Hokage in Naruto Series

The Hokage is the leader of Konohagakure, also known as the Fire Shadow. This position is given to the village's strongest shinobi. Throughout the history of the village, there have been a total of seven Hokage.

Overview

The Hokage position in Konoha was created by Hashirama Senju, one of the village's founders. While Hashirama intended for Madara Uchiha to become the Hokage, the villagers chose Hashirama as the First Hokage instead. This decision caused concern for Madara, who feared the Senju clan's influence on the office. However, all subsequent Hokage have had a connection to Hashirama. The Hokage typically selects their successor, but if they cannot fulfill their duties, the next Hokage is chosen by the Land of Fire's daimyō with input from the Konoha Council, Jōnin Commander, and an Anbu representative. The Hokage's inauguration is a significant event, and they receive a ceremonial haori embroidered by the same person for all seven Hokage. They live in the Hokage Residence and their office is in the Academy's administrative section. The Hokage is responsible for day-to-day affairs, such as assigning missions and securing funding for the village. They prioritize protecting Konoha as a family and may continue to oversee sections of the village or offer advice after retiring. The workload of the Hokage has increased over time, making them almost like a head of state, which resulted in the Seventh Hokage being overwhelmed with paperwork and appearances, leading to a strained relationship with his eldest son.

List of Hokage

First Hokage

Hashirama Senju, a member of the Senju clan, was renowned as the "God of Shinobi" for his exceptional ninja abilities. He co-founded Konohagakure with his childhood friend and rival, Madara Uchiha, aiming to bring peace to the shinobi world. Eventually, he became the First Hokage, the leader of Konohagakure. While he didn't accomplish peace in his lifetime, his ideals and influence left a lasting impact on the village and the entire shinobi world, shaping their future even after his passing.

Second Hokage

Tobirama Senju, a member of the respected Senju clan, played a pivotal role in establishing Konohagakure, the first shinobi village, alongside his elder brother and the Uchiha clan. He dedicated his life to achieving political stability and creating effective institutions that would ensure the village's success. Following his brother's passing, he became the Second Hokage, continuing his efforts as the leader of Konohagakure.

Third Hokage

Hiruzen Sarutobi, known as the Third Hokage of Konohagakure, was a highly skilled ninja and a respected figure. He received training from the two preceding Hokage and was regarded as a "God of Shinobi". While he primarily taught the legendary Sannin, his wisdom and guidance extended to multiple generations of Konoha shinobi, leaving a lasting impact on the village.

Fourth Hokage

Minato Namikaze, also known as the Fourth Hokage of Konohagakure, was a legendary figure recognized worldwide as the Yellow Flash of the Leaf. He tragically lost his life while protecting the village during the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack. In a selfless act, Minato sealed a portion of the Nine-Tails inside his newborn son, Naruto Uzumaki.

Fifth Hokage

Tsunade, a member of the Senju and Uzumaki Clan, is renowned as one of Konohagakure's Sannin. She was widely recognized as the strongest female ninja and a highly skilled medical practitioner until her student Sakura Haruno surpassed her. Devastated by the loss of her loved ones, Tsunade temporarily abandoned her shinobi life. However, she was convinced to return to Konoha and became the Fifth Hokage, using her exceptional abilities to greatly benefit the village.

Sixth Hokage

Kakashi Hatake, a member of the Hatake clan in Konohagakure, is known as Kakashi of the Sharingan due to his exceptional abilities. Despite his reluctance for responsibility, Kakashi is highly respected and sought after for advice and leadership within the village. As the leader of Team 7, he instills the value of teamwork in his students and learned this lesson himself from his childhood friend, Obito Uchiha, along with acquiring the Sharingan. Following the Fourth Shinobi World War, Kakashi assumes the role of Konoha's Sixth Hokage, becoming a pivotal figure in the village's leadership.

Seventh Hokage

Naruto Uzumaki, a member of the Uzumaki clan in Konohagakure, faced rejection and isolation due to being the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails from birth. However, after joining Team Kakashi, Naruto tirelessly worked towards gaining recognition from the village and fulfilling his dream of becoming Hokage. Through numerous challenges, he grew into a skilled ninja and a revered hero, earning the title of the Hero of the Hidden Leaf. Naruto played a pivotal role in winning the Fourth Shinobi World War and eventually achieved his lifelong aspiration by becoming the Seventh Hokage of the village.

Candidates

Sixth Hokage Candidate

Danzō Shimura, an elder of Konohagakure and the leader of Root, was known as The Darkness of the Shinobi due to his secretive and often questionable actions. Despite his controversial methods, Danzō believed he was acting in the best interests of the village. He was chosen as a candidate for the position of Sixth Hokage after the attack by Pain. However, before he could officially assume the role, Danzō fled the Five Kage Summit and ultimately died in a battle against Sasuke Uchiha at the Samurai Bridge.