Why Did Kakashi Join The Anbu In The Naruto Series?

Today I want to share my go-to toolkit for sculpting Kakashi's mask and hair — I get a little giddy every time I work on a 'Naruto' themed cake. For the mask I usually start with gum paste (with a pinch of tylose or CMC mixed in) because it dries firm and holds that sharp half-mask shape over the face. I roll it thin on a silicone mat using a small rolling pin or mini pasta machine, then cut the eye slit and edges with a sharp X-Acto or scalpel. A ball tool and foam pad help thin the edges and give that natural contour around the nose and cheek. For black finish I prefer black fondant for smooth coverage, but you can paint gum paste with concentrated gel colors thinned in food-grade alcohol for deeper black without softening the paste. For the hair, I love using modeling chocolate for sculpting chunky spikes — it smooths beautifully and doesn't crack like fondant sometimes does. If I need volume, I build an armature from floral wire or wooden skewers wrapped in cling and cover it with Rice Krispies treats (RKT) to bulk up the shape, then layer modeling chocolate or gum paste over that. A set of modeling tools (veiners, veining tool, ball tool, knife), silicone texture mats, and a veining wheel make the spiky texture read from a distance. Small rounded cutters and a toothpick are great for recreating the stray hairs and direction lines. Other essentials: edible glue, clear piping gel, a jar of cornflour or powdered sugar for dusting, stainless-steel palette knives, and a good set of dusting colors (black, charcoal, pewter) and matte finish spray for the final look. An airbrush can add subtle shadows across the mask and hair spikes; if you don't have one, dry brushing with powdered petal dust works well. I always let pieces dry on foam blocks with pins to hold angles, and I assemble delicate parts on-site to avoid transport damage — seeing Kakashi’s eye peeking through that mask never fails to make me smile.

Kakashi Hatake, often mistaken for Uchiha due to his Sharingan, truly stands out in 'Naruto' as one of the most intriguing characters. His laid-back demeanor might initially fool you, but underneath that cool facade lies a complex warrior with a tragic backstory. He’s a master of strategy and combat, embodying the perfect mentor to Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. His ability to connect with each of them on a personal level really makes him relatable to fans. His iconic mask has become symbolic, piquing curiosity about his true identity. The mystery surrounding Kakashi adds an allure that makes fans want to know more—what lies behind that mask? Furthermore, his catchphrases and ability to lighten tense moments with humor introduce a balance in the often serious narrative. If you've ever found yourself giggling at his lazy persona while secretly admiring his skills, you’re not alone. There’s also that raw depth to his character where he grapples with loss and guilt, such as the painful memories of his teammates, Obito and Rin. It highlights his growth and development throughout the series, making his emotional moments resonate deeply. Ultimately, Kakashi isn’t just another shinobi; he embodies a journey filled with complexity and relatable moments, making him a beloved character for endless discussions and fan theories.

Kakashi Hatake's acquisition of the Sharingan is one of those plot twists that completely transforms his character. Originally, Kakashi is a talented ninja who had the privilege of being trained by Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage. His close friend, Obito Uchiha, plays a vital role in this story. During a mission, Obito sacrifices himself to save Kakashi from a fatal blow. In a truly selfless act, he gifts Kakashi his left eye, which possesses the legendary Sharingan. This event not only enhances Kakashi's abilities but also carries the emotional weight of loss and friendship. After receiving the eye, he becomes a significant character within the 'Naruto' series, known for his intelligence and cool demeanor. The Sharingan allows him to master various techniques and perceptions that make him an enigmatic figure among the shinobi. The eye represents both power and the burden of responsibility, leading to Kakashi's development alongside his own legacy. Over the arcs of the 'Naruto' series, it's fascinating to see how Kakashi has shaped his fighting style around this unique power. He skillfully blends the Sharingan’s prowess with his own lightning-fast reflexes, becoming a true powerhouse. Plus, it's not only about the eye; the emotional connection to Obito drives many of his actions and decisions, making it feel more profound than just a simple power-up. This connection fits beautifully into the overarching themes of friendship and sacrifice that resonate throughout the series. It’s these kinds of character dynamics that draw me into 'Naruto.' I love how each character evolves through their experiences, and Kakashi's journey does an excellent job of illustrating that.

I still get giddy thinking about that moment in 'Naruto Shippuden' when Kakashi briefly wielded something like a Susanoo. I was half-asleep on the couch the first time I rewatched it and shouted at my cat like it was a debate panel — because honestly, the sight of Kakashi surrounded by that ghostly armor felt like a highlight reel moment for a character who’d always been more about brains than raw power. If we break it down plainly: Kakashi’s Susanoo was never his by right. It was born from Obito’s chakra and his Mangekyō power being lent in a dire instant. It functioned more like a temporary manifestation — good for clutch defense and a few devastating moves — but it lacked the sustained, evolving forms and chakra reserves Sasuke brings to the table. Sasuke’s full power at the endgame includes Eternal Mangekyō techniques, Rinnegan abilities, massive chakra from Six Paths, and a perfected Susanoo that can fire Indra-level attacks. That’s a different tier in terms of sustained offense, versatility, and sheer destructive capability. Could Kakashi match that? Not under normal conditions. With Obito’s help or in a one-off emergency boost he can emulate similar feats briefly, and his tactical mind could leverage it in clever ways (I love imagining him setting up traps mid-battle). But long-term, against Sasuke’s full suite of ocular powers and chakra, Kakashi’s Susanoo was a spectacular cameo rather than a permanent power upgrade. It’s one of those moments that fuels fan debates and fanfiction — and honestly, that’s half the fun of revisiting 'Naruto' scenes late at night.

