Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; “Ninja Hero”; “Ninja Coward”; “Professor of Ninjutsu”; “Strongest Hokage” (self-proclaimed) 10 43
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Sarutobi Clan; Konohagakure (formerly)
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage of Konohagakure; later rogue ninja
Status	Deceased; reportedly angered to death after Uchiha Byakuya destroyed the Five Kage Summit 143
First Appearance	Chapter 8

History

Conflict with the Uchiha Clan

After learning that his son Shin'nosuke had been captured by the Uchiha Security Force, Hiruzen initially feared a coup and personally went to the Uchiha compound with Anbu support. There, he confronted Uchiha Byakuya, whose growing power Hiruzen had previously dismissed. 8

Byakuya used Shin'nosuke’s captivity and fabricated accusations to force Hiruzen into paying 100 million ryo. Hiruzen recovered his severely injured, mentally shaken son, then ordered continuous Anbu surveillance of Byakuya and the Uchiha Clan. 9 10

Hiruzen later attempted to frame three Sarutobi Clan members as rogue ninja in order to discredit Anbu captain Hatake Sakumo. Byakuya exposed the scheme and forced Hiruzen to execute the three men personally. Sakumo subsequently resigned from the Anbu and joined the Uchiha Security Force. 24

Struggle for Kushina and Village Control

When Uchiha Byakuya took Kushina Uzumaki, Hiruzen ordered the Anbu to retrieve the Nine-Tails jinchūriki and personally attempted to seize her with the Body Flicker Technique. Byakuya countered with Kamui, defeated Hiruzen in battle, and broke Enma’s Adamantine Body; Hiruzen ultimately escaped. 42 43 44

Hiruzen had previously arranged Minato Namikaze’s friendship with Kushina as a means to control her through an emotional bond. He also used Jiraiya’s presence to project Konoha’s strength toward the Uchiha, but declined to intervene when Jiraiya was publicly humiliated, prioritizing his own reputation. 54 55

During the Third Shinobi World War, Hiruzen allowed the Uchiha Clan to lead the front against Sunagakure, expecting the dangerous assignment to weaken them. He secretly assigned the Ino-Shika-Cho trio to monitor the clan and later had Danzō leak the Uchiha force’s location to Sunagakure. 62 65

Failed Purges and Exile

Believing Byakuya and the Uchiha elites would not return from the war, Hiruzen seized control of Konoha, reclaimed Uchiha-held assets, released Fugaku Uchiha, and installed him as clan head. The plan collapsed when the Uchiha returned victorious. 85

After the Root Organization and Shimura Clan were destroyed, Hiruzen gathered loyal Sarutobi, Utatane, Mitokado, and Shimura forces for a night assault on the Uchiha Clan. He deliberately excluded Jiraiya and Minato because they would likely oppose the clan’s destruction. 101 102

The Uchiha anticipated the attack. Faced with Byakuya’s Susanoo-clad Nine-Tails, Hiruzen ordered a retreat, evacuated the Sarutobi Clan, and used Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu and a combined five-element attack only to buy time to flee. He survived a pursuing Tailed Beast Ball by using Earth Style to take his clan underground, but abandoned Konohagakure heavily injured. 103 107 109 110

Tsunade became Hokage after his flight, while Hiruzen was designated a rogue ninja and his statue was removed from the Hokage Rock. He and his allied clans established themselves in the Land of Grass, where they occupied Kusagakure. 112 113

Final Campaign

Still seeking to reclaim Konoha, Hiruzen allied with Chiyo and considered provoking other villages into attacking Konohagakure. After further setbacks, he and Danzō turned to Impure World Reincarnation as a source of soldiers and convened a Five Kage Summit against Byakuya. 114 136 138

At the summit’s destruction, Hiruzen was trapped by Byakuya’s Wood Release. He summoned Enma and attempted the Reaper Death Seal in a final effort to take Byakuya down with him. The attempt did not save him; reports afterward declared Hiruzen dead. 141 142 143

Appearance

Hiruzen ordinarily wears the Hokage robe, but removes it for combat to reveal a well-built ninja outfit. After fleeing the Tailed Beast Ball, he emerged covered in dirt, badly injured, and coughing blood. 42 110

• Wears the Third Hokage’s robes in official settings. 42
• Uses standard shinobi combat attire beneath the robe. 42
• Carries kunai and can wield Enma’s staff-form in battle. 43 44

Personality

Hiruzen is politically calculating and highly protective of his authority. He accepts humiliation when direct resistance would be costly, but repeatedly schemes to weaken or eliminate threats to his control, particularly the Uchiha Clan. 46 62 65

He frequently invokes the “Will of Fire” to justify ruthless actions, including sacrificing his own clan members, supporting covert Wood Release research, and authorizing attacks against fellow Konoha ninja. 24 37 87 103

