How Old Is Kakashi in Boruto? Naruto Timeline Explained

Kakashi Hatake in Boruto Naruto Next Generations anime

By J.R. Waugh Published 18 minutes ago J.R. has been reading manga since the first printing of Shonen Jump in North America. This passion drove him to write about anime, manga, and manhwa since 2022, having recently served as Lead Anime Editor for ComicBook.com. His favorite moments in media coverage include reviewing the series premieres of Zom 100 and Bleach: TYBW Part 2 back-to-back and briefly meeting Junji Ito at a VIZ gallery event in 2023. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Kakashi Hatake had an incredible run in the original Naruto manga, amassing legions of fans for his complicated personality and fascinating backstory, but his presence in Boruto has been a more contentious topic. With Kakashi in his early thirties by the end of the original Naruto story, it's surprising to consider him middle-aged in Boruto.

By the time of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Kakashi is showing signs of pushing between ages 49-50. Given how frequently Hokage either die in their roles or rarely live past their middle-aged years, it certainly appears, for now, that Kakashi has gotten off easy. Kakashi's life has certainly been eventful, witnessing or even influencing the Naruto universe's most pivotal events.

How Old Is Kakashi in Boruto?

Kakashi talking to Boruto in episode 260

Kakashi Hatake, according to the official Naruto Secret: Scroll of Formation Character Official Databook, was 31 years old at the end of Naruto: Shippuden. 15 years later in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Kakashi was 46 years old, pushing or reaching 47 before the timeskip. With Boruto: Two Blue Vortex taking place three years later, this places Kakashi at 49-50.

Kakashi's appearance in the Boruto manga, outside key moments like in Naruto Gaiden: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring, has been largely nonexistent aside from moments with his portrait visible in Naruto Next Generations chapter #16.

While Kakashi is absent in the manga, his presence in the anime indicates a more relaxed senior shinobi role, taking up greater presence in the anime's filler. While this is disappointing, given his connection to Konoha, having Minato Namikaze as his team leader and mentor, and growing up alongside Obito Uchiha, he's still a beloved and endearing supporting character.

Kakashi's role by the time of Boruto has included minor instances of the anime like coaching Sasuke Uchiha on bonding with his daughter, Sarada, and fascinating novel/manga interludes like Naruto: Konoha's Story: Steam Ninja Scrolls. They're relatively low-stakes stories, but nonetheless entertaining to see how he interacts outside of the Hokage role with close friends like Might Guy.

Naruto's Kakashi Timeline Has Minor Inconsistencies

Sixth Hokage Kakashi Hatake in Boruto

The downside to following the accompanying Naruto databooks for characters like Kakashi is that their timeline inconsistencies compared to the manga become readily apparent. For instance, the first databook states Kakashi to have graduated from the Academy at age 5, being promoted to Chunin at age 6. However, in chapter #599, he participates at the Chunin Exams with Team Minato.

The issue is that, if the 2002 databook is taken to heart, Kakashi would have already been a Chunin while fighting alongside Obito and Rin, despite this not being how the Chunin Exams work. This can easily be called a retcon, and doesn't affect Kakashi's actual age in the Naruto timeline, but balances out some of his earlier achievements.

However, with the fourth databook's more balanced Kakashi information, confirming his age just weeks before the release of Naruto's final chapter, the rest of his timeline is fine, save for his Sixth Hokage tenure lacking clarity. With Naruto taking over as Hokage when his son Boruto was aged 7, Kakashi would have served as Hokage for approximately 11 years.

Shinobi of Kakashi's generation are largely absent in the story, but he'd easily still be able to contribute against the Divine Tree threat.

What this means for Boruto: Two Blue Vortex isn't currently that much. Shinobi of Kakashi's generation are largely absent in the story, but he'd easily still be able to contribute against the Divine Tree threat. Kakashi easily outlived his late father, Sakumo Hatake, but his story may not be over yet in Boruto, even if currently outside the spotlight.

Naruto (2002) TV Show Poster Naruto First Film Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow Latest Film Boruto: Naruto the Movie First TV Show Naruto Latest TV Show Boruto: Naruto Next Generations First Episode Air Date October 3, 2002 Cast Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei

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Would you like to see more Kakashi in Boruto?

JR #RZ371902

Editor 0 Reviews 6 Ratings Following 0 Topics 1 Users Follow Followed 0 Followers View 18 minutes ago Obviously I'd love to see generally more legacy Naruto characters, but Kakashi's absence is particularly frustrating. Kakashi is in his best element when he's on the field; the anime proves he's still got it as a top-tier shinobi even without the Sharingan, but it'd be nice to just be reminded that he still exists, and not even in a major Kakashi-focused arc. Not asking for much beyond that, really. Reply / Post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.

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