Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure
Occupation/Role	Hokage of Konoha; former teammate and political counterpart of Danzō Shimura
Status	Alive 50
First Appearance	Chapter 5

Background / History

Following the Nine-Tails’ Attack, Hiruzen resumed the position of Hokage while Minato Namikaze remained physically alive but comatose. He was informed that an infiltrator had entered Konoha during the attack through an undetectable Transformation Technique, leading him to suspect that Uchiha Yansheng might be an impostor. He ordered Shisui Uchiha to investigate Yansheng and authorized lethal action if necessary. 5 6

Hiruzen’s suspicion escalated into a direct political crisis when Yansheng publicly reclaimed the Sharingan implanted in Danzō’s right eye. Hiruzen initially underestimated Yansheng due to his age, then intervened to block his further attacks and protected the injured Danzō while suppressing the curse seals released from Danzō’s arm. 9 10

Faced with Yansheng’s overwhelming chakra and threats against Root, Hiruzen agreed to negotiate reforms for the Uchiha Clan. The agreement reduced the clan’s isolation by sharing authority over the Hokage Guard Force, allowing non-Uchiha participation, and returning more Uchiha shinobi to ordinary village missions. 10 11

After reviewing Root’s personnel records and experiment reports, Hiruzen was horrified by Danzō’s abuses but chose to restrict rather than dismantle Root. This compromise allowed remnants of its activities and personnel to persist. 11

When Danzō was later killed by Obito Uchiha, Hiruzen officially identified Obito as the culprit and assigned the Uchiha Clan an S-rank mission to hunt him. 14 Danzō’s subsequent resurrection through Impure World Reincarnation forced Hiruzen, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane to conclude that Danzō had to be captured and sealed or released from the technique for Konoha’s safety. 27 28

Hiruzen increasingly relied on Yansheng’s strength and foreknowledge during later crises. He granted Yansheng access to the Spirit Transformation Technique and the Book of Seals, asked him to help secure Konoha during the Cloud Village delegation’s visit, and ultimately tolerated Yansheng’s growing influence over village policy and military action. 22 34 37 38

Personality

Hiruzen presents himself as calm, patient, and benevolent. He often responds to hostility with negotiation rather than immediate force, including when Yansheng openly insults him or pressures him into concessions. 10 11 22

His leadership is repeatedly defined by compromise. Hiruzen prioritizes Konoha’s short-term stability, even when this means tolerating Danzō’s crimes, allowing the Uchiha Purge Squad to operate semi-independently, or avoiding a direct challenge to Yansheng’s expanding authority. 11 28 29 37

He is capable of reassessing his position when faced with undeniable danger. After Danzō’s resurrection, he abandons loyalty to his longtime companion rather than risk an open conflict with the Uchiha Clan and Yansheng. 28

Abilities & Skills

Hokage-Level Combat Ability

Hiruzen was able to intercept Yansheng’s Chakra Mode attack during the confrontation over Danzō’s stolen Sharingan, despite Yansheng’s overwhelming speed and chakra reserves. 10

• Protected the severely weakened Danzō during the curse-seal outbreak in the Hokage’s office. 10
• Defended himself and others while attempting to neutralize spreading curse seals. 10
• Was regarded by Yansheng as powerful enough that a direct assault could not be casually ignored. 10

Sealing and Forbidden-Technique Knowledge

As Hokage, Hiruzen maintains the Book of Seals and recognizes the distinctive traits of an Impure World Reincarnation body. 27 34

• Granted Yansheng access to the Spirit Transformation Technique for the planned rescue of Shisui. 22
• Allowed Yansheng to study the Book of Seals, from which he memorized the Flying Thunder God Technique and Impure World Reincarnation. 34
• Assigned Kushina Uzumaki to capture and seal the resurrected Danzō due to her superior sealing ability. 28

Political Leadership

Hiruzen retains formal authority as Hokage but gradually loses practical control as Yansheng and the Uchiha Clan gain military and political leverage. 11 37 38

• Negotiated the restructuring of Konoha’s relationship with the Uchiha Clan. 10 11
• Disbanded and dispersed much of Root after Danzō’s initial death, limiting the number of loyalists available when Danzō returned. 27
• Authorized Konoha’s mobilization against Cloud Village and entrusted nearly half of the village’s jōnin to Yansheng’s command. 38

Relationships

• Uchiha Yansheng — Political adversary and reluctant collaborator. Hiruzen first suspects Yansheng of being an infiltrator, then repeatedly yields to his demands due to his power and political influence. 6 10 11 37
• Danzō Shimura — Longtime comrade and ideological counterpart. Hiruzen protects and tolerates Danzō for years, but later chooses to have him captured after his resurrection threatens Konoha. 10 11 27 28
• Uchiha Fugaku — Uchiha clan head involved in the negotiations following Danzō’s exposure. Hiruzen relies on Fugaku to account for the clan’s actions during the initial confrontation. 9 11
• Uchiha Shisui — Konoha shinobi tasked with investigating Yansheng. Hiruzen remains concerned about Shisui’s disappearance, recovery, and damaged ocular power. 6 33 34
• Kushina Uzumaki — Trusted jinchūriki and sealing specialist. Hiruzen shares information about Minato with her, recommends her as Yansheng’s sealing instructor, and entrusts her with sealing Danzō. 23 28
• Minato Namikaze — The comatose Fourth Hokage whose condition Hiruzen conceals from much of Konoha. 11 24
• Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane — Fellow senior leaders who join Hiruzen in deciding that Danzō must be sacrificed to prevent greater danger to Konoha. 28
• Cloud Village delegation — Hiruzen attempts to preserve diplomacy with the envoys, but Yansheng’s response to their attempted bloodline theft forces the delegation to withdraw. 34 37

Story Role / Major Arcs

Uchiha Political Crisis

Hiruzen’s suspicion of Yansheng and his protection of Danzō ignite the confrontation that exposes Danzō’s stolen Sharingan and Root’s abuses. He prevents immediate civil conflict through concessions, but his limited response deepens Yansheng’s distrust. 6 9 11

Danzō’s Death and Resurrection

After Obito kills Danzō, Hiruzen publicly assigns the Uchiha the mission to pursue Obito. When Danzō returns through Impure World Reincarnation, Hiruzen suppresses the incident, then authorizes his capture and eventual removal from the conflict. 14 27 28 33

Cloud Village Crisis

Hiruzen recognizes the danger of the Cloud delegation’s attempted kidnapping of Hinata Hyuga but depends on Yansheng to prevent a repeat of the anticipated Hyuga sacrifice. When Yansheng threatens Cloud Village with war, Hiruzen is unable to reassert control over the situation. 34 37

Konoha–Cloud War Mobilization

Hiruzen permits Yansheng to direct Konoha’s campaign against Cloud Village, despite concern over entrusting a vast force of jōnin to an eleven-year-old commander. His restraint effectively allows Yansheng to exercise authority beyond that of an ordinary Uchiha elder. 38

Yansheng’s Return

After Yansheng disappears for two years, Hiruzen personally verifies his identity upon his return to Konoha. Though relieved that he survived, Hiruzen is again confronted with Yansheng’s indifference to his authority. 50

Notable Quotes

“State your conditions. As Hokage, I will resolve these matters.” 10

“Danzo, give it up!” 28

“You are already dead. Leave this world to the living.” 28