Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; Professor of Ninjutsu; Shinobi Hero 72 83
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure; Land of Fire government as temporary daimyo 187
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage; temporary daimyo of the Land of Fire 187
Status	Deceased; killed after Orochimaru circumvented his Reaper Death Seal attempt 308
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Background / History

Leadership of Konohagakure

Hiruzen led Konoha through conflicts involving the Hyuga Clan, Kumogakure, the Uchiha Clan, and internal factions. During the fallout from Hinata Hyuga's abduction, he objected when Danzo attempted to shift responsibility onto the Hyuga Clan, recognizing that the proposal would turn the clan into a buffer between Konoha and Kumogakure. Hiashi nevertheless accepted the arrangement. 4

He initially treated the emergence of Senju Xu Fan as both an opportunity and a responsibility. After discovering Xu Fan's extraordinary Chakra, Hiruzen allowed him to enroll in the Ninja Academy and began considering him as a future Hokage candidate. 5 He later ordered Kakashi to secretly protect Xu Fan from Danzo's interference. 19

Xu Fan's Wood Release convinced Hiruzen that Konoha had regained a power capable of suppressing the Nine-Tails. He viewed Xu Fan as a natural inheritor of Hashirama Senju's legacy and the Will of Fire, while also removing Tenzō from Danzo's reach by bringing him into the Anbu. 27 43

Conflict with Danzo

Hiruzen's relationship with Danzo was defined by rivalry, dependence, and personal attachment. Although he opposed Danzo's attempts to assassinate or control Xu Fan, he still believed Konoha required a hidden “darkness” to complement its public ideals. 43

After Xu Fan defeated Danzo, Hiruzen privately discovered that Danzo had survived through the power of Hashirama's cells and Izanagi. Rather than reveal this secret, he used it to force Danzo to relinquish his advisor position and lose access to Konoha's leadership meetings. 43 He later delayed answering Xu Fan's demands for Danzo's location, prioritizing Konoha's immediate diplomatic crisis over Xu Fan's revenge. 46 47

Mentoring Xu Fan

Recognizing that Xu Fan had outgrown the normal Academy-to-Genin path, Hiruzen recruited him into the Anbu and intended for Kakashi to supervise his development. 46 When Xu Fan insisted on entering as an Anbu captain, Hiruzen ultimately accepted the demand despite concern over how the existing Anbu would react. 47

Hiruzen increasingly relied on Xu Fan's strength and judgment. He supported Xu Fan's handling of Root and Fū Yamanaka, considered him a possible successor, and later trusted him to advise on the Uchiha Clan's fate. 88 109

War, Political Change, and Succession

During the conflict with Kumogakure and Kirigakure, Hiruzen remained in Konoha to protect the village while assigning Xu Fan control over the frontline. 148 After the Land of Fire daimyo and his faction were eliminated, Hiruzen chose not to move against Xu Fan, judging that doing so would further weaken Konoha. He instead assumed the daimyo's authority as a temporary measure. 187

Years later, Hiruzen arranged Team 7 around Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. He first asked Xu Fan to lead them, then accepted Xu Fan's recommendation that Kakashi take the role instead. 223 224

Death during Orochimaru's Invasion

When Orochimaru invaded Konoha alongside the Sand and Sound forces, Hiruzen confronted his former student inside the Four Violet Flames Formation. Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to summon Hashirama and Tobirama Senju, forcing Hiruzen into a battle against both former Hokage. 299 300

Despite using Enma, powerful elemental techniques, and the Three Directions Sealing Technique, Hiruzen could not overcome Orochimaru's resurrected forces. 300 303 He ultimately attempted to sacrifice himself with the Reaper Death Seal, but Orochimaru had prepared a substitute with matching appearance and Chakra. The summoned Demon God of the Mask then claimed Hiruzen's life. 307 308

Appearance

Hiruzen is an elderly man with graying white hair. He is commonly seen wearing the Hokage's hat and carrying a pipe; when preparing for battle against Orochimaru, he removed his Hokage robe to reveal black armor beneath. 43 299

• Wears the traditional Hokage hat while serving as Konoha's leader. 43
• Often carries and smokes a pipe. 19 152
• Possesses a Crystal Ball used with the Telescope Technique. 96
• Wore black armor beneath his Hokage robes during Orochimaru's invasion. 299

Personality

Hiruzen is deeply committed to Konoha's stability and the protection of its people. During Naruto's rampage, he ordered civilians and lower-ranked shinobi evacuated, personally confronted the transformed Jinchuriki, and refused calls to kill Naruto despite the danger. 102 105

