Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Teacher Sarutobi; Teacher of the Hokage
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure; Ninja World Federation 148 157
Occupation/Role	Fourth Hokage of Konoha; former Deputy Hokage; ninja instructor 136 148 157
Status	Active 157 159
First Appearance	Chapter 35

Background

Tobirama's chosen successor

Hiruzen was a disciple of Senju Tobirama and the latter's intended successor. Tobirama built support around him through the Sarutobi Clan, Senju Clan, Ino-Shika-Cho clan heads, Kagami Uchiha, and close comrades including Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu. 71 74

Tobirama also placed Uchiha Tsugi—Nanchuan You's identity in this era—and Tsunade under Hiruzen's instruction. The arrangement was meant to secure Hiruzen's succession with both Uchiha and Senju support while preparing Tsugi as a future Hokage candidate. 70

Hiruzen first noticed Tsugi while observing his early-graduation match against Obito. He was initially unimpressed compared with Kakashi, though he acknowledged that Obito may have been too weak to force Tsugi to reveal his full ability. 35 After meeting the seven-year-old Tsugi, Hiruzen praised his unusual strength and was won over by his respectful bearing. 36

First Shinobi World War and disappearance

During the First Shinobi World War, Hiruzen volunteered to remain behind as the rearguard so that Tobirama and the others could escape pursuit. Tobirama named him the next Hokage in recognition of his courage and willingness to die for his comrades. 71

While returning from the Land of Lightning, Hiruzen encountered Tsugi, who had decided that Hiruzen's designated succession stood in the way of his own path to becoming Hokage. Hiruzen attempted to capture and reform his former student rather than kill him. 72

Tsugi reflected Hiruzen's genjutsu with the Sharingan, trapping him in a vision of Konoha's bleak future: the Uchiha clan's destruction, the isolation of Minato's child, Orochimaru's betrayal, Danzō's descent into darkness, and Konoha's devastation. 73 Convinced that relinquishing the Hokage position could prevent that outcome, Hiruzen stopped resisting after making Tsugi promise to protect the village. 73

Tsugi sealed Hiruzen in a coffin rather than killing him. His companions found fabricated evidence of an explosion and concluded that he had died during the retreat, leaving Konoha without Tobirama's chosen successor. 73 74

Return to a changed Konoha

After more than three years in stasis, Tsugi revived Hiruzen once he was no longer a political obstacle. 130 134 Hiruzen found that Konoha had become a prosperous, densely developed city; the Land of Lightning and the Uzumaki Clan had yielded to it, while the Daimyo of the Land of Fire had been politically sidelined. 131 132

Though disturbed by Konoha's luxury, militarization, and the erosion of traditional authority, Hiruzen concluded that Tsugi's rule had made the village stronger and more prosperous than he could have managed himself. He chose not to reveal the circumstances of his disappearance. 132 133

Personality

Hiruzen is gentle, approachable, and able to speak easily with people from different backgrounds. Within the Hokage faction, he was regarded as comparatively moderate toward the Uchiha Clan, despite sharing Tobirama's political lineage. 58 70

His defining trait is devotion to Konoha. He volunteered for a near-certain death as Tobirama's rearguard, fought Tsugi to prevent him from taking power, and ultimately accepted his own displacement when he believed it would protect the village. 71 72 73

After his return, Hiruzen struggled with the new era's wealth, political complexity, and willingness to challenge the Daimyo. Nevertheless, he acknowledged his limits, adapted to the changed village, and remained determined to protect Konoha from corruption. 132 133 136

Abilities & Skills

Ninjutsu and combat versatility

Hiruzen is an all-round combatant, characterized as exceptionally strong in both ninjutsu and taijutsu. At his peak, his comrades considered him Kage-level and the strongest remaining member of their retreating group. 72 74

• Used Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet against Tsugi. 72
• Can rapidly form hand seals and vary his tactics under pressure. 72
• His ninjutsu was severely limited against Tsugi's Flying Thunder God Array, which could teleport incoming techniques back at their caster. 72

Taijutsu and Enma

Hiruzen possesses formidable physical strength and close-quarters skill even without ninjutsu. 72

• Summons Enma, who transforms into the Adamantine Staff for combat. 72
• His staff strikes can crater the ground, and his taijutsu was described as among Konoha's strongest. 72
• He could not overcome Tsugi's superior reactions and space-time mobility. 72

Genjutsu and sealing

Hiruzen uses calculated genjutsu and sealing techniques to create openings against stronger or faster opponents. 72

• Deliberately allowed Tsugi close enough to cast Genjutsu: Nightfall Technique through a kunai. 72
• Attempted to use sealing techniques to restrain Tsugi. 72
• His genjutsu failed against Tsugi's three-tomoe Sharingan and was reflected back upon him. 73

Equipment

• Enma / Adamantine Staff — Hiruzen's summoned combat partner, capable of transforming into a staff used for high-impact melee attacks. 72
• Kunai — Used to transmit chakra for the Nightfall Technique. 72

Leadership

• Tobirama designated Hiruzen as his successor after Hiruzen volunteered for the rearguard mission. 71
• Following his return, Tsugi created the position of Deputy Hokage for Hiruzen. The office assists the Hokage in Konoha's affairs and automatically succeeds the Hokage if the Hokage is assassinated during war. 136
• Hiruzen accepted the deputy role because he believed Tsugi remained better suited to lead Konoha's expanded administrative state. 136
• When Tsugi became the first Leader of the Ninja World Federation and stepped down as Hokage, Hiruzen succeeded him as Konoha's Fourth Hokage. 148
• During the Federation's response to Uchiha Madara's return, Hiruzen prioritized defeating Madara over trying to seize Shukaku from him. 157

Relationships

• Nanchuan You / Uchiha Tsugi — Former student. Tsugi sealed Hiruzen to remove him from the Hokage succession, later revived him, appointed him Deputy Hokage, and ultimately made him his successor. 70 73 130 136 148
• Senju Tobirama — Teacher and Second Hokage. Tobirama selected Hiruzen as his successor and arranged his political support. 70 71 74
• Shimura Danzō — Former close friend and comrade. Hiruzen became wary of Danzō after seeing how power and wealth had changed him, declining his proposed alliance. 71 132 133
• Tsunade — Student under Hiruzen's instruction through Tobirama's arrangement. She disapproved of Hiruzen sharing suggestive books with Tsugi and punched him hard enough to send him flying. 70 71
• Biwako — Wife. Hiruzen returned to her after his years-long disappearance, feeling guilty that she and their family had believed him dead. 134
• Asuma Sarutobi — Younger son, still a child when Hiruzen returned to the Sarutobi compound. 134
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura — Comrades who searched for Hiruzen after his presumed death and later remained among the figures connected to his political base. 74 134
• Kagami Uchiha — Close friend and part of the coalition Tobirama assembled around Hiruzen's succession. 71 74

Notable Quotes

“Among everyone here, I am the strongest aside from Teacher. I am the most suitable for this rearguard mission.” 71

“No matter what happened to you, Tsugi, I will not let you get your way.” 72

“Promise me, protect the village.” 73

Trivia

• Hiruzen had a habit of reading mildly suggestive books even while serving as a teacher, and once attempted to recommend one to Tsugi. 70 71
• His return made him a major political target: clan heads, merchants, nobles, and even the Hyuga Clan Head sought his favor because of his seniority and connection to the Hokage. 133 134