Naruto: Kakashi of the spider sage

Kakashi remained silent, his single visible eye fixed on the Spider Sage. The dim light of the cavern flickered across the grotesque figure, its four eyes glowing faintly like embers in the dark. Despite the creature's unsettling appearance, its words lingered in Kakashi's mind like an itch he couldn't scratch.

Sage Jutsu… the ultimate strength. The idea churned in his thoughts, equal parts tantalizing and maddening.

But how could he trust this thing? From everything he'd learned, there were only three Holy Lands: Mount Myōboku, Shikkotsu Forest, and Ryūchi Cave. Each was famous, its masters revered across generations. Yet here was this self-proclaimed Spider Sage, claiming dominion over a forgotten fourth sanctuary. And what proof did the creature offer? Nothing but its word.

Kakashi's hand instinctively twitched toward the kunai pouch at his waist, but he didn't move further. The creature hadn't attacked him—not really. Its earlier "playfulness" might have ended his life in an instant had it wanted to. That much was clear. Still, the question gnawed at him: Is it a sage… or just a manipulative liar?

The Spider Sage, noticing his hesitation, chuckled softly. "Ah, I see that look in your eye," it said. "The doubt, the hesitation. You shinobi always overthink everything. But let me make it simple for you, Kakashi. Either you return to your broken little village and live with the same cycle of pain… or you take my hand and break free."

Kakashi's jaw tightened. Return to Konoha. The idea sounded both comforting and unbearable. What was left for him there? Minato-sensei, gone. Obito, gone. Rin… gone. A bitter pang stabbed at his chest as he thought of their faces, each one burned into his memory. The cycle of pain, the creature had called it. And wasn't that exactly what his life had become? Losing people. Watching helplessly as everything he cared about was torn away.

He imagined returning to the village, walking down those familiar streets. He'd hear whispers again—praise for his skill, murmurs of his father's disgrace. He'd see empty places where his team once stood, echoes of their laughter haunting his every step. And eventually, inevitably, he'd be assigned another mission, protecting more lives he'd likely fail to save.

Return to what, exactly? Kakashi thought bitterly. More loss? More failure?

The Spider Sage interrupted his thoughts with a sigh. "I can feel your conflict, you know. That little voice in your head, weighing every possible outcome. It's adorable, really." It leaned closer, its four eyes locking onto him. "But let me ask you this: how much longer can you survive like this, Kakashi Hatake? Drifting through missions, carrying ghosts on your shoulders? You can't protect anyone if you're drowning in your own misery."

The words struck a nerve. Kakashi glanced down at the floor, his grip on his kunai loosening. He hated how easily the creature seemed to read him, peeling back layers he'd kept hidden even from himself. It wasn't wrong, though. He was drowning, and there was no lifeline in sight.

Still, trusting the creature felt like leaping into a chasm blindfolded. What if it was lying? What if this so-called "Spider Web" was nothing more than a trap, a ploy to ensnare him in something worse than death? But what if it isn't? another voice whispered in his mind. What if this is your only chance to change everything?

Kakashi shook his head, trying to clear the noise. He stared at the creature again, its grotesque form now strangely calm, almost expectant. Did he even have the strength to gamble on hope anymore? He couldn't answer that. Not yet.

The Spider Sage tilted its head. "You're thinking about it, aren't you? Good. That means you've already taken the first step."

Kakashi's eye narrowed. "And if I refuse? What happens then?"

"Then you leave," the Spider Sage replied simply. "Cancel the summoning, and you'll be back in your precious village before you can blink." Its tone grew darker, more measured. "But you'll carry the weight of this moment with you forever. Every time you lose someone else, every time you fail, you'll wonder: what if? What if you'd taken my offer? What if you'd finally broken free?"

The words burrowed deep into Kakashi's mind, feeding the storm of doubt and indecision already raging inside him. Was this creature truly offering salvation… or simply exploiting his despair?

He took a deep breath, his thoughts racing. The idea of learning Sage Jutsu was almost too absurd to entertain. And yet, there was something about the Spider Sage's presence, its confidence, that made it hard to dismiss entirely. If it was lying, it was doing an exceptional job of it.

Hope. The word came to him unbidden, as fragile and fleeting as a wisp of smoke. When was the last time he'd allowed himself to feel that? To believe in something beyond survival? He couldn't even remember.

Kakashi's hand clenched into a fist. He wasn't sure he could trust the Spider Sage, but he was even less sure he could trust himself to keep going like this. If there was even a chance this offer was real, could he afford to walk away?

"I'll say it one last time, Kakashi," the Spider Sage said, its voice softening. "You're not just choosing power. You're choosing a future. A chance to break the cycle. But the choice is yours."

The cave fell silent, the only sound the faint drip of water in the distance. Kakashi stared at the ground, his mind a whirl of conflicting emotions. The Spider Sage's words echoed in his head, intertwining with his own doubts and fears.

Finally, he looked up, his gaze meeting the creature's. "If I agree to this," he said slowly, "there's no turning back, is there?"

The Spider Sage grinned, its fangs gleaming in the dim light. "No, yes, there isn't for now at least. But then again, when has turning back ever been an option for you?"

Kakashi didn't answer. He didn't know if this was the right decision. He didn't know if he could trust the creature—or himself. But for the first time in what felt like years, he allowed himself to consider the possibility of something more.

And that, perhaps, was enough.

Kakashi stood still, his mind teetering on the edge of a decision he couldn't fully comprehend. His heart pounded, and the oppressive silence of the cavern seemed to amplify the storm inside him. The Spider Sage loomed before him, watching with a curious, almost gleeful patience.

Kakashi exhaled slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I… accept."

The moment the words left his lips, the Spider Sage's eyes gleamed with something unsettling—glee, triumph, or perhaps hunger. "Good," it said, the single word dripping with satisfaction.

Before Kakashi could react, he felt a sudden, sharp pain at the base of his neck. His hand shot up instinctively, but it was too late. The pain was fleeting, replaced by a wave of overwhelming fatigue. His body grew heavy, his legs buckling beneath him.

"What… did you…" Kakashi managed to mumble before darkness engulfed him.

As his consciousness faded, he heard the Spider Sage's voice, distant but clear. "Oh, don't worry, Kakashi. This is just the beginning. Sleep now. When you wake, we'll start weaving the threads of your new destiny."

As Kakashi's body went limp, the Spider Sage chuckled to itself, its many legs shifting idly on the web. "This is fun, isn't it?" it mused, the tone laced with amusement. "That frog wasn't lying when he said accepting and teaching disciples was entertaining."

The Spider Sage leaned slightly closer, peering down at the unconscious shinobi with a glint of satisfaction in its many eyes. "But just you wait, Jiraiya—yes, that was the name of your disciple, wasn't it? Two years with this one, and he'll outshine him."

It sighed contentedly, the web vibrating gently beneath it. "Yes, this will be interesting."