The Hokage is a title bestowed to the leader of Konoha. They are in charge of upholding the peace and welfare of the village, as well as protecting it from deadly threats.
Currently, Naruto Uzumaki is the Seventh Hokage of Konoha; however, he can only hold the position for a limited period.
Fans already presume Naruto will die soon, or perhaps he doesn’t die but retires or goes out of commission.
Who will succeed him as the eighth Hokage?
Who Will Be The 8th Hokage?
We are yet to know who will succeed Naruto and take over as the 8th Hokage.
Ultimately, the timeline will determine who becomes the new Hokage.
If we assume Naruto’s reign as the Hokage will end soon (as things in the series seem to be heading that way), we can’t expect the new generations to be among the front-runners for the position of the 8th.
The most likely candidates to succeed Naruto if he were to step down from his position today are Shikamaru, Konohamaru, Kakashi, and Sasuke.
4 Potential Characters to Become The 8th Hokage
4. Sasuke Is Strong Enough to Be Hokage
Sasuke is making a solid case to become the next Hokage, even though he may be the most unlikely choice.
Given he is the only shinobi capable of competing head-to-head with Naruto, Sasuke is clearly strong enough to lead the village.
Even if it seems unlikely, Sasuke will make a more than suitable Hokage at this point, given his character’s development as we’ve seen him giving it his all for the sake of the village.
3. Shikamaru Is A Good Fit for Substitute Hokage
Shikamaru has excelled in his duty as the Hokage’s advisor due to his intelligence, making him a qualified candidate for substitute Hokage.
If Naruto were to die or become compromised for whatever reason, the entire village would be in complete disarray and need a skilled alternative to manage things while a new Hokage is appointed.
There is no candidate for the role other than the smart Shikamaru of the Nara Clan.
Shikamaru would have qualified to be appointed the eighth Hokage as he possesses some of the traits a Hokage should have. However, his strength/ prowess isn’t Kage’s level.
Don’t get us wrong; Shikamaru is a strong shinobi; he isn’t just on the level of Naruto and the past Hokage.
2. Kakashi Can Be Reinstated
The events surrounding the third Hokage, Minato, will likely repeat themselves. Whereupon his death, Hiruzen was reinstated as Hokage.
Even if this is mere speculation, there’s a chance that Kakashi can be reinstated if Naruto were to become compromised for whatever reason.
Learn when Kakashi became Hokage!
1. Konohamaru is Naruto’s Protégé And of Hokage’s Blood
Konohamaru is the grandson of Hiruzen, The Third Hokage, and possibly the only student of Naruto, making him Hokage material.
Like Naruto, Konohamaru also shares the dream to become the Hokage someday and has come a long way in pursuing it.
He is one of the strongest jonin in the village, with proficiency in various types of jutsu.
Konohamaru is a clear choice to succeed Naruto, given his aspiration, strength, biological background, and relationship with Naruto.
Read more: All Hokages So Far in Naruto and Boruto (Listed in Order)
Who Will Be The 9th Hokage?
Although we are unsure if the Boruto series will still be airing to have a ninth Hokage, we anticipate that the next generation will be considered for the position.
Boruto and Sarada are the first two candidates that come to mind.
2. Boruto Is The Protagonist Of The Story
As the main protagonist and son of Naruto, It’s only logical to assume Boruto will become the 9th Hokage.
Boruto is a talented young shinobi with god-like power-ups. He has accomplished a great deal at age 12, surpassing Sasuke and Naruto (at that age).
He has demonstrated great potential to emerge as one of the strongest of the next generation and possibly succeed the Hokage.
However, Boruto has no desire to become Hokage.
He said he would like to take a back seat and support the Hokage from behind the scenes like his idol, Sasuke Uchiha.
Fans can’t help but assume things changes later in the series, and he becomes Hokage.
Read more: Boruto vs Naruto: Who Is Stronger?
1. Sarada Is the Ideal Candidate for Hokage
Sarada is the daughter of Sasuke and Sakura, inheriting both their powers, making her stronger than an average genin.
She aspires to become the next Hokage and has demonstrated great promise in that endeavor.
Fans speculate that she will someday awaken the eternal mangekyo sharingan and inherit the strength of a hundred seals.
Overall, Sarada has shown great potential to grow into a powerful character in the series and perhaps even succeed the Hokage.
Read more: Naruto Ranks Explained