Third Hokage

Biodata

Background and History

Hiruzen inherited leadership of Konoha from his teacher, Senju Tobirama. He raised the village's strength, but later acknowledged that it had declined under his leadership 572. He also taught Orochimaru, whose experiments on villagers led to a confrontation with Hiruzen. Danzō intervened in their battle, allowing Orochimaru to escape 112.

After the Fourth Hokage took office, Hiruzen remained involved in Konoha's defense. During the Nine-Tails' attack, he prepared to strike the beast with Enma's Golden Staff but was distressed by his inability to protect everyone caught in the crisis 160 162.

Hiruzen later sought to make amends for decisions made during his tenure. He told Kakashi that his father, Hatake Sakumo, had done nothing wrong by saving his companions, and apologized to Hyūga Hiashi for his role in Hizashi's death 571 572.

Appearance

Hiruzen is an elderly man whose decline becomes especially apparent in prolonged combat. He frequently smokes a pipe 580 591.

• His eyes are described as clouded with age 556.
• He wears a black combat uniform beneath his outer clothes when preparing to fight 110.

Personality

Hiruzen can be playful and self-deprecating, but his later reflections focus on the people his decisions failed to protect 137 535 572. He admits that age made him hesitant and that he sometimes favored outcomes benefiting the majority at the minority's expense 572. He remains protective of Konoha's younger generation, choosing to hold off Orochimaru so civilians and children can be evacuated 590.

Abilities and Skills

Ninjutsu and Shadow Clones

• Uses Shadow Clones to observe different things simultaneously and to support his attacks 137 591.
• Combines fire, wind, lightning, earth, and water in Five Release: Great Consecutive Shots 593.
• Uses Fire Release against Hashirama's Wood Release and Earth Flow Wall against Tobirama's Water Release 590 591.

Enma and the Golden Staff

• Fights with Enma, a monkey summon that transforms into the Golden Staff 592.
• The staff can extend and multiply, including into a cage capable of resisting encroaching Wood Release 593.

Sealing Technique

• Uses the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to seal the reanimated Hashirama and Tobirama. He cannot fully seal Orochimaru, but damages his soul severely 593.

Equipment and Items

• Crystal Ball — used to monitor locations and people around Konoha 535.
• Pipe — carried and smoked regularly 580 593.

Relationships

• Senju Tobirama — Hiruzen's teacher and predecessor; Hiruzen is forced to fight his reanimated teacher during Orochimaru's invasion 572 588 591.
• Orochimaru — former student. Hiruzen regrets letting him escape and ultimately dies trying to stop him 571 592 593.
• Shimura Danzō — longtime comrade and political rival. Hiruzen knows of Danzō's ambition to become Hokage and even of an attempt on his life 699 743.
• Kakashi Hatake — Hiruzen apologizes for his handling of Sakumo's legacy and urges Kakashi to value his father's choice to save his companions 571 572.
• Hyūga Hiashi — Hiruzen apologizes for the decision connected to Hiashi's brother Hizashi's death 572.

Story Role and Major Arcs

• Hashirama's return: Hiruzen recognizes the revived First Hokage and urges him to accept the vacant Hokage position as a transitional leader 231 232.
• Chūnin Exams invasion: Orochimaru impersonates the Fourth Kazekage, traps Hiruzen within a barrier, and pits him against the reanimated First and Second Hokage 586 588.
• Final stand: Hiruzen fights to buy time for Konoha's evacuation. Though overwhelmed, he seals the two reanimated Hokage and wounds Orochimaru's soul before dying 590 592 593.