It’s Time To Leave Naruto Behind, And Accept Konoha’s Next Hokage

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This article contains spoilers for the Boruto series.

Naruto Uzumaki is a central figure in the world of shonen anime, and he’s truly the heart of the Naruto series. From the beginning, his biggest goal was to become the leader of his village, the Hokage, and that ambition fueled his incredible journey. This is why so many fans connected with the story – his unwavering determination and resilience were truly inspiring. Naruto became a symbol of perseverance, and he’s still known today as the embodiment of never giving up.

The Boruto series shows a significant shift for Naruto Uzumaki, and many fans feel he’s no longer the central figure he once was. He’s been sidelined for much of the recent storyline, even as Hokage, and it’s unlikely he’ll regain that importance in future arcs. Konoha has continued to develop without him, signaling the need for a new Hokage. While Shikamaru is currently serving as an interim leader, Konoha needs to choose a powerful successor to take on the role permanently.

Konoha Deserves A Legendary Hokage After Naruto Uzumaki

Image via studio Pierrot.
  • Naruto Uzumaki won’t return anytime soon in Boruto
  • Konoha needs a new Hokage immediately

The Hokage is widely recognized as the most powerful ninja in their village, but strength isn’t the only requirement. A Hokage is also a village’s most valuable leader, needing both a calm demeanor and strong diplomatic skills. They constantly interact with other leaders and, most importantly, must prioritize protecting and understanding the villagers. A true Hokage always puts the needs of the people first.

I can already tell, Naruto Uzumaki is alive, isn’t he? Your reaction tells me so! — Jura to Kawaki

Leaders like Hiruzen have always emphasized the importance of protecting loved ones, and this principle – known as the Will of Fire – was key to Naruto becoming a great Hokage. While Naruto wasn’t naturally gifted at diplomacy, he developed that skill over time. Ultimately, his biggest strength was his kind heart and the Will of Fire he inherited from the Third Hokage.

Naruto Uzumaki is remembered as the greatest Hokage, always risking everything to protect his village. Now that his time as Hokage is over, a new leader has emerged. In Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, Shikamaru Nara was named the next Hokage, but many fans find him to be an underwhelming choice.

Shikamaru Is The Temporary Hokage Of Konoha

The start of Boruto: Part 2 surprised many fans when Shikamaru became the new Hokage. While incredibly intelligent, Shikamaru isn’t known for his physical strength, and many believe a Hokage needs more than just smarts. Some fans feel Sakura Haruno would have been a stronger candidate, but the series seems to have overlooked her potential.

Shikamaru, you can’t avoid becoming Hokage forever. Eventually, you’ll have to accept the role permanently. — Daimyo to Shikamaru

It’s obvious Shikamaru became a leader mainly because he used to advise Naruto. The village likely appointed him as a temporary leader, believing he understood Naruto’s vision best. However, the Boruto series has made it clear that Shikamaru isn’t intended to be the permanent Hokage; he’s simply filling in temporarily and will continue to do so for now.

Shikamaru hasn’t yet had his face added to the Hokage monument, and it’s unlikely he will soon. While he believes Naruto is still alive and will eventually return, it will probably be too late to help the village. It’s been three years since Naruto disappeared, and Konoha needs a leader now. The Boruto series will soon introduce a new Hokage, who is expected to be the permanent Eighth Hokage.

Konohamaru Sarutobi Could Be Konoha’s Next Hokage

  • Konohamaru was set up as the next Hokage
  • Sarada will likely follow him

Considering how the story of Boruto has developed, Konohamaru Sarutobi is the most likely candidate to become the next Hokage. He’s dreamed of holding that position for years, originally hoping to be the Seventh Hokage, anticipating Naruto would be the Sixth. While Naruto ultimately became the Seventh, it now seems Konohamaru’s time to become the Eighth Hokage has come. Failing that, a significant part of his character arc – one that has been built since the beginning of the series – would feel unfulfilled.

Konohamaru needs to become Hokage, no matter what, to give his story meaning. Sadly, the Boruto series hasn’t treated his character well, and he rarely gets the spotlight he deserves. While this is a valid criticism of the series, it doesn’t change the fact that he deserves to be the next leader when the time comes to choose the Eighth Hokage, regardless of the writing quality he receives.

Naruto Likely Won’t Be Hokage Again

Image from Studio Pierrot

A lot of fans aren’t ready for a new Eighth Hokage just yet, and it’s easy to understand why. While most expect Naruto Uzumaki to return to the story and potentially reclaim his role as Seventh Hokage, it’s important to accept that he won’t be leading as Hokage again. This is because his return will likely happen near the story’s end, by which time Sarada will be nearing her own time as Hokage. This also suggests that Konohamaru will have already served as Hokage by then.

Given Naruto’s age, if he remained Hokage for much longer it wouldn’t make sense for the story to progress and allow new leaders to emerge. It seems Konohamaru will likely become Hokage now, meaning Naruto won’t return to the position. Though some fans might be disappointed, this is a positive change. Naruto truly shines when he’s actively involved in battles and missions, and this allows him to focus on that strength.

Naruto is a natural fighter, and forcing him to do office work is a waste of his talent. He originally wanted to become Hokage to earn the respect of others, but he’s already achieved that – people all over the world admire and love him. He’s outgrown the need for the Hokage title and should focus on what he does best: training, fighting, and protecting the world.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is the continuation of the Boruto story, created by Mikio Ikemoto and overseen by Masashi Kishimoto. The series picks up three years after a major event and centers on Boruto Uzumaki’s efforts to protect the world, alongside his brother 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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2026-01-13 23:40