Why being Hokage is actually a terrible career goal

Summary

• The role of the Hokage is mostly paperwork, not heroism.

• The job requires assassination attempts, risking early death.

• Personal sacrifices such as neglecting his family hinder the Hokage's growth and freedom.

Being Hokage is the pinnacle of ninja achievement in the Naruto series, a title full of honor and responsibility. Many characters aspire to this role, including Naruto Uzumaki, whose dream of becoming Hokage is a central theme of the series. But is being Hokage really as rewarding as it is made out to be?

Stripping away the grandeur, the position comes with a myriad of downsides, many of which make it a less than ideal career goal. Yes, the occasional battle is high-end, but when you focus on what the Hokage mostly does, it's clear that it's more desk work than hero play.

A mountain of paperwork

Literal brain rot

The romanticized image of the Hokage as a heroic protector masks 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 endless administrative tasks (despite using shadow clones to share the load), often neglecting his family.

This is not only tedious, but also inefficient. The Hokage is probably the strongest ninja in the village, but their power is wasted signing documents instead of defending the village. One can't help but wonder why there isn't a better delegation system. Even in a prehistoric society, this would mean that one figure controls all the muscles and the other becomes the brain. In other words, a separate military and management structure.

Primary target for assassination

As Hokage, one paints a massive target on their backs. The enemies of the village will see them as the ultimate prize, and neutralizing this target is their fastest route to destabilizing the Leaf Village.

History proves it repeatedly:

A Hokage career doesn't just mean risking your life – it practically guarantees an early grave.

Personal sacrifices

Neglect of family and freedom

The Hokage's responsibility to the village often comes at the expense of their personal lives. Naruto's relationship with his children, especially Boruto, suffers immensely due to his inability to spend quality time with them. The very man who once sought recognition and connection ends up isolated from his own family. In addition to his family, the Hokage also sacrifices his freedom. Their movement is restricted by responsibilities, leaving little time for personal growth, training or even relaxation.

The Hokage is ultimately a vassal, and the person occupying the role must act accordingly, keeping the interests of the village above their own. This often forces Hokages to make not so good decisions when desperation strikes. For example, Naruto had to protect the citizens during Momoshiki's attack, even though they were targeting him the whole time.

Stunted personal growth

No time to train

Ironically, becoming Hokage can stop a ninja's development. The job requires time spent managing the village, leaving little room for skill improvement. This is especially tragic for warriors like Naruto, whose potential for further growth is vast but limited by the responsibilities of leadership.

Contrast this with characters like Jiraiya, who eschewed the role of Hokage and continued to grow as a strong, independent ninja. He lived freely, unencumbered by bureaucracy, and probably contributed more to the world by training the next generation.

Jobs for the old

Not for the Young

Traditionally, the role of Hokage was better suited to seasoned ninja nearing the end of their careers, such as Hiruzen. Older leaders could bring decades of experience and were less likely to regret leaving active duty. However, this has not happened due to the terrible nature of wars in the past. In contrast, younger Hokages like Minato and Naruto are robbed of their prime years, forced into administrative duties when they could be more effectively protecting the village on the front lines.

Recognition without fulfillment

For Naruto, the dream of becoming Hokage was rooted in his desire for recognition and love from the villagers. Even when he achieved this, the reality fell short of his expectations. Recognition does not equate to happiness or fulfillment, especially when it comes at the price of personal sacrifice and overwhelming responsibility. While one could argue that the need for a Hokage is a necessity for the Hidden Leaf Village, it's still an extremely unforgiving role. Actions have consequences, huge ones, regarding the future of the village, not just the Hokage, and for most, such a burden can be suffocating.

In addition, when you are in Narutothe stakes were always high, that can't be said in Borutowhere a period of peace can make people question the need for a Hokage. For Masashi Kishimoto, the only prevention is to constantly introduce stronger enemies, otherwise a peaceful world does not force anyone to become Hokage.