Third Hokage

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; “Monkey” 6
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure; Hokage Faction / Konoha’s “F4” 6 43
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage of Konoha; later a frontline commander and diplomatic representative 439 440 522
Status	Alive; succeeded as Hokage by Tsunade, but remains active in Konoha’s military and diplomatic affairs 439 522
First Appearance	Chapter 6

Background and History

Hiruzen was appointed Hokage by Tobirama Senju, but Mito Uzumaki’s backing was essential to securing his position. He treated Mito with marked deference and accepted her demands that Kushina Uzumaki receive compensation and freedom over her own life in Konoha 6.

As part of Konoha’s senior leadership, Hiruzen governed alongside Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura. He periodically restrained Danzō’s ambitions, including suspending Danzō from the Hokage’s assistant post when Danzō challenged his authority 21.

Appearance

An elderly man who is usually seen smoking a pipe. His beard visibly trembles when he is enraged 40 93.

• Often keeps a pipe clenched between his teeth while working or deliberating 40 249.
• Retains enough physical ability to personally travel to battlefields and attend international summits 207 522.

Personality

Hiruzen presents himself as a benevolent, diplomatic leader, preferring restraint and negotiation in dealings with other villages. This approach frequently clashes with Jingyi Hyuga’s belief that enemies should be deterred through overwhelming force 228.

He is politically pragmatic but often indecisive. Hiruzen repeatedly preserves Danzō as a useful covert asset despite recognizing the damage Danzō causes, and he is susceptible to pressure from Danzō and Koharu when making major policy decisions 41 381.

Hiruzen is also deeply protective of his authority. Hatake Sakumo’s public acceptance of Hokage ceremonial attire and apparent interest in succession alarmed him, prompting him to seek reconciliation with Tsunade and Jingyi primarily to preserve the Hokage Faction’s control 214.

Abilities & Skills

Ninjutsu Proficiency

Hiruzen is known as the “Professor of Ninjutsu” and is proficient in numerous techniques, though he is not especially suited to overwhelming brute-force assaults against fortified positions 464.

• Retains substantial combat strength despite his age 522.
• Studies and prepares to employ Jingyi’s cooperative Lightning Dragon Technique to break Iwagakure’s defensive stalemate 465.
• Avoids direct battlefield engagements when they offer little strategic value, such as confronting Kitsuchi personally 449.

Command and Strategy

Hiruzen has experience directing Konoha’s military forces and takes command when the village requires an established senior leader.

• Assumed Konoha’s frontline command alongside Chiyo after being sent to the Land of Grass battlefield 440.
• Ordered a final decisive battle against Amegakure after pressure from the Daimyo’s Court made the Land of Rain conflict politically unsustainable 118.
• Used the recall of border forces as real leverage to force the Land of Fire’s daimyo to release development funding 301.

Diplomacy and Political Management

Hiruzen is regarded as capable in negotiation and political debate, making him a useful representative despite his declining domestic influence.

• Represented Konoha at the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron 227.
• Was later assigned to represent Konoha at the wider shinobi-world conference against Madara Uchiha, with Homura assisting him 522 523.
• Maintains Konoha’s alliances through pragmatic compromises, even while acknowledging that some, such as the Kumogakure alliance, were strategic mistakes 381 462.

Relationships

• Mito Uzumaki — Her political support helped Hiruzen retain the Hokage position. He accepted her conditions regarding Kushina’s treatment and compensation for the Uzumaki Clan 6.
• Shimura Danzō — Former comrade, covert operative, and recurring political liability. Hiruzen repeatedly used Danzō as a “black glove” and scapegoat, but eventually could no longer protect him 41 155 431.
• Tsunade — Political rival and eventual successor. Hiruzen trusted her enough to leave her the Hokage Seal during a frontline visit, but their relationship was strained by his desire to release Danzō and his attempts to direct her service 61 207 439.
• Jingyi Hyuga — A powerful subordinate whose rise steadily eroded Hiruzen’s authority. Their relationship shifted from conflict to uneasy negotiation, then to Jingyi coercing Hiruzen into frontline service through secrets extracted from Danzō 145 252 434.
• Utatane Koharu — Longtime adviser and political ally. Hiruzen often indulged Koharu’s demands, including compromises that split Anbu authority and weakened his own control 93 155.
• Mitokado Homura — Longtime adviser and comparatively cautious confidant. Homura often mediates Hiruzen’s conflicts and later assists him in diplomacy and at the front 156 462 522.
• Torifu Akimichi — Former associate whose appointment as Hokage adviser and controller of the medical system weakened Hiruzen’s factional influence 43 47.
• Land of Fire Daimyō — Their relationship deteriorated into open political hostility after Hiruzen resisted civilian interference in Konoha’s military and commercial affairs 301 337 423.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Danzō’s Exposure and Imprisonment

