Naruto: Kakashi of the spider sage

Six months had passed since Kakashi began his grueling training under the Spider Sage. The days were long, filled with meditation, sparring, and lessons in adapting to his evolving body. Kakashi's initial resentment of the bizarre sage had softened into begrudging acceptance. Despite the sage's erratic demeanor and twisted humor, Kakashi couldn't deny his teacher's wisdom or the steady progress he had made.

Now, Kakashi stood in one of the open caverns, his body tense as he faced the sage. This particular sparring session felt different. The air was heavy with an unspoken challenge, and the sage's grin was wider than usual, an unsettling sign of his intent.

"Alright, Kakashi," the sage said, his voice echoing in the chamber. "You've been keeping up well, but let's see how sharp you've really become." Without another word, the sage lunged, his movements almost imperceptible, a blur of speed that defied Kakashi's instincts.

In that split second, Kakashi felt it—a shiver unlike anything he had experienced before. It wasn't pain or fear, but a primal warning that coursed through his entire body. Without thinking, he twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding the sage's strike.

The sage halted his attack and stepped back, his many eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Ah, finally," he said, clapping his hands together. "You're starting to get it. That feeling, Kakashi—that's what you've been working toward. It's your body's way of telling you that death is knocking at the door. Next time you feel it—dodge."

Kakashi straightened, his breathing uneven. "That's what this is all about?" he asked, rolling his shoulder.

The sage nodded, but his grin turned mischievous. "Of course, you don't have to dodge. Free will and all that. But it might be... inconvenient if you don't. Since, you know, the whole 'dying' thing."

Kakashi groaned. "You always know how to motivate me," he muttered dryly.

The sage tilted his head as though considering the statement seriously. "I do my best. Anyway, that's a good start. But don't get ahead of yourself. This is just the first step."

"So, that's it?" Kakashi asked, brushing dust off his uniform. "I'm officially a sage now?"

The sage didn't reply immediately. Instead, he walked closer, crouching to inspect Kakashi's tattoo. To Kakashi's surprise, the design hadn't changed—no new leg had appeared.

"Wait," Kakashi said, frowning. "You said—"

"Maybe the tattoo's broken," Kakashi muttered skeptically, glancing at his palm.

The sage straightened, his grin vanishing as he narrowed his eyes. "Broken?" he repeated, his voice dripping with mock offense. "You think I didn't test this before handing it over to my one and only disciple?"

Kakashi hesitated, unsure if the question was a trap. "…That does sound like something you'd do."

The sage blinked, then burst out laughing. "Fair enough. But no, it's not broken. You just haven't fully awakened your senses yet. You're close, though. Very close."

Before Kakashi could press further, the sage clapped his hands together. "Right! Starting tomorrow, we're canceling your physical training and nighttime cardio. From now on, it's four hours of sparring and ten hours of meditation daily."

Kakashi's face fell. "Ten hours of meditation?"

"Yes! Isn't that exciting?" the sage said, his voice tinged with genuine enthusiasm.

Kakashi sighed but didn't argue. There was no point.

Four days later, Kakashi sat cross-legged in one of the cavern's meditation chambers. The air was still, save for the occasional skittering of spiders across the walls. His breathing was steady as he focused inward, following the sage's guidance.

"It seems you've finally caught a trace of that sneaky, sneaky nature energy," the sage said, sitting nearby and observing. "Now, listen carefully. Don't get excited. Absorb just enough to keep the balance. Sage arts are all about harmony—nature energy and chakra working together. Go overboard, and—well, let's just say it won't be pretty."

Kakashi nodded, his focus unwavering. He could feel it—a faint, elusive energy coursing around him, similar to the residual venom left by the Modifier Spider. Slowly, he reached out to it with his chakra, trying to draw it in.

At first, everything seemed to be going well. The energy flowed smoothly into his body, merging with his chakra. But then, something shifted. The nature energy surged uncontrollably, flooding his system like a tidal wave.

Kakashi's body convulsed, his muscles tightening as veins bulged beneath his skin. His breathing became erratic, and his vision blurred.

The sage tilted his head, watching with interest. "Hmm. Should I stop him?" he muttered to himself. "On one hand, this is fascinating. On the other, he might die. And I haven't had a disciple in over a millennium…"

He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Then again, if I do stop him, he'll lose all progress and probably end up injured. But if I don't... he might—possibly, maybe—die. Ehh... what the hell. Worst case scenario, I'll throw him to that 'thing' and see if it heals him."

While the sage debated internally, Kakashi's body continued to spiral into chaos. The veins in his arms glowed faintly, and his entire frame trembled under the strain. Just as the sage began to rise, the chaos stopped abruptly.

Kakashi's breathing steadied, his body returning to normal.

"Well," the sage said, sitting back down. "That was anticlimactic."

The words had barely left his mouth when Kakashi's body began to lift off the ground. His limbs hung limply at first, but his torso straightened as though pulled by invisible threads. Intricate spirals of tattoos appeared across his shoulders, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.

The sage's many eyes widened. "Now this is interesting."

Kakashi's eyes snapped open. His once-normal eyes and Sharingan had transformed, now pitch black with a luminous white glow in the center.

The sage let out a low whistle. "Well, well, Kakashi. Looks like you're starting to look the part."

Kakashi lowered to the ground, his breathing heavy but even. "What… just happened?"

"You've taken the first step," the sage replied, his grin returning. "Welcome to the world of the Spider Sage Arts. Things are about to get even more fun."

"Now, I am officially a sage" Kakashi declared.

"That was cringy", the sage said with a mocking smile.