Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-26636534-20171019193715/@comment-26636534-20180115113207

Namikazenaruto9 wrote:

Kage level intelligence? What about a puppet kage? or the people working under him? You make it sound like its absolutely necessary for intelligent guy for the post. HE could be brute like real life dictator. Kage's are most often then not the strongest shinobi in their respective villages. You don't get to that position without experience, more importantly, you absolutely have to have a strategic mind and high intelligence. Kage have to make decisions that affect their entire village, assign the right kind of missions to the right kind of shinobi, enter into alliances with other villages, ensuring the development of future shinobi, new ninjutsu etc. Being strategic in combat is only one aspect of their intelligence. Kage definitely have to have high-level of intelligence, in all aspects to be in that position.

So yes, they have to be highly intelligent. Which is not the same when comparing only with being strategic in combat.