Naruto: Kakashi of the spider sage

Kakashi, Itachi, and Guy made their way back to the capital, moving swiftly through the dense forests. The weight of their mission bore down on them, though none showed it outright. Guy carried both Nobaku and Shisui, the latter still unconscious from the battle. Kakashi had slung Kaizo over his shoulder, while Itachi carried the bound and gagged feudal lord. 

The journey back was shorter this time, as they pushed forward at full speed without the need for stealth. As they neared the capital's outskirts, Kakashi's sharp senses caught something—an unease in the air, the kind that came before a storm. He glanced at Itachi, who had also tensed, his Sharingan subtly scanning the area. Guy, despite his usual carefree demeanor, was alert as well. The battle with Nobaku had been too sudden, too well-timed. Was someone watching?

"Stay sharp," Kakashi murmured.

Itachi nodded but remained silent. They entered the capital's gates without issue and immediately proceeded to report to the Daimyo. The guards let them through without question, their expressions shifting as they recognized the prisoners.

The Daimyo's palace was grand but carried an air of tension. The recent betrayal had shaken the court, and even now, whispers ran through the halls.

Inside, the Daimyo sat on his elevated seat, his hands clasped together. He looked older than before, the burden of recent events weighing on him.

"You have returned," he said, eyes scanning each of them before settling on the unconscious Nobaku. "And with quite the guest, I see."

"We have much to report," Kakashi stated. "Kaizo and and this feudal lord were behind the plot. Nobaku was working with the noble faction, though his motivations seem to differ. He is a shinobi of Iwagakure, and from what we've gathered, his allegiance lies more with himself than with any country."

The Daimyo's brows furrowed. "So, it was indeed an attempt to destabilize the country. The Batata family has long been ambitious, but to go this far…"

"What should we do with them?" Itachi asked.

"They will be judged accordingly," the Daimyo said solemnly. "For now, I will have my men investigate the internal conspirators."

Kakashi nodded. "We also need to consider Nobaku carefully. He awakened his Dust Release during our battle. That means Iwagakure will come for him."

The Daimyo's grip on his seat tightened. "Then we must be prepared."

As they left the hall, Kakashi let out a breath. 

the Feudal Lord Suzuki Batata of the Batata family—a well-known noble lineage. Legend had it that their ancestors once ruled as supreme lords of the Land of Iron. It seemed they longed to reclaim their former glory, and what better way than to control Tsubudo, arguably the strongest country among the Five Great Nations? To Kakashi, the plan was nothing short of foolish. He could think of a hundred ways it could have failed.

Well they had done their part, but things were far from over.

Two days passed.

During this time, the investigation unfolded rapidly. Kaizo and Suzuki Batata had been imprisoned, and through them, a web of corruption was exposed. Nobaku, despite his initial resistance, had started talking. He was a man who prioritized survival over loyalty, and with his knowledge, the noble factions collapsed like a house of cards. The eight leading noble families were all implicated and detained, their fates left to the courts.

Kakashi sat in a private room with Guy and Itachi, discussing their next steps.

"Seems like things are finally settling down," Guy remarked, crossing his arms. "The noble factions are all but gone."

Kakashi exhaled. "The political side of things may be stabilizing, but the international response will be the real challenge."

Itachi nodded. "The Hokage sent letters to both the Supreme Lord of the Land of Iron and the Tsuchikage. Depending on their reactions, we may be seeing another political battle."

"And if things go south?" Guy asked.

Kakashi's expression darkened. "Then we may be looking at a war."

The Land of Iron - The Iron Palace

Sitting on his throne was the Supreme Lord, once hailed as the strongest samurai and a feared shinobi hunter. Yet, among the worst of his titles, one stood out—Lord Killer. He had once been a commoner, a mere soldier who rose to the position of a samurai. How he obtained his immense strength remained a mystery. Rumors whispered that he had assassinated the feudal lord he once served, seized his territory, and taken his widow as his own. But these were just rumors—ones no one dared to speak aloud.

He had just finished a meeting with his ministers and was about to stand when the great doors to the throne room swung open. A samurai entered, bowing deeply before presenting a sealed letter.

"From Konoha, my lord."

The Supreme Lord took the letter, his expression unreadable as he broke the seal. His eyes scanned the contents, but as he read, his brows furrowed deeper.

The details were thorough—too thorough. The letter exposed Suzuki Batata's betrayal in precise detail, leaving no room for denial. His grip tightened as he reached inside the envelope, pulling out the enclosed evidence—photographs and a copy of a recorded video.

"Impossible…" he muttered, his mind racing. He had been unaware of this entire operation. How had something so massive happened under his rule?

His first instinct was to deny involvement. If there was no proof, he could feign ignorance. But as he stared at the images before him, his teeth clenched.

"Curse those Batata fools…" he growled under his breath.

The letter ended with an invitation for negotiations. It was clear that Konoha expected reparations.

"Prepare my entourage," he finally commanded. "We leave for Konoha."

The samurai bowed and left swiftly.

Alone in the chamber, the Supreme Lord exhaled sharply. He had no choice but to accept.

Iwagakure - The Tsuchikage's Office

In the heart of Iwagakure, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, sat hunched over his desk, reading the same letter that had been sent to the Supreme Lord.

Unlike the Supreme Lord, he did not react with immediate fury. Instead, he let out a slow breath, his small frame sinking deeper into his chair.

"So, Nobaku has learned Dust Release, has he?" Onoki muttered to himself, tapping the letter against the desk.

His mind drifted to the past—to his own training, to the days when he had inherited the powerful technique from his mentor. For years, he had sought a worthy successor, but none had shown the capability.

And now, Nobaku, a disgraced warrior, had done what so many had failed to do.

Onoki's gaze turned steely. This changed things. If Nobaku lived, then he could be the future of Iwagakure's strength.

But there was a problem—he was in Konoha's custody.

"This could get complicated," Onoki murmured. He considered his options. The simplest route would be to deny everything. Even if Konoha had evidence, Iwagakure was one of the five great nations. They wouldn't dare act recklessly.

But the potential of regaining a Dust Release user… That was worth a calculated risk.

"Summon the Anbu," Onoki ordered. "I want confirmation that Nobaku is truly in their hands."

As his guards moved to fulfill his command, Onoki leaned back and smirked.