Kakashi Hatake

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Childhood and Personal Losses

Kakashi and Shihōin Naraku were childhood contemporaries, both regarded as geniuses. Kakashi regularly placed first in Academy sparring and initially held the advantage over Naraku. Their later recollections became a friendly argument over how often Naraku had beaten him 4 31.

His father, Sakumo Hatake, died by suicide. Kakashi subsequently lost his teammates Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara, followed by his teacher Minato Namikaze and Minato’s wife, Kushina Uzumaki, on the Night of the Nine-Tails. These losses drove him into a prolonged emotional decline 4. Rin had willingly died to his Lightning Blade to protect Konoha 33.

ANBU Command

By Naraku’s appointment as deputy commander, Kakashi had spent more than a decade in ANBU. As commander, his authority within the organization was second only to the Third Hokage’s. He understood ANBU and Root well, but showed little interest in the influence his office afforded him 3.

Kakashi introduced Naraku to the base, personnel, and duties of his new position. When Naraku objected to receiving numerous former Root members, Kakashi explained that Hiruzen had ordered the assignments. He nevertheless offered to ask the Hokage to spare Naraku the dangerous external missions intended for him 4 5.

Hiruzen had hoped Kakashi would restrain Danzō’s expanding influence within ANBU and Root, but Kakashi’s aversion to political struggles prevented him from fulfilling that purpose. As Naraku secured funds and reorganized ANBU, Kakashi warned him about provoking Danzō rather than resisting the reforms himself. He privately considered leaving and allowing Naraku to take command 15. He also approved Naraku’s proposed logistics squad 35.

Hokage Candidacy

Kakashi was appointed Deputy Jōnin Commander under Shikaku Nara. He expected the position to be largely nominal because Shikaku already managed the village’s jōnin effectively 16.

When Hiruzen considered retiring, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu supported Kakashi over Naraku. Shikaku acknowledged both candidates’ strength and experience but preferred Naraku because Kakashi remained burdened by past trauma 17.

Danzō also preferred Kakashi to Naraku, although the prospect troubled him: he had helped instigate the circumstances behind Sakumo’s suicide and feared what Kakashi might do if he discovered that involvement 18.

Guarding and Teaching Naruto

Hiruzen assigned Kakashi and Naraku as Naruto’s temporary bodyguards to assess which man should become his supervising teacher and a Hokage candidate. Kakashi initially became so absorbed in memories of the past that Hiruzen questioned his suitability even as a jōnin 22 23.

The assignment exposed Naruto’s isolation and poor living conditions. Kakashi had not previously cared for his teacher’s son because of both his own psychological wounds and Hiruzen’s orders concealing Naruto’s identity and forbidding others from approaching him. After Naraku openly approached Naruto, Kakashi reluctantly followed 23 24 25.

Kakashi taught Naruto tree-climbing chakra control. Watching Naruto continue despite repeated falls changed his opinion of the boy: he recognized Naruto’s weak fundamentals but came to believe that perseverance and careful instruction could make him an outstanding ninja 27 28 29.

After Naraku made his own preferences clear, Hiruzen chose Kakashi to become Naruto’s supervising teacher. Hiruzen distinguished that selection from an eventual appointment as Hokage; the former did not guarantee the latter 34.

Training Ground 19 and Departure from ANBU

After Hiruzen discussed his likely departure from ANBU, Kakashi challenged Naraku to a spar. Naraku understood the request as an opportunity for his friend to vent his pain and confront the transition out of ANBU 38.

The duel escalated into a three-way battle when Might Guy joined. Kakashi’s Chidori collided with Naraku’s Fire Release Rasengan, producing an explosion from which Guy rescued him. Although already badly depleted, Kakashi continued fighting and eventually coordinated his attacks with Guy against Naraku 41 43.

Naraku countered Kakashi’s underground Lightning Blade attack, pinned him beneath one foot, and continued contesting Guy’s strength until he realized Kakashi had lost consciousness. Asuma Sarutobi caught Kakashi when Naraku sent him out of the fighting area 44.

Katsuyu treated Kakashi’s injuries before and after his transfer to hospital. Naraku estimated that he would need at least a month to recover. During his hospitalization, Kakashi confirmed that Hiruzen had removed him from ANBU, ending his many years in the organization 45 46 47.

Appearance

• Covered face: Wears a mask and Konoha forehead protector that conceal most of his face, ordinarily leaving only one eye visible 25.
• Scarred Sharingan eye: Raising his forehead protector reveals a long scar crossing his right eye and a scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan 39.
• Habitual expression: Frequently described as having listless, “dead-fish” eyes; his usual laziness disappears when he seriously prepares for battle 3 22 39.

Personality

Kakashi’s casual manner conceals considerable reliability. When serious, he is a trusted friend and comrade, but he often appears distracted, unmotivated, or absorbed in reading. He is largely indifferent to authority and dislikes struggles for power and personal gain, an aversion linked to his father’s death 3 15 16.

