Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飛日斬)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure
Occupation / Role	Third Hokage; later Ninja Academy principal 24 289
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 21

Background / History

Hiruzen served as Konoha's Third Hokage and had been trained directly by both Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju. His longtime comrade Shimura Danzo became his most persistent political rival, particularly over the treatment of the Uchiha clan and Konoha's jinchūriki. 21 80 187

When Uchiha Chiga awakened the Sharingan unusually early, Hiruzen recognized both the boy's potential and the strategic value of an Uchiha capable of eventually controlling the Nine-Tails. He blocked Danzo's attempts to place Chiga in Root, defended him from Root's accusations, and personally offered him ninjutsu instruction. 21 42 79 80

Hiruzen arranged for Chiga to become Kushina Uzumaki's disciple, intending their bond to create a safeguard around the Nine-Tails jinchūriki. He also maintained Anbu surveillance over Kushina, regarding her safety and control of Kurama as matters of village security. 42 81 192

During the Third Shinobi World War, Hiruzen personally led 500 shinobi to the Sand front after learning that the Fourth Kazekage would enter the conflict. He broke the Sand vanguard with successive Earth and Fire Release techniques, fought Rasa alongside Chiyo and Ebizo, and later secured a ceasefire requiring Sand forces to withdraw to Fallen Leaf City with a limited garrison. 183 187 188 192 193

As succession became urgent, Hiruzen promoted Tsunade's battlefield prestige, considered Minato Namikaze after Jiraiya's recommendation, and later expressed interest in Chiga becoming the Fourth Hokage. He eventually relinquished his authority to Tsunade and became principal of the Ninja Academy. 186 197 239 289

Appearance

Hiruzen is an elderly man generally seen in formal Hokage attire, including the Hokage hat. He is also known to smoke a pipe. 24 79

• Wears the Hokage hat marked with the character for “Fire.” 91
• Carries and fights with an Adamantine Staff. 188
• Is frequently described and treated as an old man by allies and enemies alike. 182 192

Personality

Hiruzen is politically perceptive, patient, and capable of balancing open authority with indirect maneuvering. He recognizes Danzo's ambitions but often tolerates them until they threaten Kushina, Chiga, or his own authority as Hokage. 42 80 81

His protection of Konoha can become paternalistic. He restricts Kushina's movement, maintains surveillance around her, and views Uzumaki survivors partly as insurance for the Nine-Tails jinchūriki position. 139 192

Despite his statesmanlike role, Hiruzen has a lewd and occasionally unserious side. He used the Telescope Technique to observe Minato and Kushina's private dates, and initially fixated on an irrelevant detail in Tsunade's urgent battlefield report. 94 182

Abilities & Skills

Large-Scale Elemental Ninjutsu

Hiruzen can rapidly chain different elemental techniques on the battlefield, using broad attacks to destroy enemy formations.

• Used Earth Release: Earth Flow River to trap Sand shinobi in liquefied ground. 187
• Followed with Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, incinerating the trapped vanguard. 187
• Used Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet during Konoha's advance. 187
• His elemental output and battlefield presence were regarded as overwhelming enough to raise Konoha's morale immediately. 187

Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique

Hiruzen employs a technique that combines ninja tools with ninjutsu to produce lethal physical shuriken clones.

• Eliminated hundreds of Sand shinobi in a single surprise attack. 187
• The technique was inspired by the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique developed by Tobirama Senju. 187

Adamantine Staff Combat

Hiruzen uses an Adamantine Staff in close combat against high-level opponents.

• Scattered the Fourth Kazekage's Gold Sand with the staff. 188
• Sent Chiyo's giant puppet flying and interrupted Ebizo's ninjutsu. 188
• Held off Rasa, Chiyo, and Ebizo simultaneously, allowing Sakumo Hatake to reinforce other units. 188

Telescope Technique

Hiruzen possesses the Telescope Technique for remote observation.

• Used it to monitor Minato and Kushina's secret dates. 94
• The technique requires familiarity with the target's chakra, limiting whom he can observe. 94

Equipment

• Hokage hat — Identifies him as Konoha's Third Hokage. 91
• Adamantine Staff — Primary weapon in his engagement against the Sand leadership. 188

Relationships

• Shimura Danzo — Former comrade, rival, and Hokage assistant. Hiruzen repeatedly blocks Danzo's attempts to control Chiga and Kushina, though he also tolerates Danzo's ambitions for long periods. 42 80 81 183
• Uzumaki Kushina — Konoha's Nine-Tails jinchūriki. Hiruzen protects and restricts her, while also arranging Chiga's apprenticeship under her as part of a broader village-security plan. 42 81 192
• Uchiha Chiga — A gifted Uchiha Hiruzen shields from Root, teaches, and later considers as a potential Fourth Hokage. 79 80 239
• Minato Namikaze — A trusted shinobi whom Hiruzen dispatches on sensitive missions and considers for Hokage succession after Jiraiya's recommendation. 84 186 197
• Sarutobi Asuma — His son. Hiruzen places Asuma on Chiga's team partly to give him the protection of Chiga's Flying Thunder God Technique. 117
• Jiraiya — His disciple. Hiruzen relies on Minato to bring the evasive Jiraiya back to Konoha and later reprimands him for withholding information about the Rinnegan. 84 266
• Tsunade — His disciple and eventual successor. Hiruzen builds her wartime prestige as a Hokage candidate, then later advises her politically after stepping down. 186 289 300
• Orochimaru — His disciple. Hiruzen grows concerned that Orochimaru has strayed because of his obsession with eternal life. 150 186
• Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju — His teachers, later encountered again when Orochimaru summons them through Impure World Reincarnation. 187 261

Notable Quotes

“Danzo, I am the Hokage!” 21

“You three alone want to keep me, Hiruzen Sarutobi? That's simply a pipe dream!” 188

“I am old enough!” 267