Third Hokage

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Sarutobi Hiruzen (猿飛ヒルゼン)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; Professor of Ninjutsu; “God of Ninja”
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage of Konohagakure; mentor
Status	Alive
First Appearance	9

Background / History

Hiruzen served as Konohagakure’s Third Hokage during Konoha Year 44 and the Third Shinobi World War. He had been a teammate of Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu in his youth; Uchiha Kagami was also his wartime comrade. 9 64 224

During the war, Hiruzen witnessed Yakushi Hane’s unusual talent and chose him as his final disciple. He protected both Hane and Uchiha Shisui from Danzō’s attempt to take them into Root, instead arranging Shisui’s Anbu placement and personally guiding Hane. 36 40

Hiruzen supported Hane’s innovations for the village, immediately recognizing the Medical Talisman’s battlefield value and asking whether it could be mass-produced. The talisman later helped reduce frontline casualties during the war. 90 112

Near the end of the Third Shinobi World War, Hiruzen decided Konoha needed reform-minded leadership and resigned as Hokage. He rejected Danzō’s proposal of Orochimaru and nominated Minato Namikaze, who became the Fourth Hokage. 111 112 113

Following Minato’s death, Hiruzen returned to office. He ordered Danzō to disband Root and removed Yamato from the organization, though Root remained largely intact. 148 He later supported Hane’s refusal to surrender Konoha’s people and war spoils to Kumogakure, reversing his initial hesitation after Hane challenged the village leadership’s willingness to compromise. 156

Hiruzen’s relationship with Hane eventually deteriorated into open conflict after Hane attacked Danzō. As Hokage, Hiruzen attempted to capture his disciple, fighting with a broad range of ninjutsu, Enma, and sealing techniques. He ultimately recognized that Konoha could not defeat Hane and was devastated when Hane severed his ties with the village. 250 262

After Orochimaru’s later assault on Konoha, Hiruzen acknowledged that he was no longer suited to lead and recommended Tsunade as the Fifth Hokage. 409 He continued to participate in later conflicts despite his age, and after the final war he expressed pride that Hane had saved the shinobi world. 620 652

Appearance

Hiruzen is an elderly man with white hair and a white beard. Even at fifty-four, his hair and beard made him appear older than Danzō, who was the same age. 40

• Wears traditional ninja armor during wartime. 40
• Often carries and smokes a pipe. 198 339
• Has aged, clouded eyes that can still become sharp and piercing in tense situations. 61 199
• Uses the white Hokage robe while acting as village leader. 246

Personality

Hiruzen is compassionate, patient, and deeply protective of Konoha’s ninja. He regards the village’s shinobi as his own children, a quality that made him a successful mentor even when his political decisions were questioned. 40

His mercy is also a major weakness. He could not bring himself to kill Orochimaru despite Orochimaru’s human experimentation and defection, allowing his former student to escape. 145 He similarly struggled to contain Danzō and Root decisively, issuing orders that proved insufficient to dismantle the organization. 148

Despite his hesitation, Hiruzen can show decisive authority when Konoha’s dignity or safety is at stake. He rejected Danzō’s bid to control Hane and Shisui, defended Hane’s contributions against Danzō’s suspicions, and ultimately backed Hane’s hardline stance against Kumogakure. 36 109 156

Abilities & Skills

Five Nature Transformations

Hiruzen is proficient in all five basic elemental transformations and is known as the “Professor of Ninjutsu” for his mastery of mainstream techniques. 40 251

• Casts Fire Release, Water Release, Lightning Release, Earth Release, and Wind Release simultaneously through five Shadow Clones. 254
• Uses Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet in sparring against Hane. 61
• Combines Fire Release and Earth Release in Fire Flow Earth Flame Bullet. 252
• Uses Wood Release: Great Forest Technique to counter a Wood Release ambush. 146

Shuriken Techniques

Hiruzen uses advanced shuriken techniques with exceptional hand-seal speed. 251

• Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique — Multiplies thrown shuriken into a dense aerial barrage. 251
• Ninja Art: Shuriken Giant Body Technique — Enlarges the cloned shuriken as a follow-up attack. 251

