Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

---

Uchiha Shisui appeared in an instant, his Mangekyō Sharingan blazing like twin crimson flames. The opponent before him was faster than even Uchiha Itachi—Shisui, the prodigy of the Uchiha Clan, renowned as their brightest genius. His strength was unimaginable. Yet, fate's cruel irony brought him here, to face someone he once admired.

"Muzan," Shisui said, voice firm, "I can't let you destroy Konoha."

His hands gripped kunai tightly, his eyes never leaving Muzan. Once a trusted teacher and friend, Muzan had guided Shisui when he was at his most lost. That time felt like a distant memory now. Hidden beneath Shisui's cloak was a vial of Muzan's blood, a twisted gift. Consuming it promised unimaginable power but at the cost of his humanity. Muzan had chosen the path of rogue ninja, while Shisui had stayed loyal to Konoha. Their paths could no longer coexist.

Muzan regarded him with cold amusement. "So, even you stand in my way, Shisui? How disappointing." His smile faded as he readied himself. To raze Konoha, he first had to defeat the Uchiha prodigy.

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"

Shisui executed a one-handed seal with astonishing speed, the flames roaring forward like a blazing serpent. Muzan met it with a counterattack of equal ferocity.

"Water Style: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"

A torrential wave erupted from Muzan, consuming the flames and filling the battlefield with steam. The resulting mist shrouded the ruins, obscuring everything.

Amidst the chaos, Zabuza saw his chance. The former Mist swordsman activated his Hiding in Mist Jutsu, the heavy fog serving as the perfect cover for his maneuvers. Though the battlefield was in disarray, Muzan and Shisui remained unperturbed, their heightened senses and Sharingan rendering the mist meaningless.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Shisui created four identical clones, each darting with blinding speed. Muzan's sharp eyes tracked them, her body reacting in kind.

"Lightning Style: Electromagnetic Murder!"

Shisui released a surge of electricity through the battlefield, lightning crackling across the water-soaked terrain. One of his clones struck at Muzan, but she evaded with ease, the clone dispersing into smoke. The remaining clones circled him relentlessly, searching for an opening.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi, his Sharingan active, coordinated his movements with Shisui. Their combined attacks forced Muzan on the defensive. Yet, despite their efforts, Muzan's strength was overwhelming.

"You're underestimating me," Muzan sneered, unsheathing the Raijin Sword—a blade crackling with energy. With a single Hatake-style slash, he cleaved the battlefield in two. Itachi leapt back, but the strike grazed him, leaving a deep wound across his back.

"Itachi!" Shisui's voice wavered as he watched his partner falter. He had no choice but to act. Channeling his Mangekyō Sharingan, he summoned his most powerful defense.

"Susanoo!"

Shisui's Susanoo emerged fully formed, its imposing figure towering over the battlefield. Unlike Itachi's incomplete version, Shisui's Susanoo gleamed with an almost ethereal armor, a testament to his mastery. The spectral warrior shielded Itachi as Shisui assessed his injuries.

"Muzan isn't holding back," Shisui muttered. "I can't afford to, either."

But Muzan's next move was devastating. he extended his spine, transforming it into a flexible, deadly whip.

"Blood Demon Art: Spinal Whip!"

The whip lashed out with terrifying speed, obliterating anything it touched—stone, steel, even water. Shisui's Susanoo caught the whip, but the sheer force of the impact left cracks in its spectral armor.

"Muzan, I won't let you escape!" Shisui's voice was resolute. Even as his chakra waned, he poured everything into holding Muzan at bay.

Muzan chuckled darkly. "Do you think Susanoo can stop me?"

With a surge of energy, his body began to transform. Flesh and muscle expanded grotesquely until he stood as a towering, monstrous giant, rivaling the size of Susanoo. His raw power sent shockwaves through the battlefield.

"Boom!"

The two titans clashed, the ground trembling beneath their might. Muzan's punches shattered Susanoo's armor with relentless ferocity. Shisui gritted his teeth, blood trickling from the strain of maintaining the technique.

"I'm not giving up," he hissed, his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning furiously.

Muzan smirked. "You're only delaying the inevitable, Shisui. Your Susanoo won't save you."

But Shisui wasn't finished. Summoning the last reserves of his strength, he prepared his final gambit. He knew Muzan was more than a match for him, but for the sake of Konoha, he had to hold him back.

"Kotoamatsukami," Shisui whispered, his most powerful genjutsu activating as his vision blurred.

Muzan froze for a split second, his eyes widening as the power of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan began to take effect. But would it be enough to stop him?

---

Susanoo shuddered violently under the force of Muzan's relentless assault. Shisui Uchiha, shielded within its protective core, felt a sharp, stinging pain shoot through his body. His vision blurred as blood seeped from his eyes, a crimson thread streaking across his Mangekyō Sharingan.

