I guess really we're all protecting the village. The Hokage's not royal or anything, but though it's our leader, they're protecting the village too. It's just in a different way.

[The title will always have special meaning to him. It's the role Naruto has aspired to since childhood. It's one that so many of his mentors had held and one that even his father had.]

Actually the Hokage's the one who protects everyone- who walks first, yanno?