Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; Former Third Hokage
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure; Sarutobi Clan; ANBU administration
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage of Konohagakure; Sarutobi Clan Head
Status	Imprisoned in the Security Force after being captured for betraying Konohagakure; awaiting public trial 272 273
First Appearance	Chapter 11

Background & History

Hokage of Konohagakure

As Third Hokage, Hiruzen oversaw village missions, intelligence, diplomacy, and wartime deployments. He credited Team 9's early mission success to Kakashi Hatake's presence and later appointed his disciple Orochimaru as frontline commander against Sunagakure. 11 30

His administration frequently placed Team 9 under heavy demands. After the team completed a mission carrying a 500,000 ryō reimbursement, Hiruzen initially assigned them another mission without pay or rest; Minato Namikaze ultimately secured both reimbursement and a three-day break. 36 38

Hiruzen investigated major internal threats, including the destruction of Konoha's back mountain, Orochimaru's secret laboratory, and Danzō's concealed Wood Release operative. He ordered Danzō to surrender the latter while allowing him to retain leadership of Root. 47 48 65

War Leadership and Political Maneuvering

During tensions with Kumogakure, Hiruzen accepted the Raikage's terms and sent Minato and Team 9 to eliminate Stone Ninja forces in the Land of Grass. He considered the agreement advantageous because Yamato had not yet been officially registered as a Team 9 member. 71

He also used Han Guang's battlefield achievements to reinforce his own authority, publicly announcing that Han Guang had slain over a thousand elite Stone Ninja—including the Third Tsuchikage's son—as an ANBU operative under his command. 182

Hiruzen's control over the ANBU weakened after the death of his eldest son, Shin'nosuke. Believing Orochimaru responsible, he appointed Ruri to rebuild the depleted organization while becoming increasingly suspicious of Team 9, Minato, and Danzō. 112 134 144 145

Attempts to Control Han Guang

Hiruzen sought to bind Han Guang to his administration by promoting him to ANBU division captain and offering support for a future Hokage candidacy after ten years of service. He made the same long-term proposal to Obito Uchiha after learning Obito possessed both Sharingan and Wood Release. 150

As Han Guang's influence grew, Hiruzen attempted to use ANBU authority against him. His order to assemble the ANBU was openly ignored, revealing that the organization no longer answered to him. Han Guang then physically subdued Hiruzen with overwhelming spiritual pressure and forced him to kneel. 194 195

Deposition and Exile

During a conference attended by other Kage, Han Guang—supported by several Konoha clan heads—forced Hiruzen from power. Hiruzen was injured during the confrontation and could not prevent Han Guang from declaring himself the Fourth Hokage. 214

Han Guang subsequently dismissed Hiruzen from office and ordered him to report for work the following day. As a former Hokage, Hiruzen was assigned missions by his successor rather than issuing them himself. 217 228 229

Hiruzen attempted to protect his son Asuma after Kakashi accused him of colluding with enemies. He sent Asuma toward the Daimyo's mansion to remove him from Konoha, but Han Guang's plan resulted in Asuma's capture. 221

When Han Guang ordered the Sarutobi Clan to attack Kumogakure, Hiruzen interpreted the order as an attempt to destroy his clan. He mobilized more than a thousand Sarutobi members, instructed them to bring their valuables, and led them out of Konoha under cover of night. 250 251 252

Alliance with Former Enemies and Capture

After leaving Konoha, Hiruzen encountered Orochimaru at one of Danzō's contact points. He joined Orochimaru's journey to the Land of Lightning, bringing over a thousand Sarutobi Clan elites in hopes of finding Danzō and Madara Uchiha. 257 258

Hiruzen, Orochimaru, and Danzō eventually accepted Madara's plan to gather the Tailed Beasts and resurrect the “God of Order.” During Minato's attempted Reverse Summoning, Hiruzen used Earth Style: Earth Flow River to interfere. 268

Han Guang later captured Hiruzen alongside Orochimaru and Danzō, binding all three with Wood Release and spiritual will. Fugaku Uchiha then imprisoned them as traitors in the Security Force. 270 272 273

Personality

Hiruzen is politically calculating and highly protective of his authority. He repeatedly interpreted military victories, ANBU expansion, and Han Guang's strength as tools for preserving the Hokage's position. 154 182

He is also prone to self-regard. While reviewing a family photograph, he praised himself as “the strongest Hokage in history” and viewed Shin'nosuke and Ruri's planned marriage as a means to consolidate his control over the ANBU. 111

His judgment is frequently shaped by personal loyalties. He favored Orochimaru as frontline commander because Orochimaru was his direct disciple, relied on Minato when Danzō defected because of Minato's connection to Jiraiya, and prioritized the Sarutobi Clan's survival after losing office. 30 173 251

Following his deposition, Hiruzen became increasingly resentful of Han Guang. He regretted not having Han Guang killed earlier and believed that eliminating him would have prevented his own fall from power. 220

Abilities & Skills

Ninjutsu

Hiruzen is identified as a “Ninjutsu professor” and possesses enough technical knowledge to recognize Han Guang's spiritual-will suppression as an advanced form of mental force. 195

• Used Earth Style: Earth Flow River to disrupt Minato's Reverse Summoning attempt. 268
• Used the Body Flicker Technique during the investigation into the deaths of Root operatives. 134
• Was decisively outmatched by Han Guang's spiritual pressure and Wood Release-based restraints. 195 270

Administration and Political Strategy

As Hokage, Hiruzen coordinated military assignments, managed village intelligence, conducted negotiations, and directed ANBU recruitment. 30 71 134 154

• Identified Iwagakure's border reinforcements as preparation for conflict. 36
• Negotiated with Kumogakure's envoy and leveraged the agreement to deploy Team 9 against Stone Ninja forces. 71
• Ordered Ruri to expand the ANBU after Shin'nosuke's death left the organization severely weakened. 134
• Attempted to maintain public confidence by reducing village rumors and rebuilding ANBU strength. 154

Relationships

• Han Guang — Former ANBU subordinate turned political rival and successor. Hiruzen attempted to groom him as a future Hokage, but Han Guang overthrew and later imprisoned him. 150 214 272
• Danzō — Longtime political ally and Root leader. Their cooperation deteriorated into mutual suspicion; Hiruzen later followed Danzō's path toward Madara's faction. 65 173 258
• Minato Namikaze — Trusted Konoha shinobi whom Hiruzen repeatedly assigned to lead Team 9. Their relationship became strained as Minato's influence over Team 9 surpassed Hiruzen's authority. 71 145 173
• Orochimaru — Hiruzen's direct disciple and former frontline commander. After Orochimaru's defection, they later reunited as allies against Han Guang. 30 48 257
• Asuma Sarutobi — His son. Hiruzen tried to shield Asuma from accusations of enemy collusion by sending him away from Konoha. 221
• Sarutobi Shin'nosuke — His eldest son and ANBU Captain. Shin'nosuke's disappearance and presumed murder deeply destabilized Hiruzen's control of the ANBU. 108 112
• Ruri — Shin'nosuke's intended spouse and ANBU vice-captain. Hiruzen entrusted her with rebuilding the ANBU after Shin'nosuke's death. 111 134
• Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado — Elder advisers who urged Hiruzen to accept retirement and avoid further conflict with Han Guang. 220

Notable Quotes

“Hiruzen Sarutobi, you truly are the strongest Hokage in history!” 111

“It's all my fault for being too merciful. If I had let the Anbu kill him back then, things wouldn't have turned out like this today.” 220