Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; Shinobi Hero; Professor of Ninjutsu; “Monkey” (codename)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure; formerly aligned with Black Zetsu; later compelled into Takenaka Kaguya's service
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage of Konohagakure; former disciple of Tobirama Senju
Status	Alive; captured, revived, and memory-modified by Takenaka Kaguya, who assigns him the codename “Monkey” 248
First Appearance	Chapter 27

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
At least average Jōnin-level chakra	122	Takenaka Kaguya judges his chakra reserves to be at least equal to an average Jōnin's.
Peak Kage-level	182	Identifies himself as a peak Kage-level powerhouse after Takenaka's Conqueror's Haki forces him to cough blood.
Wood Style user	247	Gains Wood Style through Hashirama Cells and casts Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence, rapidly creating a controllable forest.

Background / History

Hiruzen was the son of Sasuke Sarutobi, the Sarutobi Clan head and a Konoha Jōnin. As a child not yet six years old, he met Takenaka Kaguya alongside Shimura Danzō and Kagami Uchiha; unlike Danzō, Hiruzen responded politely after being reprimanded for playing in a crowded area. 27 111

He became one of Tobirama Senju's disciples and guard-detail members alongside Danzō, Kagami, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Torifu Akimichi. During the Kumogakure peace-treaty crisis, Hiruzen was the first of Tobirama's students to volunteer to cover their teacher's retreat. He also secretly contacted Takenaka Kaguya for support, helping ensure Tobirama survived the immediate crisis. 141 147 177

After Tobirama was mortally wounded, he formally appointed Hiruzen as the Third Hokage, charged with protecting Konoha and cultivating its next generation. Danzō became Hokage Assistant, while Koharu, Homura, Torifu, and Kagami were appointed elders. 146 159

Personality

Hiruzen presents himself as a calm, gentle, and diplomatic Hokage. He is cautious around Takenaka Kaguya's overwhelming strength, repeatedly prioritizing the avoidance of direct conflict with Uzushiogakure. 180 182

He is also politically calculating. He uses the Dan Katō incident both to suppress Root and to offer Takenaka an explanation, explicitly viewing the move as “killing two birds with one stone.” 198 His former ally Kagami and his longtime associate Danzō accuse him of maintaining a righteous public image while permitting or benefiting from darker actions carried out by others. 177 234

Hiruzen can act decisively when his authority is openly challenged: after Danzō's plan to seize Uzumaki clansmen is exposed, he orders the imprisonment of Danzō and the entire Root organization. 187 However, Black Zetsu later exploits Hiruzen's fear and ambition, coercing him into a dangerous alliance. 188

Abilities & Skills

Ninjutsu Mastery

Hiruzen is known as the Professor of Ninjutsu and has mastered all five chakra nature transformations. 178

• Can combine two or three chakra natures into powerful composite ninjutsu. 178
• Has access to numerous secret techniques left behind by Tobirama Senju. 178
• Uses Fire Release in coordinated attacks to obstruct an opponent's vision and create openings for allies. 235

Wood Style

After learning that Hashirama Cells could grant Wood Style, Hiruzen becomes tempted by their power and eventually acquires the ability. 200 247

• Casts Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence, causing saplings to grow into a forest almost instantly. 247
• The created forest can be controlled by its caster and used to capture enemies. 247
• His Wood Style significantly improves his combat power, though it remains insufficient against Takenaka Kaguya. 247 248

Chakra and Combat Ability

Hiruzen possesses enormous chakra reserves and formidable combat strength when fighting seriously. 187

• Reaches peak Kage-level strength. 182
• His killing intent and chakra pressure are strong enough to intimidate Danzō and Root members. 187
• Is overwhelmed by Takenaka Kaguya's Conqueror's Haki and later suffers a broken arm from a single strike. 182 248

