Sarutobi Hiruzen

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Sarutobi Hiruzen (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; “Strongest Hokage”; Ninja Hero; Ninja Bear
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure; Sarutobi Clan
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage; later acting Hokage and leader of the Sarutobi faction
Status	Expelled from Konoha alongside the Sarutobi Clan; vows to return 191 194
First Appearance	Chapter 11

Background

Hiruzen trained under the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, alongside Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu. He later became the Third Hokage and governed Konoha for decades, with Danzō operating as the shadow behind his administration. 189 191

His reputation as the “Strongest Hokage” rests on his combat experience, command of five chakra natures, and long-standing authority over Konoha. However, his leadership is repeatedly challenged over his conduct during the Third Shinobi World War, his compromises after victory, and the deteriorating relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan. 38 175

Appearance

An elderly shinobi with a visibly aged, wrinkled face and a composed Hokage’s bearing. He is often seen smoking a pipe; when entering battle, he removes his Hokage robe to reveal a green shinobi vest. 25 232

• Carries a pipe during political meetings. 25 43
• Wears the Hokage robe in public before discarding it for combat. 232
• His aging body increasingly limits his chakra output and endurance. 169 175

Personality

Hiruzen prioritizes Konoha’s stability and often avoids decisive action until he has sufficient intelligence, leverage, or political support. He refuses Danzō’s immediate calls for an assault on the Uchiha, instead seeking to preserve the village’s internal balance. 11 25

He is politically calculating when cornered. He approves Shisui’s proposed use of Kotoamatsukami against Fugaku rather than Jin, viewing Fugaku as a more manageable route to controlling the Uchiha leadership. He also checks himself for foreign chakra before trusting that Shisui has not influenced him. 43

Despite presenting himself as a guardian of peace, Hiruzen can become ruthless when his authority, clan, or village are threatened. During the later conflict with the Uchiha brothers, he mobilizes Konoha’s forces, sacrifices his remaining options to stop them, and attacks Itachi with overwhelming force. 234 236 253

Abilities & Skills

Five Nature Transformations

Hiruzen can freely employ Fire, Lightning, Water, Earth, and Wind Release, combining them through Shadow Clones into a large-scale multi-element assault. 174 175

• Five Releases: Great Combo Bullet Technique — Hiruzen and four Shadow Clones each release a different chakra nature simultaneously, creating a devastating combined bombardment. 174 236
• The technique heavily strains his aged body and depleted chakra reserves, preventing repeated use at full power. 175

Ninjutsu and Combat Analysis

Hiruzen is an experienced all-round shinobi whose battle sense allows him to rapidly adapt to opponents and reshape terrain to his advantage. 173 175

• Uses Shadow Clones for coordinated attacks and multi-angle pressure. 174 236
• Creates dense mist to interfere with Sharingan perception while retaining awareness of the battlefield as its caster. 173
• Uses Earth and Water Release to create battlefield obstacles and recover positional advantage. 173
• Possesses refined chakra perception, allowing him to identify the nature of Sasuke’s Mangekyō ability from its chakra traces. 233

Summoning Technique: Enma

Hiruzen summons Enma, an old companion with an indestructible body, and transforms him into the Adamantine Staff for close combat. 175 232

• The Adamantine Staff can extend and enlarge into a massive pillar-like weapon. 253
• Enma supplements Hiruzen’s close-range fighting and tactical flexibility. 175

Sound Release

Hiruzen uses a Sound Release technique to rally Konoha’s forces during the escalating conflict with the Uchiha remnants. 236

Equipment

• Hokage robe — Worn in his official capacity; removed before serious combat. 232
• Pipe — Frequently used during meetings and while contemplating political crises. 25 43
• Adamantine Staff — Enma’s transformed form. 232 253

