Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi (袁飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; Shinobi Hero; Ninjutsu Professor 6 21 41
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure; Konoha High Command; Allied Shinobi Forces 41 104 120
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage; teacher of Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru 41 87 103
Status	Killed by Obito Uchiha; later appears as an Impure World Reincarnation combatant 124 162 163
First Appearance	Mentioned in Chapter 6; appears directly in Chapter 21 6 21

Background / History

Leadership and the Uchiha Crisis

Hiruzen has led Konoha for decades by the time Akatsuki becomes an urgent threat. He remains involved in routine administration, personally offering Team 3 D-rank missions to capture wild boars and clear a river 21 87.

His conciliatory leadership draws criticism from Neji. Recounting Kumogakure’s attempted kidnapping of the Hyuga heiress, Neji says Konoha accepted the aggressor’s demand to surrender the Hyuga clan head rather than risk war. This account shakes Sasuke’s previously favorable opinion of Hiruzen, who had visited him several times after the Uchiha massacre 6.

Hiruzen tacitly allowed Danzo’s actions against the Uchiha, a decision he later regrets when he learns that the dangerous masked man calling himself Madara participated in the massacre. Jiraiya condemns his failure to resolve the clan’s conflict with the village, arguing that Konoha squandered potential pillars such as Shisui and Itachi 46 87 88.

A memory of Itachi’s past shows Hiruzen apologizing for failing to settle the dispute. He promises Sasuke the best education Konoha can provide, pledges to keep Danzo in check, and entrusts Itachi with handling the mysterious organization 143.

Root Raid and Akatsuki Investigation

After Neji raids Root, Hiruzen initially suspects Danzo staged the incident to obtain more funding. Inspecting the damaged underground base convinces him otherwise: roughly a quarter of the facility has collapsed, and Root reports nine confirmed deaths and nine missing personnel, including Aburame Ryoma 41.

Hiruzen cannot identify the intruder’s techniques despite his extensive ninjutsu knowledge. He is also furious to discover that Root possessed Tsunade’s Yin Seal and the forbidden Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu. He states that Tsunade’s technique cannot be taught without her permission and that he had prohibited research into Impure World Reincarnation 41.

When Danzo brings him an image of the suspected attacker, Hiruzen forces him to disclose his earlier encounter with the masked “Madara.” Recognizing the possible connection to the Nine-Tails’ attack, Hiruzen orders an intelligence investigation. Reports identify Akatsuki as a secretive mercenary organization previously employed by the Land of Earth, but provide little information about its members 46 47.

Hiruzen turns to Jiraiya’s overseas intelligence network. Jiraiya eventually confirms that Akatsuki includes dangerous rogue shinobi such as Itachi, Kisame, and Kakuzu, and that Orochimaru was formerly a member 47 87.

Hyuga Delegation Crisis

Kirigakure accuses a visiting Hyuga delegation of participating in the Kaguya clan’s coup and demands compensation. Hiruzen regards the accusation as a pretext to seize the delegation and obtain the Byakugan. Before reliable intelligence arrives, he fears Hyuga Keisuke may have been captured without destroying his eyes 72.

After learning that the delegation escaped, Hiruzen arranges a recovery operation and informs Hiashi of events. He promises Anbu assistance to bring Keisuke and the others home, emphasizing that the Hyuga belong to Konoha 73 77.

His response also has a ruthless strategic side. He raises no objection to Danzo’s proposal to destroy the Byakugan if rescue proves impossible, and suggests using Kirigakure’s war threat to request at least twice the usual funding from the Daimyō 73.

Naruto’s Training and Succession Plans

Concerned that Akatsuki is hunting tailed beasts, Hiruzen initially plans to place Naruto under Kakashi’s instruction, followed by Jiraiya’s guidance in Mount Myōboku’s Sage Mode. He opposes Danzo’s demand to send Naruto to Root 73.

Hiruzen believes Naruto’s enormous chakra reserves make him a promising senjutsu candidate, despite poor chakra control and a lack of Kushina’s aptitude for sealing techniques. He and Jiraiya discuss using Shadow Clones to make Sage Mode training possible without interference from the Nine-Tails 73 88.

He originally assembles Team 7 hoping Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura will develop bonds. After Kakashi reports that their abilities and attitudes make cooperation impractical, Hiruzen disbands the team: Naruto goes to Jiraiya, Sasuke becomes an independent Genin, and Sakura joins the Medical Team 97.

Acknowledging his age and mistakes, Hiruzen considers Tsunade a suitable successor because of her ability, energy, and standing in Konoha. Jiraiya initially doubts she will return. When she does return during the Akatsuki crisis, her hemophobia prevents Hiruzen from assigning her to the battlefield 88 105.

Allied Campaign and Death

Once Jiraiya verifies the Ten-Tails and Infinite Tsukuyomi threat, Hiruzen orders the information shared with other villages and begins preparing for war. He assigns logistics to Homura and Koharu, prepares himself and Danzo for combat, sends Naruto to Mount Myōboku, and keeps newly graduated Genin behind to defend Konoha 101.

At the Five Kage Summit, he supports forming the Allied Shinobi Forces. His bid to command the alliance is rejected by the Raikage. Hiruzen commits three thousand elite Konoha shinobi, explaining that the village still bears losses from the Third Shinobi World War 103 104.

On the battlefield, Hiruzen joins Jiraiya, Rasa, Kakashi, and Killer B against Nagato. He helps amplify their combined fire attack with Wind Release. After the group apparently defeats Nagato, Hiruzen redirects attention toward the remaining masked enemy rather than immediately disputing possession of the Rinnegan 120 121 122.

