Scum or Worse Than Scum

Scum or Worse Than Scum

Kevin Hernandez Ovalle

Kakashi Hatake (はたけ カカシ Hatake Kakashi) is a fictional character in the Naruto manga and anime series created by Masashi Kishimoto.

In the story, Kakashi is the teacher of Team 7, consisting of the series' primary characters, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno.

He is initially portrayed as a detached and apathetic figure, but as the series progresses, his loyalty to his friends and students becomes increasingly apparent.

Kakashi Hatake had a rough upbringing compared to many of the characters in Naruto. At a very young age, even before he could remember his mother passed away and so Kakashi’s father, Sakumo Hatake (a renowned ninja feared by many) took it upon his own shoulders to raise his son all by himself.

Raising Kakashi, Sakumo saw great potential in his son who later went on to be known as a prodigy for his incredible intellect and ninja abilities. Growing up Kakashi saw his father as the best role model he could ever ask for.

This joy ended abruptly as Kakashi barely started the Konoha Ninja Academy when unaware he finds his father died in their living room. This tragic event was just the beginning as he discovers that the reason his father committed suicide was because he was shamed and criticized by everyone (and even his own teammates) for jeopardizing and failing to complete a very important mission at the cost of saving his teammates lives. Sakumo Hatake made the decision to save his comrades as the best option seeing that everyone in the village (including his family, friends, and comrades) as more important than complete long another mission. Although he thought he had made the right choice in that moment he would later feel the hate and criticism of his choice- one that made him take his own life because he couldn’t handle the hate.

The tragic event of losing his father caused hatred and disgust in Kakashi towards those in charge, but he had no choice but to follow the Shinobi creed and put the accomplishment of the mission above all else.

He passed through school quick and dull graduating as the top student and being assigned a team under the supervision of Minato Namikaze ( a young talented ninja feared by every nation), and with his new teammates Rin Nohara and Obito Uchiha.

Obito was an Uchiha (a very famed and noble clan that possessed the dojutsu the Sharingan which allowed the user to anticipate any move from a target or enemy) who fighting for Rin’s attention, came to resent Kakashi as his rival. They never got along because Kakashi saw him as a useless, immature Shinobi.

Their rivalry pushed Obito to be his best- a battle they fought up until Obito’s death where he left one Sharingan that was still intact after a huge boulder fell on Obito’s right side. He also (before he died) instill in Kakashi that he admired his father, Sakumo, and his decision to save his friends rather than complete a mission.

The famous quote from Obito

This message from Obito to Kakashi changed his whole view on what it means to have friends or comrades.

Kakashi later goes on to teach every team of students he has the importance of teamwork. Through a vigorous first day of training he challenges them to capture a pair of bells. The objective is for the team, through teamwork and cooperation will capture the two pair, but only two will get them leaving one member left out. This challenge the group to put aside their own selfish ambitions and work to reach the goal regardless of the outcome. The true motive wasn’t if the three members could get the bells regardless of each individual’s talent, but if they could get them as a team.

Throughout Naruto’s and Kakashi’s life they have implemented the Will of Fire. The desire to protect the greater good, but at the same time protect those they love and cherish because both characters had rough and sad upbringings it goes to show even the saddest people can have the best smiles. Both were able to form relationships and bring people together through their constant journey in everyone valuing friendship and the greater good over personal satisfaction. Even Aristotle agreed that these friendships were far better than any accidental friendship that only lasts for a season. QUALITY over QUANTITY was the goal of Kakashi who valued trust and care even with a lazy personality.

Now that I think about it TEAMWORK honestly makes the DREAMWORK.

Quiz Questions

1. What tragic childhood event scarred Kakashi towards the Ninja Way?
2. What important lesson did Kakashi teach every team of students he was assigned to? And with what type of method?
3. What did Obito and Kakashi consider worse than scum?
4. What famous philosopher agreed that true friendships, ones based on trust and caring love, are more important than accidental friendships?

Discussion Questions

1. Hypothetically speaking, would it be hard for you to make a decision in losing your close friends or even loved ones, over the completion of a mission?
2. Do you consider friendships based on personal gain, pleasure, or present convenience necessarily bad?
3. Would you rather be a scum or worse than scum?