Naruto Uzumaki's Strongest Form Proves His Time As Hokage Was Untouchable

Naruto is one of the most inspiring underdog stories in anime. From being an ostracized and scorned child, considered the worst in his class at the shinobi academy, Naruto Uzumaki transformed into an absolute powerhouse, reaching new heights and gaining the strength to battle divine beings. For fans, few things compare to the joy of witnessing the moment Naruto was finally appointed as the Seventh Hokage, but his greatest feat in the role came much later, thanks to the most powerful form he has displayed in the series so far. The position of Seventh Hokage granted Naruto authority to bring positive changes in the Hidden Leaf Village. Beyond surpassing previous Hokages through technological advancements and alliances between nations, Naruto also proved to be the most powerful leader the Hidden Leaf has ever had thanks to his Baryon Mode form. Working similarly to nuclear fusion and coming at a high cost that rendered it a one-time power-up, the Baryon Mode form demonstrated that, in terms of raw power and strength, no one can compare to Naruto during his tenure as Hokage. Naruto’s Baryon Mode Far Surpasses His Predecessors Not Even Hashirama Could Defeat the Seventh The title of Hokage is only granted to the most powerful, respectable, and caring ninja of the Hidden Leaf. As the leader of the village, they must look out for the safety of the citizens, maintain peace, and put their lives on the line in case it is needed. Throughout the decades, many outstanding shinobi have carried the mantle, each powerful in their own right. Nevertheless, there is little doubt that Naruto, the Seventh Hokage, far exceeds the might of his predecessors. While his Uzumaki heritage did grant him a superior Chakra reserve and vitality, it was his role as a Jinchuriki that gave him a major boost in power. Nowhere is this better exemplified than during his battle against Isshiki, one of the most powerful members of the Otsutsuki clan. To defeat this mighty alien conqueror, the Seventh Hokage was forced to use all his power, tapping into his and Kurama’s life force to gain a massive boost in power. This technique was named Baryon Mode, the most powerful of Naruto’s, and all other Hokage’s, transformations. By converting the life energy of both characters into raw strength, the prowess of the Seventh Hokage became such that not even Isshiki stood a chance. Nonetheless, a power as great as this comes with dire consequences, such as the death of the Jinchuriki. The Uzumaki heir was ready and willing to die to save his loved ones. Yet, in a last act of partnership, Kurama sacrificed his life to give Naruto another chance to be with his family, culminating in one of the saddest moments in the franchise. Naruto’s Willingness to Die Proves His Commitment to the Role He Has Become an Excellent Hokage Even though Kurama ended up sacrificing his life to save his old friend, Naruto did not know this would happen at the time. The Seventh was prepared to trade his life to prevent Isshiki from conquering Earth and killing his family. The fact that he did not hesitate to choose his village before himself speaks volumes of how great of a Hokage he has become. Naruto’s strength as the Hidden Leaf’s leader does not simply come from his superhuman abilities or the bond with his Tailed Beast, it comes from his heart. He is the living embodiment of what a Hokage should be, someone who puts his responsibility above all else. Naruto knew that using Baryon Mode would kill him, taking him away from his family and friends. Still, he did not stop to think about the consequences, knowing that Isshiki could not be allowed to live any longer. He loves and cares for the villagers as if they were his family, something that all great Hokage have in common. Naruto’s Baryon Mode Brough the Will of Fire to Life His Transformation Looks Almost Identical to the Village’s Symbol Naruto’s Baryon Mode is not only his most powerful transformation to date, but also the physical embodiment of his commitment to the village. This was seen during episode #217 of the Boruto anime, in which his battle against Isshiki was animated. As the Seventh Hokage prepared to attack his opponent, his Chakra cloak took the form of a significant but often overlooked symbol, the Will of Fire. This philosophy, mostly attributed to Hiruzen Sarutobi, is based on the idea that the most powerful and experienced ninja should always protect the future of the village. No matter the cost, the next generation of warriors who will protect the innocent needs to be secured, even if it means the older generations must sacrifice themselves. This small but powerful detail during a battle in which Naruto was ready to die for his people is the perfect example of how amazing the Seventh Hokage is. He has become something more than just a leader, he is a symbol of hope for the villagers, who know that the Uzumaki Clan head will always be there to protect them. Baryon Mode is perhaps one of the most entertaining and significant transformations in the Naruto franchise. While it is unlikely that this form will ever be seen again, as Kurama was miraculously reborn inside Himawari, it remains an iconic part of the series. The fact that this form has now been used to symbolize Naruto’s greatness as a Hokage only adds to its brilliance. Naruto’s Journey to Becoming Hokage Has More Stories Left to Tell Naruto Is Expanding His Story With a New Project Baryon Mode might be the pinnacle of Naruto’s power, but becoming Hokage is what laid the foundation for this greatest power-up. Now, fans will get an in-depth look at the period leading up to Naruto fulfilling his dream, thanks to a new sequel manga by Masashi Kishimoto titled Naruto: Shadow Rising. Previews include an illustration of Naruto holding the Hokage cap over his head. Furthermore, the title itself suggests a revisit to this era, given that "Kage" means "shadow" in Japanese, hinting that the story will explore Naruto’s ascent to becoming Hokage. The worst part about Naruto’s time as Hokage is that fans only got to see him fight at full power on rare occasions. However, since Naruto: Shadow Rising offered a glimpse of a new battle between Naruto and Sasuke, it suggests that fans will get another view of the Seventh Hokage’s power in all its glory, as both are sure to leave everything they have on the battlefield, just as they did in their previous clashes. This would offer another perspective on Naruto’s evolution, up to the peak power level seen in Boruto. Future Generations Have Awakened Similar Moments to Naruto's Baryon Mode Minus the Kurama Trauma Although it's easy enough to point to Boruto as Naruto's most obvious spiritual successor in the franchise in a narrative sense, the new generation of shinobi particularly featured in Boruto: Two Blue Vortex have achieved spectacular feats of power too. Alongside Kurama returning within Himawari Uzumaki, Sarada Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan moment was positively fantastic. Perhaps it may not bear the catastrophic risks that Baryon Mode did, but the possibility of Sarada losing the use of her eyes from her over-dependence on Ohirume is nothing to shrug at. While not reaching the Baryon Mode heights per se, it puts Sarada on the right path to attain her dream of succeeding Shikamaru as well as Naruto, the most powerful Hokage, as the potential first Uchiha to do so. Even the less overpowered Boruto characters have had their time to shine recently, with Inojin Yamanaka becoming the true dark horse of the Mamushi Arc after Koji Kashin's predictions were of no further use. Taking over the collective mind of Mamushi's legion of clones, only to direct their own killing intent against themselves using Daemon, was a brilliant move by Inojin that obliterated a Human Divine Tree, no mean feat. As the manga continues, there will doubtlessly be more moments like that, either in the form of tactical brilliance or sheer power, that'll make Naruto's absence sting a bit less, as the spirit of his namesake franchise lives on in his successors. Release Date 2002 - 2007-00-00 Showrunner Masashi Kishimoto Directors Hayato Date Naruto is an action-adventure anime series based on the manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto. The titular Naruto Uzumaki is a fearsome Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit sealed inside him, which once wreaked havoc on his village. Shunned by his community yet determined to earn their respect, Naruto dreams of becoming the greatest ninja, the Hokage. This series follows his journey through the Ninja Academy as he continues to train and grow, hoping to prove himself to his peers- and himself.