Set in a fantasy period of Japan's history in a world populated with rival ninja clans and fantastical magic and monsters, the enduringly popular Naruto anime/manga franchise has its own unique form of government to keep itself regulated. Each village within the fantasy world are ruled by five Kage -- or five shadows -- that convene as a sort of appointed council to determine major decisions between them. While certainly conventional at first glance, as the franchise has progressed, the governing system makes increasingly less sense and more contrived.
From its unusual, inconsistent methodology to ascend as one of the five one Kage to how they actually govern their respective villages, the Kage system is one of the more flawed, plot hole-heavy elements of the franchise. For example, the Kage are traditionally selected not because of their keen political savvy and leadership kills but rather their raw combat strength; the finest, most telling hallmark of one making effective civic decisions for the wellbeing of their community.
Check out the video below for a complete breakdown on how the body of government within the world of Naruto and how, upon closer scrutiny, it doesn't make any discernible, logical sense.
From a nebulous form of actual leadership within their respective communities, with no clear delegation of visible duties and responsibilities, to clear nepotism for Kage selection instead of the previously established succession of power, the governing body of Naruto and its expansive spin-offs truly make no sense from a rational standpoint the more one thinks about it. Fortunately, as an action-heavy series focusing more on combat than politics, a West Wing-style exploration into the anime franchise's political system is unlikely to be in the cards anytime soon. And given how little the Kage makes sense, this is definitely to the franchise's immediate benefit.
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Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, subtitled on Hulu and Crunchyroll, is available to stream, with new episodes released on Sundays.