Naruto: Kakashi of the spider sage

Kakashi, unaware of the political turbulence his actions had caused, walked calmly through the streets of Konoha. The night air was cool, carrying the faint scent of grilled food from the market stalls nearby. He had stopped by a butcher shop, purchasing fresh cuts of meat. Despite his fondness for Ichiraku Ramen, he knew that a balanced diet was necessary—especially for Naruto. As the son of his late sensei, the boy deserved proper care, not just emotionally but physically too.

With a bag full of groceries, he made his way home, only to be met with an unexpected sight. In the backyard, Naruto was training diligently, throwing shuriken at a wooden target with fierce determination.

"Oh! Kakashi-san, you're back!" Naruto exclaimed excitedly upon noticing him.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Naruto, what are you doing?"

"I'm training, of course!" Naruto declared. "After seeing how strong Guy-san and you are, I realized that if I want to become Hokage, I have to be even stronger than both of you!"

Kakashi smiled under his mask. The boy's enthusiasm was infectious. "You're still a child, Naruto. Don't overdo it."

"But—!"

"Tell you what," Kakashi interrupted, setting down his groceries. "If you want, I can oversee your training for a few weeks. I happen to be on vacation."

Naruto's eyes widened with excitement. "Really?!"

Kakashi chuckled. "It won't be anything too extreme, just some shuriken practice and taijutsu training. Kids your age aren't ready for chakra control yet."

Even so, Naruto was practically bouncing in place. It was better than training alone.

"Alright, now go take a shower. I'm going to prepare dinner."

Naruto nodded eagerly and ran off. Kakashi made his way to the kitchen, deciding to cook Nikujaga, a comforting meat-and-potato stew. He set the ingredients out: thinly sliced beef, potatoes, onions, carrots, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and dashi broth.

He peeled and chopped the vegetables, heating a pot with oil before sautéing the onions until they softened. The meat followed, browning slightly before he added the broth. As the aroma filled the house, Kakashi let his thoughts wander. This domestic routine felt foreign yet oddly pleasant.

Once the dish was simmering, he added soy sauce, mirin, and sugar, letting the flavors meld. The scent was rich and inviting, something that would no doubt excite Naruto.

Meanwhile, within the Uchiha compound, Fugaku stood before a group of fourteen seasoned jōnin. The tension in the air was thick, as meetings had grown more frequent in recent times.

"Clan Leader, may I ask what this meeting is for?" spoke Nagami, a veteran who had fought alongside Fugaku in past wars. Shisui, standing nearby, also observed the situation with curiosity.

The Uchiha had been under increasing scrutiny since the Nine-Tails attack, where the fox's eyes had shown a Sharingan pattern. Relations with the village had grown strained, and unrest among their ranks was evident. Shisui understanding the delicate balance of power, had kept his Mangekyō Sharingan hidden for years, waiting for the right opportunity to act.

To everyone's surprise, the usually reserved Fugaku suddenly broke into laughter—deep, almost villainous laughter. The gathered Uchiha were stunned; their leader rarely showed such emotion.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-".

Finally, Fugaku composed himself. "Forgive me, I've been holding this in all day. But today, I bring very, very good news." He leaned forward, his voice lowering. "Last night, Root was attacked."

A ripple of shock passed through the room.

"Nearly all of its operatives were wiped out. The most important detail, however, is that Danzo was gravely injured—his hands cut off. From what I hear, he is on the brink of death."

Silence filled the room before some jōnin broke into triumphant smiles, while others processed the revelation with shock. Danzo had been a thorn in the Uchiha's side for decades, his actions sowing distrust between them and the village.

Shisui, regaining his composure, raised a hand. "Does the Hokage know who did it? If not, our clan will be the first suspect."

Fugaku smirked. "An excellent question. We were, in fact, the first suspects. However, Shikaku Nara used his brain and deduced another culprit. And to everyone's surprise, that culprit did not deny it. In fact, he openly stated that Danzo deserved it."

The room fell silent again.

"Who?" Shisui asked, already dreading the answer.

Fugaku's smirk widened. "Someone you know well. Hatake Kakashi."

Gasps erupted throughout the room.

"Impossible!" one jōnin blurted out.

Shisui felt a wave of disbelief. He had always known Kakashi to be efficient, but this? This was something entirely different. Kakashi had never been the type to act outside orders, let alone wipe out an entire organization single-handedly.

Fugaku continued, "This is the moment we've been waiting for. The greatest obstacle to our clan's rise has fallen. The village's power structure is shifting, and for the first time in years, no one stands in our way."

The room buzzed with hushed conversation.

"Now is the time to rebuild our clan's position. We don't lack talent—Shisui and Itachi are proof enough. What we lacked was an opportunity, and now we have one. If we play our cards right, we might one day see an Uchiha Hokage."

Nods of agreement spread among the gathered jōnin.

Fugaku turned his sharp gaze on Shisui. "You and Tanamura are the only jonin rank police force captains. Spread the word among the other captains. Our people must maintain discipline and professionalism. No more incidents with the civilians. From this day forward, every officer is to smile at the villagers, even if they have to fake it 24h."

Shisui nodded, understanding the deeper implication. Fugaku was ensuring that no more friction built between the Uchiha and the rest of Konoha.

"One last thing, Shisui," Fugaku added. "Stay close to Kakashi. I know you're already friends, but I want you to spend more time with him."

Shisui hesitated before nodding. It made sense. If Kakashi was capable of eliminating Root, his presence alone would be a powerful ally—or a dangerous enemy.

Back at Kakashi's Home

Naruto emerged from his shower, dressed in his original clothes. Seeing this, Kakashi sighed. "We really need to get you some new clothes."

Naruto pouted. "What's wrong with this?"

Kakashi smirked under his mask, shaking his head. "Nothing… Nothing at all."

The scent of Nikujaga filled the air, and Naruto's stomach growled loudly. "Whoa! That smells amazing!"

"It'll be ready soon," Kakashi said, setting the table. "Tomorrow, your training begins. Be prepared."

Naruto's eyes shone with excitement. "You bet! I won't hold back!"

Kakashi chuckled, watching the young boy eagerly dig into his food. He had no idea that, outside these walls, his actions had already set monumental changes into motion.

Destiny had shifted, and Konoha would never be the same again.