On the rare occasions that he actually puts his mind to it, Kakashi's jutsu teaching methods are quite good, as Kakashi explains well basic chakra control to his students.

Kakashi's training session does beg the question of why Kakashi procrastinated on teaching the team for so long, waiting for some last-minute training to teach them. This is the stuff Kakashi should have taught the team from day one, certainly long before the team got anything higher than a D-rank mission. I agree with Sakura that a little last-minute training isn't going to help. Kakashi should train his students before disaster strikes, not carelessly procrastinate until disaster is already looming upon them. But Kakashi is nothing if not too little, too late.

It begs the additional question of why Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke haven't learned this basic stuff at the ninja academy, which should have taught them these basic skills - it all comes down to how irresponsible the ninja culture is. Thankfully the adults in Boruto remedied that, since in the Boruto era children learn how to walk up vertical surfaces and walk on water before they ever leave the academy, which is far more responsible and sensible.

Sasuke and Naruto are both jealous of Sakura beating them in the chakra control lesson, though at least Naruto has the grace to praise Sakura for her performance and congratulate his teammate. Despite her efforts to impress her crush, Sakura is dejected to realize that all she's accomplished is to make Sasuke annoyed at her.

Rather than be concerned by the unhealthy over-competitive tension between the trio, Kakashi instead piles onto it by intentionally sowing discord and resentment amongst the three kids by saying: "Well, not only does Sakura understand chakra, she can control and maintain it as well. We spoke about someone becoming Hokage one day, didn't we? Seems Sakura's got the best chance of that, wouldn't you say? And as for the great Uchiha clan, maybe they're not so great after all."

Talk about uncalled-for and insulting disrespect. With the sensei and modeling such disrespect for the team, it's honestly amazing that the three genin aren't significantly ruder to each other than they are.

Imagine if this happened in reverse, if Sasuke insulted the people Kakashi cared about for Kakashi's failings, like if after Kakashi got caught by Zabuza's water prison Sasuke taunted Kakashi for "As for the great Team Minato, maybe they're not so great after all." You'd never hear the end of it in the fanbase if Sasuke said something like that to Kakashi. Sasuke would undoubtedly get relentless hate from the fanbase for being so snide and rude, and there's no doubt Kakashi fans would go ballistic over such a rude remark if Sasuke said that to Kakashi. But a popular character like Kakashi gets a free pass for unacceptable behavior, as very few in the Naruto fanbase seem to have a problem with an adult taunting a little kid about his dead relatives, even though it's even worse since Kakashi is an adult and an authority figure.

Kakashi uses a passive-aggressive approach of punishing the underperforming members of the team with condescending humiliation by taunting them or making insidious jabs at them. We see that happen a few times in this arc, and this particular instance isn't even a subtle passive-aggressive humiliation of his students – this is direct condescension and humiliation.

Kakashi pits his teammates against each other by lavishing praise upon one while making underhanded digs at the other two, another example of Kakashi's anti-teamwork methods.

Let me break it down:

Sakura was already in a bad spot to begin with, seeing as how Sakura was already disappointed that she had failed to impress Sasuke. Already Sakura is getting the message that succeeding too much means incurring her peers' resentment and dislike, a really bad reinforcer that could lead to inhibiting her progress in the future.

Sasuke is the teammate that Sakura cares about most, so Sakura is naturally most susceptible to his input and opinions. Although she's highly susceptible to her whole team's input, since they're her primary social group. Sakura wants to fit in with them, so if outclassing the two boys means she is hated by them, it's going to de-motivate her in the future if all she gets in response is indifference and dislike. Ultimately, she'd rather consistently under-perform than face the unpleasant social repercussions of incurring her team's dislike.

At least Naruto put on an upbeat attitude for Sakura, but even Naruto was inwardly hacked and displeased that Sakura was out-performing him, so not exactly a great display of teamwork.

Yet instead of soothing things over, Kakashi makes things worse by praising Sakura and making some below-the-belt digs at Naruto and Sasuke for no reason. It's not like Sakura asked Kakashi to say that, and Sakura resents Kakashi for giving Naruto and Sasuke cause to resent her, only making Sakura's delicate social position even worse.

Kakashi's involvement forces Sakura to consider if trying to excel as a ninja is even worth it, because all three of the boys will dogpile against her and make it difficult to be accepted in the team. If all she gets is a negative reaction of resentment, then why should she even try to grow stronger as a ninja at all, if it doesn't make her team happy?

It's sad that even Sakura sees the dangers in pitting the team against each other, whereas Kakashi does not. Sakura is just looking for acceptance and camaraderie in the team, but by lavishing praise on one pupil for her success while harshly berating the other two for not having instant results, Kakashi makes it easy for Naruto and Sasuke to resent Sakura.

I feel bad for Sakura that Kakashi puts her on the spot like this, putting her in a position that could make her unpopular or unliked amongst her teammates. Sakura didn't ask for such treatment, and in fact she pushes against it, berating Kakashi for sowing resentment among the team, as she just wants to harmonize and get along with her friends, not be locked in an aggressive competition with them.

I have to agree with Sakura: "That's enough, you talk too much, sensei!" I genuinely feel bad for Sakura as she follows this with an inward groan of, "Sasuke's going to hate me now!" Indeed, it's true that such unkind words from Kakashi is a perfect set-up to pit the team members against each other and sow discord and resentment among the trio. It's lucky that this didn't end up into a much more severe problem, because it easily could have. Lucky for Kakashi, the three genin are surprisingly patient and long-suffering at times, so this didn't blow up into anything major, but it could have easily turned out much worse.