His unresolved grief repeatedly draws him into brooding and visits to the Memorial Stone. He recognizes that ANBU does not suit his temperament, yet uses its demanding missions and lethal battles to dull his emotional wounds. Naraku’s intervention forces him to consider how to move forward rather than remain trapped in that pattern 17 27.

As an instructor, Kakashi is observant and measured rather than uncritically encouraging. His assessment of Naruto identifies both technical weaknesses and the insecurity beneath the boy’s outward confidence. Naruto’s persistence earns his genuine respect, even though his spoken evaluation remains demanding 28 29.

Abilities & Skills

Sharingan

Kakashi possesses the Sharingan given to him by Obito Uchiha, displayed in its Three-Tomoe form during the Training Ground 19 spar 32 39.

• Reads opponents’ movements and observes chakra flow to identify counterattacking opportunities 41.
• Supports his use of genjutsu through eye contact 43.
• Does not guarantee that his body can match what he sees: Guy notes that Kakashi can sometimes read his attacks but still cannot keep up with their speed 45.

Ninjutsu Repertoire

His reputation as the Copy Ninja reflects a repertoire of more than a thousand copied ninjutsu 27 39.

• Chidori: Concentrates lightning chakra in his hand for a high-speed thrust. Against Naraku, he combines the charge with concealed weapons attacking from multiple directions 41.
• Lightning Blade: Used in coordinated attacks with Guy, including an ambush launched from beneath the ground 43 44.
• Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique: Produces a large fireball whose power increases with the chakra invested 40.
• Wind Release: Great Breakthrough Technique: Amplifies his Great Fireball into a much larger, more destructive attack 40.
• Shadow Clone: Substitutes a clone during close combat to create an opening for Chidori 41.
• Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique: The narration identifies Kakashi’s version as requiring forty-four hand seals 37.

Genjutsu

• Hell Viewing Technique: Uses an illusion that manifests fears within the target’s heart. Naraku immediately breaks it through his unusually strong mind and high resistance to genjutsu 43.

Eight Gates and Close Combat

• Opens the Gate of Opening, the first of the Eight Gates, to raise his physical performance 43.
• Combines taijutsu, evasive movement, weapons, and ninjutsu while under pressure 40 41 43.
• Coordinates effectively with Guy, creating openings and covering attacks during their joint assault on Naraku 43 44.
• Limit: Exhaustion sharply reduces his ability to sustain combat. During the three-way spar, his stamina nearly fails even while he still retains chakra 43.

Analysis and Instruction

• Diagnoses Naruto’s difficulty with the Clone Technique as a chakra-control problem caused by interference from the Nine-Tails’ chakra; identifies the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique as a better fit for Naruto’s reserves 27.
• Demonstrates tree climbing by concentrating chakra beneath his feet, walking up a trunk, and hanging upside down without falling 27.
• Evaluates Naruto’s movement, weapon handling, emotional vulnerabilities, and training needs 28.
• Recognizes how Naruto applies tree-climbing practice to produce a sudden burst of speed in Academy sparring 32.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Konoha forehead protector — Usually conceals his Sharingan 25 39.
• Face mask — Covers most of his lower face 25.
• Kunai — Used defensively against Kurikara; Naraku’s strength and blade destroy one during the spar 43.
• Shuriken and concealed weapons — Used to restrict movement and support close-range attacks 41 43.
• Icha Icha Paradise — His habitual reading material, carried even while watching Naruto and demonstrating chakra control 15 27 35.

Relationships

• Shihōin Naraku — Childhood peer, friend, physician, and ANBU deputy. Naraku encourages him to leave ANBU and pursue a healthier role 4 27 38.
• Naruto Uzumaki — His teacher’s son, temporary protection assignment, and prospective student. Naruto’s determination renews Kakashi’s confidence in his potential 22 27 29 34.
• Might Guy — Close friend and frequent sparring partner. Guy rescues him from the Chidori–Rasengan explosion and later fights alongside him 26 43.
• Minato Namikaze — His late teacher, whose strength Kakashi deeply respects 4 26.
• Kushina Uzumaki — His late teacher’s wife; her death is among the losses that shaped his emotional decline 4.
• Obito Uchiha — Former teammate and donor of his Sharingan. Kakashi mourns him without knowing that Obito is alive and secretly watching him with contempt 32 33.
• Rin Nohara — Former teammate whose death remains central to his grief. Kakashi leaves flowers at her grave 17 33.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi — His superior and the authority behind his ANBU command, Naruto assignment, and eventual removal from ANBU 3 22 47.
• Shikaku Nara — His superior in the jōnin command structure; respects his ability but questions his emotional readiness to become Hokage 16 17.
• Tenzō — ANBU subordinate who supports the Naruto surveillance assignment and carries the exhausted boy home after training 22 28.

Notable Quotes

“My own life’s a complete mess.” 24

“At first, I had some other thoughts about Naruto Uzumaki, but after Tree-Climbing Practice, I believe he can become an outstanding ninja.” 28