Third Hokage

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; Lord Hokage; Professor of Ninjutsu
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage; village leader and political authority
First Appearance	6

Background / History

After the Fourth Hokage's death, Hiruzen resumed the Hokage position. He had previously intended to retire gradually while retaining influence as an advisor, but his arrangements were destroyed during the Nine-Tails incident. Although Hokage again, he found it difficult to reclaim authority because power within Konoha had become heavily divided. 6

He personally involved himself in Naruto Uzumaki's upbringing, placing him on a training path while maintaining intensive surveillance over the jinchūriki. Hiruzen had Hayate Gekkō report Naruto's movements in detail, learned Naruto's chakra signature, and used it with a Crystal Ball to observe him remotely. 6 10 15

Personality

Hiruzen is patient and outwardly warm with children. He invites Naruto to public events, provides him with basic genjutsu instruction, encourages him to attend the Ninja Academy, and later corrects Naruto's misconceptions about Kakashi's training. 12 36 108 136

As Hokage, he prioritizes Konoha's stability and reacts seriously to threats against the village. He is willing to use surveillance, barriers, Anbu monitoring, and political arrangements to manage Naruto as a jinchūriki. 20 125 128

His leadership is also marked by hesitation and regret. He openly regrets allowing Orochimaru to escape in the past, yet his handling of the Uchiha crisis relies on compromise with Danzō and ultimately leaves Itachi to prevent a civil war. 33 51

Abilities & Skills

Five Nature Transformations

Hiruzen is known as the Professor of Ninjutsu and is proficient in all five elemental chakra natures. His complete data puppet is a valuable target for Naruto's training because it has no recorded data deficiencies. 53

• Uses Wind Release alongside the Adamantine Staff in combat. 33
• His data puppet can provide Naruto with training experience for techniques including Earth Dragon Bullet Technique. 60
• His broad elemental proficiency made him Naruto's best prospective source for Earth Release chakra. 53

Scrying Jutsu

Hiruzen uses a Crystal Ball to observe targets from afar after obtaining their chakra signature. 10 15

• Tested Naruto's Transformation Jutsu during a visit to learn his chakra signature. 10
• Used the Crystal Ball to observe Naruto's encounters with Sasuke and Shisui Uchiha. 15
• Naruto eventually discovered the surveillance and began deliberately performing visible training for Hiruzen's benefit. 10 11

Summoning and Staff Combat

During his confrontation with Orochimaru, Hiruzen summoned King Enma and fought with the Adamantine Staff. 33

• Performed Adamantine Staff: Wild Wind, combining a staff strike with Wind Release to create powerful suction. 33
• Escaped Naruto's Shadow Clone explosion alongside Enma through Reverse Summoning Jutsu. 34

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Crystal Ball — Focus for Hiruzen's Scrying Jutsu and remote surveillance. 10 15
• Adamantine Staff — Weapon wielded against Orochimaru. 33
• Pipe — Frequently used while working or meeting others. 6 173

Relationships

• Naruto Uzumaki — Konoha's jinchūriki under Hiruzen's protection, supervision, and educational guidance; Hiruzen arranges his training, team placement, and eventual Chunin Exam participation. 10 125 164
• Danzō Shimura — Fellow Konoha elder and political opponent. Hiruzen questions Danzō's dealings with Orochimaru and later moves to confront Root's influence. 34 74 75
• Orochimaru — Former student turned enemy. Hiruzen regrets once letting him go and attempts to stop him after his return to Konoha. 33
• Itachi Uchiha — Met privately following the Uchiha clan massacre; Hiruzen thanked Itachi for preventing civil war and agreed to keep Sasuke safe. 51
• Sasuke Uchiha — Hiruzen considers Sasuke's Sharingan a contingency for controlling the Nine-Tails should Tenzo's Wood Release prove insufficient. 125 128
• Kakashi Hatake — Entrusts Kakashi with Naruto and Sasuke's guidance, citing faith in Minato's judgment of him. 125
• Shikaku Nara — Trusted strategist and advisor who assists Hiruzen with Naruto's situation, village security, and suspected conspiracies. 6 125
• Jiraiya — His disciple and intelligence operative; Hiruzen sends him information concerning Akatsuki and later withholds details about Pain's past. 34 173
• Tenzo — Assigned to secretly monitor Naruto and report on Team Seven's development. 128 140
• Konohamaru Sarutobi — Hiruzen's grandson, whom he treats affectionately. 20 146

Story Role / Major Arcs

Naruto's Surveillance and Education

Hiruzen considers Naruto's unusual composure suspicious and has Hayate observe him from an early age. After sensing Nine-Tails chakra from Naruto's home, he deploys Anbu to establish a sealing barrier around the building. 6 20

He attempts to give Naruto a more normal social life by having Shikamaru approach him as a friend, invites Naruto to village events, gives him a basic genjutsu scroll, and encourages Academy enrollment. 12 16 36

Orochimaru's Return

When Orochimaru reappears in Konoha, Hiruzen confronts his former student in the Forest of Death. Angered by Orochimaru's use of the First Hokage's soul, he attacks with Enma and the Adamantine Staff. 33

Afterward, he interrogates Danzō over his connection to Orochimaru, sends Akatsuki intelligence to Jiraiya, and begins addressing the Uchiha clan's movements. 34

Uchiha Clan Crisis

Hiruzen receives repeated reports of suspicious activity around the Uchiha compound and recognizes the clan's increasing resistance toward Konoha's outside forces. 49 50

On the night of the massacre, he meets Itachi alone at the Police Department. He calls Itachi's actions a prevention of civil war, expresses regret over the outcome, and promises that Sasuke will remain safe and uninvolved. 51

Root Conflict and Village Security

After Root operatives are killed, Hiruzen receives Fang Demon's mask, summons Hayate, and calls other clan heads in preparation to challenge Danzō's influence. 74

He continues to treat unexplained deaths near Konoha as a potential conspiracy, relying on Shikaku's assessment to avoid impulsive deployment into a suspected trap. 125

Team Seven and the Chunin Exams

Hiruzen assigns Kakashi to guide Naruto and Sasuke, while Tenzo covertly monitors Naruto. He sees Sasuke's Sharingan as an emergency measure against a possible Nine-Tails rampage. 125 128

He observes Team Seven's bell-test tactics with approval, later informing Naruto that the team will enter the Chunin Exams. 154 164

Notable Quotes

“Silence! You who toy with the souls of the dead!” 33

“First, I want to thank you. You prevented a civil war in Konoha and preserved the village's peace.” 51

“Although the Jinchuriki has grown in the correct direction under my guidance since childhood, I still have to consider the overall situation.” 128