Naruto Shippūden — S16 • Kakashi: Shadow of the ANBU Black Ops
Long before he became Naruto’s wise sensei, Kakashi bore a far different title: "Cold-blooded Kakashi." A feared operative within the ANBU Black Ops squad during the Third Great Ninja War, he earned that chilling moniker through ruthless efficiency. Yet, beneath the hardened exterior lies a man deeply scarred by the loss of his dearest comrades in battle. This season delves into Kakashi’s past, revealing the emotional toll of those wartime experiences as he confronts a disturbing new threat: illegal genetic experimentation. Thrust into a dangerous game of shadows, he must navigate treacherous loyalties within ANBU itself, evade capture by agents of Orochimaru, and face off against an exceptionally gifted young ninja wielding the incredibly rare Wood Style jutsu. And just when Kakashi believes he’s weathered the storm, his unit welcomes a new recruit – the prodigious Itachi Uchiha.
The dust of the Third Great Ninja War had settled, but peace brought no unity to the Leaf Village. A deep division had taken root, a fierce contention over the succession to the Hokage.
Kakashi found himself inducted into ANBU, the clandestine black ops division of the village. An elite cadre of shinobi, they answered only to the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, a position of unparalleled authority.
At the Foundation, Kakashi encounters a boy wielding Wood Style, a technique thought to be uniquely mastered by the First Hokage, Hashirama. Seeking understanding, Kakashi journeys to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen's library, where he uncovers h…
Exposed by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, for his illicit experiments, Orochimaru is driven from the Hidden Leaf. Danzo, wary that Orochimaru's apprehension might reveal his own complicity, dispatches an operative to assist him in escaping.
In his pursuit of Orochimaru, Kakashi found himself drawn to a secluded village, home to the Iburi Clan. These people possessed a remarkable gift: the power to transform into smoke. He was quickly taken captive, and it became clear that eve…
Leaving the village behind, Yukimi embarked on a journey to see the wider world, accompanied by Tenzo. Kakashi attempted to persuade them to return, hoping to lay a trap for Orochimaru, who sought Yukimi for reasons tied to her bloodline.
Danzo commanded Tenzo to assassinate Kakashi and claim his Sharingan. Initially hesitant, Tenzo resolved to fulfill the order upon hearing of the Leaf ninja’s growing notoriety as “Kakashi the Friend Killer.”
Having been rescued by the very person he was tasked with eliminating, Tenzo came to a startling realization: Kakashi, the man infamous as "the Friend Killer," held a profound regard for the lives of those who fought alongside him.
The young Itachi Uchiha joined Kakashi's squad as the newest member of the ANBU Black Ops. His father, Fugaku, regarded the assignment with satisfaction, believing it would finally provide the Uchiha clan with access to the most confidentia…
In the wake of the Nine-Tails attack, a growing number of Leaf Council members harbor suspicions regarding the Uchiha Clan's involvement in the disaster. Consequently, the Uchiha are subjected to constant surveillance by ANBU operatives, a …
Kakashi made his way to the Uchiha District and found the atmosphere noticeably more withdrawn than on his previous visit. Elsewhere, Itachi unearthed definitive proof of the Uchiha Clan's planned rebellion against the Leaf. The moment of r…
Hiruzen relieved Kakashi of his duties within the ANBU and appointed him to a new role as a Jonin Leader. Haunted by reflections on past failures, Kakashi resolved to employ the very trial that Minato had once used to assess a shinobi's cap…
Hiruzen tasked Kakashi with the responsibility of overseeing Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura – a trio of genin who possessed a disconcerting familiarity with the legendary Team Minato.