After Hanzō publicly exposed Danzō’s attempt to assassinate Jingyi Hyuga and his sale of Konoha intelligence, Hiruzen reacted with unusual fury. He ordered Danzō’s arrest and publicly assigned him full responsibility, restoring morale among Konoha’s border forces 40 41.

Privately, Hiruzen treated Danzō’s punishment as temporary. He intended to preserve him as a future covert asset, provided political conditions allowed Danzō’s return 41.

Loss of Control Within Konoha

Mito’s appointment of Torifu as Hokage adviser and controller of the medical system weakened Hiruzen’s political bloc while strengthening Tsunade and the Ino–Shika–Chō alliance 43 47.

Hiruzen’s authority further declined when Tsunade, as Anbu Minister, prevented Anbu units from carrying out one of his orders. He realized that his own compromise with Koharu had fractured the chain of command and left him unable to deploy Anbu freely 93.

Jingyi later used Anbu loyalty and puppet replacements to openly defy Hiruzen’s order to withdraw from the Shimura compound, demonstrating that formal Hokage authority no longer guaranteed operational control 145.

Danzō’s Return and Continuing Political Liability

Facing Danzō’s blackmail over Kagami Uchiha’s death, Hiruzen considered releasing him despite opposition from Tsunade and Jingyi 155 156. He eventually arranged Danzō’s release under restrictions, while publicly supporting Tsunade as a Hokage candidate—a decision that devastated Danzō’s own ambition 256.

Danzō’s continued schemes repeatedly forced Hiruzen to choose between protecting an old ally and preserving village stability. Hiruzen stripped Danzō of advisory authority but still employed him in covert operations against radical Uchiha elders 348 349.

Corruption Crisis and Removal from Office

As anti-war protests and allegations of Sarutobi Clan enrichment spread, Hiruzen’s public standing collapsed. Financial records later showed that immense village resources had been diverted into several clans, particularly the Sarutobi Clan 424 437.

After Jingyi killed Danzō and extracted his memories, the information obtained implicated Hiruzen in concealed crimes and political deaths. Jingyi used those secrets to force Hiruzen to personally serve at the front lines rather than expose him immediately 434.

Tsunade subsequently became the Fourth Hokage. Public messaging framed Danzō as the principal culprit while portraying Hiruzen as remorseful and willing to atone through frontline service 439.

Frontline Service and Later Diplomacy

At the Land of Grass battlefield, Hiruzen took over Konoha’s command role while Homura managed supplies. He coordinated with Chiyo despite their mutual hostility and worked to maintain the appearance of Konoha’s commitment to the Kumogakure alliance 440.

Hiruzen later reflected on his past failures, particularly his decision to favor an alliance with Kumogakure over Iwagakure despite Jingyi’s warning. He remained active in military planning rather than retiring 462 465.

When Madara Uchiha declared war on the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Hiruzen eagerly accepted the task of representing Konoha at the Land of Iron conference. Jingyi considered him the best available candidate for diplomacy and argument 522 523.

Notable Quotes

“I am the Hokage. I have the ability and the right to decide all of this. I think highly of Tsunade, so I chose her.” 254

“I will represent the village at the Land of Iron summit. I will do my utmost to unite all the nations and villages of the Shinobi World, gather everyone's strength, and fight Madara Uchiha together.” 522