Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi
Original Name	猿飞日斩
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; Professor of Ninjutsu; Shinobi Hero 7 95 200
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure; Sarutobi clan; Hokage faction 70 127
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage, Sarutobi clan head, and Ninja Academy principal 223 228
Status	Alive and serving as Hokage; intends to retire after the war while retaining political control 210 221 241
First Appearance	Chapter 7, “Putting Trash to Use” 7

Background / History

Appointment and Consolidation of Power

Hiruzen studied under the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Tobirama selected him as a transitional successor partly because of his indecisive nature and the Sarutobi clan’s relatively limited strength: the arrangement was meant to preserve time for the Senju’s younger generation to mature, rather than establish permanent Sarutobi rule 203.

His initial support included the Senju, Mito Uzumaki, and the clans behind his fellow disciples. Hiruzen later explains that his own father’s position as Sarutobi clan head also left him loyal followers. He regards these inherited connections—not individual fighting ability alone—as the foundation of his authority 70 231.

During the Second Shinobi World War, Hiruzen and his allies used battlefield assignments to eliminate opponents. The Senju eventually withdrew from village politics in exchange for Tsunade’s safety. The leadership continued excluding the Uchiha while concentrating power around its own faction 203.

Sakumo Hatake’s death further strengthened that control. Hiruzen explicitly admits that he drove Sakumo to suicide. Shikaku Nara, Ibiki Morino, and Hiruzen’s son Shinnosuke subsequently occupied the Jonin Commander, Interrogation and Torture Department, and ANBU leadership positions respectively 39 159 231.

Early Dealings with the Uchiha

Hiruzen initially cultivates Shisui’s loyalty through personal concern and apparent sympathy for Kagami Uchiha’s former followers. His promises earn goodwill without requiring meaningful expenditure, while encouraging the division between the Uchiha’s moderate and radical factions 7.

He rejects Danzo’s proposal to transfer Jin Uchiha to Root because it would destroy Shisui’s trust and damage the village’s ability to monitor the clan. After Jin—also called Yan—defeats the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Hiruzen orders special promotions for the squad and arranges the Uchiha’s withdrawal from the Hidden Mist front 8 54.

Other clan emergencies receive less attention. Following the theft of nine pairs of Byakugan and the killing of sixteen Hyuga, Hiruzen authorizes ANBU assistance but prioritizes the war and the Uchiha situation. The investigation produces no leads and is quietly shelved 64.

Conflict with Jin Uchiha

Jin’s leadership of the Military Police Force turns its unpaid funding into a political weapon. Hiruzen activates his informants within the Uchiha, but Jin’s destruction of attacking Root operatives forces a direct confrontation. Hiruzen mobilizes the Sealing Squad, ANBU, clan leaders, elders, and other available forces around the police headquarters 91 94 95.

The confrontation exposes the limits of village authority. Jin has withdrawn from the registered ninja ranks, and his remaining police responsibilities do not justify compulsory external missions. Hiruzen also rejects a Jonin assembly over the funding dispute, recognizing that a public vote could expose the leadership’s refusal to finance the force 100 101.

Although willing to suspend the broader Uchiha conflict until the war ends, Hiruzen privately agrees that Jin must be eliminated. He asks Koharu and Homura to devise a deployment pretext, while Danzo proposes directing Jin into Kumogakure’s central camp and branding him a traitor if he survives 105.

A later planned move against the clan is called off when the Uchiha demonstrate their readiness to retaliate against the leadership’s families. Unknown to the meeting’s participants, Jin and Fugaku are waiting outside Hiruzen’s residence for a signal to kill his family and then attack the Sarutobi clan 117 118.

Jin survives the subsequent battlefield trap. Minato’s report confirms that his strength can overcome massed troops and threaten multiple Kage-level opponents, leaving Hiruzen uncertain how to eliminate him 177 183.

Rin Nohara and the Break with Minato

Hiruzen acknowledges that Rin was forcibly made the Three-Tails’ jinchūriki and is a victim. Nevertheless, he proposes handing her to Kirigakure to preserve its alliance with Konoha. He considers the sacrifice of one civilian-born ninja an acceptable strategic cost and invokes the Will of Fire to persuade Minato 184.

Minato refuses. The disagreement undermines Hiruzen’s expectation that his preferred successor will remain obedient. When Danzo subsequently demands Rin and the Three-Tails for Root, Hiruzen warns that this could restart war with Kirigakure and antagonize Minato, Jiraiya, and potentially the other Sannin. He then strikes Danzo out of the Hokage office with Enma’s Adamantine Staff 184 200 201.

