The Kage are the most powerful shinobi in Naruto. They are respected for their fighting abilities, intelligence, and leadership ability. The Hokage is an exceptionally prominent figure in the shinobi world, considering the first Hokage founded the first ninja village. A Kage leads each of the great shinobi villages, whether the Hokage, Mizukage, Raikage, Kazekage, or Tsuchikage. Only the strongest and most skilled ninjas can become a Kage, but they must also be great leaders with tactical minds.
Only 26 ninjas have achieved the rank of Kage, and their actions helped to shape the ninja world for decades. Despite how amazing the Kage are, aspects of their characters don’t make sense when held up to a microscope. Some of these inconsistencies are easy for fans to overlook, but other inconsistencies still annoy fans today.
Updated on March 29, 2023, by George Voutiritsas: As talented and as bright as Naruto’s Kage may be, they are still human and make mistakes, opening the door to inconsistencies that can have significant repercussions. Some of these inconsistencies are relatively obvious, but others must be addressed. We’ve updated this list to include even more things about the Kage that make no sense.
15 None Of The Kage Tried To Help The Rain Village
In the past, the great nations fought their wars in the country that housed the Hidden Rain Village, and each war ravaged the area, leaving hundreds of civilians orphaned, displaced, and killed. Each of these wars eventually ended, and the country was forced to rebuild on its own.
None of the Kage aided the nation they helped to destroy, which is terrible, but it is also nonsensical because providing aid would secure an ally that could help in future conflicts. If at least one Kage had helped to stabilize the nation, Pain might not have become a villain.
14 The Third Hokage Never Eliminated Danzo
The Third Hokage led the Leaf Village for decades, and Danzo Shimura worked in the shadows for much of his tenure. The two grew up together, but on at least one occasion, he attempted to have the Third Hokage killed so he could assume the title himself.
Danzo also stopped a peace treaty between the Leaf and Stone Villages and allowed the Uchiha massacre to occur. Under normal circumstances, Danzo’s treacherous actions would get him executed, but the Third Hokage allowed him to live as a village elder. He did this because he believed Danzo really had the Leaf’s interests at heart, but the opposite was clearly true.
13 No One Should Ever Aspire To Be Kazekage
Many ninjas dream of becoming a Kage, including ninjas from the Sand Village, which is odd since the Kazekage title is essentially cursed. So far, there have been a total of five Kazekage, and assassins have killed each of them.
Gaara was technically killed by the Akatsuki, while his father was betrayed and killed by Orochimaru. The Third Kazekage was assassinated by Sasori, and the First and Second Kazekage were both taken out by multiple assassins. Given this trend, Kazekage is the most dangerous title in the world.
12 The Second Hokage Should Never Have Been Controlled By The Edo Tensei
The Edo Tensei reanimates a dead ninja, turning them into immortal fighters with unlimited chakra. It is one of the darkest jutsu in Naruto because the user controls these reanimated ninjas against their will, and it requires a living sacrifice.
The Second Hokage created this jutsu, and he was later controlled by it when Orochimaru brought him back during the Konoha Crush Arc. Apparently, a reanimated ninja can break free of the control if they know the right hand signs. As the creator of the jutsu, the Second Hokage could have freed himself, but he instead allowed himself to be controlled.
11 Every Kage Should Have Been A Jinchuriki
The Tailed Beasts are sentient creatures made of chakra, and for a long time, ninja villages used them as weapons and deterrents. They would be sealed within a living vessel, commonly known as a Jinchuriki, and only three Jinchuriki went on to become Kage: Naruto of the Leaf, Gaara of the Sand, and Yagura of the Mist.
The Kage are considered the strongest and most important ninjas of their respective villages, so it only makes sense that they would have direct access to their village’s greatest military asset. This would make capturing a Jinchuriki far more difficult, and since most Kage are already beloved by their village, innocent children would not have to grow up being feared and feeling ostracized.
10 The Sand Village Shouldn’t Have A Monarchy
While most villages choose a Kage based on their strength, the Sand Village’s power system is more like a monarchy. Only one family is able to become Kazekage, which is partially why Gaara is able to become Kazekage so young.
Considering the Kazekage is supposed to be the strongest Shinobi from the Sand Village, it doesn’t make much sense to limit the Kazekage to one family. There may be stronger or more qualified ninjas outside of Gaara’s family, so limiting the role of Kazekage to one family puts the village in danger.
9 Tsunade Retired Too Soon After The War
Tsunade may not be the strongest Hokage the Leaf Village has ever had, but she is the best by far. She saves hundreds of lives during Pain’s invasion, and she saves even more during the Fourth Great Ninja war. She’s so important to the Leaf Village that it doesn’t make sense for her to step down after the war.
There is a time of peace after the war, but Tsunade’s leadership is still needed, especially while the village is in the recovery process. Tsunade is the one who works beside the other Kage during the war. Bringing in a new Hokage could create trust issues with the other villages.
