Kakashi

Biodata

Power Progression

The early milestones are recounted retrospectively rather than shown as promotions.

Background / History

Kakashi was recognized as one of Konoha’s outstanding young prodigies. His father, Sakumo Hatake, died by suicide during Kakashi’s childhood. Ruri describes this loss as the reason Kakashi closed off his emotions and became deeply attached to rules and mission completion 2 276.

A student of Minato Namikaze, Kakashi received Obito Uchiha’s Sharingan after Obito’s reported death. He subsequently killed Rin Nohara with his own hands, an event that continued to haunt him. Minato’s death during the Nine-Tails’ invasion added another loss, and Kakashi became known as “Cold-Blooded Kakashi” 89.

By the time Ruri entered the Anbu, Kakashi commanded a young squad directly under the Third Hokage. The Hokage assigned Ruri to his unit partly because its members were close enough in age to communicate easily 81 82 89.

Appearance

• Hair: Silver-white and spiked upward 88.
• Face covering: Wears a black mask concealing the lower part of his face 88.
• Left eye: Bears a distinctive scar and Obito’s transplanted Sharingan 88 89.
• Concealed face: His teammates remain curious about what lies beneath his mask; Kakashi insists he can eat ramen without revealing it 620.

Personality

Kakashi initially presents himself as cold, stern, and reserved. He wastes little time exchanging words with enemies and expects discipline from his subordinates. He warns Ruri and Itachi that their training will remain strict, regardless of their talent 88 91 352.

His behavior toward his squad contradicts his heartless reputation. Before Ruri’s first battle, he silently asks Yamato to protect the newcomer. He later worries about Ruri’s cursed seal, his increasingly frenzied killing, and the danger of leaving him alone against numerous enemies 91 94 448 598.

Kakashi also has a more relaxed side: he chats with teammates during watch, jokes with Ruri, and apologizes when Yugao complains that he neglected packing duties. Nevertheless, discussion of protecting loved ones can leave him visibly withdrawn 350 411 417.

He takes both survival and self-improvement seriously. His immediate ambition is to complete the current mission perfectly; his larger ambition is to grow stronger and become Hokage. After acknowledging the squad’s vulnerability to powerful opponents, he resolves to prioritize training once they return home 414 415.

Abilities & Skills

Sharingan

Kakashi possesses Obito’s transplanted left Sharingan and uses it alongside his close-range ninjutsu 89 93.

• Coordinates his vision with a high-speed Chidori thrust 93 94.
• Spots the distant front-line campsite while traveling through the forest 128.
• Ruri’s retrospective account credits him with copying more than a thousand ninjutsu, earning his “Copy Ninja” reputation 89 276.

Chidori and Lightning Blade

Kakashi specializes in ninjutsu and developed Lightning Blade, an S-rank improvement on Chidori. The technique concentrates lightning-nature chakra in the hand for a powerful piercing thrust 39 90.

• Chidori: Pierces an enemy’s heart during Ruri’s first mission 94.
• Lightning Blade: Combined with Body Flicker to approach an enemy from behind and strike through the heart 574.
• Technique distinction: Chidori produces blue-white chakra and a birdlike chirping sound; Lightning Blade uses deep-blue chakra with crackling electricity 39.
• Demonstrated limit: An enemy’s Earth Release Petrification hardens an arm sufficiently to deflect Kakashi’s Lightning Blade 767.

Body Flicker Technique

Kakashi uses Body Flicker for rapid movement and repositioning 128 574.

• Departs with the assembled Anbu teams at speed 128.
• Disappears from an opponent’s view before reappearing behind him for a fatal Lightning Blade attack 574.

Tactical Command

Kakashi assigns roles according to his teammates’ specialties and adjusts his approach to enemy abilities 90 562.

• Role allocation: Places himself and Yamato in a frontal ninjutsu engagement while assigning Ruri and Yugao surprise attacks 90.
• Combat analysis: Infers that an opponent’s reliance on sneak attacks reflects inexperience with his newly merged Summoning Beast form 472.
• Technique assessment: Explains how Ruri’s Rasengan attacks are intended to disrupt an enemy’s internal chakra 562.
• Tracking and reconnaissance: Follows escaped enemies after Ruri exposes their substitutes, seeking the location of their main force 658.
• Infiltration planning: Sends Ruri into the enemy force to kill ninja unnoticed and provoke a response 708.

