Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飞日斩)
Alias(es)	Third Hokage; Shinobi Hero 4 37
Gender	Male
Age	Over fifty 18
Affiliation	Konohagakure; formerly the Second Hokage’s Guard Platoon 24
Occupation/Role	Third Hokage; village leader 37
Status	Alive and actively planning reforms 38
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Background / History

Hiruzen was a student of Tobirama Senju and belonged to the Second Hokage’s six-member Guard Platoon alongside Danzo, Homura, Koharu, and Torifu. Homura remembers him as the young man who volunteered to remain behind and cover their retreat decades earlier 24. After the Fourth Hokage’s death, Hiruzen returned from retirement to lead Konoha again 26.

By his later years, Hiruzen regarded his tenure as unfinished. Before stepping down, he wanted to eliminate the village’s internal dangers, put his wayward student back on the right path, and obtain justice for the dead. He considered these responsibilities worth dying for rather than ending his life in a sickbed 17.

Appearance

• Aged features: Described as an old man, with a beard that bristles or twitches during tense exchanges 18 34.
• Pipe: Frequently smokes while reviewing intelligence, thinking, or calming himself after confrontations 4 17.
• Signs of strain: Develops dark circles beneath his eyes and takes blood-pressure medication and painkillers while watching the Uchiha battle 23.

Personality

Hiruzen favors reconciliation and interprets the Will of Fire as the bonds between people. Although he originally used it to unify the village’s thinking, he gradually came to believe in it sincerely. He welcomes Itachi and Shisui becoming mediators rather than double agents, reasoning that gaining a friend is preferable to understanding an enemy 4 17 18.

His habitual compromise is also a weakness. Sasuke judges that years of politics have dulled his reactions, but distinguishes this indecision from a willingness to approve the Uchiha’s extermination. When important boundaries are crossed, Hiruzen can recover his former decisiveness: he threatens Root with an investigation and insists on going to the front line despite the danger posed by Susanoo 4 5 24 37.

He is deeply concerned with his legacy and how the previous Hokage would judge him. This concern eventually rekindles his ambition to pursue peace beyond Konoha 4 38. His private thoughts are considerably less dignified than his public bearing: after investigating Danzo, he starts blaming him for everything from village tragedies to poor tobacco and a toothache 4.

Abilities & Skills

Body Flicker Technique

Hiruzen demonstrates sufficient speed to catch Sasuke off guard during their private discussion 38.

• Appears beside Sasuke and flicks his forehead before the boy can react 38.

Intelligence and Crisis Management

Hiruzen uses ANBU reports, investigations, personnel assignments, and direct orders to manage threats to Konoha 4 17.

• Investigates Root’s activities after the assassination attempt on Sasuke and Naruto 4.
• Assigns secret missions to available jonin ahead of the Uchiha Clan Meeting 17.
• Orders civilian evacuation before approaching the Susanoo battle 24.
• Grants the Military Police Force broad authority to investigate Root 37.

Tactical Assessment

Hiruzen recognizes both the military danger and political significance of the Uchiha’s display of power 24 26.

• Questions what defeating three Susanoo users would cost Konoha 24.
• Suspects the battle is deliberate rather than a spontaneous clan outburst 26.
• Considers sealing techniques as a means of controlling and employing Uchiha power; no such measure is shown being implemented 26.
• Limitation: Cannot fly, leaving him unable to intervene directly once the Susanoo battle moves into the sky 25 26.

Equipment / Items

• Smoking pipe and tobacco — Regularly used during official business and moments of stress 4 17.
• Blood-pressure medication and painkillers — Taken during the escalating Uchiha confrontation 23.
• Hokage-restricted dossiers — Keeps Tobirama’s research into the Senju and Uchiha bloodlines, alongside a top-secret file on Sasuke mentioning Wood Release 4.
• Sasuke’s letter and scroll — Delivered by Shisui before the clan meeting; the letter supplies a tactic for shutting down pressure from Danzo and the advisers 18.
• Training materials and ninja tools from Sasuke — Include special taijutsu, chakra-refinement methods, and dojutsu for cultivating yin-release chakra 38.
• Life-force supplements — Liquids, specially prepared tobacco, and tea leaves that Sasuke describes as carriers of yang-release chakra. Hiruzen accepts them, but their effects on him are not yet demonstrated 38.

