As one of the greatest shinobi not named Uzumaki or Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake seems destined for transparent greatness naruto saga, only to find himself relegated to second support status. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Kakashi’s portrait in boruto still doesn’t do justice to Konoha’s legendary “copy ninja”.
Going back three generations, no shinobi has been more consistently “overwhelmed” in Naruto than Kakashi. While he may not have reached the heights of his contemporary Obito, or his students Naruto and Sasuke; he avoided their terrifying weaknesses and excesses. A solid coworker, a tough but skilled teacher, and a practical, clear-minded general, Kakashi is always an essential element in any team or endeavor that doesn’t attract much attention. but absolutely necessary for the success of the endeavor. Perhaps this is best illustrated in Kakashi’s important, albeit implicit, role in defeating Naruto’s ultimate villain, Kaguya. However, despite his quiet greatness that gratuitously deserved the attention of other characters, Kakashi was never allowed to share the limelight. Even while serving as the Sixth Hokage, Kakashi was known more for his eccentric personality than his ability to manage the affairs of the village.
Kakashi’s portrayal in Boruto doesn’t do him justice
While there doesn’t seem to be any obvious overarching need to portray Kakashi in Naruto Boruto’s next story, he nevertheless plays an important role in the series. Unfortunately, like in Naruto, his excellence as well as himself is never highlighted or explored. Instead, he’s been noted for his essential influence over another character that’s on a rampage. It’s never about him or his accomplishments but about how he helps others on their way to greatness. In the series, Kakashi appears again and again as either the catalyst for a character’s journey to fame or the frail old ninja hand that provides the key to unlocking an ability or potential. someone’s real ability or solve an age-old problem.
Time and again during the Boruto era, Kakashi was seen as more of a “Ninja Whisperer” than the most overrated warrior he was still. In The Steam Ninja Scrolls side story/prequel, Kakashi helps Mirai Sarutobi develop into a full-fledged shinobi. In Boruto, Kakashi helps Boruto better understand and perfect his compressed Rasenegan. Kakashi even acts as a family advisor, giving Sasuke advice on how to better communicate with his daughter Sarada. Of course, since Kakashi had no children of his own, the advice he gave was misguided. Even when Kakashi is asked to use his expertise, it’s fairly trivial activities, such as when he uses it to help settle a dispute between villagers over fireworks.
Kakashi could have played a bigger role in Boruto
For an experienced, skillful, cool, and beloved shinobi like Kakashi, it’s a bit perplexing why he didn’t become a master of side stories and subplots. While it is understandable that he plays the role of master and mentor in Naruto, the sequel could give him a more prominent role, as his best students are Naruto and Naruto. Sasuke was fading away. But so far, boruto spent exactly the same treatment for kakashi relegated him to a supporting and teaching role, a role that makes sense for the story but is also sure to leave many fans of the character unsatisfied.
naruto And boruto are available from Viz Media.
