Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

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With the Raikage determined to strike down his enemies for the sake of his comrades, it seemed like the war was nearing its inevitable conclusion. The cost of battle had always been high, yet Muzan's expression remained impassive as he surveyed the carnage.

The mountainous terrain was a gruesome sight—mud, jagged rocks, severed limbs, and fallen bodies littered the battlefield.

Kitsuchi knew they had to prolong the battle to defeat the Raikage. His title as "the strongest shield" was well-earned—his defense made most attacks useless. Only the most powerful Earth Release jutsu could leave any mark on him, and even then, such techniques drained Kitsuchi's chakra heavily, so he used them sparingly.

Thankfully, Konoha had sent Namikaze Minato, the Yellow Flash, who led the assault on the Raikage. Minato's unmatched speed kept the Raikage on the defensive, forcing him to deplete his chakra reserves.

The battle raged for a full day and night.

Now, the Raikage's lightning chakra cloak had dimmed to a faint flicker, and exhaustion weighed on him. Minato, too, was nearing his limit, but his allies—Kitsuchi and several Iwa-nin—stepped in to relieve him, allowing him to remain relatively fresh.

"A warrior worthy of respect," Minato murmured, breathing heavily as he watched the Raikage's towering figure. His face was pale, but his sharp eyes stayed alert.

Under the gaze of the surrounding shinobi, the Raikage's iron-like body finally wavered. His knees buckled, and he collapsed.

They had done it. The Raikage was defeated.

But just as they moved to claim their hard-won victory, something unexpected happened.

The Raikage, still kneeling in the dirt, was suddenly ensnared by flesh-colored thorns that coiled tightly around his massive frame. In mere moments, his body vanished.

The shinobi, barely recovering from the battle, were immediately on high alert, assuming a new, powerful foe had arrived to steal the Raikage's body.

But it wasn't an outsider. From the shadows, Muzan stood quietly, his hands transformed into thorny appendages beneath his dark cloak. He had taken the Raikage's body without anyone noticing.

The most valuable prize on this battlefield was the Raikage's corpse—it couldn't fall into enemy hands.

"Who the hell took the body?!" Kitsuchi growled, staggering to the spot where the Raikage had fallen. He quickly activated an Earth Release jutsu, trying to trace the escape route, but found no trace.

"Let it go," Minato said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Chasing an unknown enemy right now isn't worth the risk."

Kitsuchi clenched his fists but reluctantly agreed. As important as the Raikage's body was, they were all exhausted. Rest had to take priority.

Konoha had only allied with Iwa to bring down the Raikage, not retrieve his corpse. Minato wasn't about to risk his men's lives for something beyond their mission. He signaled for Konoha's forces to retreat from the mountains.

The battlefield was a blood-soaked wasteland.

Kumo's forces, trapped in the valley, had been unable to reach the Raikage. They had been overwhelmed by Konoha's reinforcements and slaughtered.

Standing amidst the carnage, Muzan's thoughts were already moving to his next steps. With the Raikage dead, the war was effectively over. Now, Muzan could conduct his experiments in peace—at least for a while, before anyone interfered.

"This victory was hard-earned for Konoha," Minato said quietly, casting a glance at Muzan, who seemed lost in thought. Perhaps the young shinobi was overwhelmed by the sheer scale of destruction—many were, after their first major battle.

"Yes," Muzan replied absently, scanning the battlefield. The surviving shinobi were busy recovering the bodies of their fallen comrades, while the enemy corpses were burned with Fire Release jutsu to prevent the spread of disease.

Turning his attention back to Minato, Muzan spoke, "You were the key to this victory, Minato-Sensei. I wouldn't be surprised if you ascended to the Hokage seat soon."

"Hokage, huh?" Minato smiled modestly, though Muzan could see the thoughts stirring behind his calm facade. "It's not as simple as that."

Muzan said nothing, knowing full well that, while this battle was over, the complexities of the ninja world were far from settled.

Obito's death had shaken Kakashi, and with Uchiha Madara's influence lurking in the shadows, the Nine-Tails Rebellion seemed inevitable. Yet Muzan had no desire to get involved. His path might eventually lead him to betray Konoha alongside Orochimaru.

One day, Muzan knew, he would be hunted. Perhaps by Jiraiya, Orochimaru's former teammate. Or maybe Minato himself. Worst of all, it might be his own father.

Hatake Sakumo could never imagine his son turning to human experimentation. The truth would destroy him.

"Hokage... it's a burden few understand," Muzan said softly, his thoughts wandering. Orochimaru, Muzan's mentor, was one of Konoha's strongest shinobi and a prime candidate for Hokage. Yet here Muzan was, standing on the verge of betraying everything.

He didn't say more. Instead, he helped tend to the wounded, ensuring those who could be saved received care. Once the battlefield was cleared, Konoha's forces began their march out of the Land of Earth.

News of the Raikage's death would soon spread across the nations. Most would react with disbelief, but the truth was undeniable. The loss left Kumogakure in disarray, unable to launch further offensives.

Sensing the shift in power, the smaller villages quickly withdrew from the conflict. Konoha, though victorious, had paid a steep price, with its forces stretched thin.

In the aftermath, Orochimaru led a series of assaults on vulnerable regions before returning to Konoha, taking prisoners—both civilians and enemy shinobi. No one dared to question his motives.

Hatake Sakumo, who had held the frontlines, began pulling back his forces after hearing of the Raikage's fall. With the threat eliminated, there was no reason to continue the assault.

The war was over. For now, the villages turned inward, tending to their wounds and preparing for whatever might come next.

When word finally reached Konoha, the sky was thick with clouds. Villagers gathered, placing flowers to honor the fallen.

"Brother," a voice whispered amidst the crowd. "The war is finally over."

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