The Legacy of the Hokage: A Look at the Successors of Hiruzen Sarutobi

Initially, Asuma Sarutobi had a strained relationship with Hiruzen Sarutobi, also known as the Third Hokage. In fact, it was quite rare for them to have conversations, and even more uncommon for them to meet face-to-face, despite their familial ties.

Due to the issues surrounding his father, Asuma eventually left Konoha and became a member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja of the Land of Fire.

When Hiruzen died, Asuma went to the memorial and apologized for his past actions leading up to that moment. He also expressed regret for the time he spent away from Konoha. This culminated in Asuma feeling a sense of pride for being born into the Sarutobi family.

2. Konohamaru Sarutobi

Konohamaru is the grandson of Hiruzen Sarutobi. From the beginning of the Naruto series, we were introduced to this character, who always tried to impress Hiruzen. Konohamaru wanted to be called “Konohamaru” and not just “the grandson of the Hokage”; he disliked being defined solely by his lineage. Because of this, he actively sought to surpass Hiruzen and eventually become Hokage himself.

Later, Konohamaru became a student of Naruto after realizing that Naruto had succeeded in “defeating” Hiruzen using the Oiroke no Jutsu technique.

3. Tsunade

Initially, the legacy of the Hokage also extended to the granddaughter of the Third Hokage, Tsunade. The reason is not just because she was the granddaughter of a Hokage, but because all Hokage are remembered for their contributions and achievements, and Tsunade is no exception.

When meeting Naruto and Jiraiya, Tsunade often refused to accept requests to become Hokage due to her past. She believed that being a Hokage meant carrying the burden of loss, which often ended tragically. Additionally, she regarded those who aspired to become Hokage as foolish, a notion that frustrated Naruto.

4. Uzumaki Naruto

In one of the filler episodes titled “What if Minato and Kushina were still alive?”, Naruto’s character development remained unchanged! Even though the context of having both parents is different, Naruto still shares similarities with Boruto in this series, primarily because he is the son of the Hokage, unlike Boruto, who feels overshadowed by his father.

Despite being a Hokage’s son, Naruto experienced considerable disdain from the villagers; however, due to his father’s status, he garnered respect from them. This event occurs in episode 432 during the Mugen Tsukuyomi dream sequence, where Naruto is depicted in a critical light.

5. Boruto Uzumaki

Boruto resents his father for being Hokage and has no desire to follow in his footsteps. The reason for this is that Naruto, as Hokage, is often absent, leaving him with little time to spend with Boruto. Similar to Konohamaru, Boruto also does not want to be viewed merely as the grandson of a Hokage or as the son of the current Hokage.