Masashi Kishimoto didn’t just create a story about ninjas. He basically built a generational trauma study disguised as an action manga. When we talk about Naruto Sasuke and Kakashi, we aren’t just talking about a sensei and his two star pupils; we’re looking at the most volatile, tragic, and ultimately redemptive triangle in anime history. It’s been decades since Team 7 first gathered on that roof to talk about their dreams and hates. Yet, the dynamic still hits.
Why?
Because it’s messy. Most Shonen series try to mirror the "rivalry" trope, but they rarely capture the sheer exhaustion Kakashi Hatake felt trying to keep two demi-gods from killing each other for 700 chapters.
The Kakashi Dilemma: Why He Chose Sasuke First
A lot of fans give Kakashi a hard time for how he handled the early days. You remember the Chunin Exams. He basically pushed Naruto off onto Ebisu so he could personally train Sasuke in the woods. On paper, it looks like blatant favoritism.
But look at the context.
Kakashi saw himself in Sasuke Uchiha. He saw the same coldness, the same obsession with "the mission" or "revenge" that he had after his father, Sakumo, took his own life. Kakashi wasn't neglecting Naruto because he didn't care; he was terrified that Sasuke was a ticking time bomb. He thought if he could just teach the kid the Chidori—a move built on the principle of protecting comrades—maybe he could steer him away from Orochimaru.
He failed.
Honestly, that’s the most human part of Kakashi’s character. He’s a tactical genius, a veteran of the Third Shinobi World War, and a man who mastered over a thousand jutsu, yet he couldn't talk a twelve-year-old out of a revenge quest. It’s a recurring theme: the masters in this series are often just as broken as the kids they're teaching.
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The Chidori vs. Rasengan Dynamic
The technical difference between their signature moves says everything about their relationship. Kakashi gave Sasuke the Chidori, a "Silent Fist" assassination technique. It requires the Sharingan to even use safely. It’s precise. It’s lethal. It’s lonely.
Naruto, meanwhile, gets the Rasengan from Jiraiya. It’s a ball of swirling energy that requires no hand signs but massive amounts of grit. While Sasuke was refining his lethality under Kakashi’s worried eye, Naruto was out there learning how to manifest his internal chaos into something solid.
The first time those two moves clashed on the hospital roof, the power dynamic shifted forever. Kakashi’s intervention there—swinging both of them into water tanks—was a desperate attempt to maintain a balance that was already gone.
Why Naruto and Sasuke’s Obsession with Each Other Works
People joke about how much Naruto screams Sasuke’s name. It’s a meme for a reason. But if you strip away the "Battle Shonen" tropes, their relationship is a mirror.
Sasuke had everything and lost it.
Naruto had nothing and gained everything.
Sasuke looked at Naruto and saw a reminder of the weakness he hated. Naruto looked at Sasuke and saw the first person who ever truly acknowledged his existence, even if that acknowledgment was just a sneer. They are two sides of the same coin of isolation.
The Valley of the End: A Masterclass in Narrative Symmetry
When they fought at the Valley of the End—the first time—it wasn't just about Sasuke leaving the village. It was a rejection of the "Team 7" family Kakashi tried to build. Sasuke’s decision to leave Naruto alive after the fight wasn't a mercy. It was a defiance of Itachi’s instructions. He wanted to gain power his own way, without following his brother’s script of killing his best friend.
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Then you have the Kage Summit. This is where the Naruto Sasuke and Kakashi dynamic gets truly dark. Kakashi actually resolves to kill Sasuke himself. Think about that for a second. A teacher who has already lost his entire original team (Obito and Rin) decides he has to execute his own student to stop a world war.
It’s heavy stuff.
Naruto is the only one who refuses to give up. While Sakura is paralyzed by her feelings and Kakashi is resigned to a grim duty, Naruto decides that if he can’t save Sasuke, he’ll just die with him. It’s radical empathy. It’s also slightly insane. But that’s why Naruto is the protagonist; he’s the only one willing to break the cycle of "eye for an eye" that Kakashi grew up in.
The Impact of the War Arc and the Final Reconciliation
By the time the Fourth Shinobi World War rolls around, the power scaling goes off the rails. We know this. They're fighting gods and aliens. But the emotional core remains the same.
Watching Kakashi lead the Allied Shinobi Forces while his two former students are essentially the nuclear deterrents of the battlefield is a trip. Kakashi eventually becomes the Sixth Hokage, but his greatest achievement isn't a political one. It’s being there at the end when Naruto and Sasuke finally stop fighting.
The Missing Arms and the End of the Curse
The final fight at the Valley of the End ended with both of them losing an arm. It’s a literal representation of their shared pain. They bled out together on the statues of Madara and Hashirama, finally talking like normal human beings.
Kakashi’s reaction when he finds them? He’s just relieved. He doesn't scold them. He doesn't arrest Sasuke immediately. He just lets them be. He finally succeeded as a teacher, not by teaching them jutsu, but by outlasting their hatred.
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What Fans Still Argue About
Even now, people debate if Sasuke deserved redemption. Was he a war criminal? Technically, yes. Did Kakashi use his influence as Hokage to get Sasuke a pardon? Absolutely.
There’s also the "Missing Year" period. After the war, Sasuke traveled the world to atone. Naruto stayed in the village to study and become a Jonin (and eventually Hokage). Kakashi sat in the office, probably reading Icha Icha Tactics and wondering how his life became so complicated.
The nuanced truth is that Naruto Sasuke and Kakashi represent three different ways of handling grief.
- Kakashi: Endures it with a smile and a mask.
- Sasuke: Let it consume him until there was nothing left but rage.
- Naruto: Used it as a bridge to understand other people's pain.
Moving Forward: The Legacy in Boruto
In the sequel series, we see a much older, more tired version of these characters. Sasuke is the "Shadow Hokage," doing the dirty work Naruto can't do. Kakashi is happily retired, occasionally showing up to give advice or deal with a new generation of bratty ninjas.
The relationship has shifted into a brotherhood of survivors. When you see them interact now, there’s an unspoken understanding. They are the only ones left who remember what the old world was like.
Actionable Takeaways for Long-Time Fans
If you’re revisiting the series or diving into the lore for the first time, keep these specific narrative threads in mind to see the "hidden" story:
- Watch the eyes. Notice how Kakashi’s Sharingan (which belonged to Obito) mirrors Sasuke’s journey. When Kakashi loses the eye during the war, it symbolizes the end of his tie to the past.
- Track the bells. The bell test at the beginning of the series is the most important scene. It established the "those who abandon their friends are worse than scum" philosophy that eventually saves Sasuke’s soul.
- Focus on the silences. Some of the best moments between these three aren't the big speeches. It's the quiet nods and the way they stand together in the final battle against Kaguya.
To truly understand the depth of this trio, you have to look past the flashy ninjutsu. It's a story about a broken man trying to raise two broken boys in a world that wants to break them further. The fact that they all survived and stayed friends—in their own weird way—is the real miracle of the Hidden Leaf.
Next Steps for Deep Lore Enthusiasts:
Review the "Kakashi Gaiden" chapters alongside the "Five Kage Summit" arc. You will see direct parallels in how Kakashi's past failures influenced his desperate attempts to save Sasuke from the same fate. Pay close attention to the dialogue in Chapter 484, where the three of them reunite for the first time in years; it’s the turning point for the series' emotional climax.