The "Copy Ninja" Kakashi Hatake was one of Naruto's breakout characters during Part I of its run, and is now regarded as an archetypal example of a mentor figure in shonen anime. From his calm, aloof demeanor in normal situations, to the clever and calculating persona he takes on in battle, Kakashi's character is one filled with contrasts that originate from his troubled past.

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Aided by an endless arsenal of jutsu he acquired through the Sharingan, Kakashi was one of the most feared and respected shinobi in the world at the start of Naruto, and his exploits during the series only served to enhance this reputation. As a shinobi of Konohagakure, Kakashi made and lost many allies. Moreover, despite his solitary nature, Kakashi cares about his friends and comrades more than anything else, as seen in how he instilled the importance of teamwork into Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.

10 Itachi Uchiha

A Comrade From His Anbu Days

• First Appearance: Episode #80

Kakashi and Itachi were both prodigies who joined Konohagakure's Anbu Black Ops while in their early teens. The pair had both seen death and tragedy at a very early age, allowing them to deal with the dark side of the shinobi world.

In the anime filler episodes detailing Kakashi's days in the Anbu, it was shown that he was quite protective of Itachi, and was quite disappointed when he learned of the Uchiha clan massacre, blaming himself for his failure to prevent Itachi's descent into darkness.

9 Sakura Haruno

His Treasured Student

• First Appearance: Episode #1

In his role as the Jonin Commander of Team 7, Kakashi was Sakura's first real mentor prior to the time she spent studying under Tsunade during the time skip. The pair have an amicable relationship for most of the story.

Kakashi has praised Sakura for her exemplary chakra control, as well as her role in mediating between Naruto and Sasuke. While Kakashi may not have been as close to her as the other two members of Team 7, Sakura did hold a great deal of respect for her sensei.

8 Yamato

A Trusted Subordinate

• First Appearance: Shippuden Episode #34

Having first encountered him during his days in the Anbu, Kakashi was a sort of mentor to Yamato, and the latter treated him with great respect to the point where Kakashi was able to easily manipulate and take advantage of him. Nevertheless, it was quite obvious that Kakashi trusted Yamato and his ability when he was forced to fill in for him during the Tenchi Bridge Reconnaissance Mission.

In turn, Yamato looked up to Kakashi for his skill and renown as a ninja, having served under him when he joined the Anbu.

7 Pakkun

The Most Capable Canine Companion

• First Appearance: Episode #17

By virtue of having raised him since birth, Kakashi grew to rely on Pakkun quite often due to his keen sense of smell, surprising strength, and the combat maneuvers he could execute alongside the rest of his ninja hounds.

RELATED: Naruto: Summoning Jutsu, ExplainedPakkun was often summoned by Kakashi to aid in tracking targets during missions, or relaying messages back to the village, and has even backed him up in a few combat situations prior to the time skip.

6 Sasuke Uchiha

Protégé Turned Rogue Ninja

• First Appearance: Episode #1

Sasuke and Kakashi have an extremely complicated relationship, due to the former's defection from Konohagakure and subsequent crimes. In Team 7, Kakashi saw his younger self in Sasuke, and took him under his wing during the Chunin Exams, when he taught him his signature technique, Chidori.

Kakashi constantly told Sasuke to let go of his hatred towards Itachi, and was left devastated when Sasuke abandoned the village to join Orochimaru. He could not fathom how powerful his student had become after the time skip, especially when Sasuke attempted to kill him during the Five Kage Summit. The pair eventually teamed up during the Fourth Shinobi World War, and it was only after Naruto redeemed Sasuke that their relationship finally began to mend.

5 Minato Namikaze

A Mentor Who Earned His Respect

• First Appearance: Episode #1

Minato was Kakashi's Jonin Commander back when he was in a three-man squad with Rin and Obito before and during the Third Shinobi World War. There was a lot of mutual respect between the two, as Minato trusted in Kakashi's prodigious skill as a shinobi, while the latter, in turn, was in awe of his sensei's strength and reputation.

When Kakashi displayed a violent streak during his time in the Anbu after losing Rin and Obito, Minato continued to look after him. Minato even assigned Kakashi to the role of protecting his wife, Kushina, while she was pregnant with Naruto, in the hope that it would help him overcome his sadness.

4 Naruto Uzumaki

From Student To Successor

• First Appearance: Episode #1

Despite his initial indifference towards Naruto's juvenile antics, Kakashi soon realized his potential, and began to nurture and encourage his growth as a shinobi prior to the time skip. In Part II, Kakashi was instrumental in helping Naruto create Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, and was astounded by his development as he attained Sage Mode, and later tapped into the Nine-Tails Chakra.

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After Jiraiya, Kakashi was likely the most important mentor Naruto had in his life. Upon retiring as the SIxth Hokage, Kakashi even enjoyed the privilege of passing the torch to his student, allowing Naruto to fulfill his life's ambition by becoming the Seventh Hokage.

3 Rin Nohara

The Only One He Could Not Save

• First Appearance: Shippuden Episode #119

Rin harbored romantic feelings for Kakashi back when they were in a three-man squad with Obito, and she hinted at this through gestures such as giving him gifts or organizing a last-minute celebration for his promotion to the rank of jonin. It appeared that Kakashi did not reciprocate her feelings, as he was willing to abandon her to complete his mission to destroy Kannabi Bridge.

However, this changed after Obito's death, when Kakashi vowed that he would protect Rin, which made her eventual death by his own hand all the more traumatizing. Years after her demise, Kakashi continued to visit her grave, showing that he did care for her deeply.

2 Obito Uchiha

Nemesis Turned Friend

• First Appearance: Shippuden Episode #32

Perhaps the most important of Kakashi's friendships was the one he shared with Obito Uchiha. At first, the pair were constantly at odds with one another. Obito was jealous of Rin's affection for Kakashi, and the Kakashi made no attempt to hide his contempt for Obito's lack of skill as a shinobi.

This changed during the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, when they were forced to work together to save Rin. Obito's apparent death was a harsh blow for Kakashi, and as a consequence, he learned to prioritize his teammates above all else. The eventual return of Obito in the Fourth Shinobi World War shocked Kakashi, but in the end, he was able to settle scores and make amends with his oldest friend.

1 Might Guy

The Eternally Youthful Rival

• First Appearance: Episode #21

Guy and Kakashi's dynamic has varied dramatically; from Kakashi initially regarding him as an inept shinobi, to finally acknowledging that Guy had surpassed him in the Fourth Shinobi World War. At times, their seemingly one-sided rivalry was a source of comic relief in Naruto, with Guy's consistent desire to outdo Kakashi at everything, which led to several contests that Kakashi never took seriously.

That being said, it is quite evident that both hold each other in high esteem, even if Kakashi does not always take Guy's larger-than-life persona seriously.

Naruto

Animation

Action

Adventure

Release Date

October 2, 2002

Seasons

5

Studio

Pierrot

Creator

Masashi Kishimoto

Number of Episodes

220

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu , Netflix , YouTube

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See at Hulu