Hi, everyone!
I’m new here.
Before you start reading, I’d like to mention that this story has been both translated and edited by me, rather than translated word for word.
If you notice any mistakes, awkward wording, or incorrect terms, please feel free to leave a comment, and I’ll do my best to fix them.
🙂 This is primarily a Naruto fanfiction, but it also includes many elements from Demon Slayer.
I have changed some names into Japanese-style names, since more than 90% of the names in Naruto are Japanese.
I have also tried to use the official terms and names from both series whenever possible.
I hope you enjoy the story.
Happy reading!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ “So that’s Sakumo-sama’s child?
What a pitiful boy.” “I heard he’s suffered from a severe skin disease since birth.
He can’t even be exposed to sunlight.” “His body is incredibly frail.
They say he was almost stillborn.” ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Land of Fire Within the Hatake Clan’s home in Konohagakure, a child sat beneath the shade, dressed entirely in black to shield himself from the sunlight, listening to the endless gossip surrounding him.
Weak.
Sickly.
Too fragile to withstand even the slightest breeze.
Ever since Hatake Muzan arrived in the world of Naruto, those labels had never left him.
The disgrace of the Hatake Clan.
After all, his father was Konoha’s White Fang, and even his younger brother was hailed as a genius ninja.
“How laughable.” Hidden beneath the black hood was a pair of crimson eyes.
Anyone who looked into them would find themselves unable to look away.
Just then, a small boy stepped in front of him, brandishing a kunai at the adults.
“You idiots!
Don’t you dare talk about my nii-san like that!” Kakashi stood protectively before Muzan.
Anyone who dared insult his older brother would quickly learn what regret felt like.
Their father had always told him that his nii-san had been born with a weak constitution and needed his little brother to protect him.
“Nii-san, I knew I’d find you sitting here doing nothing again.
Father told you to review your lessons.
Tomorrow’s the Ninja Academy entrance day, we’re registering together.
And don’t even think about asking me to help you cheat.” Kakashi constantly worried about his older brother.
Not only was Muzan physically weak, but he was unbelievably lazy.
If something didn’t concern him personally, he simply wouldn’t move.
Even their father had given up on forcing him to practice the Hatake swordsmanship, believing it would be better if Muzan simply lived as an ordinary villager.
Sitting on the wooden porch, Muzan slowly raised his head to look at Kakashi before standing up.
The moment he did, the aura of someone born to stand above others quietly spread around him.
“Don’t worry.
There are no failures in the Hatake Clan.
I won’t disappoint either of you at tomorrow’s Academy entrance exam.” Kakashi blinked in surprise.
Especially the instant Muzan stood up…
For a brief moment, Kakashi actually sensed danger.
…Must be lingering side effects from training.
“Idiot!
That’s not the point!
You have to pass the entrance exam!” “Kakakaka!” Just as Kakashi was about to lecture him, the front door slid open.
Hatake Sakumo looked at his bickering sons and rubbed his forehead.
“You two brats.
The entrance exam is tomorrow.
Instead of arguing, go review your lessons.” “And dinner’s ready.
Hurry up and eat.” With one hand, Sakumo effortlessly lifted Kakashi off the ground.
Looking at his son’s trademark dead-fish eyes, he silently vowed to fix that expression someday.
Otherwise, the boy would never find a wife.
Then his gaze shifted toward Hatake Muzan, who still stood quietly in the shadows.
The moment Sakumo looked at him, he fell silent.
“…What happened to this kid?” While cleaning the house earlier, he had sensed something akin to a wild beast intruding onto the property.
Worried about his sons, the Kage-level shinobi had rushed over immediately.
After searching the entire area without finding any trace of the presence…
He had only found Muzan standing alone in the shade.
Never underestimate the senses of a Kage-level shinobi.
Especially one who specialized in taijutsu.
“I don’t know either.” Muzan calmly recounted everything that had just happened.
Naturally, he exaggerated every nasty word those gossiping women had said.
“After that…
I got really angry.
Then I felt some kind of power spreading out from inside my body.” A flawless explanation.
Who would suspect a child of lying?
Sakumo froze.
Strong emotions could indeed awaken power.
The Uchiha Clan’s Sharingan was proof of that.
Could the Hatake Clan possess some hidden bloodline ability as well?
“Either way, this is a good thing.” “Don’t tell anyone about it.” “Train hard from now on…
and become a true strong shinobi.” A relieved father’s smile finally appeared on Sakumo’s face.
His eldest son had always been the greatest concern in his heart.
Not because Muzan might never become powerful…
But because his body was simply too weak.
Even direct exposure to sunlight could kill him.
Whether he would even survive into adulthood had always been uncertain.
Sakumo didn’t ask about Muzan’s possible kekkei genkai.
Everyone was entitled to their own secrets.
Walking back inside, he immediately spotted Kakashi already starting dinner.
Veins bulged on Sakumo’s forehead.
He grabbed Kakashi by the collar and pointed a finger at him.
“Kakashi!
We haven’t even sat down yet, and you’re already eating?
Have you no respect for the person who cooked all this?” “I’m not eating your food.” Dangling in midair, Kakashi stared back with his usual dead-fish eyes before pointing toward the dinner table.
“Those soldier pills are yours.” “And that medium-rare steak belongs to nii-san.” Watching the father and son glare at each other, Muzan could only smile helplessly before taking his seat.
His body’s transformation was nearly complete.
Food was no longer particularly important.
Even if he went several days without eating, it wouldn’t affect him.
However…
He still needed to replenish himself with fresh blood on a regular basis.
Human blood.
Animal blood.
Either would do.
To avoid being exposed as some kind of monster, he had claimed to suffer from severe anemia.
Because of that, Sakumo regularly took him to the hospital for blood transfusions.
Sakumo had even sought out Tsunade, Konoha’s greatest medical ninja.
Even she couldn’t determine the cause of his condition.
In the end, she concluded it was likely a defect within his bloodline.
As for the normal food he ate every day…
It served little more than maintaining appearances.
Halfway through dinner, Sakumo set down his chopsticks and looked at both sons.
Muzan had started far later than everyone else.
Still, with his personal guidance, and by steadily progressing through the Ninja Academy, there was no doubt the boy could achieve good results.
As for the mysterious kekkei genkai…
Sakumo planned to visit Konoha’s library or perhaps consult the Hokage, hoping to find a proper training method.
Then there was Kakashi.
If he continued training diligently, his talent, combined with his affinity for all five basic chakra natures, would allow him to achieve remarkable accomplishments, whether with the Hatake swordsmanship or ninjutsu.
Perhaps…
He might even surpass Sakumo himself.
“Tomorrow is the entrance exam.” “For both of you, it should be easy.” “Just some basic physical tests, along with questions about the Will of Fire.” None of that concerned him.
He had complete confidence in both boys’ abilities.
Only when looking at Muzan did he repeatedly remind him, “Whatever happens…
do not expose yourself to sunlight.” That remained Sakumo’s greatest worry.
The Academy wasn’t their home.
“Kakashi, while you’re at school, look after Muzan.
His condition is still very serious.” For once, Kakashi didn’t argue.
When it came to Muzan, no one cared more than he did.
Once, he’d seen Muzan accidentally step into the sunlight.
The part of his body no longer covered by the black cloth had actually begun to smoke.
“Don’t worry.” “I’ll protect Muzan.” “You two…” That was the bond of family.
But Muzan no longer needed anyone’s protection.
As time passed…
His strength would only continue to grow.
As for the problems of sunlight and his need for regular blood transfusions…
Once he chose the path of becoming a medical ninja in the future, those issues would eventually be solved.