Years later, when he finally dons the Hokage cloak, he is the leader of the Hidden Leaf. But in the hearts of the fans who grew up with him, who felt the "Blue Bird" opening themes, and who cried when "Light of a Firefly" played, he is something more.
He is the Animekage. The one who turned "Believe It!" from a catchphrase into a promise kept.
The concept of an "Animekage" implies a leader who rules not just a village, but the narrative itself. For the majority of Shippuden , Naruto shared this throne with Sasuke Uchiha. They were the dual pillars of the story: the Light and the Shadow. Where Naruto sought connection through bonds, Sasuke sought power through isolation.
