"Self-sacrifice... A nameless shinobi who protects peace within its shadow. That is a true shinobi."
Sasuke refers Uzumaki Naruto as the 'shadow hokage', meaning he does more than being Sasuke's right hand man. He protect the village from the outsid...
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Sasuke calls Naruto the “Shadow Hokage” because he protects the village from threats outside of the village while Sasuke protects the village from the inside.
A hokage’s job is much more than just protecting the village as shown multiple times.
Madara Uchiha acted as the shadow hokage for Hashirama Senju supporting him.
(Apparently Tobirama Senju was hokage only for 3 months, even so if I had to choose, I'd say Izuna Uchiha was the shadow hokage 😏).
Itachi Uchiha was the shadow hokage for Sarutobi Hiruzen, by spying on a criminal organization and stopping them from attacking the leaf with the help of Shisui.
(If you don't understand why Shisui is the dark hokage beside Itachi, just read the Reversed Roles)
Jiraya being Tsunade's shadow hokage, by going deep into the organisation, Akatsuki and pretending to be the right hand man of the leader Kakashi with his three apprentices.
And now Naruto traveling around providing intel for Sasuke and looking for dangers outside the village.
They are shinobis who protect the village from the shadows.