Relationships

• Shimura Danzō — Former teammate and longtime political counterpart. Hiruzen repeatedly restrains Danzō’s anti-Uchiha extremism, then publicly expels him from Konoha when his crimes become impossible to ignore. 11 43 53
• Mitokado Homura — Childhood comrade, adviser, and later political ally. Homura eventually sides with Uchiha Jin and abandons Hiruzen for his clan’s interests. 25 191
• Utatane Koharu — Longtime adviser and ally who supports Hiruzen politically and treats his injuries after his defeat by Itachi. 25 178
• Senju Tobirama — Hiruzen’s teacher and the Second Hokage. Hiruzen remains conscious of Tobirama’s legacy and is unsettled when Tobirama is resurrected through Impure World Reincarnation. 12 239
• Uchiha Shisui — A loyal subordinate who trusts Hiruzen as a mentor. Hiruzen authorizes Shisui to use Kotoamatsukami on Fugaku to avert conflict. 23 43
• Uchiha Jin — Hiruzen’s principal political and military rival. Jin repeatedly undermines Hiruzen’s authority, defeats his faction, and ultimately engineers the Sarutobi Clan’s expulsion from Konoha. 35 178 191
• Sarutobi Asuma — Hiruzen’s son and preferred candidate for Fifth Hokage. Hiruzen gathers clan and daimyo support for Asuma, then loses control when Asuma is killed by Uchiha Kazama. 160 246
• Uchiha Itachi — Hiruzen attempts to use Itachi as an asset against Jin, but later fights him directly when the conflict spirals beyond control. 170 174 236

Story Role / Major Arcs

Uchiha–Konoha Political Crisis

When Danzō moves against the Uchiha Clan, Hiruzen initially refuses to authorize action without proof. He later arrives at the Root–Uchiha confrontation, where Jin publicly challenges the legitimacy and competence of his rule. 11 35 38

Hiruzen considers secretly resolving the crisis by having Shisui use Kotoamatsukami on Fugaku. He rejects Danzō’s more direct extermination plan, insisting that he alone decides Konoha’s course. 43

Abandonment of Danzō

As the Uchiha overwhelm Root, Hiruzen concludes that saving Danzō would risk open war with the clan. He declares Danzō expelled from Konoha and requests that the captured Root members be spared so they can later be reintegrated into the village. 53

Danzō’s exposure as a user of Hashirama Cells and implanted Sharingan further damages Hiruzen’s standing, as Jin demands to know how the acting Hokage allowed such acts to occur. 56

Fall from Power

Hiruzen is publicly detained after Uchiha Jin assumes authority, but later regains political influence by rallying Jiraiya, the Land of Fire’s daimyo, the Sarutobi, Mitokado, Utatane, and Ino-Shika-Cho clans behind Asuma’s candidacy for Fifth Hokage. 104 160

He believes his coalition has enough military strength to suppress the Uchiha Clan, but Jin’s faction defeats his plans. Hiruzen is critically injured in his battle with Itachi as Jin becomes the Fifth Hokage. 163 174 178

Sarutobi Clan Expulsion

After Jin consolidates power, Hiruzen’s former ally Homura abandons him. Jin declares the Sarutobi Clan erased from Konoha, forcing Hiruzen and his remaining followers to leave the village. 191 194

Hiruzen remains determined to rebuild his strength, lead his clan, and someday reclaim Konoha. 191 194

Conflict with the Uchiha Brothers

During the later Uchiha crisis, Hiruzen witnesses Sasuke’s Mangekyō Sharingan massacre members of the Sarutobi Clan. Unable to counter Sasuke’s speed and power, he falls into despair and regrets underestimating the Uchiha. 233

He subsequently orders Konoha’s forces into action and launches the Five Releases: Great Combo Bullet Technique against Itachi. As casualties mount, Hiruzen abandons restraint and vows to personally destroy the remaining Uchiha. 236 252 253

Notable Quotes

“I am the Hokage!” 25 43

“Shimura Danzō attacked and murdered shinobi of the same village, attempting to seize the Uchiha Clan's bloodline power. In the name of Konoha's Third Hokage, I declare that Danzō shall no longer be a member of Konoha from this day forth!” 53

“You evil Uchiha brat, I’m the Third Hokage!” 236