Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi
Original Name	猿飞日斩
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; Third Lord
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage of Konohagakure; later retired Hokage
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 14

Background / History

Hiruzen became the Third Hokage after Tobirama Senju appointed him during a battlefield retreat against Kumogakure’s elite forces. His long rule established a power base that included his former comrades Shimura Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu as senior figures within Konoha’s leadership. 412 419

As Hokage, Hiruzen allowed Root to exist as an “Anbu training institution” with extensive autonomy under Danzo. He recognized Root’s unusual and dangerous nature, but his reluctance to confront Danzo’s actions allowed the organization to operate beyond his direct knowledge and control. 261

He also knew of Orochimaru’s human experimentation during the war but chose not to act decisively, citing wartime necessity and his own soft-heartedness. This inaction later brought him into direct conflict with Tsunade. 361

Following the Third Shinobi World War, Hiruzen considered Minato Namikaze, Orochimaru, and Nara Kaikei as Konoha’s principal Hokage candidates. Although he initially favored Minato, Kaikei’s superior strength, prestige, and wartime contributions led Hiruzen not to oppose Kaikei’s election as Fourth Hokage. 388 415

Personality

Hiruzen is an experienced and perceptive leader who places Konoha’s stability above personal comfort. He is willing to negotiate with hostile villages, inspect important evidence himself, and reconsider his judgments when confronted with proof, such as Tsunade’s awakening of Wood Release. 190 362 390

His greatest weakness is his indecisiveness toward those close to him. He repeatedly overlooks Danzo’s transgressions, hesitates to punish Orochimaru, and attempts to save Danzo even after Root’s crimes are exposed. 261 361 377

Despite his gentler public demeanor, Hiruzen can become stern when Konoha’s interests are threatened. At the Five Kage Summit, he firmly resisted demands for Konoha’s Tailed Beasts, prisoners, bloodline assets, and ninja tools. 391 395

Abilities & Skills

Ninjutsu Mastery

Hiruzen is proficient in multiple chakra natures and possesses a broad arsenal of high-level techniques.

• Mastered all five basic nature transformations: Water, Fire, Wind, Earth, and Lightning. 418
• Can use Compound Ninjutsu: Great Five Elements Consecutive Barrage, an S-Rank technique requiring all five transformations. 418
• Uses Fire Release techniques, including Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu and Great Fireball: Consecutive Barrage. 179 361
• Uses Body Flicker Technique for rapid movement. 362

Shuriken Techniques

Hiruzen employs cloning techniques to create large-scale projectile attacks.

• Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique — multiplies thrown weapons into a widespread barrage; he used it to form an iron cage around Nara Kaikei. 374
• Shuriken Giant Body Technique — one of the techniques he left in the Scroll of Seals. 418

Enma Summoning

Hiruzen’s exclusive summoning beast is King Enma, who can transform into an Adamantine Staff.

• The staff can extend over long distances and is durable enough for close-quarters combat. 373
• Hiruzen combines Enma’s staff form with his taijutsu and chakra control. 373 375
• Enma’s transformed staff was ultimately destroyed during Hiruzen’s battle against Nara Kaikei. 376

Combat Perception and Taijutsu

A veteran of countless battles, Hiruzen possesses sharp senses and formidable close-range ability.

• His perception allowed him to track Nara Kaikei’s attacks and recognize the danger of the Spiral Shadow Binding Bullet. 373
• He fought directly against Nara Kaikei at the Root Base, using rapid movement, staff techniques, and projectile clones. 373 375
• Age and the gap in strength left him unable to defeat Kaikei or rescue Danzo. 376 377

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Adamantine Staff — King Enma’s transformed combat form. 373
• Kunai — used during his attempt to breach Nara Kaikei’s Black Warrior defense. 373
• Pipe — frequently used while considering intelligence and political matters. 99 342

