Third Hokage

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi 9
Alias(es)	Third Hokage (三代火影)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure; Sarutobi Clan 9
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage of Konohagakure 14
Status	Deceased; dies after using the Reaper Death Seal against Uchiha Fugaku, and is later given a funeral 257 260
First Appearance	Chapter 9

Background / History

Hiruzen serves as Konoha's Third Hokage during escalating conflict between his faction and the Uchiha Clan. He publicly supports the Military Police Force's detention of Sarutobi clansmen for fighting the Hatake Clan, presenting himself as impartial even when his own relatives are involved 9.

He maintains close ties with Anbu members Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi, whom he uses to monitor the Uchiha Clan. Hiruzen considers their loyalty a success of his own political influence and claims superiority in “brainwashing abilities” over his predecessors 16 19.

As the Wood Style threat emerges, Hiruzen convenes village-wide meetings and attempts to keep Orochimaru's experiments with Hashirama Cells from becoming public. His authority weakens as Uchiha Fugaku exposes secrets, gains public support, and openly challenges the Hokage's faction 36 212 240.

Appearance

Hiruzen is an elderly, lean man whose Hokage robes and bearing make him appear imposing during formal meetings. His advanced age is visible through wrinkles and age spots on his face 14 36.

• Usually wears the Hokage robe during official proceedings 14.
• Carries an Adamantine Staff in battle 256.
• His age becomes a recurring point of contempt from Orochimaru and a practical limitation in his conflict with Fugaku 142 256.

Personality

Hiruzen cultivates an image of a just and benevolent Hokage. His decision not to shield detained Sarutobi clansmen earns the respect of the Anbu reporting to him, while his willingness to allow Mikoto to contact Naruto reflects his concern for village harmony 9 180.

Behind that public image, he is politically calculating and deeply suspicious of the Uchiha Clan. He stations Itachi as an informant, resists releasing him from Anbu service, and attempts to counter Fugaku through surveillance, rumor campaigns, and pressure on the clan 19 223 242.

When facing defeat, Hiruzen is proud and unwilling to yield. He dismisses the Daimyo's authority over him and ultimately chooses the mutually destructive Reaper Death Seal rather than accept Fugaku's victory 255 256.

Abilities & Skills

Elemental and Compound Ninjutsu

Hiruzen can combine multiple chakra natures into powerful compound techniques.

• Combined Ninjutsu: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet — A Shadow Clone creates a water dragon while Hiruzen infuses it with Lightning Style chakra during the defense against Orochimaru 142.
• Compound Ninjutsu: Earth Dragon Flame Style — Combines Earth Dragon Bullet and Fire Dragon Bullet into a flaming projectile barrage 256.
• His compound techniques can threaten high-level opponents, but Fugaku's Susanoo easily destroys the Earth Dragon Flame Style 256.

Shadow Clone Technique

Hiruzen uses a Shadow Clone in combat to coordinate simultaneous techniques.

• Creates a clone to cast Water Style while his original body adds Lightning Style chakra 142.
• Uses the clone as part of his response to Orochimaru's return to Konoha 142.

Adamantine Staff

Hiruzen wields an Adamantine Staff capable of changing form for offense and defense.

• Uses the staff in close combat against Fugaku 256.
• Splits it into multiple sections to form the Adamantine Sealing Prison 256.
• The sealing prison is shattered by Fugaku's Susanoo, and the staff's demon-ape form is injured and dispelled 256.

Reaper Death Seal

A forbidden, mutually destructive sealing technique used as Hiruzen's final measure.

• Attempts to use the technique to take Fugaku down with him after being outmatched in direct combat 256.
• The Reaper's hand repeatedly destroys Fugaku's Shadow Clones rather than the real Fugaku 257.
• The technique leaves Hiruzen dead after his final failed attempt 257 260.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Adamantine Staff — Transforming weapon used for close combat and the Adamantine Sealing Prison 256.
• Hokage robes — Official attire worn during village meetings and leadership duties 14.

Relationships

• Uchiha Fugaku — Political rival and eventual executioner. Hiruzen attempts to contain Fugaku and retain Uchiha Itachi in Anbu, but is defeated after the Daimyo strips him of office 223 255 257.
• Uchiha Itachi — Anbu subordinate and informant assigned to monitor Fugaku and the Uchiha Clan; Hiruzen refuses to release him from Anbu control 16 19 223.
• Uchiha Shisui — Loyal Anbu operative who pledges to stand by Hiruzen and Konoha even against the Uchiha Clan 16 180.
• Shimura Danzo — Senior advisor and political associate. Both attempt to suppress knowledge of Orochimaru's Hashirama Cell experiments 14 36.
• Orochimaru — Former student and hostile rogue ninja. Hiruzen personally leads Konoha's response to Orochimaru's return, but Orochimaru escapes using a Shadow Clone diversion 142 143.
• Yamanaka Inoichi — Intelligence-analysis captain who helps identify the Wood Style user responsible for the deaths of Hiruzen's advisors 229.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Uchiha surveillance — Uses Itachi to observe Fugaku and the Uchiha Clan rather than immediately moving to eliminate them, anticipating that an actual coup would give him political justification 19.
• Wood Style crisis — Confirms the return of an enemy Wood Style user before Konoha's clan heads and struggles to keep Orochimaru's past experiments hidden 36.
• Orochimaru's return — Joins elite Jonin and clan heads in confronting Orochimaru and attacks with Lightning Water Dragon Bullet, only to discover that the opponent is a Shadow Clone 142 143.
• Conflict with Fugaku — Tries to retain Itachi, spreads rumors against Fugaku through Anbu, and loses political ground when the scheme is exposed 223 242 243.
• Removal from office — Rejects the Daimyo's order stripping him of the Hokage position and confronts Fugaku directly 255.
• Final battle and death — Is overwhelmed by Fugaku's Susanoo and Body Flicker, resorts to the Reaper Death Seal, and dies after repeatedly striking Shadow Clones 256 257.
• Succession — His funeral precedes the election of the Fifth Hokage, won by Uchiha Fugaku 260.

Notable Quotes

“I'm not so old that I can't move.” 142

“Uchiha Fugaku, you're behind all of this, aren't you?” 255