The position of Hokage has always been very important in the world. naruto. From the beginning, the Hokage was portrayed as the most powerful and trustworthy ninja in the entire village, protecting everyone. Konoha has seen several Hokages over the years, with Naruto Uzumaki being the last official Hokage and Shikamaru standing in as interim Hokage in his absence.
Now 10 years have passed since the beginning. boruto In the series, Konoha is moving towards officially appointing a new Hokage and dismissing Shikamaru Nara. The plot has already been established with Kobu's participation in the Mamushi arc of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, and as the new arc begins, Shikamaru will face serious danger as Konoha prepares to elect an entirely new leader.
Boruto: Two Blue Whirlpools Officially Set to Fire Shikamaru from the Hokage Position
Boruto: Two Blue Swirls Chapter 35 marked the beginning of a new story on June 18, 2026. Accompanying this chapter was a lot of explanation of the politics taking place in Konoha. As a large-scale battle unfolds around the Shinju, Konoha is going through drastic changes that will capture the attention of fans.
While Kovu was directly involved in Konoha's interrogation in the previous film, this plot slowly but surely leads to Nara Shikamaru's dismissal. Previously, Shikamaru was appointed as the 8th Hokage of Konoha after Naruto Uzumaki's death was confirmed. But he never fully accepted this position; he believed it was only a temporary position. However, Shikamaru could not refuse this position forever, and Konoha could not wait for him forever.
Shikamaru: Sai, please take Lord Kovu to the medical room.
Sai: Hold me.
Kovu: What were they?
Shikamaru: They were shinju. Do you understand now? Need to deal with it, statistics. Please let me do my job.
Kovu: Do what you have to do. But Nara Shikamaru, my investigation into you is not over. You'd better not think you can sweep this under the rug.
— Kobu shows deep distrust towards Hokage Shikamaru, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Chapter #31.
Slowly but steadily, everything seemed to be building towards the village electing a new Hokage, and this will most certainly be resolved in the new Post-Mamushi Arc, which is scheduled to continue on July 20, 2026. Kovu is already suspicious of Shikamaru Nara. If the daimyō of the Fire Nation agree with him, Shikamaru could be kicked out of the position of Eighth Hokage and even arrested. Moreover, Konoha will get a completely new Hokage, and there is a high possibility that that person will be none other than Sarutobi Konohamaru.
Why Konoha Wants to Get a New Hokage in the Upcoming Arc of the Two Blue Vortex
Konoha gets a new Hokage for two main reasons. The first is an established plot point that isolates Shikamaru Nara as a traitor to the Hidden Leaf and puts him in a difficult situation, creating an exciting and compelling story surrounding this beloved character from the Naruto series. The second and more important reason for Konoha to get a new Hokage is that it ties directly into the dreams of some new generation characters like Konohamaru Sarutobi. For too long, Boruto: Two Blue Vortex has pushed back on the dreams of these characters, forcing some to get left behind as multiple individuals compete for the same position.
“There are no shortcuts to becoming Hokage. Remember that! If you want to become Hokage, defeat me first!” — Naruto Uzumaki instills the dream of becoming Hokage in Konohamaru. Naruto Chapter 2
For example, Sarada Uchiha and Konohamaru both wanted to become Hokage, but if Sarada becomes the next Hokage, Konohamaru will never be able to achieve his dream. To create the perfect environment for things to run smoothly, removing Shikamaru Nara from his position is the perfect path to making Konohamaru the next Hokage, followed by Sarada Uchiha.
“The Seventh Lord once brought back my father, who had been a rogue and committed all kinds of crimes. He became Hokage while he was still a genin. My role model is not you, but the Seventh Lord.” — Sarada declares her goals to Shikamaru. Boruto: The Two Blue Whirlpools Chapter #2
Therefore, it is expected that the next few chapters will continue the exciting story surrounding Shikamaru Nara's dismissal from the position of Hokage. In the absence of someone like Naruto Uzumaki or Sasuke Uchiha, a new leader for Konoha will eventually be elected and properly lead the village. We are all very excited to see this storyline move forward. Let’s hope Mikio Ikemoto and Masashi Kishimoto deliver.
Candidates who are perfect for the position of Konoha's 8th Hokage
Konoha currently has several candidates who are perfect candidates for the position of Hokage. One of them is Sakura Haruno, a disciple of Tsunade Senju, the Fifth Hokage of Konoha. Sakura is smart and powerful enough to lead the village as Hokage, but she will not hold this important position in the village. boruto The series especially considering her status as the wife of Sasuke Uchiha, who was perceived as a traitor. Sasuke himself will likely return soon after the ongoing arc focusing on Hidari, but once again his traitor status will prevent him from becoming the village's Hokage.
“Becoming Hokage is not about being recognized by the village. Only someone who is respected and recognized can become Hokage.” — Itachi Uchiha
In the absence of Shikamaru Nara, the only Jonin that Konoha trusts and respects enough to be appointed as the Eighth Hokage is Sarutobi Konohamaru. Therefore, Konohamaru should be the next Hokage of the village, and unlike Shikamaru, he will not be the unofficial Hokage or just someone to hold the position until Naruto returns. As for Konohamaru, his position will be permanent, and he will certainly lead Konoha into a new era. With this new position, Konohamaru deserves more attention, so we can expect a significant power-up in the future. After all, the Hokage can't be as weak as he is now, and must become strong enough to fight the likes of Otsutsuki. I can only hope that Mikio Ikemoto and Masashi Kishimoto will give great strength to Konohamaru Sarutobi in the future. And hopefully things work out for this character and he redeems himself in the future.
Written and illustrated by Mikio Ikemoto under the keen supervision of Masashi Kishimoto, all chapters of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex are available to read through MANGA Plus and Viz Media. Chapter 36 of the upcoming manga is scheduled to be released on July 20, 2026 at 11 AM EST.