Training and Field Preparation

• Promises demanding training for Ruri and Itachi, later assigning Ruri an additional hour because of his exceptional strength 352 684.
• Carries spare meat to maintain the squad’s energy if hunting fails 342.
• Recognizes that banned drugs and Forbidden Techniques can make otherwise weaker enemies dangerous and time-consuming opponents 574 608.

Equipment / Items

• Black face mask: His characteristic lower-face covering 88.
• Mission scroll: Entrusted to the squad for urgent transport to Konoha’s front-line comrades 307.
• Spare meat: Emergency provisions for travel 342.
• Lucky Cat Charm: Receives five charms from Cat Granny, one for each squad member, after returning her three Ninja Cats 978.

Relationships

• Ruri Hyuga — Subordinate and trusted comrade. Kakashi credits Ruri’s achievements to the Hokage and remains protective even after Ruri surpasses him in strength. Their mutual understanding eventually lets Kakashi read Ruri’s intentions from a glance 94 147 457 598.
• Uchiha Itachi — Joins Kakashi’s Anbu squad and receives equipment and instructions from him. With Ruri, they are described as the “Anbu Iron Triangle” 274 275.
• Yamato / Tenzo — Longstanding squad member. Their coordination allows Kakashi to silently communicate that Yamato should watch over Ruri during his first mission 89 91.
• Uzuki Yugao — Squad member whose swordsmanship Kakashi incorporates into his plans. He later orders Ruri to accompany and protect her during the headquarters operation 90 719.
• Minato Namikaze — Teacher. Kakashi recognizes Minato’s Rasengan when Ruri uses it; Minato’s death contributes to his emotional withdrawal 89 94.
• Obito Uchiha — Friend and source of his transplanted Sharingan. Obito’s reported sacrifice is one of Kakashi’s defining losses 89 276.
• Rin Nohara — Friend whom Kakashi killed with his own hands. Her death continues to haunt him 89 265.
• Sakumo Hatake — Father. His suicide helped shape Kakashi’s emotionally guarded childhood 276.
• Might Guy — Friend and rival, who calls Kakashi his eternal rival 211.
• Third Hokage — Direct superior, responsible for squad assignments and mission orders 82 90 307.
• Hizashi Hyuga — Front-line ally whom Kakashi’s squad reinforces and later assists in clearing enemy forces 611 783.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Ruri’s Recruitment and First Mission

Kakashi receives Ruri into his Anbu squad and leads him on an enemy-elimination assignment. After killing the final opponent with Chidori, he questions Ruri about the Rasengan. His report credits Ruri with defeating seven enemies, including three Chunin. A private discussion with the Third Hokage leaves him sorrowful about the future imposed on Ruri by the Hyuga cursed seal 82 88 90 94.

Reinforcement Against the Cloud Ninja

Kakashi travels with two Anbu teams to Chōza Akimichi’s camp near the Land of Fire border. During the campaign, he openly acknowledges that Ruri has become stronger than him. After Ruri’s battle with the Eight-Tails, Kakashi is stunned by chakra reserves comparable in presence to the Third Hokage’s 128 147 155.

Urgent Scroll Escort

The Third Hokage replaces the squad’s elimination assignment with an urgent delivery mission: transport a vital scroll to the front lines within three days despite expected interception. Kakashi leads Ruri, Itachi, Yugao, and Yamato through repeated attacks, eventually reaching the allied tent and identifying the group to Hizashi 307 574 611.

Enemy Headquarters Operation

After tracking enemies toward their main force, Kakashi directs Ruri’s infiltration and leads the subsequent entry into headquarters. During a later confrontation, he, Itachi, Yugao, and Yamato fight to buy time for Ruri to awaken. The opponent deflects Lightning Blade with petrification and overpowers all four with punches 658 708 719 767 768.

Kakashi’s squad subsequently reunites with Hizashi’s forces after defeating the enemies in its assigned area 783.

Later Assignments

• Cat recovery: Leads the five-member squad in finding an elderly woman’s three kittens and returns the Ninja Cats to Cat Granny 965 978.
• One-Eyed Monster clearance: Remains squad captain after the time skip and gathers Ruri for the Third Hokage’s order to eliminate the monsters threatening Konoha 982 987.

Original-Series Future Recalled by Ruri

These events are presented as Ruri’s knowledge of Naruto, not as accomplishments already shown in the novel’s altered timeline 89 274.

Notable Quotes

“My life goal is very simple: to become strong, then become Hokage.” 414

“No matter how this ends, we’ll do everything we can to stop you. We absolutely won’t let you kill any more of us!” 767

“In the Shinobi World, those who fail to complete their missions are trash, but those who abandon their companions are worse than trash.” 270