Obito: Why does Obito hate Kakashi in Naruto? Explained

Why does Obito hate Kakashi in Naruto? Explained

Modified Jul 22, 2024 19:30 GMT

Naruto stands as one of the greatest animanga series ever created. Masashi Kishimoto's magnum opus drew significant interest upon release and appears to have retained it until the end. Those that have experienced the series often describe it as a journey.

Among its plethora of characters, Naruto's Kakashi Hatake and Obito Uchiha were much loved. The former was a fan favorite from the beginning, while Obito stole viewers' hearts when his origin story and the reason for his actions were revealed.

There was a strong friction between the two that dated back to when they were Genin. Obitio began to hate Kakashi when he witnessed him kill Rin Nohara, which was further fueled by his belief that the latter let Rin die, and broke his promise of her safety.

Why does Obito hate Kakashi so much?

Obito Uchiha vs Kakashi Hatake (Image via Pierrot)

Obito did not start by hating Kakashi. He viewed him as a rival and someone he needed to catch up to in terms of skill. Among all things, he opposed Kakashi's view of prioritizing the allotted mission over anything else, believing instead that his teammates' lives held more importance.

However, he began to bitterly hate Kakashi when he witnessed him kill Rin Nohara, whom Obito had feelings for. He understood that Kakashi and Rin were both victims of the situation and didn't blame him for her death. But letting Rin die and breaking his promise of keeping her safe angered Obito greatly.

He was also aware that Rin had the 3 Tails within her and put herself in the way of Kakashi's Lightning Blade. Yet, he believed that the white-haired shinobi could've saved her. Despite having the means to kill Kakashi there and then, Obito resisted due to the friendship they previously shared.

The pair's origins in Naruto, explored

Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara, and Kakashi Hatake (Image via Pierrot)

As a child, Obito lived in the care of his grandmother, not knowing who his parents were. Feeling alone in the world, he sought to one day become Hokage so that people would acknowledge and love him. To do this, he enrolled at the Academy and that is where he met Kakashi.

Realizing the huge difference in skill, he developed a one-sided rivalry with the masked boy. The pair were later put on the same team, with Rin as its third member and Minato Namikaze as its leader.

As time passed, he grew jealous of Kakashi's natural talent and popularity, which in some way later caused his hate for Kakashi. He began to view Kakashi as someone cold and who cared only for rules, willing to even let his teammates die for the success of the mission.

Why Obito made up with Kakashi, explained

Obito Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake (Image via Pierrot)

The Naruto series progressed with Obito pulling the strings. Posing as Madara, Obito declared war on the Five Great Nations, depicting him at his most villainous. He was seemingly hopeless, a fallen hero who couldn't be redeemed. His fight with Kakashi was a much-anticipated one.

Their bout in the Kamui Dimension signified a clash of ideals, as they had symbolically traded ideologies following Obito's "death". To further explain, Kakashi internalized Obito's belief in comrades over missions. Simultaneously, Madara Uchiha influenced Obito to abandon his past and pursue a "perfect world".

But their one-on-one battle and Kaguya's emergence reunited the pair for one final stand. Circumstances aligned their ideals, opening each one's eyes to the importance of friendship and bonds over missions. Their fight against Kaguya gave them closure and despite Obito not surviving, their rivalry ended on a positive note.