Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; Third Lord; Ninja Hero; Professor of Ninjutsu; God of Ninjutsu
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage; leader of Konohagakure; former teacher of Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade
Status	Holds the Hokage office during documented Konoha events; later summoned through Zhang Miao's recruitment system in a prime-aged form 197 491
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

After Minato Namikaze's death, Hiruzen had to seek formal reinstatement from the Land of Fire's Daimyo before resuming authority over Konohagakure. Minato had succeeded him as Fourth Hokage, so the Third Hokage could not simply reclaim the office on his own authority 24.

Following the Nine-Tails incident, Hiruzen ordered those who knew the truth to keep Naruto and Ryunosuke's parentage secret. He believed revealing that they were Minato's sons would expose them to enemies seeking revenge against the Fourth Hokage 35. He also personally investigated the disappearance of Minato and Kushina's bodies, eventually suspecting that Minato had prepared a contingency plan 2 45.

Hiruzen initially interpreted Might Wei's unexplained presence and strength as part of Minato's preparations for the twins. When Might Wei instead declared absolute loyalty to Ryunosuke, Hiruzen became concerned about the unknown force supporting the child, though he concluded that Konoha faced no immediate danger while that loyalty remained focused on Ryunosuke 45 56.

Orochimaru's defection left Hiruzen carrying much of the burden of an already weakened Konoha. He regretted losing the disciple in whom he had placed the greatest hopes, while also worrying that Ryunosuke's power, intelligence, and mysterious followers could make him another threat of Orochimaru's scale 127.

When Zhang Miao requested a Hades Temple in Konoha, Hiruzen recognized that Minato's resurrection would fundamentally affect the village's beliefs and political order. Unable to persuade the elders, he ultimately provided Sarutobi clan land and funds for the temple rather than force the village to support it 339 343.

Appearance

Hiruzen is commonly seen in the red-and-white robes and hat of the Hokage, carrying a pipe. By the time of his encounter with the supposed Tobirama Senju, he is nearly sixty years old 49 88.

• Carries and frequently smokes a pipe.
• Uses a crystal ball for his Telescopic Jutsu 56.
• A system-recruited manifestation of Hiruzen appears in black shinobi attire, with the tall, sturdy build and sharp gaze of a man in his early forties 197.

Personality

Hiruzen approaches leadership as a responsibility to protect Konoha and prepare its next generation. He keeps Naruto and Ryunosuke's heritage secret for their safety, asks Owl to continue caring for the brothers after leaving the Anbu, and repeatedly tries to steer Ryunosuke toward a more constructive future 35 50 109.

He is patient and strategically cautious. Rather than confront the unknown organization around Ryunosuke blindly, he sends Kakashi to accompany the boy and investigate it, selecting him for loyalty, intelligence, competence, and Ryunosuke's trust 130. He is also willing to shoulder personal costs when he believes Konoha's stability requires it, as shown by his decision to construct the Hades Temple on Sarutobi territory 343.

Despite his seriousness, Hiruzen is frequently left flustered by Ryunosuke's pranks, disguises, and Harem Jutsu. He generally responds with exasperation rather than harsh punishment, though he does set limits on Ryunosuke's impersonations and behavior 49 127 129 131.

Abilities & Skills

Five Elemental Chakra Natures

Hiruzen is proficient in transformations of all five basic chakra natures: Fire, Lightning, Water, Earth, and Wind 56 197.

• His five-element aptitude is identified as one of his defining ninja specialties 197.
• His mastery of ninjutsu earned him the epithets “Professor of Ninjutsu” and “God of Ninjutsu” 431.

Body Flicker Technique

Hiruzen can vanish and reposition instantly with the Body Flicker Technique 2.

• Used to leave the scene of Minato and Kushina's disappearance 2.
• Escaped Asuma's Fire Style: Ash Pile Burning through Body Flicker during the Hokage impersonation incident 111.

Telescopic Jutsu

Using a crystal ball, Hiruzen can observe a target remotely if he knows their chakra nature 56.

• Used to monitor Might Wei after questioning him about his loyalty to Ryunosuke 56.
• His surveillance ability is well known enough for Zhang Miao to seek his help locating Danzō 184.

Shadow Clone Jutsu

Hiruzen can use Shadow Clones defensively and tactically.

• A Shadow Clone took the damage when Might Wei opened six of the Eight Inner Gates and used Morning Peacock, preventing the real Hiruzen from being seriously harmed 70.

Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu

Hiruzen's specialty list includes Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu, which multiplies a thrown shuriken into a massive number of solid copies 197.

