S16 • Kakashi: Shadow of the ANBU Black Ops
Years before he became Naruto's teacher, Kakashi served as a member of the ANBU Black Ops team, so ruthless he earned the nickname "Cold-blooded Kakashi." But despite his reputation, he is haunted by the deaths of his closest friends during the Third Great Ninja War. As he wrestles with his loss, Kakashi must uncover who is behind illegal genetic experimentation, survive threats from within his own organisation, escape capture at the hands of Orochimaru's followers, and battle a young shinobi who possesses formidable and very rare Wood Style Jutsu. And after these trials, another young ninja joins his unit–Itachi Uchiha!
A Mask that Hides the Heart
After the end of the Third Great Ninja War, the Leaf Village is divided over who should become the next Hokage.
Minato's Death
Kakashi becomes part of the ANBU Black Ops, an elite team of shinobi who are under the direct command of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
Hashirama's Cells
At the Foundation, Kakashi meets a boy who uses Wood Style, a jutsu that only First Hokage Hashirama was capable of using. Kakashi goes to Third Hokage Hiruzen’s library to seek answers and discovers records regarding Hashirama’s cells.
The Rogue Ninja Orochimaru
Orochimaru is forced to flee the Hidden Leaf after Third Hokage Hiruzen exposes his illegal experiments. Danzo, fearing that Orochimaru’s capture would lead to the exposure of his own involvement in the experiments, sends out one of his men to help.
Orochimaru's Test Subject
While pursuing Orochimaru, Kakashi wanders into a village inhabited by the Iburi Clan, a group of people with the unique ability to turn into smoke. Kakashi is soon captured and learns that the villagers all serve under Orochimaru.
Their Own Paths
Yukimi leaves the village to see the outside world, taking “Tenzo” with her. Kakashi tries to convince the two to return so that he can set a trap to capture Orochimaru, who is after Yukimi’s blood.
The Targeted Sharingan
Danzo orders Tenzo to kill Kakashi and take his Sharingan. Reluctant at first, Tenzo decides to carry out his orders after learning that the Leaf Shinobi has come to be known as “Kakashi the Friend Killer.”
A Shinobi of the Leaf
After being saved by the target he was ordered to kill, Tenzo realizes that the man known as “Kakashi the Friend Killer” is someone who values the lives of his comrades more than anyone.
An Uchiha ANBU
Itachi Uchiha is inducted into Kakashi’s unit as the youngest member of the ANBU Black Ops. Itachi’s father, Fugaku, is pleased, thinking this will grant the Uchiha access to exclusive, top-secret Leaf intel.
Coup d'État
Following the aftermath of the Nine-Tails incident, many on the Leaf Council voice suspicions that the Uchiha Clan were behind this tragedy. The Uchiha are then placed under 24-hour surveillance by the ANBU, which causes further tensions to arise.
The Night of the Tragedy
Kakashi visits the Uchiha District and notices that the community seems more antisocial than the last time he visited. Meanwhile Itachi finds concrete evidence regarding the Uchiha Clan’s coup against the Leaf. The fateful moment is fast approaching…
Jonin Leader
Hiruzen relieves Kakashi of his ANBU duties and assigns him a new position as a Jonin Leader. Reflecting on his past mistakes, Kakashi decides to use the same test that Minato once used to measure one’s teamwork.
Squad Seven
Hiruzen assigns Kakashi to be in charge of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, three genin that bear a striking resemblance to the former Team Minato.