NARUTO COLUMNS
09/15/2024
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Kakashi's Birthday on 9/15 (Part 2)! Looking Back on How "Kakashi of the Sharingan" Broke Free From the Shackles of His Past and Helped Save the World!
A column celebrating the birthdays and achievements of everyone's favorite ninja!
Today we'll be reminiscing about Team Seven's Jonin leader, whose incredible genius led to his being renowned far and wide as "Kakashi of the Sharingan": Kakashi Hatake!
In part two, we'll cover everything from the battle against Pain up to the final showdown for the fate of the world!
▼Part 1 is out now!▼
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Kakashi's Birthday on 9/15 (Part 1)! Looking Back on the Teacher Who Overcame Many Sorrowful Partings to Guide Naruto's Team Seven!
Today we'll be reminiscing about Team Seven's Jonin leader, whose incredible genius led to his being renowned far and wide as "Kakashi of the Sharingan": Kakashi Hatake!
In part two, we'll cover everything from the battle against Pain up to the final showdown for the fate of the world!
▼Part 1 is out now!▼
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Kakashi's Birthday on 9/15 (Part 1)! Looking Back on the Teacher Who Overcame Many Sorrowful Partings to Guide Naruto's Team Seven!
■Kakashi Hatake
・Birthday: September 15th (Virgo)
・Favorite Food: Salt-grilled saury, miso soup with eggplant
A Reunion After Death
Kakashi intercepts Pain during the latter's assault on Konoha.
The Six Paths of Pain that even Jiraiya couldn't defeat.
Kakashi puts up a good fight while trying to analyze Pain's abilities, but ends up trapped and unable to move.
Kakashi puts up a good fight while trying to analyze Pain's abilities, but ends up trapped and unable to move.
Kakashi uses up the rest of his chakra to ensure intel needed to save Konoha is passed on to those still able to fight, and loses his life in the process.
In the void between this world and the next, someone awaits him...
This figure is not one of his former teammates, but his own father, Sakumo Hatake.
This figure is not one of his former teammates, but his own father, Sakumo Hatake.
Kakashi has a long overdue conversation with his father, undisturbed by the battle taking place in the realm of the living.
Kakashi tells his father he's proud of him now, accepting how he lived his life and forgiving him for how he passed away.
Light surrounds Kakashi's body immediately after, calling him back to the waking world.
Light surrounds Kakashi's body immediately after, calling him back to the waking world.
After being revived, Kakashi goes to find Naruto.
He praises his former student, deeply moved by how he put himself on the line to change the heart of Nagato, the man controlling the Six Paths of Pain. In doing so, Naruto saved not only Kakashi, he saved all the people of Konoha and became its hero.
He praises his former student, deeply moved by how he put himself on the line to change the heart of Nagato, the man controlling the Six Paths of Pain. In doing so, Naruto saved not only Kakashi, he saved all the people of Konoha and became its hero.
"NARUTO...
...YOU DID WELL."
Settling Matters as a Teacher
Danzo assumes the position of Sixth Hokage while the shinobi of Konoha work together to rebuild the village.
In accordance with the Raikage's request, Danzo issues a decree permitting the disposal of Sasuke.
It is not too long after this that Kakashi finally reunites with Sasuke.
In accordance with the Raikage's request, Danzo issues a decree permitting the disposal of Sasuke.
It is not too long after this that Kakashi finally reunites with Sasuke.
"HOW YOU'VE FALLEN...
SASUKE."
Despite being Kakashi's former student, Sasuke is now blinded by vengeance, and attacks his former comrades with the intent to kill.
Sakura still cares for him, but intends to take on the burden of dealing with him herself.
Sakura still cares for him, but intends to take on the burden of dealing with him herself.
"SAKURA...YOU WERE AIMING TO KILL SASUKE ALL BY YOURSELF, WEREN'T YOU...?
THERE'S NO NEED...FOR YOU TO BEAR SUCH A HEAVY BURDEN."
Kakashi puts his life on the line to face down Sasuke and settle matters between them as teacher and student.
"I WILL TAKE ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN YOUR BURDEN.
WELL, THAT IS MY ROLE, AFTER ALL."
Clinging on to the most minute of possibilities, Kakashi continues attempting to change Sasuke's mind even as they unleash ninjutsu at one another.
