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The mantle of Hokage has remained a revered position throughout theNarutoseries. However, fans argue that this position has lost all meaning and reverence in theBorutoseries. These critiques largely stem fromShikamaru Nara’s rise to power as the 8th Hokageafter Naruto Uzumaki was sealed away in Daikokuten’s dimension by Kawaki. With Shikamaru being Naruto’s advisor, he was the logical replacement for Naruto as the next Hokage.
However, many disagree with Shikamaru taking up the mantle, considering he isn’t exactly known for his strength. Moreover, he barely comes close to any of the strongest characters inBoruto. Still, the events inBoruto: Two Blue Vortexhave showcased that Shikamaru has considerable potential, coupled with the fact that he is arguably the smartest character in all ofNaruto. Despite his reign being marked with troubles, Shikamaru has proven that strength isn’t the only aspect of being a great Hokage, as strategy and intellect have played a significant role in his leadership.
Release Date
July 11, 2025
Shikamaru Nara’s sudden rise to power took many by surprise, since none had expected him to take up the mantle after Naruto’s disappearance. With other powerful characters, such as Kakashi, Sasuke, and even Sakura, Shikamaru Nara wasn’t exactly the best contender for a position that primarily requires brute strength. However, fans were taken by surprise after he wasrevealed to be the 8th Hokage, right after Naruto was supposedly thought to be killed.
While it’s safe to say that there would have surely been objections against Shikamaru’s taking control, the conditions he took power in were riddled with turmoil. With the previous Hokage thought to be dead, coupled with the antagonistic threats running rampant, Konoha didn’t have many potential options other than passing on the title to the Hokage’s aide. With the entire world under Omnipotence’s effect, coupled with Boruto being branded a killer and on the run, Shikamaru’s reign as Hokage was off to a terrible start. Moreover, Shikamaru has never exactly been known to be powerful in combat, making him a less preferable choice as Hokage during a time when the threat of shinobi with Karma Marks andShinju Clones run rampant.
How Shikamaru Proved Himself Worthy of the Mantle of Hokage
The 8th Hokage Has Shown Considerable Promise
For the first time in Konoha’s history, a Hokage has been elected who isn’t the strongest shinobi in the entire village, making the 8th Hokage rather controversial. Moreover,Shikamaru is not only the weakest Hokageso far, but also the weakest Kage in the history of the shinobi world. With such a status already haunting his reign, Shikamaru had to prove himself worthy of being the Hokage. However, in an era of crisis after crisis, this was no easy feat for Shikamaru. From leading a nation that was grieving its former leader, to tackling the threats of Code and the Shinju clones, Shikamaru arguably has it the worst compared to all the previous Hokage in the Naruto series. Under such circumstances, it was almost impossible for Shikamaru to prove himself worthy of being the Hokage.
However, looking at the current situation of the shinobi world, it’s safe to say that Shikamaru has done a somewhat decent job at keeping Konoha under control, along with quelling any threats so far. While Boruto was already considered a massive threat to the villagedue to Omnipotence’s effects, the actual threat to Konoha came after the introduction of the Shinju clones. However, Shikamaru has so far been able to deal with the threat by coming up with several calculating strategies and using the Leaf’s shinobi to do his bidding for him. His plan to deal with the Shinju Clones by offering them a false sense of safety is the perfect example of how Shikamaru is willing to go to any lengths to keep Konoha safe.
Regarding your mission… I have a particular strategy in mind for how to fight them, based on the intel.
This is certainly unconventional for the position of a Hokage, considering most of these strategic decisions are made by the Hokage’s advisor. However, Shikamaru has redefined the role of Hokage by turning the symbol of strength into the brains of the village. This goes against how the ninja world has been functioning so far, making his style of leadership rather novel forthe Hidden Leaf Village. So far, Shikamaru has been able to successfully deal with the threat of the Shinju Clones, though Jura still remains a potential threat to Konoha’s safety. In an era of constant turmoil and uncertainty, Shikamaru has kept his nation grounded and under control, a feat that he rarely gets credit for.
Shikamaru’s Reign as Hokage Was Initially Plagued By Several Issues
Right from the very beginning, Shikamaru had all odds stacked against him as the new Hokage. The first and foremost issue with him taking the reign stems from the fact that he was always going to be overshadowed by Naruto’s reign. With Naruto boasting the status ofbeing a god among shinobi, coupled with being a well-loved figure in the village, matching up to such a status is arguably impossible, and that too for such a controlled and calculating person as Shikamaru.
Filling in Naruto’s shoes is already an impossible task, yet Shikamaru had no other choice but to go forward with taking up this position. This already sets Shikamaru at a disadvantage, as he will always be compared to Naruto, both in terms of power and his leadership. Moreover, Shikamaru’s strength is another aspect that makes him the least popular Hokage, especially in the viewers' opinions. Many believe that other characters, such as Sakura or Kakashi, could have been a better choice for the position of Hokage, further cutting down his popularity.
A Parallel to the Second Hokage
Shikamaru’s Reign Is Similar to Tobirama
Shikamaru’s rise to power might be quite controversial, yet it’s worth noting that his reign over the Hidden Leaf has many parallels to the second Hokage. Tobirama Senjucame into power after Hashirama Senju, the first Hokage, mysteriously died in battle. Tobirama was initially Hashirama’s advisor, yet he took on the mantle of Hokage after his brother’s demise. In a way, Shikamaru’s situation is quite similar, since he only played the role of the Hokage’s advisor, yet he was forced to take on the role of the Konoha’s leader after Naruto disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
Moreover, the two characters were known to be geniuses of their times. Tobirama was never exactly known for his raw power, as his true strength lay in his genius intellect, battle strategy, and sharp wits. He was the pioneer of several new policies in Konoha, including the introduction of the Konoha Police Force and the academy system that the village still follows. Shikamaru’s character is in a similar boat, as his primary strength lies in his genius intellect, which he has used so far to concoct strategies to defend his village. While it’s true thatTobirama possessed a considerable amount of strengthas well, he was still overshadowed by Hashirama’s menacing power, making him more of a strategic powerhouse. This comparison clearly shows that, despite possessing limited power, Shikamaru can still serve as an influential leader.
