15 Things You Didn't Know About Kakashi Hatake
Team 7's instructor Kakashi Hatake is one of the most beloved characters not just in Naruto, but in anime as a whole. No matter how popular he might be, there will always be a few bits of Kakashi Hatake trivia that even diehard fans aren't aware of.
There are plenty of interesting things you didn't know about Kakashi to talk about, ranging from the meaning of his name and his mission stats to important details about his childhood and his powers that might have been forgotten. There's also information about what Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto, intended for the character - did you know that he was originally supposed to be a strict, serious samurai?
Which detail surprised you the most?
- 13,037 VOTES
His Mission Stats Are Off The Charts
Photo: Studio PierrotIt's common knowledge that Kakashi is one of the greatest ninja in the Naruto-verse - but what exactly has he accomplished to earn that distinction? The answer can be found in the numbers. Kakashi has completed a grand total of 1,141 missions since the beginning of his career. 197 of those were simple D-Rank missions, 190 were slightly more complex C-Rank missions, 414 were B-Rank, 298 were difficult A-Rank, and 42 were S-rank, which only the most highly skilled ninja are trusted to undertake. If that's not impressive, nothing is.
- 22,226 VOTES
He Was A Child Soldier
Photo: Studio PierrotHow could Kakashi have possibly had time to go on 1,141 missions when he's only in his late 20s when he's introduced? By starting outlandishly early. Kakashi graduated from Ninja Academy at the tender age of five. For context, real five-year-olds can be expected to occasionally use a knife to cut their food but may still need supervision, they may be able to write some letters or numbers, and might even have the motor skills required to skip.
By age six, Kakashi is competent enough to become a chuunin. If you've watched the chuunin exam arc, you know how difficult it is to achieve that rank, let alone actually do the job. Most other ninja are twice that age before they even try.
Part of the reason he was promoted so early was due to wartime shortages of labor, but it also says a lot about his skill level - and about the severe trauma he endured as a child.
- 32,136 VOTES
Retirement Is A Distant Dream For Kakashi
Photo: Studio PierrotDespite his frequent complaints of being overworked - and the fact that he's been on the job since before he could read - Kakashi isn't retiring any time soon. After a stint working as the hokage, Kakashi went right back to taking on missions. Sure, he's technically retired, but if he isn't actually going to stop working, that means little. Kakashi not only advises his former student, he also investigates problems on his own. No one can beat Kakashi when it comes to dedication to his job.
- 41,995 VOTES
He's Had The Mangekyo Sharingan For Years
Photo: Studio PierrotKakashi didn't debut his mangekyo sharingan until his battle with Deidara, but he could have used it much sooner. Actually, his mangekyo activated at the same time Obito's did - when Kakashi was forced to take Rin's life.
No one knows for certain why Kakashi waited so long to use his powers, but here are a few theories. The first is the most meta: Kishimoto simply didn't have everything about the mangekyo worked out yet. Another is based on how taxing using the sharingan is for Kakashi - because he isn't an Uchiha, using its powers drains most of his chakra and can leave him unconscious for weeks at a time. It seems logical that he'd want to avoid using it if it weren't absolutely necessary.
- 51,779 VOTES
He's Harboring Some Serious Guilt
Photo: Studio PierrotKakashi may not seem like someone who is burdened with guilt, but he considers himself at least partially to blame for the Uchiha massacre. That's because when he was a member of ANBU, he ended up mentoring Itachi Uchiha and going on missions with him. Itachi asked Kakashi for advice - not specifically regarding the upcoming attack, but about upholding promises made to those who have passed away. Not long after, Itachi lay waste to his clan.
Kakashi regretted not being able to guide Itachi toward a less violent path, and carried this burden with him for the rest of his life. Because the scene took place during a filler episode, it's easily overlooked - and for some, it's not even canon. But if you take the view that filler episodes that contribute to the story and its characters count, it's a fascinating aspect of Kakashi's character.
- 61,550 VOTES
He Inherited His Tantō Blade
Photo: Studio PierrotWith abilities like chidori and the mangekyo sharingan, it's easy to forget that Kakashi once wielded an impressive blade. This tantō blade can be seen primarily in flashbacks, but he does use it as an adult until he loses it in battle. The sword might not look like much, but it's actually fairly significant. The blade, which is called the White Light Chakra Sabre, is a treasure of the Hatake clan that was passed onto him by his father Sakumo.
But there's more to the weapon than just its sentimental value. It's also a strong weapon that creates streaks of white when its swung - it's how Sakumo got his nickname, the White Fang. Sadly, it was destroyed during Kakashi's fight with Kakkō, although a filler episode did imply that it had been repaired.