Obito uses Izanagi to survive Jiraiya’s attack and appear behind Hiruzen. Hiruzen attempts to escape with Body Flicker, but his age-delayed reaction leaves him vulnerable. Obito’s Wood Thorn Technique pierces his body and sprouts branches through his chest, killing him 124.

Konoha holds his funeral after its forces return. Danzo subsequently wins the emergency election and becomes Fifth Hokage. Naruto mourns Hiruzen at his grave, remembering him as a grandfather-like source of warmth 128 130.

Reanimated Return

Hiruzen later appears as an Impure World Reincarnation combatant during Sasuke’s confrontation with Danzo. He attacks Sasuke with Enma in staff form, but Sasuke’s Susanoo cuts apart his reanimated body 162.

After Danzo’s soul is destroyed, Hiruzen attacks again in grief. Sasuke forcibly dispels Enma and severs both of Hiruzen’s hands. Tobirama intervenes before Sasuke can destroy Hiruzen’s soul; Sasuke then traps both former Hokage with soul-affecting black lightning, until Naruto interrupts the confrontation 162 163.

Appearance

• Aged face: His age is repeatedly emphasized, both in private discussions about succession and in his slowed battlefield reactions 88 124.
• Black robe: Wears a black robe when attacking Sasuke as a reanimated combatant 162.

Personality

Hiruzen combines personal warmth with cautious, often conciliatory leadership. Naruto remembers him as kind and gentle, while Sasuke initially appreciates his visits after the massacre. Politically, however, his restraint is criticized as appeasement, and the narrative contrasts his approach with Danzo’s militant rule 6 130 137.

His relationship with Danzo exposes a persistent weakness: anger does not reliably become accountability. Koharu privately attributes Danzo’s increasingly brazen conduct to Hiruzen’s indulgence, noting that even an attempt to assassinate the Hokage had gone unpunished 41.

He is capable of acknowledging failure. When Jiraiya confronts him over the Uchiha, Hiruzen responds with guilt rather than denying responsibility. He also recognizes that age makes mistakes easier and openly seeks a successor 88.

Hiruzen distrusts the idea that a prophesied savior can resolve humanity’s conflicts. He challenges Jiraiya’s faith in the Child of Destiny and demands that he confront what his former Rain students have become, rather than rely on memories of their childhood kindness 87 99.

Abilities & Skills

Ninjutsu Mastery

• Known as the Ninjutsu Professor, with thousands of mastered techniques and exceptionally broad knowledge 41.
• His expertise does not guarantee recognition: he cannot identify the techniques used in the raid on Root 41.
• Understands the principles of Sage Mode but explicitly states that he cannot use it himself 73.
• Initially does not know about Izanagi and is astonished when Danzo explains it 80.

Wind Release

• Uses Wind Release: Great Breakthrough to feed oxygen into Kakashi and Jiraiya’s fire attacks, increasing the combined flames 121.
• His reanimated Wind Release is overcome by Sasuke’s Susanoo 162.

Summoning: Enma

• Summons Enma, who transforms into a thick black staff for close-range combat 162.
• Enma’s staff form withstands only two clashes with Sasuke’s Futsunomitama Sword before the summoning is forcibly dispelled 162.

Body Flicker Technique

• Attempts a rapid escape when Obito appears behind him 124.
• His reaction is too slow to avoid the fatal Wood Release strike 124.

Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Directs intelligence gathering, Anbu deployments, diplomatic responses, and wartime logistics 46 73 101.
• Adapts personnel assignments when conventional team arrangements fail, as with Team 7 97.
• Helps organize inter-village cooperation against Akatsuki while balancing deployment strength against Konoha’s defensive needs 104 105.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Smoking pipe — Frequently used during deliberations and stressful meetings 41 47 72.
• Enma’s staff form — Summoned close-combat weapon used against Sasuke after Hiruzen’s reanimation 162.

Relationships

• Shimura Danzo — Long-standing friend and adviser whose secret operations repeatedly undermine Hiruzen’s authority. Hiruzen’s grief over Danzo’s destruction drives his renewed attack on Sasuke 41 46 162.
• Jiraiya — Student, trusted intelligence gatherer, and chosen mentor for Naruto; also one of Hiruzen’s sharpest critics over the Uchiha tragedy 47 87 88.
• Tsunade — Student and preferred potential successor. Hiruzen recognizes her ownership of the Yin Seal and objects to Root possessing it without permission 41 88.
• Orochimaru — Former student who regrets losing the opportunity to kill Hiruzen personally when the allied campaign draws him away from Konoha 103.
• Naruto Uzumaki — A boy Hiruzen considers kindhearted and promising; Naruto regards him as a grandfather-like figure 88 130.
• Sasuke Uchiha — Initially grateful for Hiruzen’s post-massacre visits, but later turns against Konoha’s leadership and violently defeats the reanimated Hokage 6 162.
• Itachi Uchiha — Entrusted with watching the mysterious organization after the massacre; Hiruzen promises to protect Sasuke and restrain Danzo 143.
• Hyuga Hiashi — Clan leader to whom Hiruzen offers intelligence and Anbu assistance during the delegation crisis 77.
• Tobirama Senju — Former teacher; intervenes to protect the reanimated Hiruzen from Sasuke 80 163.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura — Old friends and advisers who coordinate village policy, defenses, and wartime logistics with him 73 101.

Notable Quotes

“The shinobi world is vast. There's no end to its wonders.” 41

“Disband Team 7. These are extraordinary times. We can't do things the way we used to.” 97

“I'm too old. Age makes it easy to make mistakes.” 88