This theory about Kakashi and Itachi will crack you

There are dozens of characters to love in Naruto, but some of Konoha’s ninjas stand above the rest. If the franchise’s main genin group did not catch your attention, then guys like Itachi or Kakashi may suit your fancy. However, you should know those two ninjas do have some shared history.

Over on Reddit, fans started to freak out when one otaku pointed out an epiphany they had about Itachi and Kakashi. As some fans may know, Kakashi’s name means scarecrow in Japanese; Itachi’s name translates to weasel, but his prolific use of crows thanks to Shisui connect the former ANBU members in a rather tragic way.

If you look back to Naruto, fans will remember Itachi and Kakashi had their first encounter when the Akatsuki sent the Uchiha to gather Naruto. The initial run-in was the first time Kakashi saw Itachi since the younger man defected the Leaf Village, and it was not a peaceful encounter. While trying to stop Itachi, Kakashi wound up getting stuck in the Uchiha’s horrifying Tsukuyomi where he was tortured, but there is more symbolism behind the scene than you may realize.

As you can recall, the genjutsu Kakashi fell subject to saw him tied up on a cross with no headboard. Itachi stood before him, prodding his hostage with a sword while Kakashi grimaced in pain. The Redditor made the connection that Kakashi became a literally scarecrow in the scene, and Itachi stood in for the crows who would be pecking at the protector.

Kakashi the Scarecrow failed to scare away Itachi before he could cause damage, and it left the jounin subject to some very intensive torture. Fans also noted the pair’s farmer-friendly relationship also extended to their past as Kakashi and Itachi did know one another way back when. While Itachi was not overly friendly with the Hatake prodigy, the Uchiha did respect Kakashi. They had a tentatively symbiotic pairing between them, but it all fell apart when Itachi stopped fearing Kakashi and viewed him as an obstacle to clear.