Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

History

Hiruzen oversaw the Ninja Academy graduation exam and arranged for Uchiha Liuyun to train under Tsunade. After Liuyun defeated Minato Namikaze almost immediately, Hiruzen judged the placement a good decision 18. He later defended Liuyun as a Konoha shinobi when Danzō called for his death, even as Liuyun’s growing power made him harder to influence 59 60.

Their relationship deteriorated during the Second Shinobi World War. At a jōnin conference, Liuyun challenged Konoha’s leadership over its treatment of the Uchiha and exposed evidence implicating Danzō in an intelligence leak. Hiruzen removed Danzō from his posts and ordered Root disbanded, but his decision to imprison Danzō rather than impose a harsher punishment damaged his standing with the assembled shinobi 63 65. When a map of the Senju border camp reached Iwagakure, Senju Bai publicly accused Hiruzen of betraying the clan. Hiruzen denied involvement and suspected Danzō; the Senju nevertheless withdrew from shinobi service 76 77.

As the Uchiha–Senju alliance and Liuyun’s influence grew, Hiruzen considered retirement 104. During the Third Shinobi World War, he demanded that Danzō cancel a secret attack on Senju Nawaki, but the order had already been sent 132. Liuyun later attacked Konoha after people close to him were targeted. Hiruzen led the village’s defense and refused Liuyun’s offer to spare him if he surrendered those responsible 148 149 151. After the conflict, Hiruzen resigned and formally passed the Hokage position to Minato 155 156.

Following Minato’s death during the Nine-Tails attack, Hiruzen returned as Third Hokage when Jiraiya refused the position and no successor was chosen. His administration excluded Uchiha candidates; when Fugaku protested, Hiruzen urged him to restore the clan’s relationship with the villagers 161 162. Years later, Hiruzen died while using the Reaper Death Seal against Orochimaru during the Konoha Crush Plan. Nearly every Konoha villager attended his funeral 208 210.

Appearance

Hiruzen has a dark complexion and, in later years, an aged, deeply wrinkled face 18 91 147.

• Wears Hokage robes at the Academy graduation exam 18.
• Wears a combat uniform instead of his usual robes when preparing to fight Liuyun 147.
• Frequently smokes a pipe during leadership meetings 82 104.

Personality

Hiruzen presents himself warmly in public, thanking returning shinobi and invoking the Will of Fire in his speeches 61 156. He is also politically calculating: he manages the public response to the Senju dispute, weighs Hokage successors against the interests of Konoha’s leadership, and tries to win Fugaku’s support after the Nine-Tails attack 77 104 162.

His loyalty to Konoha does not prevent conflict with those close to him. He rebukes Danzō for treating Liuyun as an enemy and orders him to halt the attack on Nawaki, yet his lenient handling of Danzō and his own decisions deepen Liuyun’s and the Senju Clan’s distrust 60 65 76 132.

Abilities & Skills

Five-nature ninjutsu

Hiruzen can combine techniques of the five basic chakra natures into Five Release: Great Combo Technique 149.

• Creates four Shadow Clones to help perform the combination 149.
• Coordinates Fire and Wind Release in a later attack on Liuyun 149.

Enma and the Adamantine Staff

Hiruzen summons Enma, who transforms into an extendable, rune-covered staff 79 149.

• Uses the staff to knock back the Nine-Tails’ claw 79.
• His strongest staff strike against Liuyun is stopped before it reaches him 149.

Reaper Death Seal

Hiruzen uses the Reaper Death Seal against Orochimaru during the Konoha Crush Plan, sacrificing his life to seal Orochimaru’s arms 208.

Relationships

• Tobirama Senju — Former teacher and predecessor as Hokage. When summoned during Liuyun’s attack, Tobirama questions Hiruzen’s account of the conflict 151 152.
• Danzō — Longtime ally whose covert actions repeatedly create crises for Hiruzen. Hiruzen punishes him publicly after the intelligence leak but later releases him 65 77.
• Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru — His former students. Tsunade becomes estranged from his leadership, while Jiraiya refuses his request to succeed him 51 115 161.
• Uchiha Liuyun — Once a shinobi Hiruzen sought to retain and protect; later his principal political and military opponent 18 60 149.
• Minato Namikaze — Hiruzen’s successor as Fourth Hokage. Minato’s death brings Hiruzen back to office 156 161.
• Senju Bai — Senju elder who publicly accuses Hiruzen over the leaked border map and leads his clan out of shinobi service 76 77.
• Uchiha Fugaku — Challenges the exclusion of Uchiha candidates from the Hokage succession; later accepts Hiruzen’s advice on rebuilding the clan’s reputation 161 162.

Notable Quotes

“Where the leaves dance, the fire burns on. Its light will continue to illuminate the village and help new leaves sprout.” 61

“Liuyun is one of us, not an enemy!” 60