Uzumaki Naruto’s journey is one of the greatest stories in manga and anime history. From a child shunned by his village, he rose to the top, winning the hearts of fans worldwide by defeating godlike foes like Uchiha Madara and Otsutsuki Kaguya. Yet, as the Seventh Hokage, Naruto has revealed critical flaws that have disappointed many longtime fans.
A legendary Hokage with unmatched achievements
There is no denying Naruto is the most influential Hokage in history. While the First Hokage Hashirama laid the foundation for Konoha, Naruto perfected a model of peace for the entire world.
After the Fourth Great Ninja War, Naruto became a living legend, a symbol of strength and unity. His greatest accomplishment wasn’t just defeating Akatsuki or sealing Kaguya, but uniting the Five Great Shinobi Nations. Before his era, villages were bitter rivals, ready to fight for their own interests. Thanks to Naruto, the shinobi world entered a true era of peace. However, this peace seems to have dulled the will and sharpness of the “child of prophecy.”
The biggest mistake: Underestimating the Otsutsuki threat
Despite being a great Hokage, Naruto made a baffling mistake: he was completely unprepared for the Otsutsuki clan’s invasion.
Remember, at the end of Naruto Shippuden, Kaguya’s appearance was a stark warning. Soon after, Toneri Otsutsuki’s attack on the moon and the clues Sasuke uncovered in other dimensions confirmed one thing: the Otsutsuki are the most constant and terrifying threat.
Yet, throughout his years in power, Naruto and the Five Kage seemed to have no solid battle plan against beings capable of planetary destruction. When Momoshiki arrived, Naruto could only save the village by risking himself and relying on Sasuke’s help.
With intelligence from Sasuke, Naruto should have mobilized the strongest ninja, set up special defenses, or trained the younger generation with advanced Otsutsuki countermeasures. This lack of thorough preparation forced Boruto and Kawaki to shoulder overwhelming responsibilities while still children.
When the “Strongest Ninja” falters under paperwork
One of the most heartbreaking aspects for fans is how much Naruto has weakened as he matured. At his peak, he was unbeatable, but years spent buried in Hokage paperwork have left him “rusty.”
While Sasuke continues rigorous training and battles across harsh dimensions, Naruto wastes energy on time-consuming administrative tasks. For a strategic weapon and humanity’s last hope, making Naruto handle paperwork instead of staying battle-ready is an unforgivable mistake by Konoha.
Although Naruto still shines in life-or-death moments like the fight against Isshiki, it’s clear he no longer maintains the sharpness needed. A ninja of Naruto’s caliber should understand the importance of keeping his body ready to face foes even more terrifying than Kaguya or Isshiki.
It’s understandable that since Boruto is the main character now, Naruto has to step back and give him the spotlight. However, from a story logic perspective, the Seventh Hokage’s choices leave much to be desired. Fans hope that after his return, Naruto will learn from these failures, retrain, and rise once more as the strongest ninja rather than a weary official bogged down by paperwork.