Naruto: Kakashi of the spider sage

Night had fallen over the capital, casting long shadows over the rooftops. In the stillness of the evening, two figures remained perched atop one of the tallest buildings, watching over the city below. Kakashi and Shisui had spent the last few days gathering intelligence, but the weight of their discoveries now pressed upon them. What they had uncovered was far beyond what they had expected.

Kakashi took a deep breath, his fingers tightening around the small scroll he had just finished writing. "We need to send this to the Hokage immediately," he muttered, his voice low but firm. "This isn't just about Kaizo anymore. If we mishandle this, we could end up sparking something much larger."

Shisui nodded in agreement. "I'll summon one of my crows. It's the fastest way."

With a brief series of hand signs, Shisui extended his arm, and a sleek black crow appeared in a puff of smoke. It cawed softly as it landed on his outstretched forearm, intelligent eyes gleaming in the moonlight. Kakashi carefully secured the scroll to its leg, ensuring it was fastened properly before stepping back.

"Take this to Lord Hokage," Shisui commanded, his voice calm but urgent. "No delays."

The crow flapped its wings and took off, vanishing into the night sky. Kakashi watched it disappear, then sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "We've done what we can for now. Whatever happens next is up to the Hokage."

Shisui gave him a sidelong glance. "You sound almost relieved."

Kakashi chuckled dryly. "Not really. Just aware of my own limits. If we act now, we'll be able to stop this from escalating, but that won't get the Land of Fire what it truly wants."

Shisui crossed his arms. "And what is it that the Land of Fire truly wants?"

Kakashi's expression turned serious. "Leverage. Konoha isn't just looking to shut this operation down. If we act recklessly and eliminate Kaizo, the Land of Iron can just wash their hands of him, claim ignorance, and continue their business as usual. That's not what the Hokage wants. What we need is undeniable proof—something that ties both the Land of Iron and the Land of Stone directly to this conspiracy. Only then can we use it to pressure them both."

Shisui frowned. "So you're saying if we handle this the wrong way, the Land of Iron could just deny involvement and walk away scot-free?"

"Exactly." Kakashi exhaled. "The Land of Iron prides itself on its neutrality. If we were to reveal their involvement in an assassination plot against the Fire Daimyo, they would lose that stance entirely. That would make them just another pawn in the game between the Five Great Nations."

Shisui let out a low whistle. "That would be a serious blow to their reputation."

"And Konoha could use that to their advantage," Kakashi continued. "Alternatively, they could let the Land of Iron off the hook and focus entirely on the Land of Stone, forcing them into a position where they have to pay reparations—whether in ryo or jutsu secrets—to avoid conflict. Either way, the Hokage has a choice to make. That's why I sent the report."

Shisui gave him a long look before shaking his head. "You really think about everything, don't you, Senpai?"

Kakashi smirked. "I try. But it's not really our decision to make."

They both fell silent, the only sound the distant rustling of leaves as the wind passed through the capital. The weight of the situation hung between them, but there was nothing more to do for now. The decision was in the Hokage's hands.

Far away, in Konoha, the Hokage's office was bathed in the warm glow of candlelight. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at his desk, his brows furrowed as he reviewed yet another stack of mission reports. He sighed, rubbing his temples. No matter how many years passed, the endless flow of paperwork never seemed to lessen.

Just as he was about to take a break, a soft tapping at his window caught his attention. He turned to see a black crow perched on the sill, a small scroll attached to its leg. Recognizing the emblem of the crow clan summons, he quickly stood and retrieved the message.

His eyes scanned the neatly written script—Kakashi's handwriting. As he read, his expression remained unreadable, though a keen observer might have noticed the slight narrowing of his eyes. When he finished, he sat back in his chair, tapping his fingers thoughtfully against the wooden desk.

"This is troubling..." he murmured to himself.

The implications were enormous. If Konoha played their hand correctly, they could force the Land of Iron into a corner, breaking their carefully maintained neutrality. The moment they were revealed to be engaging in clandestine assassination plots, their status as a neutral power would be shattered, leaving them vulnerable to manipulation from the Great Nations. If the Land of Fire chose to act aggressively, they could turn the Land of Iron into just another small nation, reliant on the backing of stronger forces.

Alternatively, they could focus on the Land of Stone, exploiting their role in this scheme to extract valuable concessions—wealth, jutsu, or even political influence. The choice would determine the future balance of power in the region.

After a moment's thought, he reached for a fresh scroll and began writing a response. His strokes were precise, his words carefully chosen. When he finished, he tied the message to the crow's leg and gave it a small handful of crackers before sending it off.

Then, without hesitation, he called out. "Tiger."

A masked Anbu appeared instantly, kneeling before him. "Yes, Lord Hokage?"

"Summon Might Guy and Uchiha Itachi immediately. Also, send a team to locate Jiraiya. Tell him to head to the border of the Land of Fields without delay."

The Anbu hesitated only for a fraction of a second before nodding. "Understood."

As Tiger disappeared, Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. "A storm is brewing," he murmured to himself. "And we must be ready."

Back in the capital, Kakashi and Shisui remained on the rooftop for a while longer, observing the quiet city below. A sudden gust of wind carried with it the scent of smoldering wood from distant chimneys, a reminder that even in times of peace, the city never truly rested.

"We should rest while we can," Shisui finally said. "Tomorrow, we may need to move quickly."

Kakashi nodded, though his gaze remained fixed on the distant skyline. "Yeah... I have a feeling we won't have much time before things start moving."

With one last glance at the capital, the two vanished into the night, knowing that soon, the tides of conflict would shift once more.