Why Being Hokage is Actually a Terrible Career Goal

Summary

A Hokage’s role is mostly paperwork, not heroics.
The job invites assassination attempts, risking a premature death.
Personal sacrifices like neglecting family hinder a Hokage’s growth and freedom.

As a fan who has followed the Naruto and Boruto series for years, I find myself constantly amazed by the depth of character development and the intricate themes woven into these stories. The role of the Hokage, while prestigious and honored, is one that carries an immense burden and requires great sacrifice.

In the Naruto saga, becoming the Hokage symbolizes the highest attainment for a ninja, an honor laden with duty and prestige. Numerous characters yearn for this position, including Naruto Uzumaki, whose ambition to become Hokage forms a key plotline. However, one might wonder if being Hokage is as fulfilling as it’s depicted.

Behind all the glamour and prestige, the role often presents numerous drawbacks that may make it an unattractive career pursuit for many. While there are moments of triumph and glory, upon closer examination, you’ll find that the Hokage spends more time working at a desk than saving the day.

A Mountain of Paperwork

Literal Brain Rot

The romanticized image of the Hokage as a heroic protector obscures the harsh reality: it’s a desk job. Hokages spend more time buried in paperwork than on the battlefield. Even Naruto, known for his boundless energy, struggles to keep up with the endless administrative tasks (despite using shadow clones to share the burden), often neglecting his family in the process.

Instead of finding this task merely boring, it’s also a waste of resources. The Hokage, who is believed to be the strongest ninja in the village, appears to be spending their time signing documents rather than protecting the village. One might question why there isn’t a more effective system for delegating tasks. In essence, even in primitive societies, one individual would have been responsible for physical labor while another handled decision-making. This can be translated into modern terms as having separate military and governing structures.

A Prime Target for Assassination

As Hokage, a large target becomes emblazoned on your back. This makes you the most coveted adversary for enemies of the village. For these foes, defeating the Hokage offers the quickest route to disrupting and potentially overthrowing the Leaf Village.

History proves this repeatedly:

Hokage	Name	Cause/Notable Event
Third Hokage	Hiruzen Sarutobi	Killed by Orochimaru during an invasion.
Fourth Hokage	Minato Namikaze	Sacrificed himself to save the village from the Nine-Tails.
Fifth Hokage	Tsunade	Barely survived multiple assassination attempts during her tenure.

A Hokage-centric career doesn’t just mean risking your life—it virtually guarantees an early grave.

Personal Sacrifices

Neglecting Family and Freedom

As the Hokage, one’s duty to the village frequently requires giving up personal time and experiences. This sacrifice significantly affects Naruto’s relationship with his children, particularly Boruto, as he often misses out on quality moments with them. Ironically, the man who once yearned for recognition and companionship ends up estranged from his own family. Beyond the strained bonds of family, the Hokage also forfeits personal liberty. Their obligations limit their mobility, leaving scarcely any room for self-improvement, training, or leisure activities.

A Hokage is essentially a servant, and whoever assumes this role should behave accordingly, always putting the village’s welfare before their own interests. This can sometimes lead Hokages to make tough decisions when faced with desperate situations, such as Naruto choosing to protect the villagers during Momoshiki’s attack, even though he was the intended target.

Stunted Personal Growth

No Time to Train

Interestingly, taking up the role of Hokage could actually hinder a ninja’s progression. The position requires significant time dedicated to overseeing the village, leaving little opportunity to refine one’s abilities. This is particularly unfortunate for warriors such as Naruto, whose untapped potential for growth is substantial but is held back by the responsibilities of leadership.

Compare this to figures such as Jiraiya, who declined the Hokage position and instead thrived as an autonomous, influential ninja. His life was unfettered by administrative duties, and he may have made a greater impact on the world by mentoring future talents.

A Job for the Old

Not for the Young

Historically, the position of Hokage was often held by veteran ninjas nearing retirement, such as Hiruzen, who could leverage their extensive experience. These elder leaders were less likely to feel remorse about retiring from active service. However, due to the urgent circumstances of past wars, this tradition was not strictly followed. On the other hand, Hokages like Minato and Naruto, who are younger, find themselves in administrative roles instead of fighting on the battlefield where they could potentially defend their village more effectively.

Recognition Without Fulfillment

For Naruto, the dream of becoming Hokage was rooted in his desire for acknowledgement and love from the villagers. While he achieved that, the reality fell short of his expectations. Recognition doesn’t equate to happiness or fulfillment, especially when the cost is personal sacrifice and overwhelming responsibility. While it could be argued that the need for a Hokage is a must for the Hidden Leaf Village, it’s still an extremely merciless role. The actions have consequences, huge ones concerning the future of the village, not just the Hokage, and for most, such a burden can be suffocating.

In Naruto, the tension was consistently high due to significant challenges, but in Boruto, there’s a contrast as periods of peace can lead some to wonder if a Hokage is truly necessary. For Masashi Kishimoto, maintaining a threatening enemy presence is crucial to ensure that the role of a Hokage remains relevant in a peaceful world.

2024-12-26 21:33