Naruto: Kakashi of the spider sage

Kakashi and Shisui followed the Daimyo through the grand halls of the palace, the lavish decorations and golden chandeliers doing little to ease the tension in the air. The entire time, the Daimyo acted like an excited fanboy, constantly glancing at the two shinobi with admiration. However, once they reached the dining room and the maids finished serving the meal, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.

The Daimyo's cheerful demeanor faded, replaced by a serious expression as he folded his hands in front of him. "I am sorry," he muttered, his voice laced with concern. "Kakashi-san, can you ensure that we are not being watched?"

Kakashi, already suspecting something was amiss, nodded and activated his heightened senses. He scanned every corner of the room, stretching his perception for any unusual chakra signatures or disturbances. After a thorough check, he relaxed slightly. "No one is here."

The Daimyo sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I apologize for dragging you into this mess at such a difficult time."

Shisui leaned forward slightly. "From what we understand, the Kaguya Clan rogue issue is just a cover. You suspect spies within your court. According to the reports, they may be from the Land of Iron, correct?"

Kakashi studied the Daimyo's reaction carefully as the older man nodded grimly. "The reports don't do justice to the crisis we're facing. The Daimyo's court has always been filled with deceit, corruption, and spies. That is to be expected in politics. But this… this is far worse than anything before. If not handled properly, it could mark the beginning of the downfall of the Land of Fire."

Shisui and Kakashi exchanged a glance before focusing on the Daimyo, who straightened up and continued.

"In the court, there are traditionally three factions: the Finance Faction, a coalition of the wealthiest businesses in the country; the Court of Nobles, which includes all noble houses; and the Commoners' Party, which represents the people. Every generation of Daimyo has had to deal with these factions, but my mistake led to the creation of a fourth one—led by my own brother."

The revelation made Kakashi tense. "Your brother?"

The Daimyo nodded gravely. "Normally, his faction would have just created political friction, nothing more. But in the past few months, he has become more active, opposing my decisions at every turn. Worse still, he has surrounded himself with samurai and increased his security significantly."

Kakashi let out a quiet sigh, already seeing the implications. "If your brother takes control, depending on whatever deal he's made with the Land of Iron, the entire Land of Fire could end up as a vassal to them."

Shisui frowned. "If your brother is involved, could other factions be as well?"

The Daimyo hesitated before responding. "That is a possibility. The Finance Faction, however, is unlikely to betray me. They are not loyal, per se, but they are dependent on me just as I am on them. If they supported my brother and failed, they would simply shift allegiance to the winner. They will never risk a betrayal unless they are certain of victory."

He exhaled slowly before continuing, "The Court of Nobles, on the other hand… you know how nobles think. They seek power and status. And the Commoners' Party? That's even more difficult to predict. Unlike the other factions, they have no defined structure. You never know where their true loyalties lie."

Kakashi absorbed the information carefully before asking, "And our purpose here?"

The Daimyo's eyes hardened. "Your mission is to identify and capture my brother's contact—the one responsible for his dealings with the Land of Iron. We need proof, not just to punish my brother but also to justify sanctions against the Land of Iron. If we play this right, the Land of Fire will emerge as the biggest winner."

Kakashi and Shisui stood, bowing slightly. "Understood, sir. We will begin immediately."

With a flicker, the two vanished from the room, reappearing outside in the dimly lit palace gardens.

Shisui turned to Kakashi, his expression puzzled. "Senpai, what did the Daimyo mean by Konoha being the 'biggest winner'? The Land of Iron is just a small, neutral country."

Kakashi glanced at him before unsheathing his blade, the White Fang, and handing it to Shisui. "Tell me, do you know what this is?"

Shisui blinked. "Of course. This is the White Fang, the legendary blade of your father. One of the most powerful swords in the world."

Kakashi nodded. "That's right. But did you know it was crafted in the Land of Iron?"

Shisui's eyes widened. "It was?"

"The White Fang is a family heirloom, but it's not even considered one of the Land of Iron's best weapons. That's how skilled their blacksmiths are. The Land of Iron is known for producing the finest chakra-infused weapons in the world. Right now, every shinobi village is still recovering from the last war two years ago. The Land of Fire, with its vast fertile lands, has already become the fastest-growing country."

Kakashi looked at the horizon, his voice calm but firm. "If we successfully expose the Land of Iron's involvement and play this situation to our advantage, we won't just cripple an enemy—we'll secure access to their craftsmanship. With that, our arsenal will recover faster than anyone else's."

Shisui's Sharingan flared for a brief moment as he processed the implications. "That means… Konoha won't just stabilize after the war. We'll dominate."

Kakashi sheathed his blade, eyes gleaming behind his mask. "Exactly. Now, let's get to work, Shisui trail the brother and gather every information, from habits, the people he meets, and how many guards he has with him, I will expect full report in 24h."

"Yes sir", Shisui of the body flicker flickered away.

The two shinobi flickered into the night, the shadows of the court watching their every move.