Naruto: Kakashi's Leadership Style, Explained

Highlights

Kakashi’s leadership abilities were shaped by his traumatic past, with a focus on teamwork and compassion for his students’ growth.
Despite a dark period in the Anbu, Kakashi’s time with Team 7 showcased his ability to lead and teach, leading to their success.
Kakashi’s evolution from a feared Anbu leader to a compassionate sensei highlights the impact of his mentorship on Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.

As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the captivating world of Naruto, I must say that Kakashi Hatake is one of the most intriguing characters I’ve encountered. His journey from a cold, detached Anbu leader to a compassionate sensei is nothing short of remarkable.

Among the esteemed figures in the Naruto universe, Kakashi stands out as one of the most formidable and respected, largely due to his actions during the Third Ninja World War, which earned him the chilling nickname “Friend-Killer.” Over the course of the series, viewers witness Kakashi’s transformation – both as a character and as a leader – as the events that unfold around him mold his journey.

He started his ninja journey with Obito and Rin under the tutelage of Minato Namikaze, so it is only right that he was the one to lead and train Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura’s Team 7. Despite appearing cold and detached, he deeply cares about his students and strives to positively impact their lives.

Kakashi’s First Real Experience Of Leadership Was During The Third Shinobi World War

Where Everything Changed For Kakashi Hatake

Naruto: Kakashi's Leadership Style, Explained

Kakashi’s sense of duty was shaped differently from a young age because of the events leading up to his father’s death by suicide. Prioritizing team safety over mission completion, which led to unintended risks for the Land of Fire, resulted in Sakumo being criticized by everyone in the village, even those he had saved. This experience left a lasting impact on Kakashi, motivating him to avoid repeating his father’s mistake.

At just twelve years old, Kakashi rose to the rank of Jonin and took charge of Team Minato on a crucial mission for the Hidden Leaf Village during the Third Ninja World War. Since Minato’s strength and skills were required at the frontlines, he was absent. When Rin, one of their teammates, was captured by the enemy, Kakashi initially chose to leave her behind and continue with the mission. But it was Obito who intervened with a memorable line that made Kakashi understand that friends are priceless. Unfortunately, this newfound understanding didn’t last long as he ended up having to put Rin down later on to prevent an even greater disaster.

His Time At The Anbu Is Not Reflective Of The Man He Became

His Dark Past

Following his appointment as Hokage, Minato placed Kakashi within the Anbu unit in an effort to coax him out of his shell after the loss of his two close companions. However, this approach did not yield the desired results, as Kakashi swiftly climbed the ranks and assumed command over Team Ro. This rise was primarily a result of Kakashi’s ferocity shown on the battlefield rather than any positive impact from the assignment.

He spared no one and was feared by his comrades and subordinates, as they believed that he would also kill them if it came down to it. So much so that before his first mission with Kakashi, Itachi was warned by the other members of the Anbu to keep his distance, as he might be in danger, but Itachi saw through his ice-cold demeanor. He was later assigned to look after the pregnant Kushina so as to experience the beauties of life, and this began to change him in ways Minato hoped it would, with Kakashi becoming more compassionate and less depressed as a result.

The Strength Of A Team Lies In Their Ability To Work Together

The Copy Ninja’s Challenge

After completing his Anbu duties, Kakashi was set to head the genin squads, yet none of them managed to clear the challenging teamwork test known as the bell test, a method Minato had shown him in his youth. He was then placed on Team 7 to monitor Naruto and Sasuke, who had recently suffered great losses.

Additionally, he conducted the bell test with them, yet despite their insistence on working independently, Sasuke and Sakura’s kindness towards Naruto – which they were specifically told not to display – was sufficient for him to forgive them. From that point forward, teamwork has been a cornerstone of every mission undertaken by Team 7, leading them to accomplish great feats by adhering to this principle. This was evident even in their confrontation with the powerful source of chakra, which they ultimately overcame.

Team 7 Would Not Be Where They Are Now Without His Influence

The Able And Loving Sensei

Kakashi played a decent role in training both Naruto and Sasuke in their early days, especially Sasuke, who needed help learning how to use his Sharingan. Kakashi, being the last known member of the Leaf Village with a Sharingan, was entrusted with Sasuke after the annihilation of his clan to keep him on the right path and train him to master its use. Notably, he taught Sasuke the Chidori and helped greatly improve his speed and reflexes through the use of Might Guy and Rock Lee’s movements. He, alongside Yamato, are known for their involvement in Naruto’s creation of the Rasenshuriken, which was needed to take Naruto to the next stage and topple Kakuzu, who was one of the strongest members of the Akatsuki at the time.

As a die-hard Naruto fan, I’ve always admired Kakashi, one of the series’ strongest characters, who many thought would ascend to the position of Hokage. Yet, what truly sets him apart was his recognition by the Sage of Six Paths as a masterful leader and teacher. It’s worth noting that he was instrumental in nurturing the three shinobi who were pivotal in vanquishing Kaguya Otsutsuki. Besides contributing significantly to that battle, he even managed to strike a blow against her personally.

Naruto is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

2024-08-14 21:33

Naruto: Kakashi’s Leadership Style, Explained