The strain of battle had taken its toll. Susanoo, though formidable, reflected its user's condition. Shisui's hands trembled as he clutched his side. Despite the pain, his resolve remained unshaken. His village's survival depended on him.

"I see your limits, Shisui," Muzan taunted, his voice echoing with cold amusement. "Even with the Sharingan, you falter. Susanoo can only hold out for so long. And genjutsu?" he smirked. "You know as well as I do—it's useless against me."

Muzan's towering form exuded an aura of malice. His transformation into a colossal demon had magnified his power beyond imagination. Every swing of his Strange Fist unleashed shockwaves that shattered stone and splintered the earth. The shattered remains of Susanoo's armor scattered across the battlefield like falling stars.

Shisui tightened his grip. Kotoamatsukami, the ultimate genjutsu of his Mangekyō Sharingan, was his trump card. But it could only be used once.

Muzan didn't give him time to recover.

"Strange Fist!"

His attack struck Susanoo with overwhelming force, a devastating blow that shattered the construct entirely. Energy fragments dispersed into the air as the protective shell crumbled. Shisui was sent hurtling back, landing hard on the fractured battlefield. Blood trickled from his mouth as he forced himself to his feet, his blurred vision doubling the monstrous figure before him.

"Muzan's strength is terrifying," whispered a Konoha shinobi, their voice trembling. "How can we even fight something like this?"

"Even summons wouldn't stand a chance!" another muttered, fear evident in their tone.

Yet a few resolute shinobi stepped forward. "We can't let him destroy the village! Even if it costs us our lives!"

Despite their courage, most of the ninjas turned their eyes to Namikaze Minato. The Fourth Hokage stood silent, analyzing the battlefield. Muzan's overwhelming power demanded a strategy, not reckless sacrifices.

---

Elsewhere, hidden from view, the shadowy forces of Root worked tirelessly.

Danzo Shimura had deployed his agents, but not to reinforce Konoha's defense. Instead, their mission was to secure the Prison and ensure Muzan's movements remained restricted. At least, that was the official story.

The truth was far more sinister.

Root agents sabotaged Konoha's efforts, eliminating Anbu operatives in secret. Danzo observed the chaos with a calculated smirk. The more devastating Muzan's attack, the greater the opportunity for him to consolidate power.

As Susanoo crumbled, Danzo allowed himself a sigh of relief. Good. Muzan is still an ally—for now. His strength will prove invaluable when the time comes.

---

On the battlefield, Muzan's transformation was complete. His massive figure loomed over the broken terrain, his very presence instilling fear. Yet his focus shifted, his crimson eyes narrowing on a distant target.

"So," Muzan murmured, "they're protecting the boy."

His gaze fell on Naruto Uzumaki, flanked by Kakashi Hatake and a group of elite shinobi. The Fourth Hokage had personally ensured Naruto's safety, knowing that the Akatsuki's goal was the Nine-Tails.

"This village," Muzan said, his voice tinged with disdain, "places so much faith in its Jinchūriki. How quaint."

Even as his voice dripped with derision, Muzan's sharp mind assessed the battlefield. Akatsuki's forces had converged, their assault focused on capturing Naruto. With their full strength revealed, the organization risked drawing the attention of other villages. Success was paramount; failure would jeopardize everything.

For the Twelve Kizuki, the mission was clear: rescue Muzan and withdraw. Konoha was no longer the primary objective.

Muzan turned to Kaede, one of the Twelve Kizuki, his commanding tone leaving no room for argument. "Pull back. We've made our statement. The Akatsuki can finish what they started."

Kaede hesitated but nodded. "Understood."

---

Deep within the Forest of Death, away from the chaos, Muzan confronted Danzo.

"Shimura," he said bluntly, his tone cold, "you've played your part well. But I saw what your Root agents did to the Anbu."

Danzo remained unfazed. "Necessary measures. The Anbu's interference would have jeopardized your escape."

Muzan's eyes narrowed, his patience thinning. "And yet you allowed them to act without restraint. What are you scheming, Danzo?"

The elder smirked, his voice laced with ambition. "I serve Konoha's interests. If that aligns with aiding you, so be it. But don't mistake this alliance for loyalty, Muzan."

Muzan's towering form shrank slightly as he stepped closer, his voice lowering to a deadly whisper. "Remember this, Danzo. Your schemes mean nothing to me. Your village is but a stepping stone in my path to ultimate power."

Danzo's smirk faltered. For all his cunning, even he knew the danger of provoking Muzan.

"Then we understand each other," he said, his tone measured. "Konoha's strength lies in its resilience. With time, it will rebuild. But for now, its power is yours to exploit."

Muzan's expression softened into a cruel smile. "Good. Then watch carefully, Danzo. Soon, the world will bow before me."

---