Naruto: Kakashi of the spider sage

The rain poured relentlessly, a somber curtain over Konoha, as Kakashi Hatake stood still among the mourners. The funeral of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was a quiet but heavy affair. Beside him, a few shinobi whispered condolences, but their voices faded into the background. Kakashi's mind was elsewhere, consumed by an unrelenting torrent of grief and guilt.

'Sensei… Kushina… I was supposed to protect you both. I was supposed to be strong enough.'

His grip tightened on his ANBU mask, still tucked under his arm. The rain clung to his silver hair, masking the tears that threatened to fall. The village had lost its hero, its Yellow Flash, but Kakashi had lost his last semblance of family. First his father, then Obito, Rin, and now… them.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stepped up to the front, his somber expression commanding the crowd's attention. The rain seemed to quiet as his voice rang out. "Today, we mourn the loss of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, heroes who gave everything to protect this village. Minato's legacy as Hokage, as a shinobi, and as a friend, will never be forgotten. Their sacrifice has given us a chance to rebuild and move forward, but we must honor their memory by ensuring their vision of peace and strength lives on."

His words carried a solemn weight, but they did little to alleviate the ache in Kakashi's chest. As the Third continued, recounting Minato's achievements and Kushina's unwavering spirit, Kakashi found his gaze wandering to the fresh graves. Two modest headstones marked the final resting place of his sensei and Kushina, their names etched into the stone like a cruel reminder of his failures.

"Yo, Kakashi!" A loud, enthusiastic voice broke through the somber air. Kakashi turned to see Might Guy, his self-proclaimed rival, bounding through the rain, his green jumpsuit glistening. "Even in the face of grief, we must remain strong! Youth demands it!"

Kakashi blinked, unsure whether to be annoyed or thankful for Guy's interruption. "Not now, Guy," he muttered, his voice flat.

Undeterred, Guy placed his hands on his hips, striking a dramatic pose. "Ah, I see! You're channeling your sadness into a quiet resolve! A noble response, my eternal rival!"

Kakashi sighed, but before he could retort, Guy's expression softened. A rare moment of sincerity replaced his usual exuberance. "I know this is hard, Kakashi. Minato-sensei believed in you, and so do I. You'll find your way through this." He clapped Kakashi on the shoulder before walking away, leaving him alone once more.

The rain continued to fall as the crowd began to disperse, villagers and shinobi alike retreating into the gloom. Kakashi lingered by the graves, his shoulders heavy. The world around him blurred as memories surged, each one more painful than the last. Minato's warm smile. Kushina's fiery laugh. The promise he had made and broken.

"Kakashi," a voice broke through his thoughts. It was Shikaku Nara, his tone careful and measured. "You should get some rest. Everyone's grieving, but… it's especially hard for you, I know."

Kakashi nodded absently, not trusting himself to speak. The rain seemed heavier as he left the cemetery, the ache in his chest almost unbearable. When he finally reached the door of his modest home, he hesitated. The silence inside would be deafening.

Sliding the door open, he stepped into the dimly lit room, tossing his mask onto the table. His home, once a sanctuary, now felt like a hollow shell. Kakashi slumped against the wall, his head tilting back as he stared at the ceiling.

'Why wasn't I enough?' the thought echoed painfully. 'If I had been stronger, faster, smarter… They'd still be alive. Minato-sensei believed in me, and I failed him. I failed them all.'

He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. The weight of it all was suffocating—his father's disgrace and suicide, Obito's sacrifice, Rin's death by his own hand, and now Minato and Kushina. The joyous memory of Minato's announcement that Kushina was pregnant felt like a cruel joke now.

"You'll watch over her, won't you, Kakashi?" Minato had asked with that signature warm smile.

And Kakashi had nodded, silently swearing to protect them both. But he had failed. Again.

He stood abruptly, unable to sit with his thoughts any longer. As he paced the room, his foot hit something solid. Looking down, he noticed a weathered scroll partially hidden under his old mission reports. The ornate design caught his eye, and he picked it up, unrolling it slowly.

"A summoning scroll?" he muttered. It wasn't one he recognized, and curiosity momentarily pulled him from his despair. The markings were intricate, almost hypnotic. As he examined it, his finger brushed against a hidden needle embedded in the scroll's surface.

"Ah!" He pulled his hand back instinctively, a small bead of blood forming on his fingertip. The scroll began to glow faintly as the blood smeared across the intricate symbols.

Before he could react, a powerful force yanked him forward. The world around him twisted and blurred, and Kakashi's instincts kicked in too late. When he finally landed, it was on cold, hard stone.

The air was damp and heavy. Kakashi pushed himself up, scanning his surroundings. He was in a cavern, dimly lit by the faint glow of moss that clung to the walls. The sound of dripping water echoed faintly, and the space carried an air of foreboding. Shadows danced across the jagged walls, obscuring much of what lay ahead.

'Where am I?' he thought, his hand instinctively reaching for his kunai pouch.

A deep, rumbling voice broke the silence. "Impossible... How did you get here?"

Kakashi froze. The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. A shifting shadow emerged from the darkness, its form indistinct and fluid. Two glowing eyes pierced through the gloom, and Kakashi strained to make out more.

"Who are you?" Kakashi demanded, his voice steady despite the unease prickling at his senses.

The shadowy figure moved closer, the faint light catching hints of its form. "No one should have been able to enter this place," it said, its tone carrying a mix of surprise and suspicion.

As the creature stepped further into the light, Kakashi caught glimpses of its appearance. Four glimmering eyes stared down at him, their alien symmetry unnerving. Fangs jutted from its mouth, and its elongated limbs ended in sharp, claw-like fingers. The creature's humanoid silhouette was grotesquely twisted, spider-like features blending seamlessly with its form.

Kakashi's grip on his kunai tightened. Whatever this creature was, it wasn't friendly. But for the first time in what felt like an eternity, he felt a flicker of purpose amidst the chaos in his mind.