For Naruto fans, variants of the phrase “I’m gonna be the Hokage someday!” is about as memorable and consistent a catchphrase as One Piece’s “I’m gonna be king of the pirates!” In it, Naruto Uzumaki’s personal quest to be acknowledged by his home Hidden Leaf village that scorned him would have no choice but to accept him, as he becomes their champion and leader.
Yet, once Naruto became Hokage and was shown performing his duties in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, the issues with burdening such a character with these responsibilities began to show. In an effort to have it all with his shinobi career and family life, Naruto predictably falls short as a responsible leader occasionally, yet still shines as its protector.
However, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has removed Naruto from the equation, and in his place stands Shikamaru Nara, his right-hand man, showcasing the complicated, nuanced mechanisms of being Hokage, and the difficult choices they must face. Naruto shined throughout his journey until he became Hokage, and it’s important to consider the issue of the reality that is his fulfilled dream.
Naruto Faced a Difficult Reality as Konoha’s Seventh Hokage
While there are plenty of issues to be had with the Boruto sequel manga, the series is accepted as canon with Masashi Kishimoto’s stamp of approval. This includes the depressing reality of seeing Naruto stumble as a father as, when overwhelmed with Hokage duties, he infamously sent a Shadow Clone in his place to his daughter, Himawari’s birthday celebration.
The scene, most impactfully shown in Boruto: Naruto the Movie as well as in the subsequent manga, showed Naruto making the wrong decision in striking the work-life balance. It’s uncharacteristic of the once-cheeky idealist who grew up resenting figures like Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. While it’s brutal to see Boruto’s trust betrayed in that moment, it also hurt Naruto fans.
Naruto’s greatest feats, aside from his glorious fight against Isshiki Ōtsutsuki, are entirely seen within the original run of Naruto’s manga and anime series, before he became Hokage. After all, Itachi Uchiha famously coached Naruto in chapter #552 about how the position often follows the village already choosing and embracing their protector, not the other way around.
“Being Hokage is not about suddenly being recognized in your village, Naruto. Only those who are already recognized and admired will ever become Hokage.
-Itachi Uchiha, Naruto Chapter #552
In this sense, multiple Hokage are difficult choices to accept in retrospect. Kakashi never really cared for the duties, but responsibly led while Naruto grew up to be ready for the position. Tsunade’s many vices got in the way of her leadership. Hiruzen’s choices, particularly regarding Naruto’s upbringing, stain his legacy, and Tobirama Senju was infamously discriminatory towards the Uchiha.
The reality that Naruto faced as Hokage, is that his prior actions defined him as a hero, but his duties and ultimate legacy would define him as Hokage. This unfortunately includes an absentee father stint, dwindling combat prowess, and frustration with a Hokage’s workload. Naruto’s true best achievements, saving his village multiple times, were largely as a pariah.
Boruto’s Konoha Has Moved on from Naruto
While certainly not emotionally removed from the disappearance of Naruto Uzumaki, Konoha has accepted its new Eighth Hokage since then. Naruto was the most powerful shinobi yet to take on the role, but Shikamaru’s particular gifts were never raw strength or chakra reserves, but his own leadership and keen tactical insight.
After all, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations consistently outlines the visual of Naruto being overwhelmed by the actual work of being Hokage, aside from moments where the village turns to him as their ultimate protector. In Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, though, Shikamaru is portrayed performing the tightrope walk that is appeasing its bureaucracy while secretly running operations to protect the village.
Naruto is currently trapped in Kawaki’s Daikokuten alongside his wife, Hinata. A prison derived from Isshiki Ōtsutsuki’s powers, it locks the Seventh Hokage in a pocket dimension, firmly out of play in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex until he’s released, Gojo-style. While Konoha is in rough shape, the manga shows that Naruto’s absence hasn’t broken the village completely.
Naruto Shouldn’t Resume as Hokage When He Returns
While there are plenty of potential theories about what Naruto could do or attain once he returns from the Daikokuten in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, one thing he arguably shouldn’t do is return as acting Hokage. Putting him on the path to Hokage was one thing, but by achieving his goal, Naruto embodied the Peter Principle, rising to his level of incompetence.
While he shouldn’t necessarily resume his roles in-office, Naruto won’t suddenly lose his lofty position after years in the role. Naruto is very much included in the designation of “Once a Hokage, always a Hokage”, a distinction thankfully not reserved for Danzō Shimura.
While Shikamaru is the interim Eighth Hokage, he’s a worthy successor, should he ever get a place on the Hokage Rock.
As a dedicated shinobi who loves and protects his village, Naruto will likely not mind being unburdened by the role. While Shikamaru is the interim Eighth Hokage (in a precarious position, too, with Lord Kobu’s ongoing investigation) he’s a worthy successor, should he ever get a place on the Hokage Rock.
Moreover, there are multiple potential future Hokage candidates, such as his beloved protégé, Konohamaru Sarutobi, or the first non-problematic Uchiha to aspire to the role, Sarada. Naruto has already achieved the role of his dreams, but even before that, he was acknowledged by his home, most famously after Pain’s assault. Naruto doesn’t need the position to be a worthy hero.
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- First Film
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Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow
- Latest Film
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Boruto: Naruto the Movie
- First TV Show
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Naruto
- Latest TV Show
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Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
- First Episode Air Date
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October 3, 2002
- Cast
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Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei
Naruto is a franchise spawned from the manga series penned by Masashi Kishimoto that began in 1999. Generating several tv series, games, movies, and more, Naruto follows the exploits of a young outcast ninja harboring the spirit of a demon fox who seeks to become the Hokage, the leader of his ninja village, to break the stigma against him. Upon the conclusion of the initial series, Naruto expanded into Boruto, following many series protagonists’ children and returning faces.
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- Writer
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Masashi Kishimoto
- Writers
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Masashi Kishimoto
- Penciler(s)
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Mikio Ikemoto
- Inker(s)
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Mikio Ikemoto
- Colorist(s)
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Mikio Ikemoto
- Publisher(s)
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Viz Media
Years after fleeing his village with Sasuke, Boruto returns to confront the dark changes that have occurred. With memories altered and Kawaki now seen as the hero, Boruto faces a world where he is the outcast. The two rivals must settle their differences as their Otsutsuki powers grow more dangerous.