After Root kidnaps Rin and Kushina’s rescue devastates Shopping Street, Hiruzen denies prior knowledge of Danzo’s actions. He postpones the Kirigakure question, promises civilian compensation, and removes Danzo’s elder authority and Root leadership. Privately, he expects to be able to reinstate Danzo later 218 219.

His attempt to transfer Obito and Kakashi into ANBU also fails when Minato politely refuses. Hiruzen accepts the refusal to avoid jeopardizing Minato’s succession, despite wanting control of Obito’s Mangekyō and distance between Minato and his promising students 220 221.

Shisui’s Faction and Sarutobi Succession Plans

Hiruzen agrees to support Shisui’s proposed faction against Jin, but immediately orders ANBU and Root to investigate his battlefield conduct and relationship with Jin. He promises support before deciding whether Shisui can be trusted 187.

When Shisui’s faction loses its confrontation with Jin, Hiruzen is caught between clan autonomy and his apparent backing of the challengers. He publicly reframes his support as encouragement to spread the Will of Fire, not authorization to seize clan power 212 213.

Unable to abandon the defeated faction without damaging his credibility, Hiruzen recognizes its members as a new shinobi clan. He provides temporary lodging in the Sarutobi compound, promises land, and grants 200 million ryo. Shisui publicly pledges obedience in return 214.

Hiruzen orders covert surveillance and continued indoctrination of the newcomers. Shikaku later explains that the split may have been a coordinated scheme to unify Jin’s clan and extract resources from the Hokage. Hiruzen absorbs the loss because retracting his promises could drive smaller clans toward the Uchiha 223 225.

His intended succession extends beyond Minato. Hiruzen plans to retain power during Minato’s tenure while grooming Shinnosuke through ANBU leadership, an elder position, academy and financial administration, and eventually the Jonin Commander’s office. Arashi, his nephew, is meant to remain a clan steward subordinate to Shinnosuke 223.

Shinnosuke’s Murder

Danzo, Koharu, and Homura secretly unite against Hiruzen’s concentration of power. With Arashi’s assistance, they lure Shinnosuke to Hokage Rock, where Danzo kills him and Root removes the evidence 228 229.

Suspicious of the elders’ unusual composure, Hiruzen investigates their movements and discovers connections to Arashi. He has his nephew seized, kills him with a kunai, and uses Inoichi’s memory-reading assistance to uncover the conspiracy 230 232.

Shinnosuke’s death leaves Hiruzen devastated and furious. He keeps the truth secret and postpones retaliation against the elders until Konoha’s greater enemy has been defeated 232.

ANBU Reorganization and the Five Kage Summit

Hiruzen publicly blames Kumogakure for Shinnosuke’s death. He appoints Inoichi as acting ANBU Captain and Shisui as deputy, seeking stronger ties with Ino-Shika-Cho while intending to exploit Shisui’s combat abilities without granting him deep access to intelligence 236.

His proposal for a Five Kage Summit passes by a margin of 27 votes, but Jin’s opposing speech wins support from smaller clans and civilian shinobi. ANBU reorganization and Danzo’s refusal to cooperate prevent Hiruzen from immediately countering the Uchiha’s growing influence 238 239.

After Yagura’s death produces accusations against the Uchiha, Jin openly asks Hiruzen not to sacrifice the clan to appease Kirigakure. Hiruzen promises impartial treatment while recognizing the warning behind the request 241.

Appearance

Hiruzen is a short, older man whose habitual smile gives him the appearance of a kindly elder 7.

• Pipe smoker: Frequently smokes while considering political problems or restraining frustration 100 101 230.
• Battle gear: Changes into combat clothing when mobilizing against the Uchiha 95 212.
• Expressive under pressure: His reassuring demeanor can abruptly give way to cold authority or visible anger 223 232.

Personality

Hiruzen carefully maintains an affable public persona. He asks after subordinates’ welfare, expresses regret over injustice, and invokes the Will of Fire to secure trust. Privately, he treats loyalty as something to obtain through patronage, surveillance, indoctrination, and control of institutional appointments 7 187 223.

He is pragmatic about preserving Konoha’s military position, but his definition of the village’s interests is closely tied to Sarutobi dominance. He will sacrifice a vulnerable ninja for an alliance, manipulate succession to preserve his own authority, and defer revenge when immediate action would threaten his faction’s credibility 184 210 225.

Repeated successes make him confident that rival clans can eventually be subdued. Jin’s resistance increasingly forces him into reactive decisions and reliance on Shikaku’s advice. His composure breaks most sharply over Danzo’s provocation and the discovery of Shinnosuke’s murder 201 223 224 232.

Abilities & Skills

Ninjutsu Expertise

Hiruzen is known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, though Jin’s unfamiliar Mangekyō ability leaves him unable to identify an immediate safe counter 95.

