WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Episode 224, "Bakaneko Legend," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
As the Boruto anime rolls on, filler episodes are now following the new Chūnin Exam with Konoha's young students trying to advance their shinobi careers. The development of new ninja was put on hold when Momoshiki and Kinshiki invaded, but things are progressing as Boruto and co. refocus on growing stronger. However, as the exam continues, a massive problem is revealed with the Hokage mantle, connecting the issue back to the Naruto series.
Wasabi, the young ninja who can harness the power of cats, is battling Iwabe, an egotistical whippersnapper who wants to be Hokage someday. He's admired Naruto's journey and wants his face carved into the mountains too, joining the likes of Hashirama, Tobirama, Tsunade and Kakashi.
But in his case, Iwabe has an extreme view of the role, which harkens to how unhealthy it was when the likes of Naruto and Konohamaru obsessed over it. It's great to have ambition, but fanaticism is never mentally sound, which is what Iwabe proves as he throws logic out the window.
He's hellbent on claiming the role someday but, seeing as he's so driven by how Naruto redeemed villains, which he think pushed the legend into the Hokage's role, Iwabe does the same. He's angry Wasabi doesn't want to be Hokage so he sacrifices his standing in the fight, draining his chakra to create a monument to show her that people like them, from less prominent or powerful families, can succeed.
It's admirable but an unwise move, as he's hampered his own progress by depleting his chakra, which causes him to pass out. Iwabe fails the exam but, while some see it as a positive thing, as he helped Wasabi believe in herself and clan, if Iwabe wanted to make a big step towards becoming Hokage and create change, he should have fought, won and actually gotten one step closer. There was never any guarantee that Wasabi, who doesn't seem to have any particularly lofty goals, would have been inspired. This incident just seems out of line with how he wants to develop.
Wasabi herself has a major problem, as her family keeps pushing her to become Hokage. They see it as a move to attain power and move up in society. Other shinobi have done this, eyeing Hokage for the wrong reasons (the likes of Obito, Orochimaru and Sasuke come to mind). Wasabi's family heaps unnecessary pressure on her without asking about her own goals and dreams, robbing her of any agency. It gets so bad they think she's ridiculous for not wanting the role, proving how much of a double-edged sword aiming for the Hidden Leaf's esteemed leadership can be.
Sure, the best take the baton up to protect the village but it does seem to create an elitist, pseudo-caste system with adults forcing kids to aspire to it with scary intensity -- to the point they'll cheat in the exam or harm each other. It's not something Hashirama likely envisioned when he first created the position and it surely goes against Naruto's principles -- becoming a leader shouldn't be so deadly, especially not for kids just chasing a dream.
