Konoha reinstated Hiruzen as Hokage after Minato's death during the Kyubi attack because the village was in immediate crisis and needed proven leadership. And even if prime Hiruzen, as powerful as he was with the support of the ANBU, couldn’t stop the Kyubi rampage, it was clear there was no stronger candidate left to lead especially with the village’s hero already dead.

Minato himself later admitted, upon being revived, that he died too early to truly protect and lead the village. With no clear successor ready, the Sanin despite being strong were still too inexperienced and Orochimaru already defected at the time.

Hiruzen was the only one with the strength, experience, and authority to guide Konoha. The wisdom of that decision proved to be true when he sacrifice himself to stop Orochimaru’s invasion. Had it been someone less capable, Konoha might have fallen that day.

Fugaku would probably have been a pretty good Hokage. He had 2 kids, seemed pretty contemplative, not prone to rash decision making, and would have cemented the Leaf’s relationship with the Uchiha clan.

You might have still had all that shit that went down with Obito/Kushina, but Fugaku could have easily handled Kyuubi, and with Minato being able to just take care of Kushina during the pregnancy, (plus a couple extra guards since she is the Jinchuriiki), it’s very possible that things would have been completely fine.

Akatsuki were strong, and all, but Orochimaru would have been screwed if Fugaku and Minato had survived so he couldn’t have killed the Kazekage or started shit with the leaf village.

Yet again, Hiruzen’s choices doomed the leaf village

No other candidates 

Minato is dead, orochimaru is evil, jiraiya Said no and fugaku wasn’t trusted enough 

The real question (and I say this as a rabid Shikamaru fan) would be why the heck didn't they put Kakashi back in charge instead of Shikamaru in Boruto.

Seeing Shikamaru as (acting) Hokage is really cool but it feels like Ikemoto decided to delete Kakashi (and probably Tsunade, too) so he could put him in that position without fans making the question.

Also we’re ninjas, why would you think we would actually tell people where are leaders were actually buried?

I said this before and I'll say this again, Headcannon: Naruto is Mito and Hashirama's great-grandson

I really want to see where this goes, especially Mito and Naruto's conversation

Tsunade, she was tasked with the reconstruction after orochimaru, pain, and the 4th Shinobi war.

Tsunade. The was the best Hokage by far and its not even a contest. Being stronger and/or sacrificing yourself for the village doesn’t give you any points.

My answer - Tsunade

Before becoming Hokage -

• Tsunade established the Medical Ninjutsu system.

• Established the 4 laws of Medical Ninjas.

• Incorporated one medical ninja in each team of ninjas. ( Which dramatically increased mission success rates)

• Countered all the poisons of Lady Chiyo during 2nd shinobi war, making Konoha victorious.

• Popularly hailed as the REASON WHY Leaf won 2nd Shinobi war.

• Hailed as World's Strongest Kunoichi, Best Medical Ninja and One of the Legendary Sannin.

• Has finished over 1256 Official Missions of Konoha. ( Which is the 3rd highest record)

After Becoming Hokage -

• Became Hokage at most turbulent times of Konoha.

• Remended the tarnished relationship with Sunagakure after Konoha Crush.

• Sent Sand Shinobi and Leaf shinobi as each other's backup multiple times, which eventually saved Kazekage Gaara's life.

• Saved Lee from live threatening condition.

• Saved Choji from the effects of 3 coloured pills.

• Advocated for Naruto to go out on missions, go with Jiraiya and lead a normal life ( ensuring healthy mental and physical growth).

• Fought against Konoha Council for Naruto's freedom and support, helping his growth as a shinobi.

• Kept Danzo's root activities in Check.

• Was THE ONLY KAGE to send Ninjas actively to hunt down Akatsukis - Hidan , Kakazu, Kisame and Sasori being direct victims of Konoha shinobi.

• Warned Naruto of the Chakra network damaging effect of Rasenshuriken, hence saving his hands and saving his Jutsus.

• Kept majority of Konoha alive during the Catastrophic Shinra Tensai, by summoning Katusyu.

• Palm sized Katusyu summon of Tsunade kept feeding vital information to Naruto about weaknesses and strength of each path of pain which were crucial for his swift victory against them.

• Trained Sakura to master Strength of a Hundred Healings, which provided her enough chakra to keep the portal open for Sasuke to return from Kaguya's dimension.

• It was Tsunade's idea to Make Naruto learn and Master Tailed beast mode from Killer B, a decision that Made Allied Shinobi forces win the war.

• Healed and Protected the 5 Kages even while she was bisected into 2.

And many more...

Naruto, became Hokage because he had a vision and inspired those around him. He formed relationships with and earned the respect of everyone in the 5 nations, not just through strength alone. Sasuke was strong but no one would have wanted him as hokage. A leader unites and leverages the strength(s) of those around them.

Shikamaru is intelligent and im sure makes a great hokage but lacked the reputation and influence Naruto had.