8 Sasori Miraculously Defeated The Iron Sand Even Though He Is A Puppet
The Third Kazekage is known for being the strongest Kazekage to ever come out of the Sand Village, which makes it all the more strange that he disappeared without a trace. The whereabouts of the Third Kazekage are revealed during the fight between Chiyo, Sakura, and Sasori when he uses the body of the Third as a puppet.
However, it doesn’t make much sense for Sasori to have defeated the Third Kazekage, considering his iron sand attack ruins the joints of puppets and makes them unusable. Sasori is a puppet himself, so he should have lost even if he didn’t rely on his puppets.
7 The Kage Vs. Madara Fight Was A Letdown
Five against one seems like an unfair fight, but in the case of the Kage vs. Madara, the Kage were the ones at a disadvantage. This fight is a letdown for fans who wanted to see the Kage go all-out against a powerful opponent, and the fact that they are defeated so easily by Madara doesn’t make any sense.
Madara may be a powerful shinobi, but the Kage are supposed to be the strongest fighters in the world. If anyone should stand a chance against Madara, it should be them. Naruto may be the main character, but the victory against Madara should have gone to the Kage.
6 The Mizukage Can Get Any Man She Wants
Women often struggle to gain prominent roles in society, and that’s especially true when it comes to the Kage. Very few Kage are women, making it all the more annoying to fans that the Mizukage is obsessed with marriage.
It’s a bad character trait, and it doesn’t make any sense. A strong and beautiful woman like the Mizukage would have men lining up just for the chance to be with her. The idea that she can’t find a man just doesn’t make much sense when the people of her village love and worship her.
5 The Third Hokage Let The Village Treat Naruto Like Garbage
During the first season of Naruto, fans loved the Third Hokage. It’s obvious he cares deeply for his village, which makes his death all the more tragic. However, by the end of the series, it becomes apparent that he isn’t that great at being Hokage, especially when it comes to Naruto’s care.
Naruto’s father, Minato, wanted the village to see Naruto as a hero, but he’s treated like a monster instead, and the Third Hokage doesn’t do anything to stop that. He also leaves Naruto to raise himself, which doesn’t make sense, considering he’s the son of a former Hokage. The Third Hokage is incredibly lucky that Naruto didn’t end up like Gaara; his lack of care would have made it easy for Naruto to go down a darker path.
4 The Raikage’s Tag-Team Partner Should Be An Adult, Not A Child
During the flashback featuring the Raikage and Killer Bee, fans were able to get an idea of how the Cloud Village differs from the Leaf Village, including the fact that every Raikage is given a tag-team partner to fight with in battle. This idea makes a lot of sense, but not the execution.
During the flashback, all of the tag-team candidates are children, which is strange, considering the Raikage is an adult shinobi. It’s no wonder all of the candidates fail to measure up to the Raikage’s power when they are trying to match the strength of an adult. If the Cloud Village wanted someone to match the Raikage in strength, a seasoned shinobi would have been a better fit, not a child.
3 Tsuchikage’s Earth Style Was Too Strong
The Tsuchikage’s particle-style and earth-style jutsu prove to be incredibly useful during the Fourth Great Ninja War. He helps transport the turtle island hiding Naruto and Killer Bee. Plus, thanks to him, the shinobi forces are able to fight against the previous Tsuchikage.
The Tsuchikage even holds off Madara’s meteor attack. However, for many fans, this feat is a lot harder to believe. He may be able to lighten the weight of earth, but stopping a planet-sized rock from hitting his fellow shinobi should be impossible, even if he has Gaara’s help. Madara is able to defeat the Tsuchikage with a second meteor, but the Tsuchikage shouldn’t have been able to stop the first one.
2 Kakashi Personality Doesn’t Suit Being Hokage
Kakashi is one of the strongest shinobi in the Leaf Village, and his reputation as a shinobi has garnered him a good reputation with the other villages. On paper, he makes a perfect successor for Tsunade, but his personality doesn’t actually suit the role.
The Hokage is meant to protect the village, which means they are not allowed to leave the village. Kakashi is a proactive shinobi, so staying on the sidelines while his comrades fight doesn’t suit him. He may have the skill to be a Hokage, but he’s the type of person who likes going on missions with his fellow shinobi. This is probably why he doesn’t stay Hokage for long.
1 The Kage Refused To Broker Peace Before The War
Before the Fourth Great Ninja War, the shinobi villages hate each other. The Sand Village and the Leaf Village are the only Villages that manage to find peace, and even that peace is tentative at best.
Considering how useful an alliance between villages would be, it doesn’t really make sense that the Kage would fight against an alliance for so long. Their duty is to do what’s best for their villages and creating conflict only hurts their villages in the long run. Luckily, Naruto is there to help the Kage see sense.
Leave a Reply