Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

History

Hiruzen was a disciple of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, alongside Shimura Danzō. He later became the Third Hokage and taught Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya 4 12 121. As Hokage, he ordered war against the Hidden Rain Village after Konoha ninja there lost contact and Rain forces massed near the Land of Fire. He later accepted Rain's surrender but rejected vassal status, which would have drawn Konoha into further conflicts 13 29.

Hiruzen cultivated Senju Genma as a possible successor, promoting him and assigning him important missions. Genma's rapid rise also troubled Hiruzen: after Genma defeated Hanzo, he worried that the young ninja might become impossible to control and remained reluctant to give up power 14 29 36. Following Genma's later wartime victories, Hiruzen concluded that he could entrust him with the village. He announced Genma's election as Fourth Hokage and formally handed him the Hokage hat 121 134 136.

After retiring, Hiruzen tried to intervene when Genma investigated the former advisors Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane. He accepted Genma's decision to spare their lives while imprisoning them for life, then yielded influence over village affairs to his successor 138 139.

Personality

• Decisive in wartime: Hiruzen convened Konoha's jōnin after verifying the Rain intelligence and declared war; he later reacted angrily to Sand's attack on Konoha forces 13 33.
• Invested in successors: He praised Genma's Will of Fire, supported his career, and eventually chose him despite earlier misgivings 4 29 121.
• Protective of old associates: He initially defended Homura and Koharu, though he acknowledged that he had overlooked their misdeeds because of their shared history 138 139.

Abilities & Skills

Telescope Technique

• Hiruzen uses a crystal ball to observe people elsewhere in the village, including Genma's academy class and Asuma's training session 4 66.
• Genma identifies the observation as Hiruzen watching through Konoha's barrier 63.

Leadership

• He directs Konoha's war mobilization and assigns commanders and reinforcements to its fronts 13 33.
• He curbs Danzō's influence by cutting Root's funding and reducing its size 55 57.

Relationships

• Senju Tobirama — Teacher who designated Hiruzen as the Third Hokage 4 121.
• Senju Genma — Protégé and eventual successor; Hiruzen's confidence in him coexisted with concern over his growing power 4 29 136.
• Shimura Danzō — Fellow disciple and political rival whose requests Hiruzen repeatedly refused or limited 4 5 57.
• Uzumaki Mito — Elder acquaintance from Konoha's founding era; she asked Hiruzen to help discipline Genma 4.
• Sarutobi Asuma — Son; Hiruzen follows his training and is frustrated by his progress 66 138.
• Sarutobi Biwako — Wife, who speaks with him about the investigation into the former advisors 138.
• Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane — Longtime colleagues whose punishment Hiruzen tries to soften 138 139.

Notable Quotes

“I have always believed that you are the successor to the Will of Fire. I intend to entrust the future of Konoha and the ninja world to you.” 136