Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; “Third Grandfather” (used by Naruto) 40
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage; Konoha’s chief political and military authority
Status	Active; continues serving as Hokage during the Shinobi World crisis 267
First Appearance	Chapter 4
Novel	Naruto: Menma Uzumaki, Egressing from the Infinite Tsukuyomi

Background

Hiruzen leads Konoha during a period of diminished military strength following the Nine-Tails Incident, the deaths of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, and the departure or loss of several major shinobi. He privately suspects that Shimura Danzō played a role in the incident, including the circumstances that led to Minato, Kushina, and Hiruzen’s wife Biwako dying. Despite this, he does not punish Danzō, believing Konoha still requires Root and cannot afford to lose further fighting power 4.

He consistently frames his decisions through the Will of Fire and Konoha’s stability. During the Hyūga–Kumogakure crisis, he refuses to surrender the Byakugan’s strategic value, establishes a defensive line against a possible Cloud attack, and ultimately supports using Hizashi Hyūga’s body to avert war 15 17. When the conflict escalates after the deaths of Konoha shinobi, he suspects Danzō’s interference but must contend with a jonin vote and public pressure for war 22.

Hiruzen keeps Naruto Uzumaki under his protection as both Minato’s son and Konoha’s Nine-Tails jinchūriki. He rejects Danzō’s repeated demands to place Naruto in Root, instead insisting that Naruto needs ordinary relationships, education, and bonds rather than weaponization 4 41.

Appearance

An elderly man with a heavily lined face, a stooped posture, and a habitual pipe. He is commonly seen in the Third Hokage’s robes and hat 39 47.

• Frequently exhales smoke while considering political or military decisions 4 221.
• Retains a weathered but authoritative presence despite his advanced age 39 217.
• Is visibly weakened after severe injuries and extended overwork 113 129 239.

Personality

Hiruzen is patient, conciliatory, and deeply attached to the ideal of the Will of Fire. He encourages Naruto’s growth, treats him with genuine affection, and argues that a child needs friends and bonds before strength 40 41. His concern is not entirely political: when Naruto visits him after Hiruzen is injured, Hiruzen’s relief that Naruto is unharmed is described as sincere 129.

His village-first thinking also makes him compromised and indecisive. He allows Naruto’s identity as Minato’s son to remain concealed and admits that rumors surrounding Naruto were allowed to spread in the name of maintaining control over the jinchūriki and Konoha’s balance 142. He recognizes the risks posed by Danzō, the Uchiha, and the Hyūga, but repeatedly hesitates to take action that could destabilize the village 61 221.

Hiruzen is capable of political manipulation beneath his gentle demeanor. After Shisui reveals Kotoamatsukami, Hiruzen publicly approves Shisui’s plan while privately judging the technique too dangerous and sending a secret letter to Danzō 47. He later attempts to preserve peace with the Uchiha by explaining Shisui’s death as the work of an outside masked man, even when Fugaku finds the account difficult to accept 61 62.

Abilities & Skills

Five Nature Transformations

Hiruzen possesses chakra affinities for all five basic elemental natures, placing him among the rare shinobi able to use every standard elemental release 63.

• Creates four Shadow Clones to combine five simultaneous elemental attacks with his own jutsu 110.
• Uses Five Elements: Great Barrage Technique, merging Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Lightning Release into a large-scale assault 110.
• His barrage is regarded as the culmination of his study of the five transformations and powerful enough to match his Kage-level reputation 111.
• The technique consumes his chakra completely and fails to destroy Menma’s Susanoo 111.

Water Release

Hiruzen retains powerful Water Release even after exhausting much of his chakra.

• Uses Water Release: Water Dragon Biting Explosion against reanimated Uchiha combatants 112.
• The technique extinguishes widespread flames and destroys multiple targets, though the Impure World Reincarnation bodies regenerate 112.

Summoning Technique: Enma

Hiruzen can summon Enma, a powerful monkey companion who transforms into the Adamantine Staff 110.

• Wields Enma’s staff in close combat against Menma’s crimson Susanoo alongside Itachi’s attack 110.
• Enlarges the staff to strike a falling meteorite threatening Konoha 217.
• Even with Enma’s aid, the meteorite’s force overwhelms Hiruzen and leaves him injured 217.

Hokage Leadership and Intelligence Work

As Hokage, Hiruzen directs ANBU, Root oversight, diplomacy, and high-rank missions.

• Orders ANBU deployments during the Uchiha crisis and attempts to contain public conflict between the Uchiha Police Force and the Sarutobi Clan 43 45.
• Orders Danzō to locate Shisui’s eyes and identify the masked man after Shisui’s death 61.
• Assigns Kakashi, Yamato, and other elite shinobi S-rank missions during escalating international incidents 194 246.
• Continues coordinating Konoha’s response after Yamato’s defection, the deaths of foreign Kage, and Akatsuki’s expansion 267.

