Summary
- Hashirama Senju was the first Hokage, known as the "God of Shinobi," and established Konoha with his dream of world peace.
- Tobirama Senju, Hashirama's brother, became the second Hokage and made significant contributions to Konoha, including the creation of the Academy and Anbu squad.
- Hiruzen Sarutobi served as the third Hokage for a record-breaking forty-two years and trained influential ninjas like Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade.
The Naruto franchise has always centered on its titular character's eagerness to leave behind a grand legacy and become a great ninja, primarily through his ultimate goal of becoming Hokage. In the village of Konohagakure, the Hokage is the primary political leader, with all of the power and responsibility that position implies.
Throughout the anime and manga series, as well as its continuation Boruto, there have been eight official Hokage as well as one notable Hokage candidate with a brief reign of power. Three of these Hokage were dead prior to the start of the series, but all of them have had a great impact on the story and characters of Naruto, while also being impressive ninjas in their own right. Still, the Naruto databooks are vague in specific details about the lives and deaths of some who've reached the level of Hokage, but these are the people who've become the most respected ninja of Konoha over the years.
1 Hashirama Senju Established Konoha And Became The First Hokage
Served as the First Hokage for at Least Seventeen Years
Konohagakure was founded by friendly rivals Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju, with the latter becoming the first Hokage. Hashirama's dream of world peace was a guiding principle throughout Konoha's history, and his position of power comes from his renown as the "God of Shinobi," one of the strongest ninjas in the franchise.
Notably, Hashirama wanted Madara to be the first Hokage, but his brother Tobirama Senju insisted upon a democratic election that led to Hashirama's selection. Although he had many abilities at his disposal, Hashirama was most known for his Wood Release technique that allowed him to manipulate wood and plants. Hashirama would go on to name Tobirama as his successor before his death and later would be temporarily resurrected by Sasuke Uchiha and Orochimaru.
2 Tobirama Senju Became Hokage During The First Shinobi War
Served as the Second Hokage for Three Years
Following Hashirama's death, his brother, Tobirama Senju, was inaugurated as the second Hokage in Konoha's history. Tobirama's time as Hokage was transformative, creating many institutions in the village like the Academy and the Anbu special forces squad, while also placing emphasis on village loyalty over clan loyalty.
The Uchiha clan resisted this shift in ideology, beginning the fateful divide between their clan and Konoha leadership. Almost as powerful as his brother, Tobirama was capable of using many ninja techniques, although he was most known for his Water Release mastery, as well as his invention of the Flying Thunder God Technique. He was resurrected temporarily alongside the other deceased Hokage during the Fourth Shinobi World War.
3 Hiruzen Sarutobi Was Hokage Longer Than Anyone
Severed as the Third Hokage for Forty-Two Years
A student of both previous Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi is known across the ninja world for his versatile power and ability with his signature staff, inheriting Hashirama's nickname "God of Shinobi." Hiruzen was appointed to the Hokage position by Tobirama shortly before his death. The Third Hokage was known for his benevolent leadership style, which he attempted to balance by allowing Danzō Shimura to lead the ruthless Root organization.
As Hokage, Hiruzen also took on the training of Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, hoping that Orochimaru would succeed him as Hokage, but ultimately deciding on Minato Namikaze (a student of Jiraiya's) as his successor upon retirement. After Minato's death, Hiruzen took up the Hokage office again, dying in battle against Orochimaru during the invasion of Konoha in one of the anime's most rewatchable episodes. Later, he was temporarily resurrected by Orochimaru and Sasuke during the Fourth Shinobi World War.
Hiruzen served two terms as Hokage. The first lasting thirty years and the second lasting twelve.
4 Minato's Skills Were So Great, A Generation Was Skipped To Make Him Hokage
Served as the Fourth Hokage for a Year and a Half
When Hiruzen retired, he chose Minato Namikaze, a student of Jiraiya and eventual teacher of Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara, as his successor. Notably, during his time as Hokage, Minato and Kushina Uzumaki had a child, Naruto Uzumaki, on the same night that the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked Konoha.
The Yellow Flash was so feared during the Third Shinobi War that enemy forces were told to retreat if Minato was spotted.
Minato fought off the Nine-Tailed Fox, which had previously been sealed within Kushina, ultimately sealing it in his newborn son before dying. His incredible powers in battle netted him the nickname "Konoha's Yellow Flash," and included his mastery over the Flying Thunder God Technique and the creation of his signature Rasengan, which his son would go on to master. He was the last Hokage temporarily resurrected by Orochimaru and Sasuke during the Fourth Shinobi World War.
