The Hokage is the most powerful ninja in the village. Every Academy student knew that.
Naruto, in his own academy years, had interpreted this entirely the wrong way.
Now he knew better.
The most powerful ninja didn't become the Hokage. Becoming the Hokage made you the most powerful ninja.
But a ninja in name only.
Because a Hokage wasn't actually a ninja any more. A ninja was a tool. The Hokage was the craftsman who wielded them.
When Sensei had donned the hat, Naruto and Sakura had giggled over the fact that Sensei's hair kept the hat aloft. But after the giggles, Naruto reflected on the fact that Sensei was no longer sensei.
Every action taken by a Konohan ninja was an act of the Hokage. Every mission, even every jutsu, was performed in the name of Konoha on the orders of Sensei.
His own insane powers, Sakura's insane strength, Shikamaru's insane mind, all of them belonged to Sensei now.
Sensei was responsible for all of them.
And though the hair under that hat could not turn any grayer, Naruto watched as the years that Sensei reigned over Konoha aged him. Sensei never shirked his duty, even when the duty would bleed him dry.
Under his rule, Konoha-no, the entire ninja world-changed. With Naruto on his right and Shikamaru on his left, the fragile, newborn peace after the Great Ninja war stabilized, grew into something strong.
And when Sensei passed the hat to him after just a few short years, Naruto understood why.