Hokage

Biodata

Office & Authority

• The Hokage directs Konoha's military affairs, including defense, warfare, and diplomacy with other ninja villages. The office's authority extends beyond that of a local administrator. 90
• The Hokage is formally bound to the Fire Daimyo through an established agreement. A change of Hokage must be reported to the Daimyo, though the Daimyo does not possess the authority to confirm the appointment. 98
• Village-wide surveillance techniques were traditionally regarded as the Hokage's exclusive prerogative, although the Police Force later developed the Sky Net Barrier with comparable surveillance scope. 90 97
• The position had previously remained under the Senju lineage's influence; Uchiha Genmei's election ended that political monopoly. 97

Known Hokage

History

Third Hokage administration

Sarutobi Hiruzen held the office during Konoha's tense relationship with the Uchiha clan. He dispatched Danzō and Root to reinforce the Police Force during the pursuit of a spy, but later rejected Danzō's demand to eliminate the Uchiha despite concerns over their growing power. 3 6

During the conflict surrounding the Land of Whirlpools, Hiruzen and Konoha's senior leadership ultimately ordered the Uchiha-led Police Force to rescue their allies. The decision reflected both the Uchiha's military value and the leadership's concern over their expanding influence. 47

Root scandal and abdication

The Police Force's Sky Net Barrier exposed Danzō's secret human experiments. Takechiyo and Kihoshi, two surviving victims listed as dead in Konoha's records, publicly accused Danzō and demanded justice. 90 93 94

Hiruzen authorized an investigation of Root's facilities, where evidence revealed kidnappings, human experimentation, assassinations of civilian jōnin, and coercion of clans for their secret techniques. Danzō and Root personnel were taken into custody. 95

Accepting responsibility for authorizing Root and failing to supervise Danzō, Hiruzen announced his abdication and opened a Hokage election. He privately nominated Uchiha Genmei as his successor after receiving Genmei's assurance that the Sarutobi clan would not be purged. 95 96 97

Election of the Fourth Hokage

Konoha's jōnin convened for the first documented Hokage election. Hyūga Tōdō first nominated Uchiha Genmei, after which a majority of the assembled jōnin supported him. 97

Sarutobi Hiruzen declared Genmei the Fourth Hokage, establishing a peaceful transfer of power rather than a violent seizure of leadership. 97

Hiruzen subsequently traveled to the Land of Fire's capital to notify the Fire Daimyo. After returning with the appointment letter, he and Genmei set an inauguration date; Genmei formally took the Hokage hat and began his reign seven days later. 98 101

Fourth Hokage Administration

Police Force reform

Genmei's first major institutional reform opened the Military Police Force to every Konoha ninja clan. The force was no longer to function as the exclusive property of the Uchiha clan. 99

• Uchiha Yuta — appointed as Genmei's Hokage Assistant. 99
• Tsunade — invited to serve as an Advisor Elder after Genmei promised to establish a Konoha medical system. 101
• Hiruko — offered the position of Minister of Scientific Research. 99
• Orochimaru — placed in charge of Root and the Scientific Research Department, with both organizations redirected toward research and development. 100

Long-term policy

Genmei intends to cultivate a large body of administrators before confronting the feudal system. His stated approach is to avoid destabilizing the secular world until Konoha has sufficient personnel capable of governing it. 63 103

Trivia

• In the earlier period reached by Sasuke and Boruto, the Hokage Rock displayed only the first three Hokage, confirming that Genmei's monument had not yet been added. 105 107
• Uchiha Genmei's election was significant to the Uchiha clan, whose members regarded one of their own becoming Hokage as a historic restoration of status and recognition. 98 99