• Is presented as one of Konoha’s fighters capable of defeating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen alone 56.
• Understands the Eight Gates’ mechanics and demanding training requirements through his possession of the Sealing Scroll 187.
• Recognizes that unfamiliar ocular techniques may require costly collective measures rather than an ordinary direct fight 95.

Enma Summoning

Hiruzen summons Enma, who transforms into the Adamantine Staff 201.

• The staff extends to strike targets at range.
• A single blow sends Danzo through the Hokage office wall and into the night 201.

Telescope Technique

Hiruzen uses the Telescope Technique while viewing memories recovered and projected by Inoichi 232.

• Helps him uncover Arashi’s role in Shinnosuke’s assassination.
• The memory extraction itself is performed through Inoichi’s Yamanaka technique, not by Hiruzen 232.

Intelligence and Military Command

Hiruzen directly commands ANBU and maintains a separate intelligence organization within the Sarutobi clan 91 230.

• Activates planted Uchiha informants to investigate Jin’s activities 91.
• Orders covert investigations into prospective allies, including Shisui 187.
• Can rapidly assemble village forces, sealing specialists, and clan leaders for a confrontation 95.
• Uses appointments and promotions to reward service, cultivate alliances, and control access to power 54 236.

Access to Forbidden Techniques

Hiruzen’s strategic reserves include the Sealing Scroll and Konoha’s inherited forbidden-technique resources 95 187 227.

• Considers Impure World Reincarnation a last resort for reviving powerful dead shinobi 95.
• Counts techniques such as the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, Four Red Yang Formation, and Reverse Four Symbols Seal among Konoha’s available counters 95.
• These are institutional options; the cited confrontation does not show him personally casting them.
• Their heavy costs discourage him from using them unless necessary 95.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Adamantine Staff — Enma’s transformed weapon form; used to strike Danzo out of the Hokage office 201.
• Sealing Scroll — Gives Hiruzen access to information on forbidden techniques, including the Eight Gates 187.
• Kunai — Used to kill Arashi before his memories are examined 232.
• Smoking pipe — Frequently used during councils and private deliberations 100 101 230.

Relationships

• Tobirama Senju — Teacher and predecessor; selected Hiruzen as a transitional Hokage. Tobirama’s inherited techniques remain a major foundation of his power 203 227.
• Jin / Yan Uchiha — Political adversary whose strength, clan reforms, and public tactics repeatedly frustrate Hiruzen’s control. Hiruzen participates in plans to eliminate him 95 105 183.
• Shisui Uchiha — Initially a devoted admirer, later a supported faction leader and ANBU deputy. Hiruzen values his Mangekyō but secretly investigates and monitors him 7 187 214 236.
• Danzo Shimura — Longtime collaborator and rival. Their relationship deteriorates into physical violence and covert betrayal when Danzo murders Shinnosuke 201 219 228 232.
• Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado — Longstanding advisers who conspire against him after fearing they will be discarded or made scapegoats 203 204 228.
• Minato Namikaze — Preferred Fourth Hokage candidate and intended figurehead. Minato’s refusal to sacrifice Rin or surrender his students to ANBU undermines that expectation 184 218 220.
• Shikaku Nara — Trusted strategic adviser whose counsel repeatedly restrains Hiruzen’s retaliation. Hiruzen nevertheless excludes him from his most sensitive countermeasures 223 225 226.
• Shinnosuke Sarutobi — Eldest son, ANBU Captain, and intended future successor. His murder destroys Hiruzen’s planned route to dynastic control 223 232.
• Arashi Sarutobi — Nephew groomed for clan administration but denied ultimate authority. After Arashi helps betray Shinnosuke, Hiruzen kills him 223 228 232.
• Asuma Sarutobi — Another of Hiruzen’s sons 181.
• Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru — Students and Kage-level assets. Hiruzen considers their support part of his ability to confront the Uchiha, though the Senju’s downfall has strained his relationship with Tsunade 95 127.
• Rin Nohara — Civilian-born shinobi he is willing to surrender to Kirigakure for diplomatic reasons, bringing him into conflict with Minato 184.
• Obito Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake — Minato’s students whom Hiruzen attempts to recruit into ANBU for their military and political value 220 222.
• Inoichi Yamanaka — Assists in uncovering Shinnosuke’s murder and is subsequently appointed acting ANBU Captain 232 236.
• Sakumo Hatake — Powerful shinobi whom Hiruzen admits driving to suicide; Sakumo’s surviving network continues to protect Kakashi’s political standing 159 193 231.

Notable Quotes

“In this world, it's the power behind you that counts.” 231

“I must reiterate this point. The village will never interfere in the internal affairs of any Shinobi Clan. That rule has never changed, and it will not change in the future.” 213

“I lost this round.” 225