Kakashi Hatake

Kakashi Hatake
Naruto character
File:Kakashi.jpg Kakashi Hatake by Masashi Kishimoto
First appearance	Manga Chapter 3 Naruto Episode 3
In-universe information
Relatives	Sakumo Hatake (father, deceased)

Kakashi Hatake (はたけ カカシ, Hatake Kakashi) is a fictional character in the anime and manga series Naruto created by Masashi Kishimoto. He is the leader of Team 7, originally consisting of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. After Sasuke defects, Team 7 receives Sai as a replacement.

Though his name is written in the manga using kana, Japanese syllabic scripts that carry no particular meaning, the family name "Hatake" can be written in kanji (Chinese characters) as 畑, or 畠 which means "field" or "farmland." The name "Kakashi" can be written in kanji as 案山子, which means "scarecrow." Understandably, Naruto uses a scarecrow look-alike of Kakashi to practice on the day before Team 7's first test, since he then considered Kakashi as the main one to defeat. Also, when Sakura spies on Kakashi so he would take off his mask, he replaces himself with a scarecrow to get rid of her.

Background

See also: Kakashi Gaiden

File:YoungKakashi.JPG

Kakashi's first team under Minato Namikaze

Like his father, Sakumo Hatake whose skills have been compared to that of the Legendary Ninja, Kakashi is considered a genius shinobi, graduating from the Ninja Academy at age 5 and achieving the rank of Chunin at 6. A few years after these accomplishments, Kakashi's father was disgraced by the village for abandoning a mission in favor of saving his comrades, which cost the Land of Fire dearly. Deeply ashamed and ostracized even by those he had saved, Sakumo committed seppuku, leaving Kakashi to bear witness to the event. After his father's suicide, Kakashi began to adhere strictly to the rules of the shinobi – in particular the rule dictating that the success of the mission must come before the well being of one's team mates, causing him to become arrogant, humorless, and by-the-book.

At the age of 13, Kakashi achieved Jonin status. As a reward for his accomplishment, he was assigned to lead his team on a sabotage mission to blow up a bridge in order to prevent enemy forces from attacking Konoha. Shortly after the mission started, Kakashi's teammate, Rin was captured by enemy shinobi. Kakashi's other teammate, Obito Uchiha immediately stated his intention to save her, but Kakashi said they had to focus on completing the mission, opting not to make the same mistake his father had. Though Kakashi believed that they had to complete their objective and they parted ways, a little reflection on Obito's words and Rin's prior kindness eventually convinced him that his father had done the right thing in saving his teammates. This revelation prompted Kakashi to turn back to join Obito in the rescue effort, although he initially claims that he did not believe Obito could survive on his own—a statement that is more or less supported by how his arrival coincided with saving his oblivious teammate from a ninja's attack.

During their attempt to save Rin, Kakashi lost his left eye as a result of taking an enemy ninja's attack for Obito. To protect Kakashi in return, Obito managed to awaken his Sharingan and killed their assailant. Soon after saving Rin, a rockfall technique was triggered and a rock struck Kakashi on his blind side. He would have been buried beneath the rocks had Obito not pushed Kakashi out of the way, getting the right side of his body almost completely crushed in the process. Shortly before he died, Obito had Rin (a medical ninja) implant his Sharingan eye in Kakashi's damaged eye socket as a gift. As his first act with his new eye, Kakashi avenged Obito by killing the enemy ninja with his now-perfected Chidori technique, bringing the Kakashi of today into being.

Years later, Kakashi became a member of the Konohagakure ANBU where he served as a squad leader. During this time, he had several kōhai, named Yugao Uzuki and Tenzo, and recognized the latter as the most successful of his kōhai. It is unknown when or why he left ANBU, but he still wears his gloves, a characteristic of ANBU uniforms.

Personality

Obito's death profoundly changed Kakashi, and Kakashi adopted many of Obito's traits. One such trait was Obito's concept of teamwork, which is most clearly seen in the way Kakashi tests newly-graduated students hoping to become a squad under him. He uses the bell test to test his students, which requires the three students to get the two bells he keeps on his person. Only those who get a bell get to pass, which would be difficult even with teamwork, as at least one ninja would fail regardless. However, the rule is only a ruse; the point of the test is to foster teamwork and to teach the students that teamwork is more important than the rules. Team 7 is the only team to realize this, and as such becomes the only team Kakashi passes into Genin-status. Kakashi also inherits Obito's chronic tardiness, due primarily to losing track of time during his frequent visits to Konoha's memorial site, where Obito's name is engraved. Ironically, this very habit is one that Kakashi was often annoyed at Obito about. Obito was supposedly late due to random good deeds.

