Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

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"I suggest teaching Sunagakure a lesson and letting them know that Konoha is still the strongest among the five great ninja villages! They must not be allowed to blaspheme!" Danzo said, his voice stern.

Danzo was a typical hardliner. With no Kazekage in Sunagakure, the village was leaderless. Now was the best time to invade. Without a strong opponent, the pressure on Konoha's forces would be reduced significantly. If he could achieve total victory, he would be the Fourth Hokage!

"I don't agree with this decision. The risk is too great, and we can't afford it," Koharu, usually siding with Danzo, rarely denied his decisions. Although the Kazekage was missing, Sunagakure still had many strong ninjas. Coupled with the presence of the One-Tails Jinchuuriki, Konoha would struggle to conquer Sunagakure without depleting too much of its strength, making it vulnerable to other villages.

"The harsh desert conditions of Sunagakure wouldn't create wealth for Konoha. Instead, it would burden us with a long battlefront," Koharu added.

"Koharu is right. We must consider the bigger picture," the Third Hokage said. "Konoha has always focused on peaceful coexistence. If we provoke a war, it will be one against four. Without Tsunade and Jiraiya, the pressure would be immense."

"You will regret today's decision! Sunagakure's ambition will never be satisfied," Danzo snorted, retreating into the shadows once more.

Sunlight penetrated the Hokage's office, forming a stark contrast of light and shadow. Danzo remained a figure lurking in the darkness.

"Let Orochimaru handle the Sunagakure border, Sakumo take charge of the Kumogakure front, and Minato support all fronts with his Flying Thunder God technique," Hiruzen commanded. "Sakumo's presence might provoke Chiyo. During the last war, he killed her son and daughter-in-law. We can't risk personal vendettas affecting the mission. Orochimaru is the best choice for Sunagakure."

Unlike the original timeline, Sakumo did not commit suicide this time. As a top-tier ninja, he could handle one side effectively. The strong men from Kumogakure wouldn't only target Konoha, and Onoki wasn't an easy opponent either.

With the Hokage's orders issued, Konoha's ninjas began to mobilize in an orderly manner.

After receiving his orders, Sakumo did not refuse. Only a few strong enough could deal with Kumogakure, and Sakumo was the most suitable. His Hatake swordsmanship was highly effective against Kumogakure's straightforward attacks.

"I'm afraid I'll be away for a long time. Kakashi hasn't returned yet. If you go on a mission, try to avoid the battlefield," Sakumo advised his children, concerned about their safety as genin might also be called to war.

"Father, don't worry about me. With my current strength, I can handle ordinary elite chuunin. As for Kakashi, don't forget his leader," Muzan reassured. Konoha's Yellow Flash, Minato, was known for his mobility, making him a valuable asset on the battlefield.

Sakumo's departure meant Konoha's shadow-level powerhouses were in charge. Once the war began, Konoha would not be at a disadvantage. The Kage-level powerhouses would join the battle directly.

"Let's start dealing with our affairs, Anko, Mari! Are you ready?" Muzan asked.

"Ready!" they replied.

Before the war, profits from arms were huge. The price of explosive tags was rising daily. All the money Muzan scraped together during this period was converted into explosive tags. He planned to sell them in large quantities and prepare for a big score.

"Can we really make money?" Anko asked, only eight or nine years old, unaware of Muzan's trading talent.

"If these materials are sold, we can proudly say it. Me, Anko! Eight years old and worth one hundred million!" Muzan boasted.

"Will the explosive tags be stolen? My mother likes to take my lucky money," Mari worried, tightly covering the explosive tags on the ground. Unlike Anko, he was more cautious and aware of the value of the tags.

"Stolen?" Muzan smirked. "Even if a jounin comes to rob us, they must consider whether they can leave Konoha alive and unharmed!"

"Don't worry, we'll sell the explosive tags as soon as possible," Muzan assured. His research required significant funds. Without money, his projects would never progress.

Using a sealing scroll, Muzan took the explosive tags. This was his first time in the arms business. To buy a large number of tags, he borrowed a large sum from his father and secretly took Kakashi's private funds.

Far away at the border, Kakashi suddenly sneezed.

"Do you have a cold?" Rin asked, concerned, reaching out to touch his forehead, but Obito interrupted.

"I think it's kidney deficiency. Can't handle a few days," Obito teased.

"Asshole, Obito! Someone is probably talking about me, but why do I have a bad feeling something's missing?" Kakashi muttered.

Muzan arrived at the Konoha Ninja Tool Shop, causing quite a stir with his cargo.

"Two boxes of explosive tags? Does his family make them?" one ninja speculated.

"Idiot! This is Muzan Hatake, Sakumo-sama's child. Sakumo-sama is famous for his swordsmanship. Could he be branching out?" another wondered.

The shop owner knew Muzan had bought these tags from him a few days ago. He never expected Muzan to resell them so quickly.

"It's a pity Muzan is a ninja. If he were a businessman, he'd be a powerful figure in the arms trade," the shop owner mused.

In the end, the tags sold for 50% more than the original price. Just a few days had passed. If war broke out, who knew how much a tag would sell for? Muzan couldn't afford to gamble. The thrill of a high-stakes gamble could drive people crazy. If Konoha started controlling arms, the ninja shop wouldn't suffer, but Muzan's small operation would collapse.

Better to quit while ahead. Even half the income was optimistic.

Brothers, are you ready for a hot-blooded episode? The war begins!

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