It’s difficult to understate Kakashi Hatake’s iconic status among classic Naruto characters, which makes it all the more surprising that he’s so conspicuously absent in Boruto. Despite appearing in insultingly small glimpses like his barely-visible portrait in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations chapter #6, Kakashi’s absence has a potentially dark explanation.
Pledging responsibility for Sasuke Uchiha’s pardoning and release from the Hidden Leaf village’s custody, Kakashi, for current lack of a better explanation, could be serving a prison sentence as an act of penitence. While it’s not wholly likely, it partially explains why he was passed over for returning to lead Konoha in Naruto’s absence.
While Shikamaru is undeniably a fascinating Hokage in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, who takes the responsibilities seriously enough to be just as strong a candidate, Kakashi’s absence is grating in the sequel manga. As the series has sparingly reintroduced legacy Naruto characters, though, perhaps the true reason will eventually be confirmed.
Kakashi Pledged Responsibility for Sasuke’s Wrongdoings in Naruto
In Naruto chapter #699, Kakashi oversaw Sasuke’s release from his imprisonment, where they said their goodbyes, with Sasuke playfully promising to return to Sakura. However, since this release was under Kakashi’s watch, the Sixth Hokage made a point of mentioning this is despite Sasuke’s numerous crimes, even though he helped undo the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Kakashi cited his influence as Sixth Hokage, as well as the personal wishes of Naruto, Konoha’s celebrated hero and future Seventh Hokage, as reasons for Sasuke’s release. Would there be any future trouble, Kakashi said it’d “fall on his shoulders”. Given how Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has seen elder Kobu interrogating high-ranking shinobi following Boruto’s jailbreak, all bets are off.
While it’s unproven, and certainly overall unlikely that Kakashi would be seen as a heinous enough criminal for pardoning Sasuke, it’s also dismissive to pretend Kakashi wasn’t partially responsible for Sasuke aiding and abetting Boruto following his alleged assassination of Naruto. While this is due to Omnipotence warping the truth, it’d be perceived as Sasuke having a criminal “relapse”.
Don’t forget that, before his pardoning, Sasuke committed treason, attempted murder of multiple high-ranking officials, assassinated Danzo Shimura (admittedly the right move) among other acts. Were Kakashi to bear the responsibilities of Sasuke’s future crimes atop his past, either in Konoha’s custody or high-profile prisons like Hozuki Castle from Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Blood Prison.
Boruto’s Kakashi Appearances Are Insultingly Sparse
While Kakashi serving a term in prison is the most extreme solution, it’s also the most organic way yet to explain his complete absence from public life in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. For that matter, Tsunade is also conspicuously absent, although it’s more likely she’s happily hidden away in some gambling den.
But Kakashi’s appearances in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations are entirely as a Hokage portrait on the wall such as in chapter #6. In the anime, beyond mild filler appearances including a hilarious fatherhood coaching session with Sasuke, the best Kakashi appearances one can get are adaptations like Mirai Sarutobi’s spinoff story.
In the anime, beyond mild filler appearances including a hilarious fatherhood coaching session with Sasuke, the best Kakashi appearances one can get are adaptations like Mirai Sarutobi’s spinoff story.
Kakashi is a beloved character and, while Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is clearly taking its time reincorporating legacy characters to prioritize function over fan-service, the Sixth Hokage’s lack of plot relevance is agonizing. He certainly wouldn’t crave the spotlight anymore, but as shown in The Steam Ninja Scrolls, he’s just as eager and capable a fighter as ever.
The Divine Trees Have One Way to Draw Kakashi Back in
As explored previously, the humanoid Divine Trees and their Borg-like Assimilation gimmick have reincorporated classic Naruto characters by creating twisted villainous Ten-Tails facsimiles. Hidari is based on Sasuke’s chakra, while Matsuri was their version of Moegi. Incorporating Boruto characters, too, Ryū was Shinki while Mamushi is Bug’s counterpart.
This means any vulnerable legacy characters chosen by Mikio Ikemoto and Masashi Kishimoto are fair game, and while other overlooked characters like Tenten could be worthwhile, Might Guy being a technically possible target would be interesting. The Divine Trees adding their version of Guy to their roster would revisit his rivalry with Kakashi with darkly tangible stakes.
However, it’s ultimately the decision of the Boruto creators as to how or even if Kakashi returns. As Boruto Uzumaki said from chapter #1-onward, this is his story. Naruto fans hoping to see Kakashi or indeed any classic character will only see them at this point if it serves the plot organically, especially if the anime’s return has no filler.
Kakashi’s absence from Boruto, while frustrating, is not a dealbreaker. His past sins are absolved so far. However, with his former students’ lives in the balance, one might reflect on his most iconic quote:
“In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum, that’s true. But those who abandon their friends are worse than scum.”
Kakashi Hatake
There’s not really a way around the manga having to at least partially answer for Kakashi’s lack of appearances in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex. The village is even under attack at this point, from a character bearing origins from the Ten-Tails, no less. At some point, Kakashi will surely have to appear.
- Writer
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Masashi Kishimoto
- Writers
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Masashi Kishimoto
- Penciler(s)
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Mikio Ikemoto
- Inker(s)
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Mikio Ikemoto
- Colorist(s)
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Mikio Ikemoto
- Publisher(s)
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Viz Media
