The continuation of theNarutofranchise in the form ofBorutohas birthed several new concepts into the series, adding even more depth to an already profound show. Theconcept of Shadow Hokageis one such example, adding another layer of complexity to an already intricate system of leadership in the Hidden Leaf. While the term itself is simply an honorary title and has no official place in the Leaf’s political landscape, the series has cemented this concept quite thoroughly, with several mentions of this expression throughout its run.
The title of Shadow Hokage is also synonymous with Supporting Kage, as the primary role of this position is to support the Hokage from the shadows and deter any threats that may lay wait beneath the surface. Since the Hokage can’t leave the village and has to deal with heaps of paperwork and other legalities, the responsibility of dealing with the actual threats then falls under the Shadow Hokage’s domain. In theBorutoseries, this responsibility was handled by Sasuke Uchiha, one of the few remainingdescendents of the Uchiha Clan. Under the guise of being an ancillary Kage, Sasuke upheld many dire responsibilities, all of which ensured the protection and safety of the Hidden Leaf Village.
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Why Did Sasuke Take On the Role of Shadow Hokage
Before understanding Sasuke’s role as a supporting Kage, it’s pertinent to understand why he took on this responsibility in the first place, especially considering his unrelenting hatred for the Hidden Leaf. Even afterthe Fourth Great Ninja War, Sasuke still remained consumed by the hatred and darkness that had accumulated within him, resulting in the final clash between him and Naruto. With the belief that a true Hokage must shoulder the hatred of others, Sasuke took it upon himself to become the next Hokage by force and erase all darkness from the world.
However, after being defeated by Naruto in an all-out cataclysmic battle, Sasuke finally accepted defeat and agreed to let go of his past hatred, turning a new leaf to serve the village. Once Naruto became the Hokage, Sasuke took it upon himself to protect the Hidden Leaf from the shadows, traveling all over the world to diffuse any threats that may arise, along with keeping tabs on any unusual activity. This was Sasuke’s way of fixing his past misdoings and supportingNaruto’s reign as Hokagefrom the sidelines – a peculiar yet profound way of redemption.
Sasuke as the Leaf’s Shadow Hokage
While it may not be an official position, Sasuke took up the title of supporting Kage quite earnestly, either out of his love for the village or simply as an act of redemption. As Naruto protected the village from within its boundaries, Sasuke wandered around the world to ensure the Leaf’s safety from the outside. Primarily, his role was to investigate and report back any information ofKaguya or the Otsutsuki Clan, especially after he deduced that Kaguya was afraid of something even stronger, for which she garnered an immense army of White Zetsu.
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Knowing an even bigger force than Kaguya could appear one day, Sasuke wanted to be prepared preemptively for any threat to arise, which is why he spent much of his time traveling through Kaguya’s many dimensions, hoping to find any trace of the truth. His inter-dimensional travels were fruitful for the most part, as he was able to discover manysecrets related to the Otsutsuki. During his travels, he would also help other nations and act independently, yet he would only do this anonymously, acting as a true shadow of sorts.
Why Sasuke Serves as the Perfect Shadow Hokage
While Sasuke may already seem like the perfect fit for the position of supporting Kage, it’s essential to ascertain his own reasons for doing so first. Protecting the Leaf was one of the main reasons, yet another underlying and more pressing motive was atonement.After being redeemed by Narutoand being accepted by the Hidden Leaf again, Sasuke still felt as if he had to repent for the list of atrocities he had committed and his previous resolve for annihilating the entire Leaf Village.
Protecting the village from the shadows was his way of repaying the debt of forgiveness, along with atoning for his heinous crimes against the Hidden Leaf and the other Great Nations. Apart from his personal reasons, Sasuke was the perfect candidate for being the Shadow Hokage, as his skills matched the Hokage, yet he never cared for the title and fame that came with the position of leading the village. To ensure that Naruto’s stringent effort of attaining peacebetween the Great Nationsdoes not go in vain, Sasuke bore the weight of becoming a silhouette, receding to the shadows to lead a life of self-sacrifice.
