It’s Time To Admit That Naruto Uzumaki Should Not Be Konoha’s Hokage

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This article contains spoilers from the Naruto series.

Naruto Uzumaki is a hugely popular anime character and the main hero of the Naruto series. He’s inspired people worldwide with his determination, unwavering spirit, and ability to overcome challenges. Fans love Naruto and find his dream of becoming the Hokage incredibly motivating.

After a difficult and lengthy path, Naruto Uzumaki ultimately achieved his dream of becoming the Hokage of Konoha. He became the Seventh Hokage many years after the Fourth Great Ninja War, and remains in that position today. However, some believe Naruto shouldn’t be Hokage. Although he’s strong enough for the role, it prevents him from fully utilizing his other skills, and he might be better off not being Hokage at all.

Naruto Uzumaki Has Been Cast Aside In Boruto As Hokage

  • Naruto Is Wasted Away In The Hokage Office
  • Fans Want Him To Get More Attention

Becoming Hokage is the greatest achievement a ninja from Konoha can attain. Ninjas typically progress through the ranks of Genin, then Chunin, and finally Jonin. The Kage are a select group of the strongest ninjas in a village. They need incredible power, a high level of maturity, and a strong commitment to protecting others. Essentially, the Hokage is the village leader and guardian, responsible for the safety and well-being of everyone, treating them like family.

This isn’t the story of a boy dreaming of becoming Hokage. That was my father’s journey. This is my own story—the story of Boruto Uzumaki, as told in the first chapter of Boruto.

Naruto Uzumaki is everything a village could want in a leader. He was the strongest ninja the village had seen for a long time, and truly lived by the village’s core values, seeing all its people as his family.

Becoming Hokage has unfortunately diminished Naruto’s fighting abilities. The Boruto series clearly shows that Naruto has become out of practice, which is unacceptable for the village’s strongest warrior. His fight against Shin Uchiha demonstrated this – despite his immense power, he was easily injured by a relatively weak opponent. Kurama even pointed out that Naruto had grown rusty and needed to train. Throughout Boruto, Kurama repeatedly urged him to improve. While Naruto still manages to win when it counts, like in battles against Momoshiki and Ishiki, the fact remains that he’s no longer at his peak physical condition, and that’s a significant problem.

Naruto Is The World’s Strongest, And He Needs To Be More Active

As a lifelong ninja enthusiast, I truly believe the strongest among us should always be leading the charge – it’s just common sense! And honestly, the ninja world has flipped on its head in the last twenty years. We’re not dealing with simple infiltration missions anymore. Back in the day, a skilled Jonin could handle most threats, but now? We’re talking about god-like aliens – the Otsutsuki – and potentially even the Shinju! Let’s be real, your average Jonin or Chunin just isn’t equipped to handle that level of power. It’s a whole new ballgame.

I’ve been watching the new generation, and while a few like Sarada, Boruto, and Kawaki show real promise against these emerging threats, most of them just aren’t equipped to handle it. That’s why it feels so important to have experienced fighters like Naruto leading the charge, even if it means he has to step back from being Hokage. Protecting everyone needs to come first, no matter the cost.

This power is incredible – it should be far stronger than anything he possesses. However, there’s a significant cost. The ability draws on our life force, and because our chakra is linked, any power gained also reduces his lifespan when we use it. That’s the essence of Baryon Mode. — Kurama to Naruto Uzumaki

Naruto wouldn’t be best suited as Hokage stuck behind a desk. He’s a natural leader who should be actively training, fighting on the front lines, and inspiring the next generation through action – that’s how a true leader makes a difference.

While Naruto undeniably deserves to be Hokage – and is arguably the best one ever – he’d be more effective tackling larger global threats if he stepped down from the position. Someone with stronger diplomatic skills, like Shikamaru Nara, would be better suited to handle the day-to-day responsibilities of the Hokage, allowing Naruto to focus on more pressing issues.

Naruto’s Best Moments Come Outside The Hokage Office

Image from Studio Pierrot
  • Naruto Saved The World Without Being Hokage
  • His True Powers Shine On The Battlefield

It’s clear that the most exciting parts of the Naruto series happen when he’s not stuck in the Hokage’s office. Being Hokage actually limits what Naruto can do, and this is true for most of the Kage – they rarely get to be actively involved unless the village is under attack or at war. While this suits the supporting characters well enough, it doesn’t give Naruto the chance to truly shine.

Naruto was at his best when actively fighting in the original series, rather than being stuck behind a desk. Similarly, in Boruto, his most impactful moments happened when he stepped away from administrative duties and personally intervened, even when others, like Shikamaru, thought it was a bad idea.

Naruto is a natural leader who prefers direct action, but village politics have stuck him with a lot of administrative work. Many fans, and Naruto himself, would likely be happier if he stepped down as Hokage and focused on something else, similar to how Sasuke has operated for years.

Fans Hope For Naruto To Return To The Frontlines In The Future

Image by Studio Pierrot

Eventually, Naruto Uzumaki is expected to return to the village. While his return isn’t immediate, it’s likely to happen in the future. When he does return, it would be best for Konohamaru to become the next Hokage, or for Shikamaru to remain in the position. Naruto, however, should focus on being a powerful, frontline ninja who actively participates in important missions and battles.

Watching Naruto now, it’s clear he needs a change. I think if he and Sasuke teamed up without the weight of the Hokage position, they could really take on the biggest threats – and fans would go wild for it. Being Hokage is a huge honor, no doubt, but it’s actually holding Naruto back. Honestly, I don’t think he should become Hokage when he returns. I know that’s tough to hear, but I believe it would actually add a lot more depth to his story.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is the continuation of the Boruto story, created by Mikio Ikemoto and overseen by Masashi Kishimoto. It picks up three years after the events of the Omnipotence arc, following Boruto Uzumaki as he tries to protect the world and navigate his relationship with Kawaki. Chapter 30 is scheduled to be released on January 20, 2026, at 10 AM EST / 3 PM UTC. Fans can read it for free on the Manga Plus and Shonen Jump apps.

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2026-01-02 23:35