Naruto: Kakashi of the spider sage

Kakashi moved silently through the shadows of the palace grounds, his senses sharpened as he sought out Asuma. The mission had taken a much more complicated turn, and he needed more information before making any moves. He found Asuma patrolling the outer corridors of the palace, his posture relaxed yet alert.

"Asuma, this is Kakashi speaking. Stay calm and don't raise any suspicions," Kakashi's voice echoed through a well-placed genjutsu technique, allowing only Asuma to hear him.

Asuma, being a professional ninja, didn't react visibly. He simply continued walking, his expression unreadable. "I knew it. There's more to your mission than just hunting down some rogue Kaguya," Asuma said calmly.

"Sorry, can't discuss the mission. But I need to know everything you have on the factions controlling the court," Kakashi stated.

Asuma exhaled slightly. "On the surface, aside from the finance faction, which only handles money flow, different members of the three factions are appointed to various positions in the court—ministers, deputies, juries, and so on. The more positions a faction controls, the more influence they wield. These positions are chosen based on merit, which is quite surprising for a court as corrupt as this one."

"And under the surface?" Kakashi pressed.

"The one with the most power, aside from the Daimyo and the finance faction, is the noble faction. They control the court through the Council of Nobles, the highest-ranking eight nobles in the country. After them comes the faction led by the Daimyo's brother, and lastly, the commoners' faction."

"Got it. That's what I needed," Kakashi said. "By the way, when are you returning to Konoha? I ran into Kurenai—she says she misses you."

"Really?!" Asuma asked, his voice slightly excited.

Kakashi chuckled. "Nah, just kidding."

Asuma scowled. "Damn you, Kakashi."

But by the time he looked around, Kakashi had already vanished into the night.

---

Perched on the highest rooftop in the capital, Kakashi took in the expanse of the city. From his gathered intel, it was safe to assume that at least one of the eight noble council members was supporting the Daimyo's brother. If that were the case, then the best way to find evidence was to infiltrate the Council's building.

His keen eye spotted movement in the Council building. The warm glow of candlelight flickered behind tall windows, and he could sense the chakra of several individuals gathered inside. His Sharingan flared to life as he locked onto them. A meeting was in session.

"Perfect timing," he thought as he flickered away, blending into the night.

---

Kakashi slipped inside unnoticed, his movements seamless as he maneuvered through the shadows of the grand Council chamber. A large, round table sat at the center, surrounded by eight nobles deep in discussion. He crouched in a hidden alcove, enhancing his hearing with his chakra.

"The two ninja investigating the recent murders outside the capital… they are far too competent. If they become suspicious of us, we will be in grave danger," one noble murmured.

"Don't be ridiculous. Our cover is solid," another replied, smirking. The others nodded in agreement, a quiet chuckle spreading across the room.

"But what about the Daimyo's brother? His activities are becoming more suspicious. If this continues, more ninja will be brought to the capital to investigate him. That could harm us too."

"Or it could work in our favor. If all suspicions fall on him, no one will look at us," one of the nobles mused, a devious glint in his eyes.

The others chuckled, some exchanging knowing glances. "To think, just two months ago, we wouldn't have dared to make such moves."

The meeting soon ended, but Kakashi remained in his hiding spot. Something still felt off. His heightened senses detected a concealed underground passage beneath the building. He scanned the floor, tracing the faintest signs of disturbance. There was definitely a hidden entrance.

Once the nobles departed, Kakashi silently slipped through the chamber and found the concealed hatch. It was expertly hidden beneath an elaborate rug. With careful precision, he lifted it and slipped inside.

---

The tunnel was long and dimly lit, stretching far beyond what he had expected. Kakashi pulled out a small scroll, unfolding a detailed map of the capital and its surroundings. With his keen sense of direction, he marked the tunnel's path as he sprinted forward.

As he continued deeper, he noted the construction—reinforced walls, expertly placed supports. This was no mere escape route; it was built for something far more significant. He picked up his pace, pushing himself to his top speed.

After nearly an hour of running, he reached the tunnel's end. He emerged just outside the capital's perimeter, near an abandoned warehouse. The location didn't immediately stand out, but he committed it to memory. If this tunnel was being used by the noble faction, then it had to be important.

"This could be a smuggling route… or worse," he thought, eyes narrowing.

With a final glance around, he flickered away, heading back toward the palace.

---

Reuniting with Shisui on a secluded rooftop, Kakashi listened as Shisui handed him a detailed report on the Daimyo's brother, Kaizo Hanzuna. The report contained everything from his daily routine to his personal habits.

"Two things stand out," Shisui noted. "First, he almost never leaves his palace. When he does, he's escorted by thirteen of his forty guards. These guards are all samurai at chunin level, with at least three or four jonin-level warriors among them. Second, today he went to the park. When I asked around, I found out that he visits the same park once a week, always on the same day and at the same hour."

Kakashi scanned the report. "Could be a meeting spot. Did you see anything suspicious?"

Shisui shook his head. "No contacts, no exchanges. If he is communicating with someone, he's doing it very discreetly."

Kakashi nodded, then pulled out his map and showed Shisui the tunnel he had discovered. "This is a problem. It runs from the Council building all the way out of the capital. That's no simple passage; they're using it for something big."

Shisui's brow furrowed. "I swear I've seen this layout before… but I can't quite place it."

"Keep thinking on it. We need to figure out how the nobles are using Kaizo as a cover."

Before either could say another word, both shinobi suddenly turned in unison, hands moving instinctively. In a flash, they threw kunai toward the same direction. A strangled cry echoed in the darkness.

Someone had been watching them.

Without hesitation, Kakashi and Shisui flickered forward, vanishing into the night, ready to intercept whoever had been spying on them.