Naruto: Would Itachi have been a good Hokage?

In the Naruto series, there are very few characters who are as complex, tragic, and beloved as Itachi Uchiha. Initially introduced as a villain for being responsible for the massacre of his clan, Itachi's true motivations and the reason behind his actions were only fully revealed much later in the series.

Given his intelligence, power, and self-sacrificial nature, many fans have speculated on the possibility of him being a good Hokage if given a chance, but no one has a definite answer to this question. To find an answer to this, let us explore his personality and his leadership style.

From a young age, Itachi was a prodigy. He had already graduated from the Ninja Academy at the top of his class, became a Chunin at ten, and joined the ANBU Black Ops by eleven. Itachi’s foresight was remarkable, which can be seen as he infiltrated Akatsuki, a criminal organization in Naruto, or set long-term genjutsu traps like Izanami and Kotoamatsukami. He had the mental fortitude to assess any situation in front of him, regardless of its complexity, and come up with viable solutions for it.

During his whole lifetime, Itachi never made any selfish decisions. It is seen that he never puts his own desires above the good of the village. The members of Konoha followed the philosophy of Will of Fire in Naruto, which states that one should be selfless and love the village.

Itachi embodied this philosophy and lived by it. He bore the hatred of his clan and village to prevent a civil war to the extent that he accepted being labeled as a wanted criminal by the rest of the world. And all of this was just to protect peace.

Despite being emotionally repressed due to trauma, Itachi had a way of understanding people. He was diplomatic, choosing negotiation over violence when possible. He tried to avoid war by taking the burden onto himself, even if it meant playing the villain. All of these traits make a compelling case in favor of him being a good Hokage, if that ever was a possibility.

Because let’s summarise what makes a good Hokage in Naruto, they are someone who can think several steps ahead, should be loyal and ready to self-sacrifice, and finally should have the capacity to manage conflict, suppress one’s ego by looking at the bigger picture would be incredibly valuable. All of these traits closely align with Itachi’s personality and the way he chooses to live his life.

Despite all these above points, he has several major weaknesses. One of the biggest obstacles to Itachi’s potential as Hokage was his health. Itachi suffered from a terminal illness that left him coughing up blood and physically weakened, especially in his later years. Even if he was the best candidate, Itachi would not have been alive for long; therefore, his time as Hokage would be limited.

Also, his past of massacring his clan keeps on haunting him and has emotionally scarred him for life. Itachi's past might hinder his decision-making, particularly if situations arose that mirrored his traumas.

And finally, we know he liked working in the shadows and never went after looking for fame and power. His methods were aligned more with ANBU or black-ops missions than the diplomacy and politics that come with being Hokage.

The Uchiha Clan and Itachi’s Role in Their Tragic Fate in

Naruto

The Uchiha Clan was one of the founding clans of the Hidden Leaf Village in Naruto. They were admired for their Sharingan and feared for their potential. Soon, the fear of their potential grew in the hearts of others, which led them to isolate them. After being ignored and stripped of their dignity, a feeling of resentment and a desire to reclaim their dignity was born.

In the middle of all this chaos, we had Itachi Uchiha in Naruto, a prodigy ninja and an ANBU Black Ops captain by age 13. He was told to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders. Being stuck in the middle of politics, Itachi managed to look between them and understand that taking no action would result in civil war.

Even after approaching the higher-ups of Konoha — including Danzo- he finally made a heart-wrenching decision. It was decided that he would annihilate his clan to protect the village from potential war. The only condition was that his younger brother, Sasuke, be spared.

After these events unfolded and eventually Itachi also passed away, his influence did not end with his death. After learning the truth about his brother’s sacrifice, Sasuke and Naruto rebuild Konoha by making it more transparent and uniting the Hidden Leaf.

Trending

In conclusion, to answer the question of Itachi, a good Hokage has no concrete answers. To this day, fans have been speculating about the outcome. Maybe if the author had explored his story differently and given him a chance, then there is a slight possibility, given his strength, that he could have been a good leader.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback