Hokage

Biodata

Documented Officeholders

History

Following Hiruzen Sarutobi's death, Jiraiya attempted to recruit Tsunade as the next Hokage. Tsunade refused because of her grief, fear of blood, and rejection of Konoha's burdens. During this succession crisis, Naruto Uzumaki—Xuan Ming's public identity—declared his own ambition to become Hokage and challenged Tsunade to recognize his strength 23.

The proposal to appoint Naruto was immediately controversial. He was only thirteen and held the rank of Chunin, while Konoha's civilians and major clans had not been informed in advance. Nevertheless, Danzō, Tsunade, and Orochimaru supported him, and the Feudal Lord named him Acting Hokage with senior advisors and the Sannin assigned to assist him 31 32.

Naruto subsequently removed the old advisors Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado from the center of Konoha's politics, displayed the support of the Akatsuki Seven, and received the Feudal Lord's approval as the Fifth Hokage. His confirmation marked a shift away from the older administration's cautious leadership style 55 56.

Authority and Expectations

• The Hokage is expected to be a ninja leader recognized by Konoha's clans and high-ranking officials, rather than a ruler acting solely by personal decree 55.
• The position commands Konoha's military assets and requires a personal power base capable of enforcing policy among competing clans and factions 59.
• Naruto's age and Chunin rank were regarded as major objections to his appointment, but his strength, lineage, achievements during Konoha's crisis, and status as the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki were used to justify his eligibility 31.
• Under Naruto, overwhelming personal strength becomes central to the office's legitimacy; Konoha's elders conclude that a Hokage endorsed by both Tsunade and Danzō possesses power beyond ordinary opposition 40.
• Naruto argues that a Hokage must retain authority during wartime, citing the vulnerability created when Minato Namikaze lacked sufficient village support 97.

Naruto's Administration

Institutional Reforms

• Medical Ninja Department — Established with Tsunade's participation to expand Konoha's medical capacity 31 32.
• Konoha Academy of Sciences — Created to develop resources, transportation, research, and ninja technology 32 58.
• Hokage Guard Platoon — Formed from former Root personnel and directly assigned to Hokage missions 32.
• Hokage Assistant — A new position established under Shikaku Nara during Naruto's acting tenure 32.
• Disbandment of Root — Root personnel are redistributed among the Anbu, regular ninja forces, and the Hokage Guard Platoon 32.

Personal Power Base

Naruto's authority is reinforced by a network of elite subordinates and institutions rather than the office alone 59.

• Akatsuki Seven — Deidara, Sasori, Hidan, Kakuzu, Itachi, Kisame, and Konan serve under Naruto's direct orders while in Konoha 54.
• Academy of Sciences — Orochimaru and Danzō are tied to its research operations 59.
• Medical Ninja Department — Tsunade provides its leadership and prestige 59.
• Advisory support — Jiraiya becomes a new advisor 59.
• Guard Unit — Yamato serves as captain, with Neji Hyuga and Sai as members 59.

Foreign Policy and War

• Naruto announces plans to annex Amegakure and establish a Konoha Ninja Alliance with Sunagakure, alarming Konoha's traditional leadership 54.
• He hosts the Five Kage Summit with an entourage of S-rank ninja, Sannin, Jinchuriki, and the Akatsuki Seven positioned around the venue 79 80.
• He openly declares that Konoha will not fear a Fourth Ninja World War and intends to destroy the old ninja-world order through conflict 74 77.
• Konoha prospers through increased jobs and resources under the Fifth Hokage, though some villagers still prefer the stability associated with Hiruzen's era 64.

Ninja World's First Hokage

Naruto's later authority expands beyond Konoha. After opening the Gate of Life and Death and enabling mass resurrection, he is described as the Ninja World's First Hokage rather than merely Konoha's Fifth 145.

His most consequential act is the creation of Sage Towers throughout the Ninja World. The towers teach a fifteen-level Sage Technique system that grants increasingly powerful cultivation methods, enhanced bodies, expanded chakra reserves, access to bloodlines and secret techniques, and eventually power capable of rivaling the Otsutsuki clan 153.

• The Sage Towers are living beings created through Naruto's divine art; their cultivators become part of his wider Sage clan 153.
• Naruto frames the system as humanity's preparation for an inevitable Otsutsuki invasion rather than a privilege reserved for Konoha 153.
• The title represents an unprecedented political and spiritual role: a leader who establishes a new world order, an immortal path, and a shared source of power for every village 153 163.

Later Legacy

After Naruto vanishes, later inhabitants refer to the creator of the Sage Art Ninja World only as the Mysterious Man. Accounts state that he created the Sage Art system, made resurrection possible, and then used immense power to erase himself from common memory 221 223.

Konoha's largest square is left without the statue that seemingly once stood there, while even people who sense that someone important is missing cannot remember Naruto's identity 223.