Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-2245550-20160501144337/@comment-2245550-20160501160931

Actually, he did have the experience, ability and mindset to be a Hokage. Hiruzen himself said that Itachi, at the age of seven, had the reasoning of a Hokage. Besides that, Gaara became Kazekage at about the same age. Not much difference here.

Kakashi would root for him. Yamato would root for him. The rest of the ANBU Black Ops would root for him. And speaking of the ANBU, Itachi became an ANBU at the age of eleven and pretty quickly became a captain. I think the age issue can be overlooked really.

I'm pretty sure there's barely anything Danzo could do if Itachi became Hokage. There's no way for him to manipulate him to give up his position, especially with Hiruzen himself choosing Itachi.