The Untold Transformation: Unveiling Kakashi's Unforgettable Anbu Journey!

Kakashi Hatake, the Sharingan wielding jonin commander of Team 7, is a beloved character among fans of Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto. However, his early years as a shinobi were filled with turmoil and loss. Despite being one of Konoha's most talented prospects and rising to the rank of jonin at a young age, Kakashi experienced the deaths of his loved ones, including his father Sakumo, teammates Rin Nohara and Obito Uchiha. These tragic events had a profound impact on him, forcing him to bear the weight of his comrades' lives.

Although Kakashi initially appeared carefree in Naruto, he never took his duties lightly due to his firsthand experiences. After enduring these tragedies, Kakashi spent a significant amount of time in Konoha's Anbu division, a position he was assigned by his former mentor Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage. His time in the Anbu haunted him, causing him to become an unapologetic killer. This dark chapter in his life had a lasting influence on his worldview, even after he left the organization and returned to Konoha's standard forces. It was during this time that he earned the moniker "The Copy Ninja" for his impressive abilities.

Broken By Grief

The Third Shinobi World War proved to be a nightmarish ordeal for Kakashi. He tragically lost both of his comrades from his three-man genin team. The weight of his father's suicide after being condemned by the village for abandoning a critical mission to save his team had already burdened Kakashi in his younger years. This experience fueled his unwavering commitment to following the rules and prioritizing his duties above everything else. He stood prepared to shoulder responsibilities independently, deeming his peers inferior as they had not yet reached his level of expertise.

However, everything changed when Obito entered the picture. Obito's devastating loss, and Kakashi's inability to save him, forced a profound shift in his perspective. Little did Kakashi know, Obito miraculously survived the ordeal but suffered permanent disfigurement. This deeply impacted Kakashi, who began to recognize the importance of teamwork and started prioritizing his comrades above all else. In his final moments, Obito entrusted Kakashi with the responsibility of taking care of Rin and bequeathed him his Sharingan as a token of their friendship and Kakashi's promotion to the rank of jonin.

A Cold Blooded Killer

Unfortunately for Kakashi, Rin would later fall into the hands of shinobi from Kirigakure and unwillingly become a jinchuriki, with the Three Tails forcibly sealed inside her. It was later revealed that this was the work of an elderly Madara Uchiha. The plan of the Kirigakure shinobi was to use Rin as a weapon, unleashing the destructive power of the Three Tails on Konoha upon her return. Despite Kakashi's efforts to rescue her, Rin knew that her fate was sealed and pleaded with him to end her life in order to prevent the destruction of Konoha. Kakashi, however, refused to fulfill her desperate request and engaged in a fierce battle against the pursuing forces of Kirigakure. Tragically, during one of these attacks, Rin impaled herself on Kakashi's Lightning Cutter. This harrowing event deeply traumatized both Kakashi and Obito, who had been silently observing from the shadows, and triggered the awakening of their Mangekyo Sharingan.

Even after the war ended, Kakashi couldn't escape the guilt of breaking his promise to Obito. The nightmares of Rin's death tormented him, plunging him into a deep, unrelenting depression. The people of Konoha, in their ignorance, accused him of intentionally causing her demise, cruelly labeling him as "Friend Killer Kakashi." Little did they know that Kakashi treasured his comrades above all else, having endured the heartbreak of losing those dearest to him.

Minato witnessed Kakashi's dilemma and subsequently assigned him to the Anbu, a decision that proved fruitful due to Kakashi's extraordinary talent. Within the Anbu, he not only achieved the notable position of a captain but also led his own squad. Regrettably, a significant portion of his accomplishments can be attributed to his unfeeling, merciless demeanor, which he adopted in the aftermath of Rin's tragic demise. In his quest for success, Kakashi displayed a reckless nature and a willingness to resort to aggression, implying a deeply-rooted desire for death, possibly stemming from his immense guilt over his failure to fulfill his promise to Obito.

Haunted by the trauma of Rin's death, Kakashi was plagued by recurring nightmares stemming from the moment he fatally wounded the very person he had vowed to protect with his Lightning Cutter technique. Sensing the gravity of his condition, the Fourth Hokage altered his approach and entrusted Kakashi with the task of safeguarding his pregnant wife, Kushina, who was carrying the future hope of the village - Naruto.

Finding His Way Back

Kakashi fulfilled all his responsibilities, though he was unable to intervene when the Nine Tails attacked Konoha, resulting in the loss of his mentor, Minato. Exploiting Kakashi's vulnerability during his time of mourning, Danzo falsely accused the Third Hokage of being responsible for the tragedy and recruited Kakashi into the Anbu's Root division to spy on Hiruzen. However, upon meeting with the Third Hokage and encountering Yamato, a product of Danzo and Orochimaru's experiments, Kakashi realized his mistake.

Choosing to align himself with the village and Hiruzen instead of Danzo, Kakashi assisted the Hokage in exposing and officially disbanding Root. This demonstrated that deep down, Kakashi still retained fragments of his former self and only required the right catalyst to piece himself back together. When the highly skilled yet young Itachi Uchiha joined Kakashi's team, Kakashi served as a mentor figure, praising Itachi's talent while encouraging him to prioritize teamwork and remain level-headed. Shortly after Itachi was promoted and left Kakashi's team, the tragic Uchiha Clan Downfall occurred.

Upon discovering that his former subordinate was accountable, Kakashi deeply regretted his shortcomings as a mentor and wished he had been a better influence. Witnessing the impact this realization had on Kakashi, Hiruzen decided to recall him to the regular forces, recognizing that compassionate shinobi like Kakashi had no place in the Anbu division. It was in this new role as a jonin commander that Kakashi found solace and resolution, as his journey came full circle with Team 7.