Does Kakashi Ever Appear in Boruto?

Does Kakashi Hatake ever appear in Boruto? Find out where the legendary Copy Ninja appears and what his future might hold.

Kakashi Hatake the Copy Ninja
Kakashi Hatake the Copy Ninja (Source: Studio Pierrot)

The silver-haired mask-wearing shinobi who was a leading character in Naruto, has apparently vanished into the background in Boruto. So, has anyone thought where does Kakashi ever appears in Boruto? The short answer is yes – but only in the anime adaptation. Fans who have been following the Boruto manga might be surprised to learn that the copy ninja hasn’t made a single appearance in the manga pages. Not one panel. Not even a mention. 

This bizarre absence of the sixth Hokage is something unforeseen for the Naruto fandom. Primarily, Kakashi Hatake emerges as one of the most important characters in the original Naruto series, acting as Team 7’s mentor and finally becoming the Hokage. His absence in Boruto‘s manga storyline is notably jarring given his importance in the Naruto Universe.

Kakashi’s Life After Being Hokage

Kakashi as Hokage
Kakashi as Hokage (Source: Studio Pierrot)

After handing the torch to Naruto and hoofing down as the Sixth Hokage, Kakashi has been relishing a rather peaceful retirement in Boruto. But what does retirement look like for someone who has spent their entire life as a shinobi? In Boruto, Kakashi seems to have finally found time to seek leisure activities he never could during his active duty years. He’s often seen reading, traveling, and sometimes providing guidance to the younger generation.

Does Kakashi ever appear in Boruto just to lounge around? Not exactly. Despite being retired, Kakashi hasn’t completely disconnected from village affairs. He maintains contact with his former students and keeps an eye on developments in the ninja world. His lifestyle in Boruto portrays a well-deserved break after decades of service, trauma, and sacrifice. The war hero has achieved his peace, having lived through three shinobi world wars, the loss of his entire team, and the burden of leading the village during its reconstruction period.

Kakashi’s retirement also illustrates a change of guard in Boruto. The new era is taking the main stage, with their own mentors and challenges. While Kakashi isn’t actively entangled in day-to-day missions or village politics in Boruto, his legacy lives on through his former students who now lead the village.

Kakashi’s Appearances in the Boruto Anime

Kakashi as seen in Boruto
Kakashi as seen in Boruto (Source: Studio Pierrot)

Does Kakashi appear in Boruto‘s animated series? Definitely yes! His first major moment happens in the Graduation Exams arc, where he dispenses a bell test to the academy students, reflecting the one he gave to the Team 7 years prior. This nostalgic relation showcases Kakashi’s enduring effect on the training methods in Konoha.

Kakashi also emerges in the Time Slip arc, where Boruto and Sasuke journey to the past. This arc delivers fans an amusing chance to see young Kakashi again. Furthermore, Kakashi leads up in the Steam Ninja Scrolls arc, which adapts the light novel of the same name. Here, we see him operating alongside Might Guy, reviving their eternal rivalry in a more cozy set.

Does Kakashi ever appear in Boruto to fight? Yes, but not as continually as in Naruto. In the Mitsuki Disappearance arc, Kakashi is portrayed as a powerful shinobi despite losing his Sharingan. He provides essential support during crisis conditions, demonstrating that retirement hasn’t dulled his skills.

In these anime appearances, Kakashi often conforms as a mentor figure, delivering wisdom and occasionally training to Boruto and his generation. 

Why Kakashi is Absent from the Boruto Manga

Kakashi finds out the Make-Out Paradise location
Kakashi finds out the Make-Out Paradise location (Source: Studio Pierrot)

The all-out absence of Kakashi from the Boruto manga might be an intended choice by the creators, not an oversight. So, this decision has baffled many, considering Kakashi’s reputation in the original series. There are several probable reasons for this ingenious choice.

Firstly, the Boruto manga is more narrowly concentrated on the core plot concerning the Otsutsuki clan and Kara organization. With fixed pages per month, the manga prioritizes extending the main storyline rather than retaining fan-favorite characters who aren’t necessary to the current plot. Kakashi, without his Sharingan and in retirement, may not fit innately into battles against godlike beings with powers far beyond standard ninja techniques.

Secondly, the manga’s creators may be knowingly saving Kakashi for a powerful future storyline. Ikemoto, the artist for Boruto, has implied that there’s a reason for Kakashi’s absence, indicating his eventual appearance might be connected to a major plot development. Does Kakashi ever appear in Boruto‘s manga plans for the future? The cryptic mentions from creators imply yes. There is substantial proof that one of the Shinju Clones emerges to be of Kakashi in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex.

Thirdly, keeping Kakashi out of the manga allows the anime to generate sole arcs featuring him, giving anime-only viewers special content. This strategy helps to determine the two mediums while fulfilling fans who want to see more of their favorite characters.

Lastly, Kakashi’s absence might be a narrative preference to underscore the changing world of the series. The series is about a new generation facing new threats, and limiting the involvement of strong veterans like Kakashi forces the younger characters to grow and develop without relying on their predecessors’ strengths.

Theories About Kakashi’s Future Role

Kakashi's Purple Lightning
Kakashi’s Purple Lightning (Source: Studio Pierrot)

Despite his absence from the manga, fans persist in speculating about whether Kakashi will play an important role in the series’ future. Does Kakashi ever appear in Boruto‘s manga timeline going forward? Several theories have emerged about his potential importance to the story.

One prominent theory suggests Kakashi might return to a leadership position. In the Boruto series opening, we see a flash-forward to a destroyed Konoha where Kawaki states, “I’ll send you where I sent the Seventh Hokage.” If Naruto is removed from his position, many fans speculate that Kakashi could become interim Hokage again. This would mirror how the Third Hokage resumed leadership after the Fourth’s death. This theory gains credibility from the precedent set in Naruto‘s history.

Another theory proposes that Kakashi might be involved in secret missions or gathering intelligence about the Otsutsuki. His experience and stealth abilities would make him valuable for reconnaissance work, even without his former Sharingan power. Does Kakashi ever appear in Boruto to unveil critical information? This possibility remains open.

More ominously, some assume that Kakashi’s absence could indicate his death in a future arc. The death of such a precious character would start a massive emotional impact and potentially act as a turning point in the series. This theory is seriously concerning for longtime fans who have observed Kakashi’s journey from his onset in Naruto.

Conclusion

As such, we believe that Kakashi’s appearance in Boruto deeply depends on whether you’re reading the manga or watching the anime. While Kakashi has had several appearances in the anime adaptation, his complete absence from the manga remains an inquisitive decision. This split method to his character broods the different storytelling priorities of each medium and possibly hints at future expansions.

The difference between Kakashi’s presence in the anime and his absence in the manga describes the unusual relationship between the two forms of Boruto media. Whatever the future carries for Kakashi in the series, his essence to the Naruto universe as a whole is absolute and irreplaceable.

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