He favors compromise and gradual solutions, particularly in political crises. This caution repeatedly frustrates Xu Fan, especially regarding the Uchiha Clan, Kumogakure, and Danzo. 46 47 However, he can be unexpectedly forceful when he judges that appeasement will invite further aggression, as shown when he proposed using the Uchiha Clan's strength against Kumogakure. 32

Hiruzen believes that Konoha requires both its public idealism and its hidden ruthlessness. This philosophy explains why he protected Danzo despite condemning his actions, regarding Danzo as someone who bore burdens Hiruzen could not openly carry. 27 43

Abilities & Skills

Elemental Ninjutsu

Known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, Hiruzen is proficient in all five basic Chakra transformations. 72

• Used Earth Release: Earth Style Wall to defend against Yugito's Tailed Beast Chakra attack and Darui's Water Dragon Bullet. 83
• Used Earth Release: Earth Flow River to restrain Six-Tails Naruto temporarily. 103
• Used Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, his strongest Fire Release technique, against Tobirama's reanimated body. 300
• His advanced age limits his ability to endure prolonged battles against opponents such as the First and Second Hokage. 300

Summoning Technique: Enma

Hiruzen can summon Enma, the King of Monkeys, and command him to transform into the Adamantine Staff. 102 299

• The Adamantine Staff serves as Hiruzen's primary close-range weapon. 102
• Adamantine Sealing Wall creates a powerful containment barrier capable of restraining an opponent. 300
• Enma can fight independently in humanoid form, though he was unable to permanently restrain Hashirama's reanimated body. 300 301

Sealing Techniques

Hiruzen is a skilled sealing specialist who uses coordinated techniques to restrain dangerous opponents.

• Three Directions Sealing Technique — An S-rank seal performed by Hiruzen and two Shadow Clones, forming a green pyramid-shaped barrier around the target. 105 303
• The technique can imprison an opponent but does not remove their Chakra or reverse a Tailed Beast Transformation. 105
• Reaper Death Seal — A sacrificial technique Hiruzen used in an attempt to seal Orochimaru's soul. 307
• The Reaper Death Seal failed because Orochimaru had prepared a substitute, leaving Hiruzen vulnerable to the summoned god of death. 308

Surveillance and Chakra Perception

Hiruzen can sense major Chakra disturbances and employs the Crystal Ball's Telescope Technique for remote observation. 10 96 102

• Witnessed Xu Fan's enhanced Great Fireball Technique through the Telescope Technique. 10
• Observed Xu Fan's battle with Fugaku Uchiha and recognized Fugaku's Susanoo through the Crystal Ball. 96
• Detected the Nine-Tails' Chakra erupting within Konoha and later sensed major clashes involving Xu Fan. 96 102

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Hokage hat and robes — Symbols of his office as Third Hokage. 43 299
• Pipe — Frequently carried while working or attending command meetings. 19 152
• Crystal Ball — Used to perform the Telescope Technique. 96
• Adamantine Staff — Enma's transformed form; used for combat and sealing. 102 300

Relationships

• Danzo Shimura — Childhood companion and lifelong political rival. Hiruzen opposed Danzo's attacks on Xu Fan but concealed Danzo's survival and secret Hashirama-cell arm, then stripped him of his advisor position. 43
• Xu Fan — Protégé and prospective successor. Hiruzen arranged Xu Fan's Academy enrollment, protected him from Danzo, placed him in the Anbu, and increasingly entrusted him with Konoha's future. 5 19 46 88 109
• Kakashi Hatake — An Anbu subordinate entrusted with secretly protecting Xu Fan. Hiruzen also hoped Xu Fan and Tenzō would help Kakashi recover from the losses of Obito, Rin, and Minato. 19 46
• Tenzō — An Anbu shinobi Hiruzen deliberately removed from Danzo's influence. Hiruzen trusted him to detain Root after Danzo's attack on Xu Fan. 27 43
• Orochimaru — Former student whose human experimentation and invasion of Konoha ultimately forced Hiruzen into a fatal battle. 299 308
• Jiraiya — Former student and legendary shinobi. Hiruzen trusted Jiraiya's experience but acknowledged Xu Fan had surpassed him after Xu Fan defeated him in Sage Mode. 90 118
• Naruto Uzumaki — The orphaned son of Minato Namikaze. Hiruzen protected Naruto during his rampage and later arranged his placement on Team 7. 102 105 223
• Minato Namikaze — Hiruzen strongly recommended Minato for the Hokage position and continued to regret Minato's sacrifice during the Nine-Tails Rampage. 102 179
• Enma — Summoning partner and combat ally who transforms into Hiruzen's Adamantine Staff. 102 299

Notable Quotes

“Peace gained through struggle endures; peace sought through compromise perishes!” 32

“Everything is for the village.” 102