Naruto: 5 Powerful Konoha Ninjas Who Should Have Become the Hokage Instead of Minato Namikaze

Minato Namikaze was the Fourth Hokage of Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf Village, in the Naruto manga and TV series. He was a very powerful shinobi, popularly known for his Flying Thunder God Technique, his incredible speed and strength, earning him the nickname, The Yellow Flash. However, there were other powerful Konoha ninjas during his time who could have also been considered for the position of Hokage.

5 Ninjas Who Should Have Become Hokage Instead of Minato

1. Jiraiya

Jiraiya was a strong, well-respected shinobi who was also impetuous and careless. He was given the chance to become the Hokage, but he declined every time. He believed that he was not suited for the role and could better serve the village by traveling the world and searching for the prophesied child.

Jiraiya would have offered a distinct viewpoint to the position if he had been elected Hokage. He had more knowledge of the dark side of the ninja world and was more skilled than Minato. Additionally, he would have been more inclined to experiment, take chances, and enhance the Hidden Leaf Village.

2. Orochimaru

Orochimaru was a powerful and intelligent shinobi who desired to become Hokage. He was ambitious and vicious, and he was not hesitant to take whatever measure necessary to succeed. He would have been a totally different kind of leader than Minato Namikaze, putting more emphasis on growth and power than on harmony and peace.

Also read: Why Did Naruto Not Take Minato Namikaze’s Name?

The Hidden Leaf Village would’ve probably experienced a difficult time during Orochimaru’s tenure as Hokage. In order to accomplish his objectives, he would have been a more ruthless and ambitious leader who would have been more open to using immoral means. However, the village would have also become strong as a result of his unethical methods.

3. Sakumo Hatake

Sakumo Hatake may have made a more effective Hokage than Minato Namikaze. Sakumo Hatake was regarded as the White Fang of Konoha because of his superb swordsmanship and leadership abilities. He was also a highly esteemed shinobi who relished the respect of both his fellow shinobi and the people. Although Minato was a skilled strategist and a strong shinobi, he was still young and inexperienced.

Hatake, on the other hand, was an experienced combatant who had endured a significant amount of suffering. He was a knowledgeable and kind leader who genuinely cared about his people. However, Hatake was disgraced and ostracized by the village after he chose to save his teammates instead of completing a mission that ended with him taking his own life.

4. Danzō Shimura

Danzō Shimura was one of the most powerful and influential shinobi in the Hidden Leaf Village. He was in charge of Root, a covert unit inside ANBU Black Ops, and was well-versed in the gray aspects of the ninja world. Although he was renowned for his brutal and practical attitude, he was also a very skilled tactician and strategist,

Also read: Despite Leaf Village Antagonizing Him, The 4th Hokage Stood by Naruto’s Side Even After the Nine-Tails was Sealed Within Him

However, Danzō Shimura was a contentious character who thought that he was the only person who could defend the village against its adversaries. In addition, he was prepared to breach the law and take the lives of innocent people, in order to achieve his goals. He could have brought real growth in the village by strengthening the ANBU and deploying furthermore secret ops if selected as Hokage.

5. Fugaku Uchiha

Fugaku Uchiha was a powerful shinobi and a skilled leader. He was also a compassionate man who loved his village and his family very much. He had the potential to be a great Hokage as he had the Mangekyou Sharingan. However, his alliance with the Uchiha clan was the main reason why it was difficult for him to gain the trust and respect of the villagers, especially those who were not Uchiha.

Even though he was a very private and reserved person he would have been able to bridge the gap between the Uchiha clan and the rest of the village which would have led to the village getting more decisive. He could have also led the village through a time of peace and prosperity if not killed by his own son, Itachi Uchiha.