Naruto: Kakashi of the spider sage

Kakashi spun around, his heartbeat quickening at the sound of the voice behind him. Standing in the shadows was a figure unlike any other he had encountered in the Spider Sage's domain. A humanoid spider stood tall, its upper body resembling a human with a chiselled, almost regal appearance, while its lower half bore spindly legs covered in fine silvery hairs. It exhaled a thick plume of smoke from a long pipe, the scent earthy and heavy.

"You, kid, are one sad creature," the spider-like figure said, its voice raspy yet tinged with a strange warmth.

Kakashi's eyes narrowed in confusion. The oppressive air from the genjutsu still clung to him, and his body ached from the strain of his earlier battles. "What… What just happened?" he asked, his voice low but steady.

The humanoid sighed, leaning against a stalagmite as if it were a casual perch. "My name is Enkidu, a sage of the Spider Web," he said, tapping the side of his pipe to dislodge some ash.

Kakashi blinked, his confusion only deepening. "That doesn't explain—"

"—what just happened?" Enkidu interrupted with a knowing smirk. "Let me spell it out for you, kid. You came here to form contracts with summoning creatures. You've done well for yourself, already contracting three. But for me to contact you, strength isn't the measure. As a sage of the Spider Web, I already know your potential will allow you to become one of the strongest. My goal wasn't to test your power—it was to test your character."

"Test my character?" Kakashi repeated, frowning.

Enkidu nodded, releasing another plume of smoke. "Here in the Spider Web, we believe in living life to the fullest, without regrets. But you, kid, you're severely lacking in that regard."

"What do you mean, lacking?" Kakashi retorted, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "I've already made my decision to live without regrets."

Enkidu chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You might've made that decision here, in this isolated cocoon of ours. But once you're back in the outside world, faced with your past, your doubts, and your responsibilities, that decision will start to falter. Just look at my test. The moment you entered my genjutsu, you broke down like a fragile web in a storm."

Kakashi's jaw tightened. He hated to admit it, but Enkidu's words struck a nerve. The vision he had faced—the blood, the voices, the overwhelming guilt—it had unraveled him completely.

Seeing the turmoil in Kakashi's eyes, Enkidu smiled faintly. "But don't be too hard on yourself, kid. Change takes time. It would be unfair for us old monsters to judge a 15- or 16-year-old too harshly."

Kakashi looked at him, his silver hair damp with sweat and his mismatched eyes searching for meaning in the sage's words. "Then… what's the point of this? Why put me through that?"

Enkidu straightened, the humor in his expression replaced by a rare seriousness. "The point is to remind you that the path you've chosen isn't an easy one. Living without regrets requires facing your fears head-on, confronting your past, and accepting your failures as a part of who you are. It's a daily battle, Kakashi. And it doesn't end just because you decide it."

Kakashi absorbed the words in silence, his gaze dropping to the ground.

"Well," Enkidu continued, the humor returning to his voice as he gestured with his pipe, "that being said, I believe you've got potential. And since I'm feeling generous, I'll let you summon me. But only once a week."

"Once a week?" Kakashi asked, puzzled.

Enkidu nodded. "Tuesdays, to be specific. I'm busy the rest of the time."

"Busy doing what?" Kakashi asked, the corner of his mouth twitching as if suppressing a smile.

"Living life to the fullest, obviously," Enkidu replied with a smirk. "You think I sit around waiting for humans to call me up all day? No, no. I've got my own adventures, my own pleasures." He tapped his pipe, and a small ember floated to the ground.

Kakashi stared at him, unsure whether to laugh or question him further. But there was something oddly comforting about the sage's eccentric demeanor.

"Right, kid," Enkidu said, straightening up. "You've got a long way to go, but you've made it this far. Take what you've learned and keep moving forward. Summon me when you're ready to learn more—on a Tuesday, of course."

With that, Enkidu turned and began to walk away, his pipe trailing smoke behind him.

"Wait," Kakashi called out, stepping forward.

Enkidu paused, glancing over his shoulder. "What is it, kid?"

"Thank you," Kakashi said, his voice steady but genuine.

Enkidu chuckled, the sound echoing through the cavern. "Don't thank me yet, Kakashi. You'll curse my name before you truly appreciate it. Until next time."

And with that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Kakashi standing alone in the dimly lit cavern.

Kakashi exhaled deeply, his thoughts swirling as he made his way back toward the main tunnel. The Spider of Senses chirped softly as it reappeared on his shoulder, its small presence a comforting reminder that he wasn't entirely alone in this strange and challenging place.

As he walked, he couldn't help but reflect on Enkidu's words. Living without regrets was easier said than done. 

Kakashi continued his journey through the cave system, the air growing heavier with each step. The light from the glowing moss had disappeared entirely, leaving him enveloped in a thick, impenetrable darkness. His only guide now was the small Spider of Senses, chirping softly and tapping his shoulder to signal directions.

The eerie silence of the cavern weighed on him, and his senses tingled with an undeniable warning. Something about this part of the cave felt wrong, as though the walls themselves were watching him.