5 After Jiraiya Turned Down The Hokage Role A 2nd Time, Tsunade Took The Mantle
Served as The Fifth Hokage for Five Years
The only female Hokage in Naruto is Tsunade, a former student of Hiruzen and peer of Jiraiya and Orochimaru who is known for her strength and mastery of healing abilities. She is the granddaughter of the first Hokage, Hashirama Senju and his wife Mito Uzumaki, as well. Notably, her brother Nawaka and late lover Dan previously had ambitions of becoming Hokage, which endears her to the ambitious Naruto.
Tsunade reluctantly becomes Hokage after Hiruzen's death, needing to be convinced by Jiraiya to take on the role, but she remains in the office for the majority of the series. Her reign is considered bountiful for Konoha, despite the challenges she faced and the fact that she was temporarily put in a coma after Pain's attack. Notably, Tsunade also appointed her apprentice and Dan's niece, Shizune, as an assistant, a position that she remained in for future Hokage.
Tsunade retired from being the Hokage not long after the Fourth Shinobi War.
6 Danzō Shimura Acted As A Temporary Sixth Hokage
He was a stand-in and Hokage candidate for a matter of days before his assassination
Although he was never an official Hokage, Danzō Shimura is notorious for his ruthless reign as the Sixth Hokage candidate when Tsunade was out of commission following Pain's attack on Konoha. Danzō's history extends back to before the beginning of the series, when he created the Anbu subdivision Root, known for its unscrupulous and ruthless tactics.
Although he always had the village's best interests in mind, Danzō was ruthless and sometimes an evil villain throughout Naruto, who believed both Tsunade and Hiruzen had previously led Konoha into a state of weakness. A fearsome ninja, Danzō was skilled at many jutsu and most known for the several Sharingan eyes along his arm, which were also imbued with Hashirama's DNA. At the Kage Summit, Danzō represented Konoha and called for Sasuke's execution, although he died in battle against Sasuke and Tobi.
7 Kakashi Hatake's Efforts Earned Him The Role Of Official Sixth Hokage
Served as the Sixth Hokage for Thirteen Years
At the end of Naruto's run, Tsunade retired from the role of Hokage following the Fourth Shinobi World War, naming Naruto's teacher and Minato's student Kakashi as the Sixth Hokage. Known for his Sharingan eye and mastery of lightning-based jutsu, Kakashi is a powerful ninja whose ideology is centered on cooperation to build a better future for Konoha.
Kakashi's reign as Hokage occurred during the most peaceful time in Konoha's history.
Kakashi's previous service to Konoha includes his time as an Anbu agent and his close relationship as an advisor to Tsunade during her time in office. Although he is initially overwhelmed by taking on the role of Hokage, Tsunade helps ease him into it, and his reign is focused on building a better world for the future, specifically Naruto's generation. At the beginning of Boruto, Kakashi has retired as Hokage and named his former student Naruto as the Seventh Hokage.
8 Naruto Uzumaki Made His Hokage Dream Come True
Served as the Seventh Hokage for Eight Years
After saving the world and making many self-proclamations, Naruto Uzumaki himself became the Seventh Hokage. As the son of Minato and a student of Kakashi, Naruto was primed to achieve his lifelong dream of becoming Hokage, as he is seen as one of the strongest ninjas in the world following his role in the Fourth Shinobi World War.
Upon Kakashi's retirement, he bequeaths the office of Hokage to Naruto, who has more than proven himself as a powerful ninja and the "Hero of the Hidden Leaf." This master of Shadow Clone Jutsu and Rasengan has had a challenging reign as Hokage, much like Tsunade's, with enemies like the Ōtsutsuki Clan and Kara creating problems. Unfortunately, his tenure as Hokage was cut short after he and Hinata were sealed away in an alternate dimension by his adopted son Kawaki.
9 Shikamaru Nara Became Hokage After Naruto's Disappearance
Has been serving as the Eighth Hokage for three years
Shikamaru acted as Hokage Naruto's chief aide until he was given the role of the eighth Hokage after Kawaki sealed Naruto away. The memories of most of the world's population, including Shikamaru's, were altered to believe that Boruto killed Naruto. Still, the head of the Nara clan's vast intelligence has served him well throughout Naruto, and it continues to play a significant role in the events of Boruto. Shikamaru has not displayed a large variety of jutsu. Still, his ability to control shadows has proven strong enough to restrain god-like enemies, which has proven deadly when combined with his ability to plan and think quickly.
Although the Village Hidden in the Leaves has produced dozens of world-renowned ninjas, only a handful have attained the highest rank of Hokage, the most respected Ninja in the land. Besides usually being the most powerful warrior, the role includes a lot of paperwork and political action to keep the village safe and thriving. Characters like Naruto's rival, Sarutobi Konohamaru, and Sasuke's daughter, Uchiha Sarada, are likely to become the village's next Hokages someday. Still, time will tell if the Naruto world will continue to need a Hokage by the time the Boruto storyline ends.
Read the Boruto manga on Manga Plus and Viz Media.