Sarutobi Hiruzen

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Sarutobi Hiruzen (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; Professor of Ninjutsu; Shinobi Hero; Monkey 115
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konoha; Sarutobi Clan 8 107
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage of Konoha; later former Hokage and Sarutobi Clan head 8 105 107
Status	Deceased — killed by Hyuga Kagami after attempting to flee their confrontation 118
First Appearance	Chapter 8

History

Hokage and recruitment of prodigies

Hiruzen personally observed Hyuga Kagami and Uchiha Itachi’s early Genin examination. Though initially focused on Itachi’s talent, he recognized Kagami’s physical power after the latter’s decisive victory and sought to recruit both boys into the Anbu. He framed the Anbu as Konoha’s future and tested their loyalty through questions about the qualities of a proper ninja 8 11 12 21.

He presented the Will of Fire as a belief that Konoha’s youth were “family,” not merely tools for completing missions. Behind this rhetoric, he regarded Itachi and Kagami as assets that should be brought under his control 8 12 21.

Conflict with Hyuga Kagami and the clans

Kagami’s rapid growth turned Hiruzen’s recruitment efforts into a power struggle. After learning that Kagami had reached Kage-level strength and possessed Wood Release, Hiruzen discussed eliminating him with Shimura Danzō and considered using Uchiha Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami to control him 61.

During Kumogakure’s invasion, Hiruzen favored negotiations and compensation over escalation. When the Uchiha Clan’s cooperation became necessary, he appealed to Fugaku despite having previously marginalized the clan. He later appointed Fugaku to lead Konoha’s deployment while intending for the war to eliminate both Fugaku and Kagami, who had moved beyond his control 65 67 70.

After Danzō’s death, Hiruzen appointed Shisui as Root’s new leader and ordered him to use Kotoamatsukami on Fugaku in the name of preserving peace. He also came to regard Kekkei Genkai clans as threats that could not be controlled, privately deciding that the Hyuga and Uchiha should be eliminated 71 90.

Removal from office

Kagami used the Tailed Beast crisis to shift blame onto Hiruzen. Although Hiruzen recognized that he had been framed, the Land of Fire’s Daimyō stripped him of the Hokage title, ordered the return of the Tailed Beasts, and threatened Konoha with a crusade if the order was ignored 105 106.

Hiruzen refused to accept a powerless retirement. He maintained that he still held authority as an elder, then prepared a forbidden countermeasure against Kagami by having his clansman Sarutobi Sho train in the Dead Demon Consuming Seal 107.

Final battle and death

Unable to persuade Tsunade or Jiraiya to oppose Kagami in the Hokage election, Hiruzen confronted Kagami in the Forest of Death with Sho and the Dead Demon Consuming Seal prepared. His Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, and Lightning Release techniques—including his Five Release: Great Barrage Technique—failed to injure Kagami 114 115.

Sho’s Dead Demon Consuming Seal did not save him from Kagami. Hiruzen was then drawn in by Banshō Ten'in, attempted to escape, and was killed by Kagami 117 118.

Personality

Hiruzen carefully cultivated the image of a benevolent elder and guardian of Konoha. He emphasized the Will of Fire, praised talented youths, and spoke of protecting the village’s next generation as family 8 21.

His decisions were also driven by maintaining authority. He attempted to keep powerful shinobi and clans under his influence, delayed or redirected threats he could not confront openly, and treated Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami as a means to compel Fugaku’s obedience 61 70 71. When stripped of office, he became increasingly desperate, relying on the Dead Demon Consuming Seal rather than yielding to Kagami 107 114.

Abilities & Skills

Five-Release Composite Ninjutsu

Hiruzen is known as the Professor of Ninjutsu and is proficient in all five basic chakra natures 115.

• Combined Earth Dragon Bullet Technique and Fire Dragon Bullet Technique into Earth Dragon Flame Flow. 115
• Created shadow clones to simultaneously cast Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, and Lightning Dragon Bullet Techniques. 115
• Combined the five elemental attacks into Five Release: Great Barrage Technique, his strongest documented composite ninjutsu. 115
• His composite techniques were overwhelmed by Kagami’s counterattacks and failed to change the outcome of their battle. 115

Summoning: Enma

Hiruzen can summon the old ape Enma, who transforms into an Adamantine Staff for close combat 115.

• Used Enma’s staff to clash with Kagami’s Samehada.
• Was sent flying and injured when Kagami’s strength overpowered the staff clash. 115

Political Strategy

Hiruzen is an experienced political operator who uses appointments, diplomacy, and battlefield assignments to preserve his position.

• Recruited promising shinobi into the Anbu and sought to cultivate their loyalty through the Will of Fire. 12 21
• Attempted to use Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami to make Fugaku obey Konoha. 71
• Assigned Fugaku to lead the Kumogakure deployment while privately intending to use the war to remove Fugaku and Kagami. 70
• Tried to use Iwagakure’s assault on Konoha as an opportunity to have Ōnoki eliminate Kagami. 88

Relationships

• Hyuga Kagami — Initially a prodigy Hiruzen wished to recruit into the Anbu; later his principal political rival and eventual killer. 11 21 61 118
• Shimura Danzō — Long-time associate and rival. They discussed removing Kagami and exploiting Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami, though Danzō’s death further weakened Hiruzen’s control over Konoha. 60 61 70
• Uchiha Shisui — An Anbu operative whom Hiruzen appointed as Root’s leader and ordered to control Fugaku; Shisui ultimately denounced Hiruzen as unfit to lead. 71 105
• Uchiha Itachi — A young Uchiha genius whom Hiruzen sought to win over and recruit into the Anbu. 8 12
• Uchiha Fugaku — Uchiha Clan head whose support Hiruzen needed during the Kumogakure war; Hiruzen later sought to control him with Kotoamatsukami and remove him through war. 67 70 71
• Tsunade and Jiraiya — His former students. Hiruzen recalled them to run for Hokage against Kagami, but both refused the position; they later attempted to save him from Kagami. 114 117
• Sarutobi Sho — A trusted clansman chosen to wield the Dead Demon Consuming Seal against Kagami. 107 115 117

Notable Quotes

“They are the future pillars of Konoha, our family, not just ninjas who complete missions!” 8

“I am the Shinobi Hero! And the strongest Hokage!” 115