Kakashi took another cautious step forward—only for his foot to meet empty space. His stomach lurched as he realized there was no ground beneath him. He plummeted into a seemingly endless tunnel, the air whipping past him.

"Of all the ways to die…" Kakashi muttered, his hands scrambling for anything to break his fall.

As he fell, he glanced at the Spider of Senses, which was… smiling?

"You have the audacity to smile?" Kakashi snapped, glaring at the tiny creature. "You're the Spider of Senses. You had one job!"

The situation left him with no choice. If he didn't act fast, he'd hit the bottom with enough force to break every bone in his body. He reached for the tunnel walls, shooting out webs to slow his descent. The darkness made it impossible to see how close the ground was.

"Come on, come on…" Kakashi gritted his teeth as his hands finally gripped the rough tunnel walls. The sudden friction slowed his fall, but the momentum was still too strong.

"Three… two… one—"

Boom!

Kakashi's face met the ground with a resounding thud. He groaned, lying flat on his stomach as he processed the fact that, miraculously, he wasn't hurt.

Sitting up, he rubbed his aching neck and looked up at the hole he had fallen through. A moment later, the Spider of Senses descended gracefully, using its web as a makeshift parachute. It landed softly a few feet away, looking as smug as a tiny spider could.

Kakashi smirked, taking a deep breath. With a sharp exhale, he blew the little spider away with a gust of air. It tumbled through the air before landing face-first in the dirt several meters away.

"Sweet, sweet revenge," Kakashi muttered, his smirk widening.

The Spider of Senses stood up, shaking itself off before glaring at him with its many eyes. Kakashi ignored its indignation and turned around to survey his surroundings.

The atmosphere had changed drastically. The air was cold—so cold that if there had been light, he would have seen his breath. A chilling breeze whispered through the cavern, carrying with it the faint sound of something skittering.

Kakashi's instincts screamed at him to remain cautious. He felt his body tense as he took a tentative step forward. The shadows seemed alive, writhing and shifting like living things. Then he saw it—a dark, gelatinous creature sliding toward him from the depths of the cave.

The thing had no defined shape, moving like a glob of living tar. As it approached, faint whispers echoed in the cavern, though Kakashi couldn't make out any words. His body tensed as the creature stopped a few feet away, pulsating as though it were breathing.

"Who… or what are you?" Kakashi asked, his voice steady despite the unease clawing at him.

The creature's voice was unsettling, a strange mix of tones that echoed inside his mind rather than his ears. "I am Deafane, the one sealed with the Spider Sage. And who… are you?"

Kakashi hesitated before responding. "I'm Kakashi. A sage-in-training."

Deafane's form rippled, and the whispers grew louder. "Kakashi… You are different from the others. There was those who sought power for selfish reasons. But you, I was watching you from the day you came here… you hesitate. You doubt. And yet, you intrigue me."

Kakashi frowned, unsure whether to take that as a compliment. "What are you doing here? Why were you sealed?"

Deafane's voice darkened, the whispers taking on a menacing edge. "Beacuse a profecy, the other holy lands feared me and my power. They called me an abomination, a threat to balance. But the Spider Sage knew the truth. He saw my purpose, and so we became allies. Until… they sealed us here."

Kakashi absorbed the information in silence. Despite its ominous appearance and tone, Deafane didn't seem hostile.

After a long pause, Deafane spoke again. "You seek strength. I seek freedom. Let us form a pact, Kakashi."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "A pact? How does that work?"

Deafane chuckled, the sound reverberating through the cavern. "There is no contract. No ritual. Only this."

Before Kakashi could react, Deafane lunged at him, enveloping him completely. He gasped as the creature's cold, gelatinous form covered his body, merging with him. For a moment, he felt like he was drowning in darkness.

Then, his senses sharpened, and an overwhelming surge of power coursed through him. His body grew larger, twice its normal size, his strength far surpassing anything he had felt before. Despite the transformation, he was still in control—but he could feel Deafane's presence, watching, guiding.

After a few moments, Deafane pulled away, reforming into its original shape.

"What… was that?" Kakashi asked, his breath ragged.

"Fusion," Deafane replied. "A unique talent of my kind. When we fuse, our powers become one. You may summon me whenever you wish, and I will lend you my strength."

"How do I summon you?" Kakashi asked.

Deafane's voice resonated with an eerie echo as it recited the incantation:

"Through the shadows where the webs are spun,

From the depths where fear has begun,

I call upon the sealed, the bane,

By my will, I summon you, Deafane."

Kakashi repeated the chant quietly, committing it to memory. Deafane chuckled softly. "You are an interesting one, Kakashi. Let us see where this partnership leads."

With that, the creature began to retreat into the darkness, leaving Kakashi alone once more. The Spider of Senses chirped, its presence a strange comfort amidst the eerie stillness.

Kakashi exhaled deeply, his thoughts racing. This place had pushed him to his limits in ways he hadn't expected.