Honestly, whenever I think about Kakashi's Susanoo I'm struck by how brief and bittersweet it is in canon. In the manga during the Fourth Great Ninja War we get that one moment where Kakashi effectively uses Obito's chakra and Mangekyō power to produce a Susanoo-like manifestation. It's not the towering, fully-formed, weapon-wielding Susanoo we see from people like Sasuke or Madara — it’s an ephemeral, partial avatar that acts mostly as a protective construct rather than an offensive powerhouse. The limits are obvious if you watch that scene closely: it's time-limited and utterly dependent on Obito's chakra and cooperation. Kakashi never demonstrates the sustained stages (ribcage, skeletal, armored, complete) in the way canonical Uchiha users do. There’s no shown arsenal — no sword swings, no projectile storms — just defensive coverage and a brief boost in chakra projection. Also, because Kakashi’s Sharingan was transplanted and not native, and because the power is essentially borrowed, the strain, chakra drain, and sustainability are huge practical constraints. Canon illustrates that Mangekyō techniques cost a lot of chakra and risk eyesight deterioration; for Kakashi that risk was compounded by the temporary nature of the gift. Beyond the immediate scene, you can extrapolate other limits based on how Susanoo works elsewhere in 'Naruto': it demands massive chakra, requires Mangekyō activation (usually both eyes over time for full Susanoo), and without Uchiha stamina or Eternal Mangekyō the forms are weaker and shorter-lived. So in canon Kakashi’s Susanoo exists, but only as a fleeting defensive tool empowered by Obito — not as a permanent, fully functional Susanoo he could call at will.

Man, this is one of those matchups that sparks debate in every corner of the fandom. From my point of view as someone who rewatched 'Naruto' and 'Naruto Shippuden' way too many times on late-night loops, the short version is: Sasuke's Susanoo is way faster. But here's the nuance. Kakashi's Susanoo during the Fourth Great Ninja War was basically a sudden, temporary manifestation when he synchronized with Obito's chakra and Sharingan. It was impressive emotionally and visually, but tactically it felt like a stopgap — a shield/weapon conjured for a pinch. It didn’t get the time to evolve, be refined, or be used with the sort of mobility we saw from Sasuke. Speed for Susanoo depends on chakra supply, ocular prowess, and user experience; Kakashi had limited duration and less mastery, so his Susanoo moved and reacted at a human-plus pace rather than at the near-instant, battlefield-shifting speed. Sasuke, by contrast, trained his ocular skills to a terrifying level: Mangekyō Sharingan, Rinnegan, and Six Paths chakra. His Susanoo went through multiple forms up to the Perfect Susanoo, and he could combine it with techniques like Amenotejikara and space-time teleporting weapons. That means his Susanoo isn’t just raw limb-speed — it’s backed by instantaneous repositioning, weapons that materialize and strike with little wind-up, and a chakra pool that sustains large, high-speed movements. In practical terms, Sasuke’s Susanoo moves faster, reacts faster, and can affect battlefield geometry in ways Kakashi’s couldn't. So if we’re talking pure speed in combat maneuvers and reaction time, Sasuke wins handily, especially in sustained fights where chakra and ocular control matter. Still, I love Kakashi’s moment — it’s got heart. But as a tool of pure velocity and battlefield dominance, Sasuke’s Susanoo is on another level.

I still get a little giddy thinking about all the threads people dug up after Kakashi's Susanoo scenes in 'Naruto' and 'Boruto'. One popular take starts with plain mechanics: Susanoo size generally tracks chakra reserves and mastery. Fans point out that Kakashi never had an Uchiha lineage or decades of Mangekyō training, so even if he could manifest a Susanoo, it would logically be smaller and more fragile than Sasuke or Madara's full-body constructs. Another cluster of theories leans on the unique nature of Kakashi's Sharingan. Because his Mangekyō was never fully his—Obito essentially gifted him that eye—people argue synchronization and compatibility were imperfect. That mismatch could produce a partial Susanoo or a scaled-down form, especially under the time pressure of war. I like this explanation because it mixes emotion with mechanics: Kakashi's power often came from bonds, not heritage, and that shows in the Susanoo's appearance.

My late-night ritual for Kakashi styling usually starts with a bowl of instant ramen and a full-screen binge of 'Naruto'—it somehow makes the wig-chopping feel heroic. For the look itself, I go with a heat-resistant silver/gray wig in a medium-short length (roughly 10–12 inches). Put the wig on a block, pin it down, and trim the fringe so it can sit under the forehead protector; Kakashi’s signature swoop that covers one eye needs a slightly longer, textured front. Next, I layer and point-cut like crazy. Use thinning shears to avoid a blunt, fake look—Kakashi’s hair is messy and airy, not a helmet. Backcomb the roots at the crown for volume, then shape spikes by twisting small sections and sealing them with a mix of low-heat from a straightener (if the wig allows) and a dollop of fiber wax. Finish with a strong-hold hairspray; I use a walking-animation-level amount for gravity-defying spikes. Don’t forget to flatten the front under the headband: pin the hairline under the forehead protector so the bangs naturally fall over the left eye. Little tips from my chaotic con mornings: tint the inner wig cap with a flesh-toned marker if you have a wide part, and glue the wig’s ear tabs only if you’ll be running around all day. Play with asymmetry—Kakashi isn’t perfect, and neither should your wig be. It makes me grin every time someone recognizes him.