Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; Professor of Ninjutsu 14
Gender	Male 228
Affiliation	Konohagakure
Occupation/Role	Hokage of Konohagakure; later reinstated as a transitional Hokage 269
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Appearance

Hiruzen is an elderly man who remains active in Konoha’s leadership and combat affairs despite repeated remarks about his age. He is frequently depicted smoking a pipe. 228 329

• Wears the Hokage hat while acting publicly as Konoha’s leader. 273
• Commonly keeps a pipe at hand during political meetings and difficult deliberations. 289 348

Personality

Hiruzen presents himself as patient, gentle, and conciliatory. He comforts Chiyu in the hospital, gives Yamato a name after removing him from Root, and ultimately forgives Danzo after uncovering his assassination attempt. 10 277 273

His leadership is also defined by calculation and control. He tests others’ loyalties, conceals politically damaging information, relies on surveillance, and seeks restraints for clans he considers dangerous. His fear of another powerful Sharingan user like Chiyu shapes his policy toward the Uchiha clan. 10 191 289 329

Hiruzen is reluctant to abandon people tied to his past, particularly Danzo and Orochimaru. This loyalty repeatedly conflicts with his duty to Konoha: he shields Danzo despite Root’s crimes, yet eventually resolves to eliminate Orochimaru over his human experimentation. 273 299 473

Abilities & Skills

Ninjutsu Knowledge and Assessment

Known as the “Professor of Ninjutsu,” Hiruzen can assess techniques in detail and recognize their strategic value.

• Evaluated Chiyu’s Thunder Breathing Full Sword Form as a complete A-rank Nintaijutsu, with its first five forms generally at B-rank and the final two at A-rank. 14
• Studied Thunder Breathing himself, but could not determine its practical limitation until Kakashi attributed mastery to exceptional cardiopulmonary ability. 424
• Recognized the danger posed by unauthorized use of Tobirama Senju’s sealed Water Release techniques. 288

Earth and Fire Release

Hiruzen employs Earth and Fire Release in rapid succession during his battle with Orochimaru.

• Earth Clone — Evaded Orochimaru’s Hidden Shadow Snake Hands with a clone made of earth. 466
• Earth Release: Earth Flow River — Turned the ground to mud and swept Orochimaru away. 466
• Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet — Created an earth dragon that fired mud projectiles. 466
• Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet — Launched fire projectiles from his mouth. 466
• Combination Ninjutsu: Earth Dragon Fire Stream — Combined Earth Dragon Bullet with Fire Dragon Bullet to engulf Orochimaru in flames. 466
• Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall — Raised an earthen barrier against Tobirama’s Water Release: Water Shockwave. 468

Sealing Jutsu

Hiruzen is capable of invoking high-level sealing techniques under extreme pressure.

• Sealing Jutsu: Reaper Death Seal — Activated the technique while fighting Orochimaru’s reincarnated Hashirama and Tobirama. 476

Leadership, Intelligence, and Countermeasures

Hiruzen uses Anbu, deception, and intelligence gathering to preserve control of Konoha.

• Anticipated Danzo’s assassination plot and sent an Anbu impersonator in his place, leaving Root to attack a decoy. 272 273
• Maintained knowledge of Root’s hidden activities and forced Danzo to surrender Yamato to Hokage-controlled Anbu. 274 276 277
• Ordered surveillance of Naruto and Minato after Chiyu’s influence and Minato’s awakening raised his suspicions. 423
• Increased Anbu security and village patrols following Hayate Gekko’s death and signs of outside interference in the Chunin Exams. 457

Equipment

• Pipe — Regularly used while thinking through political and military problems. 289 329
• Hokage hat — Worn during official duties and public appearances. 273

History

Early Treatment of Chiyu

During Chiyu’s childhood, Hiruzen repeatedly saw villagers bully him but did not intervene, leading Chiyu to view the Hokage’s public benevolence as a facade. 1 With tensions between Konoha and the Uchiha clan unresolved, Hiruzen initially chose to ignore Chiyu rather than confront either side. 6

After Chiyu’s Lightning Release incident, Hiruzen reassessed him as a potentially valuable talent. He visited Chiyu in the hospital, tested whether he hated Konoha or the Uchiha, and arranged a new home near the Ninja Academy after Chiyu professed loyalty to the village. 10 11

Hiruzen accepted Chiyu’s Thunder Breathing scroll on Konoha’s behalf and became convinced that the child was a loyal genius worth cultivating. He also saw Chiyu’s Uchiha bloodline as potentially useful in future plans concerning the clan. 13 14

Third Great Ninja War and Succession

Near the end of the Third Great Ninja War, Hiruzen favored peace negotiations because Konoha was exhausted. He accepted concessions rather than pursuing reparations and took responsibility by resigning as Third Hokage. 188