Political Strategy

• Secretly requests Takenaka's presence at Tobirama's treaty signing after anticipating Kumogakure treachery. 141
• Prepares Konoha's strongest young ninja for the Chūnin Exams to preserve the village's reputation. 181
• Attempts to trade a planned Iwagakure victory for Ōnoki's cooperation. 232 233
• Seeks the Rinnegan to regain control over Konoha and counter Takenaka Kaguya. 234

Relationships

• Sasuke Sarutobi — Father and head of the Sarutobi Clan; Sasuke is proud when Takenaka praises Hiruzen's future potential. 111
• Tobirama Senju — Teacher and predecessor as Hokage. Tobirama warns Hiruzen to remain cautious of Takenaka, then appoints him Third Hokage. 136 146 159
• Shimura Danzō — Childhood companion, battlefield teammate, Hokage Assistant, and eventual political rival. Their alliance deteriorates over Kagami's death, Root's actions, and Danzō's insubordination. 177 186 187
• Kagami Uchiha — Former classmate and Konoha advisor. Hiruzen confronts Danzō over Kagami's murder, but Kagami later holds Hiruzen responsible for tacitly allowing the assassination. 177 234
• Mito Uzumaki — Senior Konoha figure who forces Hiruzen to abdicate in order to appease Takenaka Kaguya after the siege of Uzushiogakure. 215
• Takenaka Kaguya — A childhood acquaintance who becomes Konoha's most dangerous external threat. Hiruzen seeks his aid, fears his power, and is ultimately defeated and memory-modified by him. 141 182 248
• Black Zetsu — Coerces Hiruzen into cooperating on the creation of a new Rinnegan, then works with him against Uzushiogakure and Wanghun Kagami Uchiha. 188 233 247
• Ōnoki — Temporary ally in Hiruzen's plan to obtain the Rinnegan; Ōnoki agrees to cooperate in exchange for Mangekyō Sharingan. 233 234
• Uchiha Hikari — Unsealed by Hiruzen and used as part of his Rinnegan scheme; later fights beside him against Wanghun. 233 247
• Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru — His disciples. Hiruzen recruits Tsunade and later takes in Orochimaru and Jiraiya as talented students. 178

Story Role / Major Arcs

Third Hokage Succession

Hiruzen gains Tobirama's trust by volunteering during the Kinkaku Force crisis and by arranging Takenaka's intervention. When Tobirama is fatally wounded later, he appoints Hiruzen as the Third Hokage and entrusts Konoha's future to him. 141 146 159

Conflict with Danzō and Uzushiogakure

Following Kagami Uchiha's death, Hiruzen publicly rebukes Danzō but is accused of having tacitly allowed the assassination. He opposes Danzō's plan to abduct Uzumaki clansmen during the Chūnin Exams, then detains both Danzō and Root after Danzō openly defies his authority. 177 186 187

Danzō exposes Hiruzen's secret dissemination of information about the Uzumaki Clan's physique. Black Zetsu subsequently subdues Hiruzen with Wood Style and forces him to cooperate in exchange for his life. 186 187 188

Fall from Power

Hiruzen's involvement in the siege of Uzushiogakure places Konohagakure in danger of retaliation. Mito forces him to abdicate as Hokage to preserve Konoha's relationship with Takenaka Kaguya. 213 215

Takenaka later demands Hiruzen and Danzō be handed over. Hiruzen's father offers his own life to save him; Takenaka spares Hiruzen but imposes severe punishment on the Sarutobi and Shimura clans. Hiruzen and Danzō subsequently kill their guards and flee Konoha. 218 219

Rinnegan Plot and Capture

While operating as a fugitive, Hiruzen allies with Ōnoki, Black Zetsu, and Uchiha Hikari in an attempt to seize Wanghun Kagami Uchiha's Rinnegan. He gains Wood Style through Hashirama Cells and battles Wanghun, but Takenaka arrives, seals the area, and defeats the group. 233 234 247

Takenaka prevents Hiruzen, Hikari, and Black Zetsu from dying, alters their memories, and converts them into obedient servants. Hiruzen is renamed Monkey. 248