• Designed for overwhelming projectile attacks.
• The technique is described as one of Hiruzen's signature shuriken techniques 197.

Reaper Death Seal

Hiruzen is willing to use the forbidden Reaper Death Seal when Konoha's survival is at stake.

• In the described confrontation with Orochimaru, he resolves to sacrifice his life to seal the souls of Hashirama and Tobirama and disable Orochimaru's ability to use ninjutsu 437.

Equipment / Items

• Hokage robes and hat — official attire worn while presiding over Konoha 49.
• Pipe — a habitual personal item, often used while he thinks or questions others 2 45.
• Crystal ball — focus for the Telescopic Jutsu 56.

Relationships

• Tobirama Senju — Former teacher. Hiruzen remains deeply emotional over Tobirama's legacy and guidance, making him vulnerable to Zhang Miao's impersonation of the Second Hokage 88.
• Minato Namikaze — Former Fourth Hokage and father of Naruto and Ryunosuke. Hiruzen suspects Minato arranged contingencies for his sons and works to protect their identities 2 35 45.
• Naruto Uzumaki — Protected ward; Hiruzen keeps Naruto's lineage secret and later warns Asuma to treat Ryunosuke's brother with appropriate respect 35 491.
• Uzumaki Ryunosuke / Zhang Miao — A child Hiruzen attempts to guide while cautiously investigating his immense influence and unknown backing. Their relationship combines trust, concern, negotiation, and frequent prank-driven frustration 50 127 130 361.
• Kakashi Hatake — Trusted Anbu operative. Hiruzen relies on Kakashi to verify Ryunosuke's background and investigate the organization around him 45 130 137.
• Might Wei — Powerful shinobi whose fanatical devotion to Ryunosuke alarms Hiruzen; Hiruzen nevertheless welcomes him back to Konoha after assessing his taijutsu 56 70.
• Orochimaru — Former disciple. Hiruzen is angered and saddened by Orochimaru's defection, then later confronts him when he uses Impure World Reincarnation against Konoha 127 472 473.
• Danzō — Political counterpart and longtime source of conflict. Hiruzen removes him from all Konoha duties and orders Root disbanded after condemning his actions against the Uchiha 382.
• Asuma Sarutobi — His son. Their relationship is strained during Zhang Miao's Hokage impersonation, when Asuma mistakenly attacks his real father 110 111.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura — Village elders whose support Hiruzen seeks for the Hades Temple, though he ultimately acts without their approval 339 343.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Ryunosuke Investigation

Hiruzen learns that Ryunosuke has frequent contact with the Uchiha clan and an undocumented shinobi named Might Wei. He questions Owl, Kakashi, and Might Wei in an attempt to identify Ryunosuke's backers and assess the danger to Konoha 45 56.

Meetings with Ryunosuke

Hiruzen meets Ryunosuke directly, trying to learn his ambitions and redirect him toward becoming Hokage. Instead, he receives unconventional plans involving reviving the Uzumaki clan, marriage, and village diplomacy through personal charm 49 50 51.

Konoha's Internal Strain

After Orochimaru defects, Hiruzen investigates Ryunosuke more closely while managing rumors, Danzō's ambitions, and the village's weakening position. He recognizes Ryunosuke's genius but fears his darker potential 127 128.

Hades Temple and Uchiha Departure

Hiruzen approves the establishment of the Hades Temple to accommodate Minato's return, accepting the political consequences himself. Later, he entrusts Ryunosuke with handling the Uchiha clan's departure to the Land of Whirlpools in order to preserve Konoha's stability 339 343 361.

Orochimaru's Assault

Orochimaru confronts Hiruzen using Impure World Reincarnation to summon Hashirama, Tobirama, and Yagura. Hiruzen faces the attack under immense pressure before Zhang Miao counters by summoning the real First and Second Hokage 472 473 474.

Notable Quotes

“No one forced Hizashi; it was his own will. He died protecting the village, don't let his sacrifice be in vain!” 214

“You never know the outcome until the very end. I should have taught you this, Orochimaru!” 472

Trivia

• Hiruzen was fooled by Zhang Miao's Transformation Jutsu twice: once as Tobirama Senju and once when Zhang Miao impersonated Hiruzen himself in the Hokage's office 88 110.
• Might Wei's Morning Peacock destroyed the Hokage's office while sparring with Hiruzen's Shadow Clone; Zhang Miao agreed to pay half of the 500,000 ryo repair bill 70.
• Zhang Miao's enhanced Harem Jutsu has caused Hiruzen to suffer nosebleeds on multiple occasions 130 131 162.