During their fight, Naruto makes his way to the battlefield, and Team Seven reunites in the most unfavorable of circumstances.
During their fight, Naruto makes his way to the battlefield, and Team Seven reunites in the most unfavorable of circumstances.
Despite wanting to settle matters as Sasuke's teacher, Kakashi is pushed aside as Naruto and Sasuke exchange blows, managing to come to an understanding regarding each other.
And thus, Sasuke once again disappears into the darkness.
After this eventful reunion, the entire shinobi world finds itself thrown into the Fourth Great Ninja War.
After this eventful reunion, the entire shinobi world finds itself thrown into the Fourth Great Ninja War.
Reuniting with a Friend and Fighting to the Death
Kakashi is appointed as commander of the Third Company in the Allied Shinobi Forces and soon finds himself facing down a revived Zabuza and Haku, along with other powerful shinobi from the past!
Kakashi's anger reaches a boiling point after witnessing Kabuto's Reanimation Jutsu. The mockery of those who sacrificed their lives protecting those important to them is something Kakashi cannot forgive.
"I AM KAKASHI THE MIRROR NINJA!
I'VE COPIED 1,000 JUTSU!
WATCH ME LIVE UP TO MY NICKNAME!"
As promised, Kakashi rampages across the battlefield with the might of a thousand shinobi.
During the latter half of the Great Ninja War, Kakashi comes face-to-face with the masked Madara Uchiha.
During the latter half of the Great Ninja War, Kakashi comes face-to-face with the masked Madara Uchiha.
As the fight goes on, the truth slowly starts to make itself known.
The visual jutsu used by both the masked man and Kakashi are linked...
...and they both gained the Sharingan around the same time.
Just as Kakashi's suspicion about the masked man's identity begins to turn to conviction, the man's mask shatters to reveal Obito Uchiha, a friend of Kakashi's thought to have died long ago.
Just as Kakashi's suspicion about the masked man's identity begins to turn to conviction, the man's mask shatters to reveal Obito Uchiha, a friend of Kakashi's thought to have died long ago.
After witnessing Rin's death, Obito fell into despair and became disillusioned with the world. He forced the Nine Tails to attack Konoha, which resulted in the death of his former teacher, Minato.
Shocked by what he hears from Obito, Kakashi wavers.
Shocked by what he hears from Obito, Kakashi wavers.
But thanks to Naruto's words, he finds his will to fight once again.
"OBITO...
...YOUR ONCE STRONG WILL IS STILL ALIVE TODAY...
...RIGHT NEXT TO ME!
WHAT THE CURRENT ME CAN DO IS PROTECT THE CURRENT NARUTO!"
Having steeled his resolve, Kakashi enters the Kamui space-time dimension in order to settle things with his former friend.
"IN THE SHINOBI WORLD, THOSE WHO VIOLATE THE RULES AND LAWS ARE LOWER THAN GARBAGE.
HOWEVER...
THOSE WHO DON'T CHERISH THEIR COMRADES ARE EVEN LOWER THAN THAT!
AND THOSE WHO DON'T CHERISH THEIR COMRADES' MEMORY...
...ARE EXPONENTIALLY LOWER THAN THAT."
"I'M NOT ABANDONING MY MEMORY OF THE OLD YOU...
...EVEN IF IT'S THE CURRENT YOU WHO'S REPUDIATING IT!"
They both make the Spar Sign.
It's a sign that marks the beginning of a match, and this time they're fighting to the death.
It's a sign that marks the beginning of a match, and this time they're fighting to the death.
As they fight, memories of a time when they sparred while they were on Minato's team continue to resurface.
Kakashi also reflects on how proud he is of Naruto.
Kakashi also reflects on how proud he is of Naruto.
"NARUTO...
YOU...NEVER WAVER.
YOU'RE STRONGER THAN ME...
...AND YOU HAVE MANY THINGS THAT ARE SOLELY YOURS."
"THIS IS ALL THAT THE CURRENT ME CAN DO.
AND THAT IS...
...TO PROTECT THIS WORLD, MY COMRADES AND THE OBITO OF THE PAST..."
"...BY KILLING...THE CURRENT OBITO!!"
Putting all his strength into his attack, Kakashi runs Obito through with his kunai, but is unsuccessful in taking his life…
Obito escapes from Kamui's dimension, rejoins the main battlefield, and becomes the Ten Tails' Jinchuriki.
