Summary
TheNarutoseries boasts a compelling cast of villains whose motivations and philosophiestread a thin line between good and evil. Many of these villains did not go on the dark path of evil without their past playing a big part. The actions of these villains are usually fuelled by a tragic past or warped ideologies, which makes fans sympathize with them along the way.
However, there are some characters in the series whose past has shaped them into better people rather than made them embrace evil, andKakashi stands as a symbol of resilienceand goodness. Unlike many characters who became villains, Kakashi’s tragic past did not fester any darkness in him. Still, there are possibilities that his past would have twisted his ideals and transformed him into a villain. While his journey ultimately led him to embrace the light, the shadows of his past paint a compelling narrative of a ninja who teetered on the brink of darkness that would have made him a part of the array of villains in theNarutoseries.
Tragedy And Loss
In theNarutoseries, Kakashi witnessed how his father, Sakumo Hatake, was ostracized and ultimately driven to suicide for prioritizing a comrade’s life over a mission. While Shinobi have personal philosophies and beliefs, the safety of their village is always paramount. This is deeply portrayed in how Itachi chose the Hidden Leaf Village safety over his clan. However,Sakumo, the white fang of the Hidden Leaf, chose the safety of another Shinobi and most likely jeopardized his village’s safety in the process. This was met with deep resentment for him even though he saved a life. The village people chose their well-being first, ahead of the shinobis who fought for them. Shinobis are seen as mere tools and robots who must fulfill the village’s commands. Hence, Sakumo’s belief that he should save a comrade and fail a mission will always be seen as a failure no matter how many comrades he saves.
For Kakashi, his father’s death would have been the beginning of the end in terms of his loyalty to the village. In the blink of an eye, all the good his father did for the village crumbled because he saved a comrade’s life, which might plant a seed of bitterness in Kakashi and fuel his hatred for the village. Also, the loss of his sensei,Minato Uzumaki, and his wife, Kushina, could have broken his sense of loyalty and belief in the Shinobi system. After the death of his sensei, his child, Naruto, was ostracized and discriminated against in the village because of the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed in him.Minato and Kushinasacrificed their lives for the safety of the village and their son, but instead of the village meeting their sacrifice with compassion for their child, Naruto was alienated. The Hidden Village symbol of hypocrisy and its system that punishes compassion and loyalty with resentment and hatred could have fueled Kakashi’s desire to dismantle the very system that took everything from him.
The Burden Of Choice
Kakashi Hatake’s burden of choicein theNarutoseries could have potentially molded him into a villain, just like many villains in the series. Kakashi faced some situations where he had to make difficult choices that resulted in the loss of his comrade. The burden of these choices and the guilt and self-doubt that accompany them could have gradually eroded Kakashi’s sense of morality and pushed him towards a darker path. If he gets overwhelmed by remorse and consumed by the belief that he is responsible for the suffering of others, Kakashi might have begun to question his loyalty to the village.
Moreover, Kakashi witnessed the death of his teammate, Rin Ohara, when she was turned into a Jinchuriki bythe Hidden Mist Villageso she could wreak havoc on the Hidden Leaf Village. Even though Rin jumped in front of Kakashi’s Chidori so he wouldn’t have to make the hard choice of killing her, Kakashi was burdened with guilt. In this way, he might see himself as a coward who failed to protect his teammate despite his impossible choice. This self-loathing could morph into a distorted sense of justice, where he seeks to eliminate those who force others into such impossible situations, even if it means becoming a monster. Also,Obito made Kakashipromise to care for Rin, and his failure to keep it made his friend’s sacrifice unworthy. The consequences of the hard choices Kakashi had to make in the series would have been a constant reminder of his perceived weakness. For most villains in Naruto, like Sasori and Negato, guilt is one of the many reasons for choosing a dark path to achieve their goals.
In the series, all the hard choices and the darkness Kakashi went through in the past would have made him a rogue ninja with a twisted sense of justice. However, Kakashi did not succumb to darkness despite his tragedy-filled past for many reasons:
With everything Kakashi faced and the heavy burden of guilt, he chose to forgive himself for his choices. He recognized the impossible situations he faced and realized he couldn’t change the past, but he could choose a better future. For Kakashi, forgiving himself was the greatest gift he had chosen for himself, hence preventing him from becoming a villain likemany other villains inNaruto.
