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. Although he is highly regarded by his peers, Kakashi's ruthless way of killing the enemy has earned him the nickname "Cold-blooded Kakashi."

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 own involvement in the experiments, sends out one of his men to help the rogue ninja.