Tldr: Shikamaru didn't have talk no jutsu.

Tobirama

He took what was a sloppily thrown together dream of Hashirama's, and made into a foundation for a great future to come

Even in the shadow of his brother, when faced with the Uchiha might, he remained relentless and resourceful

whatchutalking about? Kakashi had just saved the world alongside naruto and sasuke. it was only fair to have someone like him take the village heads role. it boosts konoha to a tier above all village. but anyways.. kakashi did turn it down and it took him awhile to find his confidence back before assuming the role of hokage.

George Washington. Aka Kashi sensei, absolute inspiration to make his sensei's kid a menace, and then he even vacated the Hokage spot to give to Naruto which he always wanted. And simply because he embodies the spirit of jiraiya reading those books. Arguably did more than hashirama during his tenure.

Replace Hokage advisors with a council formed by the clan leaders.  

I'd choose the timeline when Danzo took the decision to massacre the Uchiha clan. Unlike Hiruzen, I think I have enough diplomacy and brains to get rid of Danzo. That would prevent the Uchiha massacre. Itachi, our beloved would be saved. Sasuke would be saved from all the gore trauma he faced. Together Sasuke and Naruto could work to fight against Madara and ultimately Kaguya.

hell yeah I been waiting to get rid of dem Hyugas

Bring back the savage tactics of the “Blood Mist Village”.

Very underrated feat wise. Easily one of the most powerful ninja given his use of FTG.

Also the smartest as he had to invent some of the most overpowered jutsu from scratch.

I can only have words of admiration for a man who respected Itachi and saw him as the child of prophecy.

He's hot

Based as fuck.

Coolest hokage, savage

"Hokage by interim" Naruto is such a good idea I really wish had been brought up sooner. And Naruto gets to build actual experience being Hokage even for a short while, so he can be prepared once he takes the hat full time in the future.

(there's as many ramen cups as Tsunade had booze in the office during his stay)

If he goes to the Kage summit, I imagine Gaara will show unconditional support regarding the situation, and perhaps Naruto can Talk no Jutsu even the old geezers who have beef with one another while he's around (Shizune or Kakashi having to remind Naruto to properly behave before noting the rest of the Kages are hardly any better).

You know, I read a fic I thought somewhere, Tsunade is in a coma, Naruto is elected Temp Hokage and he does a few things then kills Danzo in sit down meeting with poison in his tea, water, and the cup. I have been racking my brain and google for it. I can’t remember if it was like Hokage for day type thing or a but just until she woke up then she took over again. (There is a funny fic about him being Hokage for a day and make Sasuke clean sewers)

This would be a very dark fic. Imprisonment would be extreme. That'd be Danzo levels of cruelty. House arrest with guards would be more reasonable and accepted by the public.

I think Sasuke would be willing to talk with Naruto here, accepting his deal to come back to the village in exchange for Danzo's life.

oh man, that feels like Naruto wouldn't have any other option than to have Sasuke be killed even if Naruto offered to let him kill Danzo...

Gaara has always wanted to be cared about. At first he found that importance through being a weapon.  However that felt hollow.  Thus he started working on forging bonds with others in the village.  Gaara is a more sensitive version of Naruto.

There are rogue ninjas in the story... and Gaara has good reasons to become one.

Gaara was a tortured soul who only wanted to be loved deep down. I think he had love for his siblings deep down. And he worked at it and became both a good friend and family member

Yes, I also love the world building, the economic reasons behind Rasa agreeing to join forces with Orochimaru to attack Konoha.

the sand people loves him and he is the protector. so Gaara loyal to his village.

Probably because he had kankuro and temari, and despite the village doing awful things to him its still his home at the end of the day.

Kakashi is always down on himself. He never wanted to be Hokage and he always felt awkward in the role. 

Honestly Tsunade is the only right answer for Hokage after Naruto. In reality she should have never stepped down to begin with. She guided the village through its most tragic events and when the village was most vulnerable. She has experience and is the direct student of Hiruzen Sarutobi and granddaughter of Hashirama. She has more wisdom than anyone alive in Konoha. She's what we would consider an "og".  She's infinitely more capable than Shikamaru.

shikamaru needed a chance

Because he chosed gai over hokage.

Kakashi isnt hiruzen he said fuck that shit I’m not doing that annoying ass job again

Boruto writer is too focused on preteens and teens to read the story.

The dragonball sub has been talking about aura farming alot recently and this clip made me realize Minato is maybe the best aura farmer in anime cause he's got like

8 minutes? of actual screen time and he milks that shit *dry*

I actually think he's dead one way or another in all of it

It's either a memory (flashback), his ghost inside Naruto, or his resurrected spirit jammed into a fake body

Minato Namikaze

Hashirama

Tsunade hands down and it isn't even close.

Tobirama. The man created half the jutsu that ruined the world and still had the audacity to act like he was the responsible adult in the room. Iconic.