Though Iruka Umino may have been Naruto's first teacher, Kakashi Hatake was one of his most lasting. The son of the White Fang has more than molded the path of the future Hokage, he has touched the lives of all he has interacted with (producing varied results).

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The passion he has invested in others overlooks how he himself has changed through the years, for better and worse. While Hatake is usually a solid pillar for others to rely upon, he is a haunted man whose past has maligned his judgment more than once. It's time to delve further and explore the shinobi behind the mask.

10 Changed - His Relationship With His Father

Initially, Kakashi's father, nicknamed "the White Fang" was remembered not for his contributions to the Leaf, but of a legacy as a traitor. He placed his love of his comrades before his duty as a shinobi and paid for it with his life. He could not stand the shame of his dishonor.

Initially, Kakashi overcompensated for his father's decision by intentionally swinging in the opposite direction. However, he eventually found the closure he needed to accept his father's decision and recognize his own values after he had the chance to speak with him.

9 Regressed - The Bell Trial

While Kakashi's judgment in Team Seven's earliest trial is often revered as wise, a closer analysis casts a different light. It is understandable why he personally would feel opinionated about remaining loyal to his comrades even at the expense of his honor, but these children have been raised ~ and taught ~ under a different set of values.

Additionally, he never gave them an opportunity to learn otherwise, instead expecting them to intuitively know better. Every student until Naruto's team had failed as a result, and it isn't hard to see why.

8 Changed - Saving Sakura

After Sasuke went rogue, Sakura desperately pursued him, even going as far as to offer to join his cause. Predictably, Sasuke would eventually lash out, only to be intercepted by Kakashi.

It took immense courage on Kakashi's end to save her life. At this point, Sasuke was already strong enough to take on the Five Kage summit by himself and had just defeated one of the Leaf's most vicious assassin leaders. Despite their previous relationship, the upstart Uchiha would not hesitate to kill his former mentor. Accordingly, Kakashi's courage emphasizes his commitment to his values and students.

7 Regressed - Lecturing Sasuke

After Sasuke had been ambushed by the Sound Four, he was left dejected. His intangible feelings of powerlessness were only exacerbated through his defeat, and when Kakashi showed up, his disposition hardly improved.

Hatake told him to forget about revenge. Usually, it would be great advice, though it was a lesson withheld until Sasuke had fought, struggled, and bled for the sake of his quest. Beaten down and at his lowest, his own mentor told him to abandon the one thing that gave him meaning. While his intentions might have been noble, it's no wonder Sasuke left shortly after.

6 Changed - Sasuke's Final Clash With Naruto

During Sasuke's time in the Leaf, Kakashi felt responsible for preventing the fights which would erupt between him and Naruto. Their disputes ranged from petty to perilous, with the latter emphasized most often the closer Sasuke came to leaving the village.

However, in Naruto's final fight against Sasuke, Kakashi accepted that it was beyond his control. Something may be said for the appeal of heroism, but the students he had raised had ascended to a level where his interference would cause a minor inconvenience at best. His restraint saved his life ~ and likely Sakura's.

5 Regressed - Climax With Kaguya

When Team Seven partnered with Obito to defeat Kaguya, Kakashi was of shockingly little use. Though he himself acknowledged this, it seemed out of place for him to present himself so pessimistically, much akin to the earlier sentiments of Sakura.

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In the gravity realm, his only chance to be useful would be denied by Obito, who gave his life in exchange for Kakashi's students. Ironically, even Sakura vastly overshadowed him throughout the conflict, both sustaining Obito and even joining the fray.

4 Changed - Becoming Hokage

Kakashi as Hokage in Naruto.

Kakashi's nomination as the sixth Hokage is not one many could have predicted, though it did signify a pivotal moment in his story. As one raised and formally trained to serve the Anbu, Kakashi's willingness to accept the mantle of leadership ~ however temporarily ~ reflects how he has not lost his sense of duty amidst his passion for his comrades.

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Simultaneously, it indicates how the village has moved past the disgraces of his father and acknowledged the merit of the values Kakashi hoped to instill.

3 Regressed - Threatening Obito

By the time Kakashi and Obito had come face to face in the Kamui pocket realm, Obito had already committed serious offenses which may have rendered him irredeemable in the eyes of some. Surprisingly, Kakashi concurred with that sentiment, stating to Obito that he had given up on him and that the only thing which remained for him was death.

Obito does not reply by acknowledging it; instead, he simply states that he will do the same (in this context, defend himself). Kakashi's abandonment of his clearly troubled former friend is darkly reminiscent of the first time he had left him beneath a boulder.

2 Changed - Lessons From Yukimi

Yukimi was a young girl whose clan was an experiment of Lord Orochimaru's. Her mutated physiology allowed her body to disperse into smoke ~ the only stipulation was that this smoke is vulnerable when exposed to strong currents of wind.

Though Kakashi's mission was not to rescue or even interact with the girl, her kindness and Yamato's affection for her thawed his heart. Despite Orochimaru's escape, it was the beginning of Kakashi's return to humanity. The heart which had been locked away from Root's brutal training was slowly blossoming into the man we would meet him as.

1 Regressed - Killing Rin

Kakashi uses chidori on rin

The weight of Kakashi's guilt for Rin's death would be carried with him throughout the series, only to be resolved near Shippuden's end. As tragic as her death was, it was sadder still that he was not responsible for it in virtually any way.

With a Jinchuuriki implanted inside her with enough force to decimate the entire village, Rin begged Kakashi to end her life. When he refused, she intercepted his Chidori, taking his lightning infused fist through her chest. In addition to emotionally debilitating him, it would cement the divide between Hatake and Obito, slowly putting Madara's (and Black Zetsu's) schemes into motion.

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