Konoha Council

Template:Ninja loyalty

File:Third Hokage with the Go-Ikenban.JPG

The Council, seated behind the Third Hokage.

Council after destruction of Konoha

It is the duty of the Council (ご意見番, Go-Ikenban) of Konoha to help the Hokage govern the village and to make sure all decisions are made with the best interest of Konoha and its inhabitants in mind. They consist of Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.

Although the Hokage always has the final say in the matter, the councilors are there to give their opinions and advice, thus making sure the decisions made are fair and take into account all possibilities and viewpoints. Both have decades' worth of experience and knowledge and hold a social position similar to that of the Hokage. They exert great influence over the governing of Konoha and have garnished wide support from the village's shinobi. It was up to them to choose a new Hokage after the Third Hokage had died.

Even though they were close friends with the Third Hokage and held the same general view of how to run the village, they are somewhat more militant. This has caused them to side with the Third Hokage's rival, Danzō, on several occasions. The most notable occurrence of this was when the Uchiha clan started dissenting against the village. Although the Third Hokage wanted to try and solve the situation peacefully, Danzō and the councilors saw this as futile and wanted to remove the Uchiha threat altogether. This eventually led to the massacre of the entire Uchiha clan, except for Sasuke, whom Itachi spared.

Because of their advanced age and experience, they see the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, as an inexperienced novice. This often leads to conflicts when they hold different opinions, such as when the councilors wanted to restrict Naruto Uzumaki's movements against the Fifth Hokage's will. They still have respect for the Hokage's position, though, and have been show to be willing to compromise with her, as long as the village's best interest are kept in mind.