Third Hokage

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi 6 45
Alias(es)	Third; Lord Third; Grandpa Third 5 34
Gender	Male 18
Affiliation	Konohagakure (Konoha); Sarutobi family 6 22
Occupation/Role	Third; later retired village leader 22
Age	69 when Yi returns from the Land of Snow 18
Tenure	His memorial records that he took office at 38 and served for 32 years 45
Status	Deceased; survives the Konoha Crush but later dies despite Yi’s life-prolonging treatment 15 34 45
Successor	Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage 22
First Appearance	Meets Genma Shiranui in the Hokage’s office 5

Background / History

Leadership and the Uchiha Survivors

Hiruzen’s memorial credits him with protecting Konoha and leading it from turmoil into a golden age. It acknowledges unsavory actions behind the scenes while recognizing his effectiveness as Hokage and his role in ensuring the villagers had food and clothing 45.

He knew Yi’s father well and saw traces of his teammate, Uchiha Jing, in the boy. On the night of the Uchiha massacre, he blocked Danzo’s attempt to send Might Guy away on a mission. This allowed Yi to remain at Guy’s home rather than return to the clan compound 8.

After Yi graduates, Hiruzen orders Genma to monitor him as one of the last members of the Uchiha bloodline. He considers Guy’s influence beneficial and hopes Yi will not become consumed by hatred toward Konoha 5.

Protecting Yi from Root

Following Root’s ambush of Team 4, Hiruzen personally examines Yi in the hospital. Yi disguises his condition as injuries caused by opening the fifth gate and claims that the danger awakened his three-tomoe Sharingan. Hiruzen finds no flaws in the fabricated account 6.

Suspecting Danzo’s involvement, Hiruzen transfers Yi to Team 7. He cites Yi’s father’s service, Guy’s favorable opinion, Naruto’s friendship with Yi, and Sasuke’s shared Uchiha background as reasons for the reassignment 6.

After the Land of Waves mission, he tests Yi’s loyalty. Yi uses self-hypnosis and a temporary false personality to make his professed commitment to the Will of Fire appear genuine. Hiruzen accepts the performance, but Yi’s declaration that he wants to marry Hinata rather than become Hokage leaves him baffled 8.

Konoha Crush

Yi initially hesitates over saving Hiruzen because of his resentment concerning the Uchiha massacre. Continued attacks from Danzo convince him that keeping the Hokage alive is necessary. He bargains with Orochimaru to spare Hiruzen and prepares a hidden safeguard 9 10 11.

During the invasion, Hiruzen attempts to use the Reaper Death Seal, but Orochimaru interrupts him after learning about the technique from Yi. With his chakra nearly exhausted and his shadow clone destroyed, Hiruzen is left vulnerable 14.

When Orochimaru moves to kill him with the Kusanagi Sword, Yi’s safeguard activates and engulfs Orochimaru’s hands in Amaterasu. Orochimaru retreats, leaving Hiruzen alive but badly injured. Hiruzen stops Konoha’s ninja from pursuing him, judging that a chase during the ongoing invasion would only cost more lives 15.

Intelligence and Succession Planning

Hiruzen rewards Yi’s Land of Snow assignment, upgraded to S-rank, with direct promotion to Special Jōnin. He then seals his office with a barrier for a confidential discussion involving Yi and Jiraiya 18.

Yi’s demonstrations and stone-tablet claims introduce a possible connection between the Sharingan, Rinnegan, Madara, and Akatsuki’s pursuit of the tailed beasts. After Kakashi verifies the tablet’s Eternal Mangekyō information, Hiruzen orders the intelligence kept secret and both tablets secured. He sends Jiraiya to investigate Nagato and makes Yi’s further promotion to Jōnin contingent on bringing Tsunade back 18 19.

Danzo’s Exposure and Retirement

When fighting erupts at Root headquarters, Hiruzen arrives with Konoha’s forces and rejects Danzo’s accusation that Yi is rebelling. Yi exposes Danzo’s implanted Sharingan and accuses him of desecrating the First’s body. Unable to protect Danzo after the public revelations, Hiruzen orders him to surrender; Danzo instead flees 21.

The investigation after Danzo’s death uncovers human experimentation and stolen corpses—including that of Hiruzen’s eldest son, Konohamaru’s father. The discoveries devastate Hiruzen, whose repeated tolerance of Danzo had rested on the belief that he was acting for Konoha 22.

