Naruto: Kakashi of the spider sage

A man stood at the gates of the capital, his presence commanding despite his relaxed stance. He had wild white hair, wore traditional shinobi garments, and had a metal headband with the word "Oil" engraved on it. A massive scroll was strapped to his back, further adding to his distinct appearance. He surveyed the bustling city with a thoughtful expression before sighing to himself.

"Looks like I wasn't needed after all," he muttered. "That old man summoned me for nothing."

Despite his words, Jiraiya's lips twitched into a small grin. His gaze drifted toward the city's skyline before he stretched his arms over his head. "Well, since I'm here, I might as well visit that brat, Kakashi."

He took a step forward but paused when he heard hurried footsteps behind him.

"Jiraiya-sama!" a voice called out.

Jiraiya turned, his sharp eyes falling on two approaching figures. His expression shifted into mild surprise as he recognized them—one with unruly silver hair and a mask covering half his face, the other with thick eyebrows and a ridiculous smile.

"Oh? Kakashi and... that Guy kid," Jiraiya said, raising an eyebrow. "You two look like you've been through hell."

Both teenagers were battered, their clothes torn in several places, and they were covered in dirt and sweat. Guy, despite his disheveled appearance, beamed brightly. "We were sparring and got a little carried away," he admitted without a hint of regret.

Kakashi gave Guy a sidelong glance before shifting his gaze back to Jiraiya. "You just got here? Do you have any idea how late you are?"

Jiraiya smirked. "You? Calling me out for being late? Now that's rich."

"There's a difference between being a few hours late and being several days late," Kakashi shot back, crossing his arms.

"Well, everything seems to have worked out just fine without me, hasn't it?" Jiraiya said with a chuckle.

Kakashi sighed. "The Spider Sage told me to beat the life out of any member of the other Holy Lands I came across. At first, I refused, but now you're making me reconsider."

Jiraiya let out a hearty laugh. He could tell Kakashi wasn't serious, but he was glad to see the boy engaging in casual banter rather than being buried under the weight of his past. "You goofball of depression, is that any way to talk to your grandmaster? Has Sage Mode given you that much confidence? Let me tell you, kid, you're ten thousand years too early to talk back to me like that."

Kakashi gave him a lazy smirk. "The last person who probably thought that ended up armless and very, very dead."

Jiraiya blinked before bursting into laughter. "Hahaha! You're talking about Danzo, aren't you? You should've seen Tsunade's face when I told her—she celebrated the entire night. Passed out three times from drinking too much."

Kakashi shook his head, amused. "How about a drink, then? Your treat."

The trio made their way to a well-known barbecue restaurant. After filling their stomachs, Guy excused himself, leaving Kakashi and Jiraiya alone at the table. Kakashi swirled his drink idly before looking up at the older man.

Jiraiya noticed the intensity in the young man's gaze. "You've got something to say? Just say it."

"When you left Konoha, were you aware of how corrupt it was?" Kakashi asked, voice steady.

Jiraiya took a slow sip of his drink before sighing. "I left Konoha because of how corrupt it was."

Kakashi frowned. "I always heard you left on a mission to find the Child of Prophecy."

"That was one reason," Jiraiya admitted. "But I have to be honest with you… in these last few years, I've been using that mission as an excuse to stay away."

Kakashi studied him before saying, "If you had stayed, you could have made a difference."

Jiraiya met his gaze. "Look me in the eye and tell me—without a shadow of a doubt—that if I had stayed, Konoha would be in a better place."

Kakashi opened his mouth but hesitated. He couldn't say it. Minato himself had fought against the system during his short tenure as Hokage, but every attempt he made was met with fierce resistance—either from the elders or from Hiruzen himself. After Minato's death, things had only worsened.

Jiraiya nodded as he saw Kakashi's silence. "Exactly. And besides, my quest to find the Child of Prophecy is real—I can't abandon it."

"What about Naruto?" Kakashi asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jiraiya frowned. "What about him?"

"Have you seen the conditions he grew up in?" Kakashi pressed.

Jiraiya scoffed. "The old man told me he was well taken care of."

Kakashi's fingers tightened around his cup. "From what I saw before I took him in myself… he didn't have a life to begin with. The only thing he had was a bed in an orphanage to sleep in at night. During the day, he was kicked out onto the streets. Sometimes, he wasn't even given food."

Jiraiya stilled.

"The villagers treated him like filth," Kakashi continued, voice cold. "Danzo made sure of that—he spread rumors that Naruto was the reincarnation of the Kyūbi, ensuring that everyone despised him."

Jiraiya's grip on his cup tightened until it shattered in his hand.

"What the actual fuck was that old man thinking?" Jiraiya growled, his voice low but filled with restrained fury. "Naruto should've been treated like royalty—he's the son of a fallen hero. The son of Minato fucking Namikaze!"

Kakashi sighed. "Well, now you understand why I did what I did to Danzo."

Jiraiya's jaw clenched. "So that bastard was behind it all…" His rage simmered, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to break something else. "No wonder Tsunade celebrated when she heard about his death."

Before Jiraiya could vent further, an ANBU agent flickered beside their table. Both men instantly sharpened their focus.

"Jiraiya-sama, Kakashi-san," the ANBU said, holding out two sealed envelopes. "Orders from the Hokage."

Jiraiya and Kakashi exchanged glances before taking their respective messages. Whatever was in those letters, it was bound to change things once again.