Relationships

• Danzo Shimura — Old friend and former comrade whose covert actions increasingly undermine Hiruzen’s leadership. Their relationship deteriorates from recurring compromise to restrictions on Root and a full investigation 4 17 37.
• Sasuke Uchiha — A gifted child whose friendships and political ideas help redirect Hiruzen’s policies. Hiruzen consults him on Konoha’s future, offers access to the Scroll of Seals, and privately considers him a candidate for Seventh Hokage 4 18 38.
• Naruto Uzumaki — The Fourth Hokage’s orphan and Nine-Tails jinchuriki. Hiruzen condemns Root’s attempt on his life, arranges training support, and later asks Jiraiya to return after witnessing Naruto’s extraordinary strength 4 38.
• Uchiha Fugaku — Negotiating counterpart in efforts to reconcile the clan with Konoha. Their tacit cooperation is complicated by mutual suspicion, but culminates in substantial concessions to the Uchiha 4 8 37.
• Shisui Uchiha — Trusted intermediary who reports the predicted massacre and delivers Sasuke’s documents. Hiruzen later selects him for a planned new Guard Platoon 17 18 38.
• Itachi Uchiha — A former double agent whose shift toward mediation Hiruzen welcomes. He is also selected for the prospective Guard Platoon 17 38.
• Tobirama Senju — Teacher and former commander. Hiruzen repeatedly thinks of him during crises and worries about facing him after death 17 24 25 37.
• Shinnosuke Sarutobi — Son and high-ranking ANBU member, assigned to assist the investigation into Root 38.
• Kakashi — Subordinate whom Hiruzen removes from ANBU to help him move beyond his past. Later tasked with arresting Danzo and considered for the new Guard Platoon 4 33 38.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu — Old teammates and advisers who join Danzo in pressuring Hiruzen. He rebuffs their interference but still brings them into the response to the Uchiha crisis 18 24 37.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Root’s Assassination Attempt

• Root’s attack on Sasuke and Naruto exposes the extent of Danzo’s interference with the Uchiha and village affairs 4.
• Hiruzen orders Danzo to withdraw operatives watching the boys, retract Root’s influence, and cease interference with the Uchiha. When Danzo objects, he reduces the deadline from three days to one 4.
• Assigns Guy to provide occasional taijutsu guidance and reassigns Kakashi out of ANBU 4.
• Sends intelligence about the attack to the Military Police Force and discovers Sasuke’s reported Wood Release 4.

Reconciliation and the Massacre Warning

• Over the following two years, Hiruzen reduces consultations with Danzo and the advisers, repeals several anti-Uchiha policies, and promotes reconciliation despite their objections 16.
• Prepares for possible conflict at the clan meeting while remaining uncertain about Fugaku’s intentions 17.
• Shisui reports Fugaku’s vision of a masked man and operatives bearing tongue seals slaughtering the clan. Hiruzen recognizes the masked man as the culprit behind the Nine-Tails’ Attack 17 18.
• Uses Sasuke’s advice to end the advisers’ pressure immediately, repeatedly declaring that he is the Hokage rather than engaging in their usual arguments 18.

The Susanoo Confrontation

• Watches Fugaku and Itachi fight, then sees Shisui leave his office to join them in a green Susanoo 23.
• Leads village forces toward the compound after ordering an evacuation, insisting that his duty places him on the front line 24.
• Becomes increasingly alarmed as the Susanoo grow into full-bodied giants and take their battle above Konoha 24 25.
• Orders Kakashi to arrest Danzo after spotting Baku. Initially fears another Nine-Tails disaster when Naruto and Sasuke create a fox-shaped, Susanoo-armored form, but realizes Naruto remains rational 33.
• Receives Fugaku’s apology and compensation offer after the three Uchiha dismiss their Susanoo 34.

Settlement and Renewed Ambition

Decision / Initiative	Details
Guarantee of Uchiha membership	Rejects the prospect of the clan leaving and promises it a permanent place in Konoha 37.
Police and compound changes	Accepts expansion of the Military Police Force to recruit from other clans, changes to the compound’s location, and an official statement concerning the Uchiha 37.
Root investigation	Authorizes the police investigation after viewing recorded evidence of Danzo attacking Sasuke 37.
New Guard Platoon	Plans a unit including Shisui, Itachi, Kakashi, Asuma, Shikaku Nara, and Guy 38.
Recall letters	Orders Jiraiya home and sends Tsunade a gentler letter containing ten million ryō 38.
Development agenda	Seeks Sasuke’s advice on academy reform, everyday applications of ninjutsu, economic development, and technology 38.
Long-term objective	Begins considering whether Konoha’s renewed strength could fulfill the First Hokage’s dream of peace throughout the Shinobi World 38.

Notable Quotes

“Danzo! I am the Hokage!” 18

“Whatever the situation actually is, as Hokage, I must be on the front line.” 24

“From this day forward, Konoha will never make those who have shed blood for it shed tears as well.” 37

“Where leaves dance, fire also lives on without end. Konoha’s future rests with you youngsters, little Sasuke.” 38