Kakashi drags Naruto's dream of Hokage into the matter, declaring that Sakura has the best chance for obtaining the Hokage's seat. Naruto just started his ninja journey, so it's far too soon for adults to be taunting him about his incapableness of being Hokage. You can't realistically assess how qualified a 12-year-old is for a ruling position, and I think it's rude to mock his dream.

In doing so, Kakashi cheaply belittles Naruto's dream, acting like it's merely a silly infatuation up for grabs by anybody, when Naruto is dead serious about becoming Hokage.

The insult about the Uchiha clan is just...wow. I can't believe Kakashi is so tactlessly rude to insult Sasuke's clan just because Sasuke can't master a completely new technique on his first try. So we're judging an entire people group off of the first 10 minutes of a 12-year-old's training session now? 

Sasuke is a lone genocide survivor already dealing with the pressure of upholding his prestigious and internationally famed clan's reputation all by himself, and Kakashi really said that? Kakashi mocking someone 16 years his junior for not living up to his clan's prestigious record instantaneously is extremely immature - no need to add the immense pressure Sasuke is already under. 

Naruto and Sasuke are both noticeably agitated by Kakashi's taunts. Sasuke's eyes narrow in annoyed anger when Kakashi jabs at Sasuke's failure to live up to the prestigious stereotypes Kakashi has made about the Uchiha and he comments how the Uchiha clan isn't as special as it's chalked up to be. 

Kakashi doesn't care about angering or annoying his team. His goal is to work them into an irritated frenzy so that they train harder. I don't mind a friendly rivalry, but this goes beyond it into insulting the dead and belittling teammates' life dreams that they are quite serious about. You can instill healthy competition perfectly fine with positive reinforcement instead of nasty insults.

Beyond the initial explanation of the jutsu, I don't much admire Kakashi's training methods. He doesn't even bother watching Naruto and Sasuke for the most part, nor does he offer any tips or pointers after his initial explanation, leaving the boys to seek advice from Sakura instead. Of course I don't have a problem with them asking Sakura for help, but I dislike that Kakashi doesn't offer any additional advice beyond his first explanation.

Aside from that, after Naruto stays out all night to train, Inari's mother disapprovingly remarks, "Well, I certainly hope he's okay. A child spending a night in the woods alone." At least someone cares about children in the Naruto-verse. It's clear from Tsunami's disapproving tone that she thinks it's irresponsible to let children stay out unsupervised all night, but Kakashi only brushes off Tsunami's concern (Kakashi tends to foolishly brush off a lot of people's well-founded concerns throughout the series), with "There's nothing to worry about. Naruto's a goofy kid, but he's also a full-fledged ninja. He can handle himself."

Basically Kakashi isn't going to take any responsibility for his student or ensure Naruto is getting the appropriate rest he needs. Nor will Kakashi check that his pupil is safe and accounted for. It's not like there are high-level Mist assassins running around in the area or anything.

Even Sasuke has more concern for Naruto's safety than the adult of the team. After hearing that Naruto has been out all night, Sasuke immediately goes to check up on his teammate and berates Naruto for not being at breakfast. Which if you're unfamiliar with Sasuke's mode of expressing himself, it's code for Sasuke was worried about Naruto and doesn't approve of him being out all night alone when it's dangerous (which is why despite Sasuke hitting him, Naruto is pretty cheerful and happy about it when he realizes that one of his teammates cared and was worried about him being out all night alone, which is why he smiles at Sasuke instead of getting mad at Sasuke). Which is another example of the leadership thing I mentioned earlier in Chapter 17: Sasuke shows more concern for his team's welfare and safety than Kakashi does. Kakashi takes his team's safety glibly whereas Sasuke takes his team's welfare very seriously.

When Naruto finally learns the technique of walking on trees, Naruto proudly shows off his newly achieved skill to Kakashi and Sakura. Watching Naruto hang upside-down on a tree, Kakashi muses inwardly that he has a bad feeling things aren't going to end well, meaning that Kakashi had already figured that Naruto was probably going to suffer a fall. Despite knowing this, Kakashi doesn't move a muscle to come to Naruto's aid or even try to warn Naruto. Instead, not moving an inch, he rigidly watches in alarm as Naruto's unrefined chakra control slips and Naruto falls. It's Sasuke, not Kakashi, who leaps to Naruto's rescue without hesitation or a moment to waste.

Some fans might defend Kakashi, pointing out that in the manga Kakashi explained that he was too injured to save Naruto. Thought that excuse seems a bit weak to me. It's not that I mind if Kakashi is too injured to be able to save Naruto from falling out of a tree and cracking his skull open. What bothers me is that he didn't even try to save Naruto from suffering a nasty fall. Even if Kakashi tried to hobble forward to Naruto's aid but collapsed after a couple steps or failed to make a jump or whatever, I would appreciate Kakashi at least tried to go the distance for his team. But he doesn't even bother with the effort; he just watches.

Zero effort made to save his student's life under the excuse that, "I'm injured", doesn't cut it for me. Ninja get injured all the time, and they still have to put their life on the line for their comrades. Kakashi claims, "I will never let my comrades die", yet when one of his pupils is at risk of having a nasty and dangerous fall, Kakashi isn't inclined to make a move to save him or even warn him not to be so careless with an ability he'd newly mastered.

Anyway, the three troublesome genin apparently are a stressful bunch that fray and wear Kakashi's nerves down. After Naruto's near-fall, Kakashi remarks that: "If I'm still sane by the time I finish their training, it'll be a miracle." Kakashi is quickly finding that he's not well-suited to training, and the trio's antics and energetic enthusiasm is wearing Kakashi down fast. As lethargic and low-energy as Kakashi is, his team is too high-energy for him to maintain, and the amount of trouble they manage to get into is something he finds a stressful trial.