Relationships

• Shimura Danzo — Former teammate and Root’s leader. Hiruzen repeatedly protected or tolerated Danzo despite recognizing Root’s dangerous autonomy and Danzo’s wrongdoing. 61 261 377
• Tsunade — Former student. Their relationship became severely strained after Tsunade confronted him over his silence regarding Orochimaru’s experiments and Hashirama’s desecration. 360 361
• Orochimaru — Former student and Hokage candidate. Hiruzen recognized Orochimaru’s ambition and malice early, yet failed to decisively stop his experiments. 362 611
• Jiraiya — Former student and potential Hokage candidate; Jiraiya instead supported Minato’s succession. 388
• Minato Namikaze — Grand-disciple and favored Hokage candidate. Hiruzen trusted Minato’s abilities, brought him as his summit attendant, and later recommended that he accompany Kaikei on dangerous missions. 99 388 439
• Nara Kaikei — Initially a talented young ninja Hiruzen attempted to recruit into Anbu. They later clashed over Danzo, after which Hiruzen accepted Kaikei’s overwhelming strength and succession as Fourth Hokage. 95 373 415
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura — Longtime companions and senior Konoha elders who participated in high-level decisions with Hiruzen. 190 327
• Uzumaki Naruto — Hiruzen takes a protective interest in Naruto and secretly assigns additional Anbu protection after Naruto’s arrival in Konoha. 472 481

Story Role / Major Arcs

Root and Nara Kaikei

Hiruzen opposed Danzo’s attempts to recruit Nara Kaikei into Root, advising Danzo not to place excessive hopes on the young Nara. He later attempted to recruit Kaikei into Anbu after Kaikei’s achievements at Kikyo Castle, but Kaikei refused. 61 95

When Root operatives attacked Kaikei and Yakushi Nonō, Hiruzen was placed in a politically difficult position as the Pig Deer Butterfly clans brought the matter to the Hokage’s Office. 69

Third Shinobi World War

During the war, Hiruzen relied heavily on rising talents such as Minato and Kaikei. He acknowledged Kaikei as a caring but lazy young ninja and recognized that Konoha’s future depended on its new generation. 165 179

He opposed Danzo’s request to claim the Three-Tails for Root, fearing the organization’s expanding influence. Instead, he arranged for Minato’s squad to select a Jinchūriki for Konoha. 261

Danzo’s Downfall

After Tsunade revealed Orochimaru’s crimes, Hiruzen feared that Tsunade and Kaikei would next target Danzo. He struggled to choose between his former student and his old comrade. 361 365

At the Root Base, Hiruzen intervened to prevent Tsunade and Kaikei from executing Danzo. He fought Kaikei in an attempt to retrieve Danzo, but was decisively defeated and badly injured. 372 373 376

Unable to stop Tsunade, Hiruzen witnessed Danzo’s execution by Wood Release: Great Cloth Bag Technique. 377

Five Kage Summit and Succession

Hiruzen attended the Five Kage Summit with Minato as his attendant. He negotiated over prisoners, Tailed Beasts, and captured ninja tools while defending Konoha’s wartime gains. 388 390 409

After the summit, he increasingly recognized Kaikei’s political influence and strength. He ultimately stepped down and accepted Kaikei as the Fourth Hokage. 395 415 418

Retirement

As a retired Hokage, Hiruzen remained involved in village affairs and sought to learn Kaikei’s Wood Release Chakra Manufacturing Method after it was added to the Scroll of Seals. 418

He continued advising Kaikei on major threats, including the Dragon Vein beneath Rōran, Uchiha Madara, the Uchiha Clan’s fate in another world, and the danger posed by Orochimaru’s future Konoha Crush Plan. 439 470 472

Trivia

• Hiruzen’s unique techniques recorded in the Scroll of Seals include Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, Shuriken Giant Body Technique, Compound Ninjutsu: Earth Dragon Flame Stream, Compound Ninjutsu: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet, and Great Five Elements Consecutive Barrage. 418
• He considers Hashirama Senju far beyond his own level, believing that even at his peak he could not match the First Hokage. 179 372
• His repeated attempts to reform Orochimaru after the latter’s imprisonment became a source of complaint for Orochimaru, who objected to being lectured about the Will of Fire. 611