Third Hokage

Biodata

Background / History

Hiruzen oversees Naruto Uzumaki’s upbringing while treating the Nine-Tails jinchūriki as vital to Konoha. When Naruto is three, Hiruzen ends his meal deliveries and gives him a monthly living allowance of 400 ryō. He visits Naruto, but also monitors him through a Crystal Ball and assigns Anbu to protect him 1 15 38.

After Shisui Uchiha’s body is found, Hiruzen stops Danzō from taking Naruto for training 10. During the crisis surrounding the Uchiha massacre and Naruto’s disappearance, he acknowledges his own dereliction of duty. He disbands Root and orders Danzō home, but rejects his advisors’ proposal to remove Naruto from school and train him solely as a combat asset 26 28. Following a Nine-Tails chakra incident at the Academy, Hiruzen again refuses specialized control, though he temporarily suspends Naruto from classes and places him under observation 32.

When Obito attacks Naruto, Hiruzen joins the defense of Konoha with his Adamantine Staff. Seeing Minato Namikaze fighting through Naruto’s body, he admits that he failed to uphold Minato’s final request 46. He subsequently increases Naruto’s Anbu protection rather than surrendering him to Root. He considers publicly revealing Naruto’s parentage, then postpones the announcement; on a later hospital visit, he gives Naruto 2,000 ryō and a Shadow Clone jutsu scroll without disclosing his background 49 50.

Hiruzen is alarmed when Naruto moves toward leaving Konoha for Inazuma. He sends Kurenai Yuhi to investigate and later summons Jiraiya to discuss Naruto’s future. Hiruzen suspects an outside influence has drawn Naruto toward Inazuma; Jiraiya questions whether Naruto’s resentment toward Konoha is also responsible 74 97.

Personality

Hiruzen is affectionate toward Naruto but conscious that his decisions have helped leave the boy isolated. He feels guilty toward Naruto, Minato, and Kushina, yet maintains that his choices were made for Konoha 13. He repeatedly resists proposals to turn Naruto into a controlled weapon, while delaying the disclosure of Naruto’s lineage after weighing its political consequences 28 32 49.

He acknowledges failures during his tenure, including his handling of Danzō and the Uchiha massacre. When Naruto’s possible defection threatens Konoha, Hiruzen’s concern extends to both losing the jinchūriki and the damage that the Fourth Hokage’s son leaving would do to the village’s reputation 47 74.

Abilities & Skills

Surveillance and command

• Uses a Crystal Ball to observe Naruto’s activities 15.
• Directs Anbu protection and investigations, including an inquiry after an unidentified figure flies over Konoha 22 49.

Combat

• Wields an Adamantine Staff against Obito. His strike passes through Obito’s intangible body, and Minato warns that ordinary physical attacks and ninjutsu are ineffective against that opponent 46.

Equipment / Items

• Adamantine Staff — wielded during the defense against Obito 46.
• Crystal Ball — used to monitor Naruto 15.
• Pipe — frequently smoked during meetings and conversations 13 49 91.

Relationships

• Naruto Uzumaki — a child under his protection and the Nine-Tails jinchūriki. Hiruzen cares for him, but recognizes Naruto’s resentment and fears losing him to Inazuma 13 74.
• Danzō — political rival who repeatedly demands control of Naruto. Hiruzen refuses and later disbands Danzō’s Root organization 10 28 49.
• Minato Namikaze — the Fourth Hokage and Naruto’s father. Hiruzen regrets failing to honor Minato’s final request 46.
• Kakashi Hatake — a Konoha jōnin who urges him to address the prejudice Naruto faces 58.
• Jiraiya — his former student, summoned after more than a decade apart to discuss Naruto’s wish to leave Konoha 97.