake."

Cleaning up after the battle was overlooked. A missing chuunin team in Konoha would alert Mist Ninja to take more precautions.

Orochimaru warned, "Next time, be thorough. You've exposed yourself to the Mist Ninja. You're on their must-kill list now."

He handed Muzan a scroll with bounty lists. Muzan's name was at the top, with a bounty higher than an elite jounin.

"A must-kill list?"

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