Naruto: Hatake's No Misfortune

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Therefore, they kept a close eye on Muzan during the battle. If he made any sudden moves, they would need to react immediately, even with Loquat Juzo staying on the periphery.

As long as Muzan acted, they needed to split away from the other six.

"Ka-chak!"

"Blood Demon Art: Black Blood Trifoliate Thorn!"

The extending thorns aimed to tear apart the enemy in front. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were forced to abandon their siege. Loquat Juzo seized the opportunity to rush forward, but the dense thorns successfully blocked his path.

"This is troublesome."

Muzan's strength was undeniable. His large-scale attacks had a significant impact on the battlefield. They could only hope that the village would send reinforcements once they learned of the situation. Otherwise, surviving this battle would be nothing short of a miracle.

"Hiss!"

Even the Decapitating Sword's legendary cutting power wasn't enough to make Muzan retreat; the web of thorns absorbed most of the force.

At the same time, Muzan noticed a layer of mist forming around him. This wasn't just any fog—it made the already dark battlefield completely opaque.

"The famous jutsu of the Hidden Mist Village..."

Hiding in Mist Technique!

Muzan could no longer see the ongoing fight. He was completely engulfed by the mist, and the enemy was using this chance to prepare an assassination attempt.

"But you underestimate me too much."

The fog swirled, as if something was moving within it.

Loquat Juzo, concealed by the mist, employed the Silent Killing Technique, silently approaching Muzan. If he could sever Muzan's head, he would take it and retreat from the battlefield.

Loquat Juzo didn't believe that Muzan was truly immortal.

"Ding!"

"What?!"

As he neared Muzan, a sudden sense of danger made him instinctively raise his Decapitating Sword in defense.

An invisible attack collided with the sword. If not for the vibrations running through his arm, he might have thought it was an illusion.

"The enemy is attacking..."

Although he didn't know how Muzan was striking, the floating mist showed that Muzan's attacks had no physical form but left traces in the air.

To avoid further strikes, Loquat Juzo used his sword as a shield.

"I've found you, Loquat Juzo!"

Both were testing each other in the mist. Muzan wasn't used to the conditions, which impaired his vision, but the metallic sounds from his attacks gave away Juzo's location.

A faint blue glow of chakra formed around Muzan's hand, penetrating the ground, and his figure vanished into the mist.

Loquat Juzo, still hidden, was shocked when he realized his enemy had disappeared. The thorns hadn't vanished.

"This is bad!"

A sudden sense of danger made Juzo's hair stand on end. He could feel Muzan's bloodlust.

As he leapt into the air, the ground beneath him gave way, and two blue chakra-coated hands erupted from the earth.

"Medical Ninjutsu!"

Due to its policies, the Hidden Mist Village had never fully developed medical ninjutsu. However, over the years, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had encountered various medical-nin, but only one was known to use medical ninjutsu in combat.

Tsunade!

"I didn't expect to face such a troublesome foe."

Loquat Juzo, now airborne with no foothold, couldn't maneuver. Muzan, using the vines below, launched himself into the air as well.

"This is really bad!"

If Muzan's chakra-infused blade pierced his body, he would surely die.

"No escape! Damn it!"

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"

Just as Loquat Juzo thought it was over, he heard the sound of a ninjutsu being cast behind him. A fierce water dragon surged forward, not aimed at him, but meant to intercept Muzan's deadly attack.

The water jutsu bought Muzan a moment's pause.

"Bam!"

Muzan hadn't anticipated such an ambush from within the mist. The proximity to the sea gave the Water Style incredible power—far stronger than it would be near a river or stream.

Muzan was knocked to the ground.

"Cough, cough."

It lasted only a few seconds, but the mist had greatly hindered Muzan. If his vision hadn't been obscured, he wouldn't have been caught off guard.

"This mist is really annoying!"

Furious, Muzan's chakra flared, rippling through the mist, disrupting its flow.

"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"

Three massive fire dragons erupted in different directions. The intense heat evaporated all the water nearby in an instant, clearing the mist completely.

"Are you kidding me? We're near the coast, where Water Style should dominate! How can his Fire Style be this strong?"

"That's... that's monster-level Fire Style."

"Be careful. He just dispelled the Hidden Mist Technique!"

Muzan's immense strength was clear in the large-scale jutsu.

At this point, Muzan spotted the one who had launched the Water Dragon Bullet Technique. She stood out even in the dark—her deep red hair unmistakable. She was the future Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei.

Though still young, not much older than Kakashi, her strength was rapidly developing. With the sea empowering her Water Style, her attack had been formidable.

"Very impressive!"

Terumi Mei marveled at Muzan's Fire Style, but now that the mist had lifted, she could see his strange appearance.

"You idiot! He's the enemy!" Loquat Juzo snapped, momentarily annoyed at the thought of thanking her. How could she be impressed by the enemy?

"Cough, cough."

Blushing at her senior's rebuke, Terumi Mei looked away. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were all seasoned veterans, while Terumi Mei's current strength was that of a rising Jonin. Even with her unique Kekkei Genkai, she knew she couldn't take on Muzan alone.

"What should we do, Juzo?" she asked, trying to stay composed despite the terrifying power in front of them.

Loquat Juzo was still recovering from his encounter with Muzan's attack, unsettled by the heat left lingering in the air. He couldn't believe the sheer power of Muzan's Fire Style, which rivaled that of Konoha's finest.

"I don't know," he admitted, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. "But Muzan... he's no ordinary enemy. Could he be from Konoha? The so-called Twelve Kizuki... could that just be a cover?"

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