Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; “Grandpa” (to Naruto)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage of Konohagakure
Status	Active
First Appearance	2

Background / History

Hiruzen succeeded Tobirama Senju as Konohagakure’s Third Hokage. According to the Uchiha Clan’s account, he inherited Tobirama’s distrust of the Uchiha and allowed Danzo Shimura to act against the Konoha Military Police Force, contributing to the clan’s continued marginalization. 35

Following Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki’s deaths, Hiruzen concealed Naruto Uzumaki’s parentage and placed him under ANBU surveillance. He publicly justified this as protection from Minato’s enemies, while privately acknowledging that the arrangement also preserved his own political position and the heroic public image of the Fourth Hokage. 2 9

He later began cultivating Naruto’s ties to Konoha by instructing major clan heads to let their children associate with him, arranging his enrollment in the Ninja Academy’s elite class, and assigning Kakashi Hatake to protect him until graduation. 9 18

Appearance

Hiruzen is an elderly but physically powerful shinobi who commonly carries a large smoking pipe. At the Ninja Academy’s opening ceremony, he wears a white Hokage robe over red ninja attire and the Hokage’s conical hat. 4 25

• Carries and frequently smokes a large pipe. 4 13
• Retains enough physical strength to split his desk with a strike during an argument with Danzo. 6
• Maintains a warm, approachable public image by greeting villagers during patrols. 5

Personality

Hiruzen presents himself as a patient, people-oriented village leader. He personally visits Naruto, provides relief money and ramen expenses, and speaks often of the Will of Fire and Naruto’s future as Hokage. 5 6 25

Behind this image, he is politically calculating and deeply protective of his authority. He deliberately hides his Hokage identity from Naruto to foster gratitude, directs clan relationships around Naruto, and admits internally that concealing Naruto’s identity helps consolidate his position. 5 8 9

His concern for Naruto is conflicted: when Naruto is injured by village children, Hiruzen’s first question is whether the Nine-Tails has lost control. Still, he consistently blocks Danzo’s attempts to take custody of Naruto and resists Root influence. 4 6 18 47

Leadership and Policies

Naruto Uzumaki’s Surveillance

Hiruzen initially orders ANBU to monitor Naruto continuously, prevent threats to his life, and otherwise avoid interfering. He fears Naruto could lose control of the Nine-Tails under emotional stress and be forced into suppression or detention. 2 6

After observing Naruto’s apparent lack of resentment toward Konoha, Hiruzen reduces the detail to two rotating ANBU assigned primarily to Naruto’s safety. 6

Naruto’s Integration into Konoha

Hiruzen instructs clan heads aligned with the Hokage faction to encourage normal interaction between their children and Naruto. This policy helps Naruto form friendships with children of the Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, Inuzuka, Aburame, and Hyuga clans. 9 18 48

He successfully defeats Danzo’s opposition to Naruto’s academy admission and secures Naruto a place in the elite class. 18

Village Security

After three enemy spies are found dead near Konoha, Hiruzen analyzes the evidence, concludes that a Leaf shinobi of at least jonin level intervened, and strengthens village patrols when the culprit cannot be identified. 22

He also asks Fugaku Uchiha to increase Uchiha Police Force patrols during the crisis, seeing it as an opportunity to improve relations between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha’s residents. 23

Relationships

• Naruto Uzumaki — Naruto’s political guardian and overseer. Hiruzen provides relief money, arranges surveillance and protection, promotes his academy enrollment, and encourages his ties to influential clans; he also conceals Naruto’s parentage and treats him as a strategic asset. 2 6 9 18 25
• Danzo Shimura — Longstanding rival. Their principal conflict concerns control of Naruto; Hiruzen repeatedly refuses to surrender the jinchūriki to Root. 2 6 18 47
• Kakashi Hatake — Assigns Kakashi to protect Naruto until his academy graduation, partly hoping the mission will help Kakashi recover from personal losses. Hiruzen’s guilt over Sakumo Hatake’s death also shapes his concern for Kakashi. 9 10
• Iruka Umino — Selects Iruka as Naruto’s homeroom teacher after recognizing his commitment to the Will of Fire and his compassion toward Naruto. 4
• Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki — Naruto’s deceased parents, whose trust Hiruzen claims to be honoring through his arrangements for Naruto. Minato’s faith in him later collapses after learning of Naruto’s treatment in Konoha. 2 5 39
• Hiashi Hyuga — Maintains political contact with the Hyuga head and expresses official trust in the Hyuga Clan after Naruto is treated at their compound. 47 48
• Fugaku Uchiha and the Uchiha Clan — Regards the Uchiha’s position as politically dangerous after the Nine-Tails Rampage, though he permits Naruto’s contact with Itachi and Sasuke rather than having ANBU intervene. 13 23

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Early Naruto oversight — Orders ANBU surveillance of Naruto, conceals his identity, and frames himself as the boy’s kindly “Grandpa.” 2 5
• Reduced surveillance — Interprets Naruto’s behavior as loyalty and lowers the intensity of ANBU monitoring despite Danzo’s objections. 6
• Kakashi’s protection mission — Appoints Kakashi as Naruto’s primary protector through Ninja Academy graduation. 9 10
• Academy enrollment dispute — Uses his authority to prevent Danzo from claiming Naruto for Root and secures Naruto’s elite-class placement. 18
• Ninja Academy opening — Publicly reveals himself to Naruto as the Third Hokage and endorses Naruto’s ambition to become Hokage. 25
• Spy incident — Investigates the deaths of three infiltrators and orders stronger Konoha patrols. 22 23
• Hyuga incident — Initially suspects the Hyuga Clan’s contact with Naruto, then accepts Hiashi’s explanation and reaffirms official trust in the clan. 46 47

Notable Quotes

“I am the Hokage!” 6 18 47

“From now on, there is no need to monitor Naruto so intensely.” 6

“I will not hand Naruto over to you.” 18