- 7790 VOTES
The Person He's Most Interested In Battling Against Is Minato
Photo: Studio PierrotMany of the characters in Naruto have a fated rival who they wish to fight. Take Might Guy for example - he's always ready for a rematch with Kakashi. And although Kakashi isn't someone who particularly cares about fighting someone for the fun of it, there is one person he wishes he could challenge to a duel. And that person is his former mentor.
In the Naruto: The Official Character Data Book, it states that Minato Namikaze is the person he wishes to fight the most. Given how skilled Kakashi has become since his days in Team Minato, it'd certainly be interesting to see an adult Kakashi and Minato battle it out.
- 81,364 VOTES
His Name Means 'Scarecrow In The Farmland'
Photo: Studio PierrotLike most of the characters in Naruto, Kakashi's name wasn't chosen arbitrarily. Rather, it was chosen for its specific meaning. His given name, Kakashi (カカシ), means 'scarecrow' and his surname, Hatake (はたけ), means 'farmland' or 'field.' Kishimoto considered a number of other names for him, including Enoki (nettle tree), Kuwa (hoe), Botan (peony), and Kama (scythe). Kishimoto believes that he chose the best name for the character.
- 91,325 VOTES
He's Got Some Pretty Specific Food Preferences
Photo: Studio PierrotEvery Naruto fan knows that the protagonist is a ramen fiend, but Kakashi's food preferences aren't quite so obvious. But because Kishimoto is so attentive to the small details of his characters' lives, we do know what Kakashi likes to eat - and what he doesn't. His favorite foods include salt-broiled saury (a type of fish) and miso soup with eggplant, and he turns up his nose at anything sweet or fried. Considering the fact that he has to keep his body in top condition for his line of work, it's convenient that he prefers healthy dishes.
- 101,781 VOTES
He Was Originally Supposed To Be A Samurai
Photo: Studio PierrotBelieve it or not, Kakashi was originally intended to appear as a samurai, not a ninja. This actually applies to the whole cast - Kishimoto wanted to write a manga about samurai but changed his mind when he realized that Shonen Jump had already covered the samurai niche with titles like Rurouni Kenshin. He actually created art depicting Team 7 as samurai, giving fans a great opportunity to speculate on what the series might have been like if he'd kept them that way.
- 111,354 VOTES
He's Starred In Spin-Off Material
As an important character in the world of Naruto, it's only natural that Kakashi would be appearing in spin-offs - but it's not a given that he'd star in any of them. Kakashi Hiden is one of several spin-off light novels focusing on different characters from the Naruto-verse. The book details Kakashi's decision to let Naruto gain a little more life experience before becoming hokage, and take over the position himself until his student is truly prepared.
Kishimoto has also claimed that if Naruto were to ever receive another spin-off, his first choice for a protagonist would be Kakashi. The story would most likely focus on his years as a jounin, focusing on the missions that earned him the fame he currently enjoys.
- 121,738 VOTES
His Mask Hides A Facial Mole
Photo: Studio PierrotKakashi's mask has been the subject of some serious speculation. Just what is he hiding under there? While a filler episode postulated all kinds of ridiculous answers, including swollen red lips and enormous buck teeth, he's actually hiding a completely normal face with a small mole on his chin. What's not revealed is his reason for being so secretive in the first place.
- 131,430 VOTES
He's Kind Of A Perv
Photo: Studio PierrotKakashi may not be as lewd as characters like Jiraiya, but he's still channeling that deviant energy. His favorite book series, the Icha Icha series by the aforemetioned Jiraiya, contains plenty of naughty materials, and Kakashi has no qualms about reading them in front of his students.
Also, according to a spin-off manga called Rock Lee's Springtime of Youth Full Power Ninja Chronicles, the real reason that Kakashi wears a mask is to keep others from seeing his bleeding nose - anime shorthand for arousal.
- 141,057 VOTES
The First Draft Version Of Kakashi Ended Sentences With 'De Gozaru'
Photo: Studio PierrotKakashi wasn't always the chilled out dude that Naruto fans know and love. Actually, Kishimoto's original conception of the character was a more formal person who ended many of his sentences with "de gozaru," a phrase that indicates an old-fashioned, buttoned-up personality. Kakashi's speech patterns evolved as his personality did.
- 15680 VOTES
His Favorite Word Is 'Teamwork'
Photo: Studio PierrotThis is a piece of trivia that is both heart-warming and bittersweet. According to the Naruto: The Official Character Data Book, Kakashi's favorite word is "teamwork". Based on what happened in the past with his teammates Obito and Rin, it makes sense that Kakashi treasures this word above all else. It also reinforces the infamous quote he teaches to Team 7: "In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum. But those who abandon their friends are worse than scum."
