Why does the fourth Hokage come before the third?

The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, comes after the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, in terms of succession and timeline due to the events in the Naruto series. Hiruzen was the Third Hokage during Minato's tenure as Hokage, which began after Hiruzen stepped down. The Fourth Hokage's reign is marked by his heroism in protecting the village and sealing the Nine-Tails, an event that shaped the future of the Hidden Leaf Village. Thus, while the Fourth Hokage is often mentioned after the Third, he actually served later in the timeline.