Third Hokage

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; Shinobi Hero
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage of Konohagakure
Status	Deceased; his soul was later summoned through Impure World Reincarnation 238 291
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Background / History

Hiruzen received Tōka at the Hokage Building after Minato Namikaze brought the boy to Konoha. He questioned Tōka closely about his wish to gain strength, then personally placed him in the Ninja Academy’s sixth-grade Elite Class. His personal involvement gave Tōka an intimidating reputation that Tōka exploited during his match with Obito. 3 4

Though wary of Tōka’s unusual origins and capabilities, Hiruzen refused to immediately hand him over to Danzō for training. He monitored Tōka’s early Academy life, later withdrew Anbu surveillance as a gesture of goodwill, and gradually chose to accept Tōka—or at least not make him an enemy. 4 15 43

During the war, Hiruzen directed Konoha’s deployment of its major forces, including sending Jiraiya to the Land of Earth battlefield. As his strength declined and the Sannin departed, he pushed for Minato to become the Fourth Hokage, entrusting Konoha’s future to him. 40 45

Hiruzen continued to manage Konoha’s internal threats. He opposed Danzō’s influence, entrusted Tōka with an S-rank operation against Root loyalists, and allowed Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune to return to Danzō after their capture. He also personally pursued Hyūga Raiden after the elder’s suspected contact with Kirigakure was exposed. 172 174 204

After learning of Orochimaru’s movements, Hiruzen led Anbu and Shadow Guard personnel out of Konoha, evacuated Sanghe Village’s civilians, and entered an ambush north of the village. He fought Orochimaru despite his age, depleted chakra, and the loss of his summoned support. 233 234 235 238

In the final confrontation, Hiruzen prepared the Reaper Death Seal. Tōka’s Eternal Tenseigan briefly froze Orochimaru, allowing Hiruzen to seal Orochimaru’s soul at the cost of his own life. Black Zetsu took Hiruzen’s body afterward and delivered it to Scorpion. 238

Appearance

Hiruzen is an elderly shinobi whose age and waning strength are repeatedly noted. He is frequently depicted with a pipe, including while working in the Hokage office. 3 45 172

• Wore black ninja combat gear and a Konoha forehead protector with long trailing ribbons during his final operation. 233 234
• Carried and smoked a pipe as a habitual accessory. 3 172 174
• Retained exceptional physical agility despite his age, moving across rooftops and trees with rapid Body Flicker movements. 199

Personality

Hiruzen is patient and probing in conversation. Rather than taking Tōka’s answers at face value, he repeatedly tested the boy’s motives, watched his conduct from a distance, and measured whether Tōka considered Konoha “the village” rather than merely a place to live. 3 15 172 176

He balances caution with restraint. He refused Danzō’s early demand to train Tōka, but still had Tōka examined by Inoichi Yamanaka and continued covert observation. His handling of Root similarly combined decisive action with political calculation: he authorized the operation against Danzō’s loyalists, then released Fū and Torune rather than escalating the confrontation. 4 43 172 174

Hiruzen remains deeply protective of Konoha. In his final mission, he prioritized the safety of Naruto and Sasuke, ordered enemies captured alive when their situation was unknown, evacuated civilians, and ultimately sacrificed himself to stop Orochimaru. 234 235 238

Abilities & Skills

Five-Nature Ninjutsu Mastery

Hiruzen mastered the nature transformations of all five elemental chakra types and possessed a broad, refined ninjutsu repertoire. 234

• Used Earth Release: Earth Surface Return to create a foothold beneath falling Anbu during an ambush. 234
• Used Earth Release: Rock Lodging Collapse to evade Orochimaru’s Giant Snake. 235
• Employed Fire Release and Earth Style techniques in his battle against Orochimaru. 235
• His experience, rapid hand seals, and broad elemental mastery let him react effectively to battlefield traps. 234 235

Taijutsu and Wishing Golden Cudgel

Hiruzen was an exceptional close-range combatant. Orochimaru acknowledged that his taijutsu did not compare to Hiruzen’s, particularly when Hiruzen wielded the Wishing Golden Cudgel. 42

• Received the Wishing Golden Cudgel directly into his hand in combat. 42
• Failed to summon Enma during his final battle, leaving him at a disadvantage against Orochimaru and the Giant Snake. 235

Foresight and Surveillance

Hiruzen used a crystal ball and Foresight Jutsu to observe targets remotely. 4 176

• Watched Tōka’s Academy fight with Obito and accurately identified the bluff behind Tōka’s apparent advantage. 4
• Continued observing Tōka during his temporary work at the Ninja Academy. 176

Forbidden Techniques

Hiruzen was capable of using powerful forbidden techniques, though they carried a severe cost.

• Used Impure World Reincarnation before his final stand, leaving him weakened and low on chakra. 238
• Used the Reaper Death Seal to seal Orochimaru’s soul, sacrificing his own life. 238

Equipment / Items

• Pipe — regularly used in the Hokage office and during private discussions. 3 172 174
• Wishing Golden Cudgel — weapon wielded during his clash with Orochimaru. 42
• Konoha forehead protector — worn with black combat attire during the Sanghe Village operation. 233

Relationships

• Tōka — Initially interrogated and monitored Tōka, but gradually extended conditional acceptance and later entrusted him with a mission against Root. Tōka ultimately participated in the ambush that led to Hiruzen’s death. 3 15 172 235 238
• Shimura Danzō — Longtime political opponent. Hiruzen rejected Danzō’s request to train Tōka and later moved against Root’s remaining loyalists, though he still released Fū and Torune back to Danzō. 4 172 174
• Orochimaru — Former teacher and student. Hiruzen defeated Orochimaru during an earlier confrontation, then died while sealing Orochimaru’s soul in their final battle. 42 43 235 238
• Minato Namikaze — Chose Minato as Konoha’s next Hokage and entrusted him with the village’s future during the war. 45
• Sarutobi Asuma — His son. Asuma led reinforcements toward the battlefield after Hiruzen’s death and was devastated upon seeing his father’s body. 239
• Uchiha Itachi — Sought a compromise with Itachi regarding Sasuke’s safety and Team Seven’s instructor, while arranging for Jiraiya to monitor Tōka. 228

Legacy

• Scorpion later acquired Hiruzen’s body and converted it into a combat puppet. 238 249
• The Third Hokage puppet could use Fire Release and Earth Release in battle. 249
• Scorpion presented the puppet as that of “the strongest Hokage of all generations” and the Shinobi Hero of the Second Shinobi World War. 250
• Hiruzen’s soul was among those summoned at Naka Shrine alongside the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage. 291

Notable Quotes

“Don't underestimate yourself, Tōka.” 172

“This time, I will personally kill you!” 233