Naruto Shippūden: S16 • Kakashi: Shadow of the ANBU Black Ops
Season 16 of Naruto Shippuden shifts the narrative focus to the past, centering on the formative years of Kakashi Hatake before he became a teacher to Naruto Uzumaki. During this period, Kakashi serves as a member of the ANBU Black Ops, a role that earns him the reputation of being cold-blooded. Despite his tactical ruthlessness, he remains deeply affected by the loss of his closest friends during the Third Great Nin
Season 16 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Naruto Uzumaki is an adolescent ninja striving to gain recognition and become the Hokage, the village leader.
- Kakashi Hatake is established as a central figure and teacher within the Hidden Leaf Village.
- The Third Great Ninja War serves as a pivotal historical event that resulted in significant personal losses for Kakashi.
- The ANBU Black Ops is a specialized organization within the village that Kakashi served in prior to his role as a teacher.
Season overview
Season 16 of Naruto Shippuden shifts the narrative focus to the past, centering on the formative years of Kakashi Hatake before he became a teacher to Naruto Uzumaki. During this period, Kakashi serves as a member of the ANBU Black Ops, a role that earns him the reputation of being cold-blooded. Despite his tactical ruthlessness, he remains deeply affected by the loss of his closest friends during the Third Great Ninja War. The season follows Kakashi as he navigates internal threats within the ANBU organization and works to expose those responsible for illegal genetic experimentation. His missions lead him into dangerous confrontations, including an escape from the followers of Orochimaru and a battle against a young shinobi who utilizes the rare Wood Style Jutsu. As these challenges conclude, the narrative arc culminates with the introduction of a new member to Kakashi's unit, the young ninja Itachi Uchiha. This season provides insight into the history of the Hidden Leaf Village and the experiences that shaped Kakashi into the leader he eventually becomes for his students.
Episode Guide
Season 16 Progress Shield
A Mask that Hides the Heart
Feb 6, 2014 · 23 min
After the end of the Third Great Ninja War, the Leaf Village is divided over who should become the next Hokage.
Minato's Death
Feb 13, 2014 · 23 min
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
Feb 20, 2014 · 23 min
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 an
The Rogue Ninja Orochimaru
Feb 27, 2014 · 23 min
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
Orochimaru's Test Subject
Mar 6, 2014 · 23 min
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 le
Their Own Paths
Mar 6, 2014 · 23 min
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 aft
The Targeted Sharingan
Mar 13, 2014 · 23 min
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 “K
A Shinobi of the Leaf
Mar 20, 2014 · 23 min
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 a
An Uchiha ANBU
Apr 3, 2014 · 23 min
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 exclu
Coup d'État
Apr 10, 2014 · 23 min
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-hou
The Night of the Tragedy
Apr 17, 2014 · 23 min
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
Jonin Leader
Apr 24, 2014 · 23 min
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
Squad Seven
May 8, 2014 · 23 min
Hiruzen assigns Kakashi to be in charge of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, three genin that bear a striking resemblance to the former Team Minato.