He rejected Danzo’s preferred candidates—including Orochimaru and Chiyu—and instead recommended Minato Namikaze as Fourth Hokage. Hiruzen regarded Minato as an inheritor of the Will of Fire and someone capable of continuing his political direction. 191 193

Before Minato’s inauguration, Hiruzen privately instructed him to placate the Uchiha without making substantive concessions, warned him that Chiyu required careful handling, and identified Kushina as key to maintaining Chiyu’s outward loyalty. 191

Return to Office and Conflict with Danzo

After Minato fell into a coma, Hiruzen maneuvered to return as a transitional Hokage with the support of Koharu, Homura, and most clan heads. 268 269 He concealed Minato’s condition by publicly announcing that the Fourth Hokage had died from illness, intending to mislead foreign spies. 274

Danzo attempted to assassinate him during a supposed journey to the Daimyo’s Mansion, but Hiruzen had already prepared an Anbu decoy and confronted Danzo afterward. Rather than execute him, Hiruzen forgave him and demanded renewed dedication to Konoha. 272 273

Hiruzen later used Kakashi’s Sharingan-assisted interrogation to force Danzo to relinquish Yamato, transferring the Wood Release user from Root to Hokage-controlled Anbu. 276 277

Uchiha Crisis

Hiruzen feared the Uchiha’s instability and the Sharingan’s connection to negative emotions. He sought a method of restraint comparable to the Hyuga clan’s Caged Bird Seal while still preserving the Uchiha as Konoha’s allies. 329

He supported Shisui Uchiha’s effort to restore trust between the village and the clan, then authorized Shisui to use Kotoamatsukami to pressure Fugaku into accepting a restraining Curse Mark. 330 336 Danzo’s theft of Shisui’s eye destroyed this plan, leaving Hiruzen angry but still unwilling to let Chiyu kill Danzo. 339

When Itachi proposed eliminating Uchiha extremists while restraining the remainder with Curse Marks, Hiruzen accepted. He agreed to improve the surviving clan members’ living conditions, remove Danzo from clan affairs, and exempt Sasuke from the Curse Mark. 348

After Chiyu massacred much of the clan and exposed the higher-ups’ involvement, Hiruzen confronted him at Konoha’s gates but could not stop his defection. Hiruzen subsequently imposed Curse Marks on Uchiha survivors who accepted Konoha’s conditions and arranged their relocation. 359 360 361

Later Hokage Activities

Hiruzen selected Kakashi as the Jonin leader for Naruto and Sasuke, trusting him to guide and monitor both boys. 381 382 His mistrust of Naruto persisted because of Naruto’s sudden behavioral change after meeting Chiyu, prompting repeated surveillance through Anbu and the Telescope Technique. 423

During Orochimaru’s attack on Konoha, Hiruzen fought his former disciple while facing reincarnated Hashirama and Tobirama. Though exhausted by the prolonged battle, he resolved to “set things right” and invoked the Reaper Death Seal. 466 468 473 476

Relationships

• Chiyu — Initially ignored him as a mistreated child, then cultivated him after recognizing his talent and apparent loyalty. Hiruzen later regarded Chiyu as a dangerous, uncontrollable threat; Chiyu ultimately defected from Konoha. 1 14 191 359
• Danzo Shimura — Longtime political ally and rival. Hiruzen repeatedly protects Danzo despite Root’s actions, but outmaneuvers his assassination attempt, removes Yamato from Root, and later punishes him for endangering Shisui’s plan. 273 277 339
• Minato Namikaze — Chosen by Hiruzen as Fourth Hokage and entrusted with Konoha’s future. Hiruzen later resumes office during Minato’s coma and conceals Minato’s survival from the public. 191 274
• Orochimaru — Former disciple whose forbidden research eventually prompts Hiruzen to order an operation against him. Orochimaru later attacks Hiruzen during the Chunin Exams. 282 299 466
• Kakashi Hatake — Trusted Anbu operative. Hiruzen relies on Kakashi in Root-related operations, entrusts him with Naruto and Sasuke’s team, and uses him to monitor sensitive situations. 276 382 423
• Yamato — Removed from Danzo’s Root and assigned directly to Hokage-controlled Anbu. Hiruzen gives him the name “Yamato.” 277
• Shisui Uchiha — Hiruzen supports Shisui’s mission to reconcile Konoha and the Uchiha, then tasks him with preventing a coup through Kotoamatsukami. 330 336
• Itachi Uchiha — Accepted Itachi’s plan to eliminate Uchiha extremists while preserving the remaining clan members under Curse Mark restraint. 348 361

Notable Quotes

“The responsibility rests with me as the Hokage.” 188

“I will set things right and help Minato become that pillar of support once more!” 476