Hokage

The 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 Jonin of the village to determine whether the position will become officail.

Trivia

 * All of the former Hokage, exept for the Fifth, have been sealed away in the stomach of the Death God summoning. The Fourth was sealed when he sealed the demon fox inside of Naruto, while the First and Second were sealed when Orochimaru resurrected them and the Third sealed them away, and the Third was sealed when he gave his life to seal Orochimaru's arms.
 * Three of the Hokage are from the Senju clan.
 * The Hokage Monument resembles the Mount Rushmore monument with four of the most monumental presidents of the time.
 * The first five Hokage have some connection to each other. The First and Second are brothers, the Third was the student of the Second, The Fourth was the student of Jiraiya who was a student of the Third, and the Fifth is the granddaughter of the First and the student of the Third. When Kakashi was considered for the position of the Sixth, his connections to the past Hokage almost cemented his selection as he was a student of the Fourth.
 * Tsunade is the only known female Kage.

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