Despite these changes, some of Kakashi's previous personality remains. He is fairly dispassionate compared to his subordinates and fellow Jonin, almost never showing emotion. He often says things that sound harsh but mean well, such as suggesting that Rock Lee brought his career-ending injuries on himself by using forbidden taijutsu techniques. While Kakashi is willing to help his students, he remains somewhat aloof and unwilling to let anyone get too close to him, noting that he no longer has anyone important to him. However, after Naruto makes a creative breakthrough with the invention of his own jutsu, spawned from a sarcastic remark made by Kakashi, Kakashi states that he "really likes Naruto now", (much to Naruto's discomfort).

Kakashi's personal life appears to be as much of a mystery as the face behind the mask he has worn for most of his ninja career. He has no living family, or at least none he cares to acknowledge, and he's confirmed that everyone he loves is already dead. He is immediately recognizable as the son of (or mistaken for) his father, the "White Fang of Konoha" (木ノ葉の白い牙, Konoha no Shiroi Kiba). Though his face has never been seen, episode 101, which is devoted to Team 7 trying to remove their sensei's mask, implies that he is in fact quite handsome. He takes off his mask in front of Team 7 only to reveal another mask, suggesting that his face, like much of the rest of his personality, is something he does not readily share.

Kakashi has an ongoing, albeit slightly one-sided, rivalry with Might Guy, with Guy constantly proclaiming that Kakashi is his rival, and considering his and Kakashi's subordinates rivals. Kakashi, however, seems indifferent to their rivalry, which annoys Guy to no end. Guy randomly challenges Kakashi to contests of skill, and Guy has acquired a record of 49 losses and 50 wins in doing so. Given that the contests that make up this figure are so varied (ranging from Rock, Paper, Scissors to sumo-wrestling), this is not much of an achievement on Guy's part. Nevertheless, Guy is proud of his record.

Though he evasively says that he has "many hobbies" when asked about himself, he is commonly seen reading "Icha Icha Paradise" (イチャイチャパラダイス, Icha Icha Paradaisu, literally "Come Come Paradise", English "Make-Out Paradise"), an adult and probably pornographic novel authored by Jiraiya that is a runaway bestseller in the Naruto world. Kakashi most prominently reads it while training and speaking with his team, and is later seen reading the second known volume in the series, "Icha Icha Violence" (イチャイチャバイオレンス, Icha Icha Baiorensu, literally "Come Come Violence", English "Make Out Violence"). In Part II Naruto gives him the new "Icha Icha Tactics" (イチャイチャタクティクス, Icha Icha Takutikusu, literally "Come Come Tactics," English "Make Out Tactics"), which, during their second bell test, Naruto manages to use against him by attempting to spoil the ending. Thus distracted, he is unable to stop Naruto and Sakura from taking the bells.

Abilities

Kakashi's Sharingan eye gives him a significant advantage in battle, as he can copy enemy techniques and use them as his own, as well as track and predict his opponent's movements flawlessly. Because it is a transplanted eye, his Sharingan eye is always active. While this would not be much of a problem for an Uchiha, his non-Uchiha blood causes it to use much more chakra than it should. Because of this, he covers it with his headband and only utilizes it in the most dangerous battles. Kakashi's use of the Sharingan was stated by Itachi Uchiha to almost parallel his own in mastery, though the aforementioned handicaps brought about by the nature of his eye make him weaker in comparison. Kakashi developed his own version of the Mangekyo Sharingan during the timeskip, though this differs from Itachi's. Kakashi uses his to create a localized interdimensional space-time warp, allowing him to target any object and send it to another dimension. The attack requires considerable effort to aim precisely and appears to leave Kakashi's chakra significantly drained; he collapses after using the technique three times in a single day (compared to his other original move, Lightning Blade, which he can use four times a day).

File:KakashiMangekyoSharinganAnime.jpg

Kakashi's Mangekyo Sharingan.

With his Sharingan, Kakashi has been able to copy more than one thousand jutsu, giving him the nickname "Copy Ninja Kakashi" (コピー忍者のカカシ, Kopī Ninja no Kakashi), "Sharingan Kakashi" (写輪眼のカカシ, Sharingan no Kakashi), or "Kakashi the Sharingan Warrior". As a result, Kakashi's arsenal most prominently features ninjutsu abilities and has led to him becoming a specialist in the field. Because of his frequent encounters with Kirigakure ninja, many of the ninjutsu Kakashi is seen utilizing are water-based, though he has been shown capable of using fire (this one only in the anime), lightning, and earth jutsu as well. Because of his rivalry with Might Guy, Kakashi is quite adept at taijutsu and often matches Guy in skill. He has also been seen using genjutsu and sealing jutsu on occasion, though he rarely makes use of either ability. Because of his well-rounded prowess in jutsu, Kakashi is the highest-ranking technique specialist and one of the strongest ninja in Konoha, as indicated by both Sakura and the manga databooks. Because of his abilities, Tsunade notes him to be an obvious choice for the title of Hokage should the position ever become vacant.

