Sarutobi Hiruzen

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Sarutobi Hiruzen (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure; Konoha high command
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage of Konohagakure
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 41 41

Background / History

Third Hokage during the war

Hiruzen leads Konoha while it is pressured by multiple hostile villages. From the Hokage Building, he reviews front-line intelligence, recognizes Namikaze Minato's contributions against Kumogakure, and coordinates the next phase of Konoha's response with Shimura Danzō. 41

He is a fellow disciple of Senju Tobirama alongside Danzō, Koharu, and Homura. Their shared history does not prevent sharp disagreements over Konoha's military policy, especially Danzō's willingness to use Root to provoke conflicts between enemy villages. 64 108

Root and the eastern-front crisis

Though aware that Danzō operates schemes beyond normal oversight, Hiruzen often chooses not to expose them immediately. He monitors Root's activities, orders an investigation into the masked operative Shuten-dōji, and privately possesses intelligence on Danzō and Orochimaru's Hashirama Cells research. 65

After learning that the eastern defensive line had been left effectively empty and Kirigakure forces had crossed into the Land of Fire, Hiruzen publicly rebukes Mitokado Homura for concealing the situation. He assumes personal command of the eastern defense line. 86

Relationship with Shuten-dōji

Hiruzen first receives Shuten-dōji's mission report after the latter's squad eliminates a Kirigakure vanguard. He tests the operative's loyalty through questions about Root's mission and the Will of Fire, then approves his promotion to Root squad leader after reviewing the recovered evidence. 85

He later seeks Shuten-dōji out personally to discuss Kirigakure, the Uchiha Clan, and Konoha's strategic vulnerabilities. Hiruzen values the young operative's unusually sharp political analysis, even when it challenges his own assumptions. 87 88

Following Shuten-dōji's success in Sunagakure, Hiruzen supports the mission to elevate Pakura as Fourth Kazekage and later entrusts Shuten-dōji with the Kirigakure Collapse Plan. 90 108

Village reforms and succession concerns

During the war, Hiruzen implements judicial reforms intended to protect the rights of Konoha ninja serving on the battlefield. He also answers hostile public opinion with organized rebuttals rather than suppressing criticism outright. 110

He attempts to draw Shuten-dōji away from Root by offering a prospective role in the Foreign Trade Department and suggesting that the youth could one day become Hokage. 114

Appearance

Byakuya describes Hiruzen as already old and seemingly in decline compared with other long-lived Kage. He is frequently depicted smoking a long pipe while working or deliberating in the Hokage Building. 85 87

• Elderly man with an authoritative but weary presence. 85
• Commonly carries and smokes a long pipe. 85 88
• His weakening condition is noticeable to Byakuya, despite his standing as one of Konoha's Kage-level shinobi. 85 114

Personality

Hiruzen is deeply committed to Konoha's survival and frames its wartime struggle as a fight for peace. He carries the burden of the village's casualties and decline personally, expressing visible pain at seeing Konoha emptied by war. 87

He is politically astute and probing. During his first conversation with Shuten-dōji, he tests whether the Root operative's loyalty belongs to Danzō, himself, or Konoha as a whole. He also recognizes the strategic value of Kirigakure's factional conflict as soon as Shuten-dōji reveals Karatachi Yagura's involvement. 85 87

Despite his willingness to use political pressure and carefully manage public opinion, Hiruzen seeks less violent solutions to Konoha's internal problems. He restrains Danzō's proposed action against the Uchiha Clan and continues searching for a peaceful resolution to their isolation from the village. 87 88 114

Abilities & Skills

Ninjutsu Expertise

Hiruzen is known as the “Professor of Ninjutsu” and is counted among Konoha's openly acknowledged Kage-level powerhouses. 69 114

• Can use Water Release: Water Severing Wave, though the technique's demanding chakra-control and chakra-volume requirements make it difficult even for him. 69
• His reputation for ninjutsu talent is used as the standard against which Namikaze Minato's mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique is measured. 40

Leadership and Strategy

As Hokage, Hiruzen directs Konoha's military, political, and intelligence responses during the Third Shinobi World War. 41 86

• Personally takes over the eastern defense line after judging Homura's handling of Kirigakure's incursion unacceptable. 86
• Reviews battlefield evidence and intelligence rather than accepting reports uncritically. 85
• Supports the Sunagakure alliance strategy after hearing Danzō's assessment of Pakura's potential rule. 90
• Assigns Shuten-dōji to destabilize Kirigakure through factional conflict rather than direct conquest. 108
• Uses judicial reform and public communication to preserve civilian confidence in Konoha during wartime. 110

Relationships

• Shimura Danzō — Fellow disciple of Senju Tobirama and longtime political rival. Hiruzen relies on Danzō's wartime capabilities but opposes his extremism, particularly toward the Uchiha Clan. 64 88 114
• Senkaku Byakuya / Shuten-dōji — Root operative whose achievements attract Hiruzen's attention. Hiruzen promotes him, seeks his counsel, and later tries to recruit him away from Danzō's influence. 85 87 114
• Namikaze Minato — Jiraiya's disciple; Hiruzen praises Minato's front-line achievements and receives repeated requests for Shuten-dōji's support against Kumogakure. 41 108
• Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade — Hiruzen's three former disciples, whom he cites as examples of shinobi who matured through the battlefield. 108
• Mitokado Homura — High-ranking colleague whom Hiruzen harshly reprimands for concealing the collapse of the eastern defense line. 85 86
• Utatane Koharu — Fellow senior official who participates in Konoha's wartime deliberations and discussions of Hashirama Cells research. 64 86
• Uchiha Clan — Hiruzen recognizes the clan's isolation as a serious danger but resists Danzō's calls for direct internal conflict. 87 88 114
• Uzumaki Kushina — Konoha's Nine-Tails jinchūriki. Hiruzen refuses to deploy her to the battlefield, judging the risk too great for the village to bear. 65

Notable Quotes

“For the sake of peace in the ninja world, Konoha cannot lose.” 87

“If you truly were my disciple, I would be very pleased as your teacher.” 108