Despite his willingness to sacrifice others for political goals, Hiruzen places particular importance on his family and clan. He paid Byakuya’s ransom to recover Shin'nosuke, then later ordered the Sarutobi Clan’s evacuation rather than make a hopeless stand against Byakuya. 10 108 109

Abilities & Skills

Ninjutsu Mastery

Hiruzen is regarded as a Kage-level shinobi and calls himself the “Professor of Ninjutsu.” He has mastered Konoha’s ninjutsu and can use all five elemental affinities. 10 43

• Uses Fire Style techniques in combat against Byakuya. 43
• Can simultaneously release five elemental techniques through the Five Release: Great Combined Bullet Technique. 109
• His elemental assault could slow Byakuya’s Susanoo Nine-Tails, but could not break its defenses. 109

Body Flicker and Close Combat

Hiruzen employs the Body Flicker Technique for rapid movement and can fight with kunai and Leaf-style taijutsu. 42 43

• Used Body Flicker to attempt to take Kushina from Byakuya. 42
• Exchanged kunai strikes and Leaf Gale techniques with Byakuya. 43
• Was unable to overcome Kamui’s intangibility in their confrontation. 43 44

Summoning Technique: Enma

Hiruzen can summon the Monkey King, Enma, a long-standing combat partner. 43 44

• Enma can transform into the extending Adamantine Nyoi-bo staff. 43
• Hiruzen wields the staff with enough force and agility to pressure Byakuya temporarily. 44
• Enma’s Adamantine Body was broken by Byakuya, leaving the summon defeated. 44

Shadow Clone and Earth Style

Hiruzen uses clones and Earth Style primarily for delaying enemies and preserving his clan during retreats. 109 110

• Created Multiple Shadow Clones to stall Byakuya’s advance. 109
• Used Earth Style to burrow underground with the Sarutobi Clan and survive a Tailed Beast Ball. 110

Reaper Death Seal

Hiruzen’s final trump card was the forbidden Reaper Death Seal, which summons a death god at the cost of the user’s soul. 141 142

• Activated it when cornered by Byakuya’s Wood Release. 141 142
• Endured the technique’s severe pain while directing the death god’s arm toward Byakuya. 142
• The attempt failed to prevent Hiruzen’s death. 142 143

Political Manipulation

Hiruzen relies heavily on covert operations, surveillance, clan politics, and indirect attacks to maintain power. 24 54 65

• Framed Sarutobi Clan members to undermine Hatake Sakumo. 24
• Used Minato’s connection with Kushina as a means of controlling the jinchūriki. 54
• Supported Danzō’s Wood Release research to obtain a countermeasure against Byakuya’s Mangekyō Sharingan. 37 65
• Leaked Uchiha intelligence to Sunagakure and sent Root forces to ambush the returning Uchiha-led force. 65 87

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Adamantine Nyoi-bo — Enma’s transformed staff form; it can extend and retract during combat. 43 44
• Kunai — used in his close-quarters exchange with Byakuya. 43
• Ninja Sword — used to execute the three Sarutobi Clan members framed as rogue ninja. 24

Relationships

• Uchiha Byakuya / Bai Ye — Primary political and military rival; Byakuya blackmailed, humiliated, defeated, exiled, and ultimately caused Hiruzen’s death. 9 44 110 143
• Shin'nosuke Sarutobi — Son; Hiruzen paid 100 million ryo to secure his release after his capture and later fled Konoha alongside him. 10 110
• Asuma Sarutobi — Son; his confidence in the Sarutobi Clan was shaped by Hiruzen’s former position as Hokage. 108 168
• Biwako Sarutobi — Wife; supported and understood Hiruzen’s decision to evacuate their clan. 108
• Shimura Danzō — Political ally and executor of Hiruzen’s covert operations, including intelligence leaks, Wood Release research, and the proposed use of Impure World Reincarnation. 65 136
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura — Fellow Konoha elders who repeatedly planned against the Uchiha alongside Hiruzen and fled with his faction. 46 101 114
• Hatake Sakumo — Former Anbu captain; Hiruzen’s attempt to discredit him instead drove Sakumo into the Uchiha Security Force. 24
• Jiraiya — Loyal disciple who deeply respected Hiruzen and expected him to resolve the Uchiha conflict. 51 52
• Tsunade — Former student who became Hokage after Hiruzen’s exile and condemned the crimes documented from his administration. 89 112
• Minato Namikaze — Hiruzen arranged Minato’s friendship with Kushina as part of his plan to control the Nine-Tails jinchūriki. 54

Notable Quotes

“This is all for Konohagakure, for the Will of Fire...” 37

“Rogue ninja should be killed without mercy...” 24