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.

Edit:

Ravenlot 27 wrote: Also, it didn't necessary had to be Itachi Uchiha, we had at least two two remarkable candidates for Hokage position, i.e. Shisui (who was supposed to be the son of the old Danzo/Hiruzen and Ko comrade and loyal shinobi of Konoha, Kagami) and Fugaku (the current head of the clan and a powerful shinobi on his own, after all).

Shisui, I'm not sure. I'm gonna have to start rewatching the series to know about Shisui's character, though I'm pretty sure I'd still pick Itachi. Fugaku, on the other hand, is literally one of the worst people to pick. Picking him will actually be what could lead to the village's downfall. Itachi is the only Uchiha that can be trusted with the position of Hokage, and the only one that can be supported into it outside of the clan.