Every Hokage of Konoha: From the First to the Seventh
1231 words | Reading time: 7 min
CharacterHokageKonoha
Seven Hokage… and an eighth name that keeps coming up by mistake. The guide first explains what a Hokage is, the leader of the Hidden Leaf Village, then goes through the seven title-holders in order: Hashirama Senju the founder, nicknamed the God of Shinobi, Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen Sarutobi the Professor, Minato Namikaze the Yellow Flash… all the way to Naruto. Clans, nicknames and transitions of power are detailed, as is the case of Danzo, a candidate never sworn in.
Seven ninja have held the title of Hokage, the leader of the Hidden Leaf Village — not counting an eighth name that often comes up, wrongly. From the founder Hashirama to Naruto, here are all the Hokage of Konoha in order, their clan, and how each one received and then passed on the hat.
Contents
What Is a Hokage?
The Hokage is the most respected ninja in Konoha, both the leader of the village and the guarantor of its protection. The title is handed down from generation to generation, most often awarded by the sitting Hokage or by the advisors, the successor being recognized for his strength and his devotion to the " Will of Fire”.
The Fifth Hokage Tsunade, alongside the slug Katsuyu: a figure for fans of the legendary medical ninja.
The Seven Hokage in Order
- 1st — Hashirama Senju. Co-founder of Konoha with Madara Uchiha, nicknamed the "God of Shinobi" and the only master of Wood Release (Mokuton). The cause of his death was never spelled out by Kishimoto.
- 2nd — Tobirama Senju, Hashirama's younger brother. He received the title on his brother's death and died fighting the Kinkaku Force of Kumogakure, after designating his successor.
- 3rd — Hiruzen Sarutobi, master of the Legendary Sannin. Designated by Tobirama, he served two terms (he took the post back after the death of Minato) and died fighting Orochimaru during the invasion of Konoha.
- 4th — Minato Namikaze, "Konoha's Yellow Flash" and creator of the Rasengan. Chosen by Hiruzen, he died sealing the Nine-Tailed Fox inside his son, Naruto.
- 5th — Tsunade, Hashirama's granddaughter and one of the Legendary Sannin. Recruited by Jiraiya after the death of Hiruzen, she fell into a coma after Pain's assault, then stepped down at the end of the war.
- 6th — Kakashi Hatake, Minato's student and leader of Team 7. Designated by Tsunade after the Fourth Great Ninja War , he then passed the title on to Naruto.
- 7th — Naruto Uzumaki, hero of the war and son of Minato. He finally fulfills his childhood dream and leads the village during the Boruto era.
⚡ Show your allegiance to the village with our Naruto headbands stamped with the symbol of Konoha.
The Danzo Case: A Candidate Who Never Took Office
You sometimes read that Danzo Shimura, the head of Root, was the "Sixth Hokage". That is inaccurate. During Tsunade's coma, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire named him candidate for the post of Sixth Hokage, but Danzo was never officially sworn in: he left the Five Kage Summit and died facing Sasuke before any investiture. In the official numbering, it is indeed Kakashi who remains the Sixth Hokage.
Summary Table
| Rank | Hokage | Clan / nickname |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Hashirama Senju | Senju Clan — "God of Shinobi" |
| 2nd | Tobirama Senju | Senju Clan |
| 3rd | Hiruzen Sarutobi | Sarutobi Clan — "the Professor" |
| 4th | Minato Namikaze | "Konoha's Yellow Flash" |
| 5th | Tsunade | Senju Clan — Sannin medical ninja |
| 6th | Kakashi Hatake | Hatake Clan — "the Copy Ninja" |
| 7th | Naruto Uzumaki | Uzumaki Clan — hero of the Fourth Great Ninja War |
| — | Danzo Shimura | Sixth Hokage candidate, never sworn in |
The forehead protector engraved with the symbol of Konoha: the iconic accessory for stepping into the shoes of a Hidden Leaf ninja.
FAQ
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How many Hokage are there in Naruto?Seven official Hokage follow one another: Hashirama, Tobirama, Hiruzen, Minato, Tsunade, Kakashi, then Naruto. Danzo is sometimes mentioned, but he was only a candidate, never sworn in.
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Who is the First Hokage?Hashirama Senju, co-founder of Konoha with Madara Uchiha and nicknamed the "God of Shinobi". He is Tsunade's grandfather.
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Was Danzo really the Sixth Hokage?No. He was named a candidate for the post during Tsunade's coma, but he was never officially sworn in. The recognized Sixth Hokage is Kakashi Hatake.
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How do you become Hokage?The title is most often handed down by the sitting Hokage or awarded by the advisors, the successor being chosen for his strength and his devotion to the village.
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Who is the Hokage during Boruto?Naruto Uzumaki, the Seventh Hokage, leads Konoha during the Boruto era, after receiving the title from Kakashi.
In summary
From the founding Senju brothers to Naruto, seven Hokage have shaped Konoha, each passing the "Will of Fire" on to his successor. Danzo, for his part, will remain the candidate who never officially wore the hat.
🛍️ Want to bring together your favorite Hokage? Explore our section of Naruto figures.
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