Obito escapes from Kamui's dimension, rejoins the main battlefield, and becomes the Ten Tails' Jinchuriki.
Comrades in Arms
After focusing on recovering, Kakashi returns from Kamui's space-time dimension to find Obito lying defeated at the hands of Naruto and the others.
Kakashi prepares to use his kunai to deal the final blow.
However, he is stopped by none other than their former teacher, Minato, who has been revived by the Reanimation Jutsu.
"IF HE STARTS TO TRIP AND STUMBLE...
... I'LL HELP HIM."
"BECAUSE HE'D NEVER GIVE UP ON HIS DREAMS...
OR REALITY.
THAT'S THE KIND OF GUY HE IS.
AND THE WAY THAT HE LIVES HIS LIFE DRAWS OTHERS TO HIM.
FOLKS WHO WANT TO HELP HIM IF HE STARTS FALTERING.
THE LARGER AND GREATER THE SUPPORT BEHIND YOU...THE CLOSER YOU CAN GET TO YOUR GOAL."
Kakashi reaffirms his ninja way to Obito, vowing to support Naruto's path, and prepares for the final battle.
He stands side-by-side with Minato...
He stands side-by-side with Minato...
...fights as a team with Obito...
...and assembles the reunited Team Seven.
Kakashi and his comrades' desperate battle against Madara takes a sudden turn with the arrival of Kaguya Otsutsuki.
The battle's location shifts to a different dimension, and the final showdown begins.
Naruto goes toe-to-toe with the god-like power of Kaguya.
The battle's location shifts to a different dimension, and the final showdown begins.
Naruto goes toe-to-toe with the god-like power of Kaguya.
Comparing himself to Naruto, Kakashi laments in his powerlessness for a brief moment before setting himself straight and deciding he can at least serve as a shield to protect his students.
Obito saves Kakashi's life.
The will to support Naruto, and a second Sharingan.
Kakashi receives a precious gift from Obito once again and takes command of Team Seven on their final mission.
The will to support Naruto, and a second Sharingan.
Kakashi receives a precious gift from Obito once again and takes command of Team Seven on their final mission.
"THANKS...OBITO.
YOU WATCH ALONG WITH ME...
...AS THIS TIME, I WILL PROTECT THEM...AND THE WORLD!!"
Able to manifest his own Perfect Susano'o, Kakashi overwhelms Kaguya!
He creates openings and uses Kamui to protect his students, until they finally manage to seal Kaguya Otsutsuki!
"YUP, WHAT A NICE PICTURE.
I REALLY...
...LOVE YOU GUYS RIGHT NOW!"
Kakashi's Team Seven becomes, quite literally, the saviors of the world.
After returning from the alternate dimension, Kakashi and Obito say their final goodbyes.
After returning from the alternate dimension, Kakashi and Obito say their final goodbyes.
"WE WERE ABLE TO SAY GOODBYE AS FRIENDS, NOT ENEMIES...
AND I GOT TO SEE THE OLD YOU ONE LAST TIME.
ALWAYS LATE BECAUSE YOU WERE HELPING OTHERS.
THAT'S PLENTY ENOUGH FOR ME."
"SAME TO YOU.
THANK YOU...OBITO..."
All that's left is one final problem.
Kakashi lets Naruto handle Sasuke, because he believes in both of them.
Kakashi lets Naruto handle Sasuke, because he believes in both of them.
When Kakashi and Sakura arrive at the Final Valley, Naruto and Sasuke have both lost an arm, but are forming the Unison Sign.
Upon seeing his three students together again, Kakashi smiles and whispers to himself.
"IT'S FINALLY BACK...TO THE WAY IT WAS."
Thus, true peace finally dawns on the shinobi world.
Kakashi is appointed as the Sixth Hokage and guides Konoha, working together with other countries in order to maintain their hard-won peace.
Kakashi is appointed as the Sixth Hokage and guides Konoha, working together with other countries in order to maintain their hard-won peace.
He follows through on his promise to his best friend, supporting Naruto until the day he is able to succeed Kakashi and become the Seventh Hokage.
Article and Composition: Yuichi Ohba (Caramel mama)
That's all for Kakashi's birthday column!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the sorrows and triumphs of Kakashi Hatake!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the sorrows and triumphs of Kakashi Hatake!
