The Unrevealed Truth: Naruto & Sasuke's Shocking Origins as Wanted Ninja

Team 7's teacher, Kakashi, had a dangerous secret that he kept from Naruto and Sasuke. This secret had the potential to make them prime targets outside of Konoha. Throughout the popular manga series, the backgrounds of both Naruto and Sasuke's families are extensively explored. However, it is Hatake Kakashi, a character closely associated with both families, who holds undisclosed information that could have put their lives at risk.

Although Naruto and Sasuke owe a great deal to their teacher, there is a hidden truth that Kakashi withholds from them during Team 7's first major mission in the Land of Waves. In chapter 10 of the Naruto manga, the young team is unexpectedly attacked by highly skilled chūnin ninjas. This encounter serves as their first life-threatening test as shinobi. After initially appearing defeated, Kakashi reveals himself and effortlessly subdues the failed assassins. When questioned about why he didn't eliminate the threats earlier, Kakashi responds, "I could have killed them at any time, but I wanted to uncover their true target." While the intended victim was the Bridge Builder, Kakashi's explanation hints at the possibility that Naruto and Sasuke, as the remaining members of infamous ninja clans, might also have been targets.

The Uzumaki & Uchiha Clans Would Have High Bounties

In the Land of Fire, ninjas from various Shinobi Villages are assigned missions, which often involve assassinations and mercenary work. However, Naruto's story involves bounty hunters and rogue ninjas as well. Naruto and Sasuke both belong to powerful clans that were once used in warfare due to their unique abilities. These abilities were exploited to devastate enemies, leading to the accumulation of numerous adversaries over time. It wouldn't be surprising for someone to offer a reward for any surviving members of the Uchiha or Uzumaki clans, as a way of holding them accountable for the actions of their ancestors. Kakashi was aware of this.

After the initial attack, Kakashi confronts Tazuna, the Bridge Builder. Instead of assuming that he himself was the target, Kakashi suggests that the target could have been another ninja. Not only does Chapter 10 hint at the possibility that the Uchiha and Uzumaki members of team 7 were potential targets, but their sensei also keeps other crucial information hidden from them. As they learn more about Kakashi's life and the connections he shared with Naruto's father and Sasuke's brother, suspicions arise as to why he kept these bonds secret from his students. If he had shared this information with them, it could have significantly accelerated the character development of Naruto and Sasuke in the series.

Kakashi Hid More Than One Secret From His Students

Kakashi's prior experiences with the Fourth Hokage and Uchiha Itachi potentially played a role in Konoha's choice to appoint him as Naruto and Sasuke's mentor and guardian. This decision proved to be beneficial multiple times within the story. However, it is astonishing to discover how much Kakashi concealed from his students, considering the tragic pasts of Naruto and Sasuke's families and his personal connections to them. Access Naruto on the Shonen Jump App and Viz Media for more.