Hokage Monument. Kage are in order from left to right: First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth.
The
Hokage (火影; Literally meaning "Fire Shadow") are the leaders of
Konoha. They are generally the strongest in the village, although ideology and renown plays a large part in their being chosen for the position.
Five
shinobi and one
kunoichi have gained this title so far. When the position for Hokage becomes open, whether because of the previous Hokage's death or incapacitation, the Konoha Council promptly begins to search for a replacement,in some cases within hours or days after a Hokage has been deemed dead or unfit; this can be seen in the case of Tsunade after she slipped into a coma.
After being appointed, they are given the Hokage mansion in which to live and have their faces carved out in the stone wall behind it. Though she was pointed out during the first part of the series, the Fifth Hokage's face was not carved out before the beginning of
Part II.
According to Kakashi, once a shinobi has been appointed by the Konoha Council it is up to the
Jōnin of the village to determine whether the position will become official.
First Hokage Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage.
Main article: Hashirama Senju Hashirama Senju (千手柱間,
Senju Hashirama), the
First Hokage (初代火影,
Shodai Hokage; Literally meaning "First or Founding Fire Shadow"), was the founder of Konoha, the older brother of
Tobirama Senju (the Second Hokage), and the grandfather of
Tsunade (the Fifth Hokage) and
Nawaki.
Second Hokage
Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage.
Main article: Tobirama Senju Tobirama Senju (千手扉間,
Senju Tobirama),
[1] the
Second Hokage (二代目火影,
Nidaime Hokage; Literally meaning "Second Fire Shadow"), was the younger brother of the
Hashirama Senju (the First Hokage) and the granduncle of
Tsunade (the Fifth Hokage) and
Nawaki.
Third Hokage
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.
Main article: Hiruzen Sarutobi Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飛ヒルゼン,
Sarutobi Hiruzen) was the
Third Hokage (三代目火影,
Sandaime Hokage; Literally meaning "Third Fire Shadow"). Together with
Homura Mitokado and
Koharu Utatane, he was the student of the first two Hokage,
Hashirama Senju and
Tobirama Senju, and the teacher of
Jiraiya,
Tsunade, and
Orochimaru.
Fourth Hokage
Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage.
Main article: Minato Namikaze Minato Namikaze (波風ミナト,
Namikaze Minato), also known as
Konoha's Yellow Flash (木ノ葉の黄色い閃光,
Konoha no Kiiroi Senkō; English "Yellow Flash of the Leaf"), was the
Fourth Hokage (四代目火影,
Yondaime Hokage; Literally meaning "Fourth Fire Shadow"), the student of
Jiraiya and the teacher of
Kakashi Hatake,
Obito Uchiha, and
Rin. He was the lover of
Kushina Uzumaki and the father of
Naruto Uzumaki.
Fifth Hokage
Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage.
Main article: Tsunade Tsunade (綱手) was the
Fifth Hokage (五代目火影,
Godaime Hokage; Literally meaning "Fifth Fire Shadow") of
Konohagakure, taking over after
Hiruzen Sarutobi died; she was replaced by
Danzō, however, after she went into a coma during
Pain's invasion, having exerted all of her chakra to protect the citizens from the large-scale
Shinra Tensei that destroyed the village.
Candidate Sixth Hokage
Danzō, the Acting Sixth Hokage.
Main article: Danzō Danzō (ダンゾウ) is a Konoha elder, one of the oldest villagers in Konoha. He is also in charge of the
ANBU faction named
Root. He is later appointed as the
Candidate Sixth Hokage (六代目火影候補,
Rokudaime Hokage Kōho) after
Pain's
invasion.