NARUTO' how come theres a fourth Hokage in fact the third is still alive?

Question

NARUTO' how come theres a fourth Hokage in fact the third is still alive?

Answer 1

the fourth was assigned just in case the third will die(because they were at war that time)unfortunately the fourth hokage died before the third

Answer 2

Because the 3rd Hokage [Sarutobi] got too old and gave the tittle to the 4th Hokage [Minato] but then the 4th Hokage died and the tittle was given back to the 3rd Hokage.

Answer 3

Yeah I agree with all of those, and plus when Tsunade is still alive and well, they will probably appoint another Hokage, just in case.

Answer 4

????????????????????may b becaus the 3th retiered and then they got a 4th ???????and then he died then the 3th took over???????    

Answer 5

the third was already retired so the fourth took place. Unfortunately when the fourth died, there isn;t anybody good or skillful enough to be the next hokage so the third once again took the place of hokage (and seeing he's the most powerful in the village)

kakashi being the next greatest (as we see) konoha ninja, i guess is too young and still needs more experience (he still doesn't have the mangekyou at that time) so he wasn't chosen (and maybe the advisers didn't want too)

Answer 6

well, the third was getting old so a new hokage, minato namekaze took the position but due to his early death, the third had to rule again in his place until he died and then came tsunade the fifth.