With his health failing, Hiruzen voluntarily steps down for Tsunade. He tacitly supports her sidelining of the senior advisers. In retirement, he also backs Yi’s claims during the Hyuga engagement discussions and views the marriage as a way to strengthen Yi’s ties to Konoha 22 23.

Final Illness and Death

After Yi’s two-year absence, Hiruzen is barely clinging to life. He still hopes Yi will become Hokage, but takes comfort when Yi promises to protect Konoha and help Naruto achieve that ambition. Yi uses Yin–Yang power to prolong his life slightly, without being able to restore him fully 34.

Hiruzen later dies peacefully, reportedly smiling. Yi attends his grave and raises a new memorial tablet bearing the Will of Fire passage, signed in Hiruzen’s name. Asuma prevents others from interrupting the tribute 45.

Appearance

• Severely aged appearance: At 69, he looks to Yi as though he is a hundred following the Konoha Crush 18.
• Beard: Mentioned during his furious reaction to the theft of his eldest son’s corpse 22.
• Pipe: Frequently holds or smokes it while receiving reports in his office 5 6.
• Expressive gaze: His warm smile can coexist with a sharp, suspicious look when assessing Yi 8.

Personality

Hiruzen combines personal warmth with close scrutiny. He values Yi’s family connections and friendship with Guy, but still monitors the boy and tests his loyalty. His concern is not merely Yi’s strength: he fears Danzo’s treatment could turn a surviving Uchiha against the village 5 6 8.

His indulgence of Danzo is a major failure. He recognizes Danzo’s tendency to create trouble yet repeatedly tolerates him as someone supposedly serving Konoha. The exposure of Root’s crimes finally breaks that assumption and forces him to demand accountability 6 21 22.

When badly injured during the invasion, he prioritizes preventing further casualties over pursuing Orochimaru. Near death, his attention remains on Konoha’s future and the people who might lead it 15 34.

Abilities & Skills

Reaper Death Seal

• Knows the Uzumaki sealing art and attempts to perform it against Orochimaru 14.
• Is interrupted before completing the technique; he does not die from using it in this version of events 14 18.
• Previously deduced the Fourth Hokage’s use of the technique by examining Naruto’s seal 14.

Shadow Clone Technique

• Uses a shadow clone during the battle with Orochimaru and the reanimated Hokage 14.
• The Second Hokage destroys the clone, worsening Hiruzen’s position as his chakra runs low 14.

Barrier Techniques

• Seals the Hokage’s office with a barrier for Yi’s confidential disclosures in Jiraiya’s presence 18.

Equipment / Items

• Smoking pipe — Used during office meetings and reports 5 6.
• Crystal ball — Yi suspects Hiruzen is using it to watch Naruto during the Scroll of Seals incident; this surveillance is presented as Yi’s inference 5.

Relationships

• Uchiha Yi — Protected survivor and hoped-for successor. Their relationship develops from surveillance and mutual concealment into Yi’s promise to defend Konoha and his tribute at Hiruzen’s grave 5 8 34 45.
• Danzo Shimura — Long-tolerated political associate whose abuses ultimately compel Hiruzen to order his surrender 6 21 22.
• Orochimaru — Former student who once regarded him as a father, then develops a murderous fixation on him 15.
• Tsunade — Chosen successor. Hiruzen arranges her recruitment and voluntarily yields office to her 19 22.
• Jiraiya — Trusted participant in classified discussions and investigator assigned to examine Nagato’s situation 18 19.
• Kakashi Hatake — Entrusted with Yi’s placement in Team 7 and with verification of the Uchiha tablet 6 19.
• Might Guy — Trusted positive influence on Yi; Hiruzen approves his Eight Gates training and prevents his departure during the massacre 6 8.
• Naruto Uzumaki — His persistence wins Team 7 a C-rank assignment; Hiruzen later finds reassurance in Naruto’s desire to become Hokage 6 34.
• Eldest son — Konohamaru’s father; the discovery that Root stole his corpse provokes Hiruzen’s fury 22.

Memorial Inscription

Yi places the following passage on a tablet at Hiruzen’s grave, signing it Hiruzen Sarutobi, Third 45:

“Wherever leaves dance, fire will burn. The fire's shadow illuminates the village, and new leaves will sprout.” 45