Kakashi was taught how to use the Rasengan by the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. Because the Rasengan is meant to have the user's chakra nature mixed with it, Kakashi attempted to add his lightning-based chakra to it, though was ultimately unsuccessful. Instead, he created the Chidori, his only original jutsu. After the jutsu's initial creation Kakashi was unable to use the Chidori to its full potential as the sheer speed of the attack left his normal eyes unable to see any form of an enemy counterattack. After acquiring the Sharingan, however, he was able to overcome this shortcoming. Through repeated use and increased proficiency with it, Kakashi's Chidori has been upgraded and renamed the Lightning Blade due to him having cut through a bolt of lightning with it.

Kakashi has his own personal pack of Ninken, which he calls into battle with the Summoning Technique. The dogs were apparently trained by Kakashi, and most are even able to speak. Kakashi typically uses the dogs for tracking purposes and summons them whenever he is in need of finding someone. The dogs can communicate with Kakashi via howls. If need be, the dogs can hold someone in place while Kakashi catches up.

Since being defeated by Itachi Uchiha in Part I, Kakashi has apparently trained to increase the speed at which he forms hand seals. Naruto and Sakura both remark upon this speed during their second bell test in Part II.

Plot overview

While he makes frequent appearances throughout Part I, Kakashi's role largely deals with protecting his students and keeping them unified. Most prominently he tries to steer Sasuke away from seeking Orochimaru as a source of power, even teaching him how to use the Chidori so that he will not rely on the Cursed Seal for power. In time, however, Sasuke begins to turn against his team and readily attacks them, which, despite Kakashi's protests and attempts to convince him that revenge should not be pursued, ultimately leads to him leaving Konoha. As Naruto and Sasuke carry out a final battle Kakashi rushes to their location to prevent them from killing each other. He arrives too late and Sasuke escapes, and Naruto and Sakura go their separate ways to find their own methods of getting stronger.

Kakashi begins to take part in more battles in Part II as he no longer needs to focus his attention on his students, who have improved greatly over the timeskip. As Akatsuki becomes increasingly more active, Kakashi joins the various battles in defeating its members. Likewise, Kakashi joins Naruto and Sakura's efforts in bringing Sasuke back to Konoha and has since organized an 8-man team that is in part dedicated to this cause. Still, Kakashi has not fully outlived his role as guidance for his students, and he helps Naruto in creating a new variant of the Rasengan.

Other media

In the first Naruto movie, Team 7 encounters numerous Yukigakure ninja that seem to know Kakashi from when Kakashi was still in the ANBU, and while on a mission to help the Hidden Snow Village, he winds up having to retreat with the Princess. Towards the movie's end, Kakashi encounters Nadare Roga and defeats him using a variant of the Front Lotus.

Kakashi also appears in the third Naruto movie, acting as the leader of Naruto, Sakura, and Rock Lee. He fights Ishidate during the course of the movie, and has his arm turned to stone by his ability. He is later restored by Sakura. Near the end of the movie, Kakashi provides a distraction for the rest of his team by using a water jutsu to ward off Shabadaba's soldiers.

Kakashi is also playable in most of the video games for the series. In the fighting games, he is a fairly strong character, and his Sharingan can also be utilized. This is most noticeable in the Clash of Ninja series, where he can use the Sharingan to copy an opponent's special move. While in Ultimate Ninja series, he can use the Dynamic Entry with Mighty Guy at the same time, a two-handed version of the Lightning Blade called Twin Lightning Blade (Raikri Nirentotsu) and an enhanced version called Lightning Blade Flash (雷切一閃, Raikiri Issen). In Narutimate Accel he is able to use all five elemental chakra and the earth technique he used in Part II to trick Itachi is named Doton: Ressenga. In Ultimate Ninja 2 a variation of Kakashi wearing the ANBU uniform is available, in this mode he is able to use Mystic Moon (曨月, Oborotsuki), a taijutsu move that uses his ninken to attack in a specific formation and then finish the opponent with a sword attack, while his Lightning Blade is named Young Thunder (若き雷, Wakaki Ikazuchi).

Sources

• First Official Data Book (秘伝・臨の書キャラクターオフィシャルデータBOOK, Hiden: Rin no Sho Character Official Data Book)
• Second Official Data Book (秘伝・闘の書キャラクターオフィシャルデータBOOK, Hiden: Tō no Sho Character Official Data Book)
• Jump's 2nd Great Hero Book's Mini Data Book (秘伝・翔の書オフィシャルキャラクターデータBOOK mini, Hiden: Shō no Sho Official Character Data Book mini)
• Naruto anime and manga Guidebook (秘伝・翔の書オフィシャルキャラクターデータBOOK mini, Hiden: Shō no Sho Official Character Data Book mini)
• Taken directly from the Naruto manga chapters and anime episodes.