Equipment & Summons

• Pipe — Hiruzen’s habitual smoking pipe, often used while reflecting on difficult decisions 4 221.
• Hokage robes and hat — Worn while acting in his official capacity as Third Hokage 39.
• Enma / Adamantine Staff — His summoned combat partner and primary weapon in direct battle 110 217.

Relationships

• Naruto Uzumaki — Protector, mentor, and grandfather-like figure. Hiruzen prevents Root from claiming Naruto, enrolls him in the Ninja Academy, gives him Wind Release techniques, and begins considering him a future Hokage candidate; however, he also hides Naruto’s parentage and allows him to be politically isolated 4 41 96 142 155.
• Shimura Danzō — Longtime political counterpart and source of constant conflict. Hiruzen distrusts Danzō’s ambition and suspected crimes but repeatedly preserves Root because he believes Konoha needs it 4 61.
• Shisui Uchiha — ANBU subordinate whom Hiruzen initially treats as a possible bridge to the Uchiha Clan. Hiruzen becomes wary after learning of Kotoamatsukami and secretly contacts Danzō after approving Shisui’s plan 39 47.
• Fugaku Uchiha — Uchiha clan head whose trust in Hiruzen deteriorates following Shisui’s death and Hiruzen’s explanation of the incident 61 62.
• Itachi Uchiha — Cooperates with Hiruzen and Konoha’s forces during Menma’s attack on the village 110.
• Jiraiya — Former disciple. Jiraiya openly condemns Hiruzen’s handling of Naruto and tries to take Naruto away for training, while Hiruzen refuses to relinquish control of the jinchūriki 142.
• Tsunade — Former disciple. Hiruzen attempts to persuade her to become the Fifth Hokage and draws her attention with evidence concerning Wood Release experiments 220.
• Asuma Sarutobi — His estranged son. Asuma challenges Hiruzen’s beliefs about the Hokage and the Will of Fire, leaving Hiruzen feeling inadequate as both a leader and father 239.
• Enma — Summoning partner who answers Hiruzen’s call in Konoha’s most dangerous battles 110 217.

Story Role

Naruto’s Protection and Education

Hiruzen refuses Danzō’s proposal to turn Naruto into a Root weapon, asserting that Naruto is Minato’s son and an inheritor of the Will of Fire 4. He later ensures Naruto attends the Ninja Academy, praises his early Wind Release talent, and supplies him with Wind Release: Vacuum Wave and Wind Release: Pressure Damage 39 45 96.

After Naruto’s identity as Minato’s son becomes public, Hiruzen gives him the keys to his parents’ home and explains his parents’ history 155. During Hiruzen’s hospitalization, Naruto confronts him over his neglected childhood; Hiruzen accepts responsibility and promises to support Naruto going forward 158.

Uchiha Crisis

Hiruzen attempts to keep the Uchiha and Konoha from open conflict, intervening in clashes involving the Uchiha Police Force and the Sarutobi Clan 43 45. He supports Shisui’s proposal to use Kotoamatsukami on Fugaku to halt the coup, but privately concludes that Shisui’s ability is too dangerous to ignore 47.

Following Shisui’s death, Hiruzen confronts Danzō, orders an investigation into Shisui’s eyes and the masked man, and seeks Fugaku’s cooperation despite the Uchiha leader’s growing distrust 61 62. The crisis later develops into a wider disaster when Menma enables Uchiha children to escape Konoha and kills Hiruzen’s son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke 104 129.

Battle Against Menma

When Menma attacks Konoha with Susanoo, reanimated shinobi, and large-scale elemental techniques, Hiruzen leads ANBU forces directly into battle 110. He summons Enma, uses his Five Elements: Great Barrage Technique, and continues fighting with Water Release after his chakra is heavily depleted 110 112.

Menma ultimately overwhelms Konoha’s defenses with Lightning Release: Ten Thousand Thunders and impales Hiruzen with a Stone Blade, leaving him unconscious and severely wounded 113. His recovery is prolonged, and Naruto later visits him in the hospital 129 158.

Later Konoha Crises

Hiruzen urgently seeks Tsunade’s help when Yamato’s Wood Release cells become unstable, viewing the possible loss of Wood Release as unacceptable to Konoha 216. He also attempts to repel Ōtsutsuki Rito’s meteorite with Enma’s Adamantine Staff but is defeated by the impact before Naruto intervenes 217.

After the attack, Hiruzen tries to recruit Tsunade as Fifth Hokage and investigates the implications of Wood Release, the Gelel Stone, and possible Byakugan evolution 220 221. He remains in office amid the later upheaval caused by Akatsuki, Yamato’s defection, and the deaths of the Fourth Raikage and Chiyo 267.

Notable Quotes

“Danzo, I am the Hokage.” 41

“I’m just an old bag of bones, but I’ll have to give it a try!” 217