Sarutobi Hiruzen

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Sarutobi Hiruzen (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	The Third Hokage
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure; Konoha High Command
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage of Konohagakure
Status	Deceased; removed from office, detained, and later mourned at a funeral and grave 101 103 118
First Appearance	Chapter 15 15

Background / History

Hiruzen served as Hokage for 27 years. During his rule, he consolidated authority around the Sarutobi clan and the Konoha high command. He later admitted that he had acted against the Senju clan, claiming its influence threatened the stability of both the Hokage position and the village. 96 101

When Root was attacked by an Uchiha and a masked man claiming to be Madara Uchiha, Hiruzen convened the elders and approved a plan to eliminate the masked man while testing Uchiha Itachi's loyalty. Although he initially rejected Danzō's demand for immediate extermination of the Uchiha clan, he continued seeking ways to contain and manipulate the clan. 15 19

After Root's crimes were exposed, Hiruzen attempted to take control of the investigation through Anbu and considered abandoning Danzō to protect himself. He publicly rewarded the Uchiha with their former central compound, while privately intending to divide the clan and exploit Minagawa Uchiha's perceived naivety. 41 45 46

Hiruzen later joined Koharu and Homura in planning to lure Uchiha Fugaku out of the village for assassination. He expected to use Jiraiya and Tsunade as support, but both former students increasingly opposed his policies. 60 82

His attempt to ambush Tsunade exposed his ambitions before Konoha's clans and prominent ninja. He openly stated his intention to make the Sarutobi clan Konoha's permanent ruling family, with Asuma as his chosen successor. The resulting backlash stripped him of his support and Hokage authority. 96 98 99

Minagawa Uchiha captured Hiruzen with Kamui after the clans turned against him. Hiruzen accepted defeat, expressed regret for the people harmed by his actions without renouncing his decisions, and attempted to appoint Minagawa as the Fifth Hokage in his final order. Uchiha Fugaku was ultimately elected Fifth Hokage instead. 99 101 118

Personality

Hiruzen cultivated the image of a kind, patient Hokage and initially presented himself as a mediator between Konoha and the Uchiha clan. He favored compromise when immediate conflict threatened his position, rather than accepting Danzō's more direct proposals. 19 32

Behind that image, he was calculating, cautious, and deeply concerned with preserving his authority. He sought to control successors through nominal “assistance,” used political concessions to divide opponents, and treated powerful clans as unstable factors to be managed. 45 82

As his allies and students abandoned him, Hiruzen became increasingly desperate and extreme. He justified persecution, assassination attempts, and clan suppression as necessary sacrifices for Konoha, while framing Sarutobi dominance as the village's long-term stability. 82 96 98

Abilities & Skills

Ninjutsu and Combat

Hiruzen remained a capable combatant despite his age, personally leading the ambush against Tsunade.

• Used the Substitution Technique to evade Tsunade's Super Strength attack. 96
• Carried and wielded the Adamantine Staff during the confrontation with Tsunade. 96
• Attempted to create time to summon Enma during the battle. 97
• Was ultimately unable to overcome Minagawa Uchiha's Kamui and was captured. 99 100

Telescope Technique

Hiruzen used the Telescope Technique for remote surveillance.

• Monitored Tsunade through her chakra fluctuations after her return to Konoha. 85
• Recognized Namikaze Minato's distinctive chakra upon his reappearance. 110
• His surveillance of Tsunade was detected and forcibly disrupted by her chakra. 85

Political Manipulation

As Hokage, Hiruzen used office, reputation, and factional influence to preserve control.

• Tested Uchiha Itachi's loyalty and sought to turn him into an instrument against his clan. 15 45
• Tried to place the Root investigation under Anbu control, limiting the Uchiha Military Police Force's access to Root's secrets. 41
• Publicly praised Minagawa and restored Uchiha lands while intending to generate distrust between the Uchiha and other clans. 45 46
• Planned to remove Uchiha Fugaku and Tsunade before they could threaten his authority. 60 96

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Adamantine Staff — weapon carried during the ambush on Tsunade. 96
• Hokage authority and Anbu forces — used to direct village operations, surveillance, and covert attacks. 41 96

Relationships

• Shimura Danzō — longtime ally and Root leader. Hiruzen initially restrained Danzō's extremism but later missed him as the partner who handled Konoha's “unsavory matters.” 19 60
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura — fellow high-command members and former associates. They supported Hiruzen's anti-Uchiha plans, though both later surrendered and came to disdain his actions. 60 101 111
• Jiraiya — former student. Jiraiya lost respect for Hiruzen after recognizing his manipulation and refusal to relinquish power. 82 83
• Tsunade — former student and target of Hiruzen's ambush. Their relationship collapsed after he admitted involvement in the Senju clan's decline. 96
• Namikaze Minato — successor as Fourth Hokage. Minato later confronted Hiruzen over Naruto's treatment and broken promises. 110
• Uchiha Fugaku — political opponent whose Mangekyō Sharingan forced Hiruzen to abandon overt action and adopt compromise. Fugaku later led the move to arrest him. 40 98
• Minagawa Uchiha — the Uchiha prodigy Hiruzen misjudged as controllable. Minagawa exposed and defeated him, capturing him with Kamui. 45 99
• Sarutobi Asuma — Hiruzen's intended successor; Hiruzen envisioned Asuma as Hokage and future Sarutobi heirs continuing the office. 96

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Uchiha crisis — responds to Root's attack and seeks to control Itachi, the masked man, and the Uchiha clan without immediately triggering open conflict. 15 19
• Root exposure — attempts to suppress the investigation into Root and preserve the high command's position after the Uchiha seize Root's base. 41 45
• Anti-Uchiha conspiracy — works with Koharu and Homura to eliminate Fugaku and isolate Minagawa. 60
• Break with the Sannin — loses Jiraiya's loyalty and resolves to remove Tsunade after suspecting her alliance with the Uchiha. 82 95
• Fall from power — ambushes Tsunade, exposes his dynastic ambitions, is denounced by Konoha's clans, and is captured. 96 98 99
• Detention and trial — concedes defeat, faces public judgment alongside the remaining high command, and becomes the subject of Minato's rebuke. 101 110 113

Notable Quotes

“I have served as Hokage for 27 years, and countless people have died by my hand, including those who were loyal to the village. Although I am very sorry to them, I do not regret it.”
— Hiruzen after his defeat 101

“Asuma is the Fifth Hokage I've chosen for the village! In fact, the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Hokage could all come from the Sarutobi Clan.”
— Hiruzen revealing his succession plans 96

Trivia

• Hiruzen's Hokage likeness remained on Hokage Rock after his death, acknowledging his past identity and achievements despite his crimes. 124
• Jiraiya attended Hiruzen's funeral and later mourned him at his grave with Naruto. 103 118