Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Background and History

The Second Hokage named Hiruzen as his successor before dying. Hiruzen established a Council of Elders and tacitly allowed Danzō to build Root, which gradually took authority from the Anbu. His early administration also faced opposition from major clans; Mito Uzumaki intervened to help him take office 51 396.

After Minato Namikaze became the Fourth Hokage, Hiruzen returned to the position following Minato’s death less than a year later 403.

Appearance

Hiruzen is in his sixties, with pronounced wrinkles and age spots. Despite his age, his gaze retains an authoritative quality 8.

• He has a goatee and is frequently seen smoking a pipe 3 4.
• In office, he wears a ceremonial robe bearing the words “Third Hokage” 8.

Personality

Hiruzen values the Will of Fire and sees Konoha’s children as the village’s future. He chose young candidates to teach Naruto partly because they did not share older teachers’ hostility toward the Nine-Tails, and he viewed Hagoromo’s concern for his pupils favorably 3 8.

He can be warm and patient with students, but is also a calculating leader who insists on the authority of his office. After reflecting on his past decisions, he acknowledges that his indecisiveness has harmed people. He also admits responsibility when Hagoromo is sent on an Anbu mission without the usual team support 26 63 79 90.

Hiruzen sometimes teases his students or passes work to them. His duties also leave him little time for family; Hagoromo eventually takes over his paperwork for a day so he can visit Konohamaru 260 307 310.

Abilities and Skills

Five-Nature Ninjutsu

Known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, Hiruzen has extensive knowledge of techniques and can wield all five elemental natures 63.

• He can combine two B-rank techniques to produce power comparable to an A-rank technique or greater 63.
• He teaches Hagoromo about nature transformation and analyzes the mechanics and limitations of advanced techniques 63 85.

Summoning Technique

Hiruzen can summon Enma, King of the Monkeys, and have him transform into an adamantine staff 457.

• During the Akatsuki attack on the Chūnin Exam venue, he summoned Enma to face Pain 457.
• He used the staff to knock aside a Susanoo and later drove back a wood golem clone 506 516.

Leadership and Strategy

Hiruzen directs Konoha’s Anbu, military operations, and diplomatic responses 26 171 234.

• He assessed Hagoromo’s proposed approach to clan conflict: win over one side, confront the other, and redistribute benefits from the opposition 51.
• He approved a layered response to Kumogakure’s pressure on Yugakure, including joint defenses, a border exercise, and allied involvement 171.
• During war with Sunagakure, he assigned commanders to separate fronts and arranged for Kumogakure to distract Iwagakure 234.

Equipment and Items

• Crystal ball — Used to observe Hagoromo teaching at the Ninja Academy 3 4.
• Pipe — Frequently carried and smoked by Hiruzen 3 26.
• Scroll of Seals — A guarded scroll containing forbidden and high-level techniques. Hiruzen allows Hagoromo two hours to study it, excluding the Reaper Death Seal and certain inhumane techniques 79.
• Adamantine staff — Enma’s transformed state, wielded by Hiruzen in battle 457 506.

Relationships

• Sawada Hagoromo — Disciple and intended Fifth Hokage. Hiruzen supports his development, promises to recommend him for Jōnin, and warns him of the challenges of succeeding him 53 79 143.
• Shimura Danzō — Former comrade and elder adviser. Their conflict escalates when Root attacks Hagoromo without authorization, prompting Hiruzen to order Danzō away from Root’s affairs 26.
• Naruto Uzumaki — A child Hiruzen watches over and encourages. He supports Naruto’s education and later tells him he believes he can become Hokage 3 8 471.
• Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru — His earlier disciples. Orochimaru becomes a missing-nin; Hiruzen later appoints Jiraiya and Tsunade to a renewed Council of Elders 18 304.
• Asuma Sarutobi and Konohamaru — His son and grandson. Asuma asks Hiruzen to spend more time with Konohamaru 310.
• Kakashi Hatake — An Anbu operative whom Hiruzen tasks with investigating Root and other threats 26 210.
• Shisui Uchiha — A trusted shinobi who seeks Hiruzen’s help in repairing relations between the Uchiha and Konoha, and later serves as his guard 42 307.
• Enma — Hiruzen’s summon, who can become his adamantine staff 85 457.

Story Role

Hagoromo and the Ninja Academy

Hiruzen observes Hagoromo’s teaching through his crystal ball and becomes interested in him as someone who thinks like a Hokage. After Hagoromo demonstrates the Rasengan, Hiruzen recognizes his talent and has Kakashi verify his account of learning it 3 25.

Root’s attack on Hagoromo leads Hiruzen to confront Danzō and order an investigation into Root. Hagoromo subsequently passes an Anbu assessment while continuing to teach 26 36.

Hiruzen later backs Hagoromo’s internship plan and sends Asuma to present it publicly. When Hagoromo resigns as head of faculty, Hiruzen appoints Iruka in his place and creates a vice principal position for Hagoromo 111 137.

Succession and Village Politics

Hiruzen works toward an agreement with the Uchiha and makes sweeping changes to Konoha’s power structure. He takes Hagoromo as a disciple and, ahead of his Jōnin test, reveals his intention to train him as the Fifth Hokage 52 53 143.

After Konoha’s victories over Sunagakure and Iwagakure, Hiruzen restarts the Council of Elders, appointing Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Hagoromo to share his responsibilities 304.

War and Akatsuki

Hiruzen coordinates Konoha’s response to foreign threats, including the defense against Sunagakure, and signs an alliance treaty with the Fourth Raikage 234 299. When the Kage gather in Kumogakure and Ōnoki considers attacking Hagoromo, Hiruzen threatens retaliation against Iwagakure and reveals that Konoha’s forces are positioned at Moon Wheel Gorge 220.

Konoha later hosts joint Chūnin Exams amid the threat of Akatsuki. Hiruzen exposes Sasori impersonating the Fourth Kazekage, orders spectators evacuated, and fights when Akatsuki attacks the venue 390 456 457.

At the Five Kage meeting, Hiruzen urges the nations to unite against the masked man claiming to be Madara Uchiha. During the ensuing war, he fights alongside the allied forces and helps Orochimaru reach the Uzumaki Clan’s Shinigami masks 481 506 516.

Notable Quotes

“Wherever leaves dance, fire will burn. That fire will illuminate the village, and new leaves will sprout once again.” 8

“I’m the Hokage!” 4

“This path will require you to give it your all for years, or even longer, to prove your worth.” 143