Third Hokage

Biodata

Background

After the Uchiha massacre, Hiruzen stationed ANBU around the clan compound, ostensibly for protection; Sahiro regarded their presence as surveillance. He later acknowledged that Sahiro and Sasuke had been left to live alone and told Kakashi that Konoha owed the Uchiha an explanation 3 5. He deliberately placed both brothers on Kakashi’s four-member Team 7 alongside Naruto and Sakura 3.

Appearance

Hiruzen is depicted as an aged man with clouded eyes who frequently carries a pipe 14 15 26.

• Usual setting — He often receives reports and visitors behind the desk in the Hokage’s office 3 14 26.

Personality

Hiruzen usually responds to confrontation with restraint. He reprimands ANBU who exceed his orders, hears both Danzō’s accusation and Sahiro’s defense, and declines to punish Sahiro for publicly questioning him during the Chunin Exams 6 15 46. He can also be firm: he rejects Danzō’s call to eliminate Sahiro and later issues a decree barring Root from Team 7 8 15.

His refusal to impose a stronger penalty on Danzō leaves Sahiro convinced that the Hokage is protecting him. Their dispute escalates from distrust to Sahiro’s stated intention to kill Hiruzen 16 41.

Story Role

• Team 7’s formation — Assigns Kakashi to lead Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Sahiro. After Sahiro fights the ANBU sent to summon him, Hiruzen stops the confrontation, holds the ANBU responsible, and raises the possibility that Sahiro’s strength exceeds Genin rank 3 6.
• Root attacks — Intervenes with Enma’s Adamantine Staff before Sahiro can kill a Root attacker. After Kakashi explains the attack, Hiruzen allows Team 7 to continue training 10 11.
• Danzō’s accusation — Challenges Root’s unauthorized deployment and cites Kakashi’s report and Ino’s testimony. He rules that Sahiro acted in self-defense, brings no charges, and orders Root to stay away from Team 7 unless Danzō appeals to the Elders’ Council 14 15.
• Chunin Exams — Announces the exams, reviews Team 7’s Land of Waves report, and explains the preliminary round’s one-on-one rules. When Sahiro publicly questions the attempted removal of the injured Sasuke, Hiruzen says village leadership made a safety decision but does not answer Sahiro’s questions about Danzō before Kakashi interrupts 26 27 46.

Relationships

• Sahiro Uchiha / Zuo Hao — Places him on Team 7 and defends him against Danzō’s accusations. Sahiro nonetheless blames Hiruzen for allowing Danzō to remain in power and eventually plots to kill him 3 15 16 41.
• Shimura Danzō — An old friend and fellow Konoha leader whose demands concerning Sahiro Hiruzen rejects. Hiruzen questions Root’s actions and restricts its contact with Team 7, but does not impose the punishment Sahiro wants 8 14 15 16.
• Kakashi Hatake — Entrusts him with Team 7 and relies on his account when assessing Root’s attacks. Kakashi later intervenes to defuse Sahiro’s public challenge to Hiruzen 3 11 14 46.
• Sasuke Uchiha — Assigns him to Team 7 with his brother. The attempted removal of Sasuke during the Chunin Exams becomes the subject of Sahiro’s public challenge to Hiruzen 3 46.

Equipment

• Pipe — Frequently seen in his office and during public proceedings 3 26 46.
• Enma’s Adamantine Staff — Used to halt Sahiro’s attack on a Root operative 10.

Notable Quotes

“Konoha owes the Uchiha an explanation.” 3

“My conclusion is that Sahiro Uchiha acted in self-defense. He will face no charges.” 15