Enma and the Adamantine Staff

Hiruzen wields Enma in Adamantine Staff form with veteran skill in close combat. 252

• Summoning: Adamantine Prison Wall — Enma divides into numerous adamantine staffs to form an enclosing prison. 252
• The staff allowed Hiruzen to withstand Hane’s close-range pressure temporarily, though he remained at a disadvantage. 252

Sealing Techniques

Hiruzen is an accomplished sealing specialist. 257

• Three-Way Seal — Temporarily trapped Hane and his Demon Puppets during their battle. 257
• His seals could delay Hane but could not prevent Hane from escaping through space-time abilities. 257

Relationships

• Yakushi Hane / Crimson Feather — His final disciple. Hiruzen nurtured Hane’s talent, defended him from Danzō’s interest, and later fought him when Hane turned against Konoha’s leadership. Despite their estrangement, Hiruzen remained proud of Hane after he saved the shinobi world. 36 40 250 262 652
• Shimura Danzō — Former teammate and political rival. Hiruzen repeatedly opposed Danzō’s attempts to control young prodigies and later ordered Root disbanded, though he failed to fully eliminate Danzō’s influence. 36 148
• Minato Namikaze — Successor as Fourth Hokage. Hiruzen nominated Minato over Orochimaru and continued to work with him during the Nine-Tails crisis. 112 113 137
• Orochimaru — Formerly Hiruzen’s most cherished disciple. Hiruzen recognized Orochimaru’s ambition as disqualifying for the Hokage position but was unable to kill him after his defection. 112 145
• Jiraiya — Former disciple and Minato’s teacher. Hiruzen considered Jiraiya a suitable Hokage candidate, but Jiraiya repeatedly refused the office after Orochimaru’s defection. 246
• Tsunade — Former disciple and eventual Fifth Hokage. Hiruzen recommended her succession when he stepped down after Konoha’s crisis. 409
• Asuma Sarutobi — His second son. Hiruzen was distressed by Asuma’s rebellious behavior and struggled to reach him as a father. 88 89
• Shinnosuke Sarutobi — His eldest son and an elite Anbu jōnin. 82
• Uchiha Shisui — A young prodigy Hiruzen protected from Root and assigned to Anbu. 36 40

Story Role / Major Arcs

Hane’s Recruitment and Training

Hiruzen summons Hane after the Academy graduation examination, arranges Shisui’s Anbu service, and begins personally mentoring Hane. 40 He later spars with Hane and is repeatedly impressed by the boy’s rapid mastery of Water and Lightning Release. 61

Third Shinobi World War

Hiruzen assigns Hane to dangerous missions, recognizes the Medical Talisman’s military significance, and defends Hane when Danzō questions his unusual techniques. 43 90 109 He resigns near the war’s end and supports Minato’s appointment as Fourth Hokage. 111 113

Return to Office

After Minato’s tenure, Hiruzen returns as Hokage and attempts to curb Root by ordering Danzō to disband it and removing Yamato from the organization. 148 During the Kumogakure dispute, Hane persuades him to reject concessions and protect Konoha’s interests. 156

Conflict with Hane

Hiruzen confronts Hane after the latter assaults Danzō. He deploys advanced shuriken techniques, five-element combination ninjutsu, Enma, and the Three-Way Seal, but cannot defeat his former disciple. 250 257 After Hane leaves Konoha, Hiruzen is left emotionally exhausted and relinquishes responsibility for further action against him. 261 262

Succession to Tsunade

During the aftermath of Orochimaru and Sunagakure’s attack on Konoha, Hiruzen admits that he can no longer fulfill the Hokage’s duties and endorses Tsunade as Fifth Hokage. 409

Later War and Legacy

Hiruzen remains active during the later war despite being seventy-two and physically strained by combat. 620 After Hane defeats Uchiha Madara and Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, Hiruzen reflects with satisfaction that his former disciple ultimately protected the shinobi world. 652