Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Background / History

Shengyi’s Academy Refusal

Hiruzen attempts to enroll the talented Uchiha Shengyi, also called Uchiha Seiichi, in the Ninja Academy. Shengyi refuses because he considers its lessons a waste of time. When Danzo proposes eliminating him before he becomes too powerful, Hiruzen expressly forbids it: Shengyi has united the Uchiha’s rival factions, and attacking him could trigger an immediate clan-wide revolt 3.

The refusal nevertheless becomes a personal grievance. Hiruzen sends another enrollment inquiry and takes offense at an Uchiha ninja’s involvement in a false fire alarm outside his office. Later, Shengyi’s apparent preoccupation with commercial research reassures him. He regards business as less threatening than combat training or political organization, while privately anticipating taking Shengyi’s recipes and wealth after killing him 4 6.

Third Shinobi World War

After learning that Kumogakure has attacked Sunagakure, Hiruzen summons Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu. He rejects Danzo’s proposal to exploit the situation and instead orders stronger defenses against both Kumogakure and Iwagakure, directing Shikaku to prepare a defensive plan 6 7.

Kumogakure’s subsequent declaration of war against Konoha and Iwagakure prompts a broader mobilization. Hiruzen convenes the village leadership, sends envoys to seek cooperation from other villages, and recalls ninja from missions. The Uchiha are required to deploy 1,000 fighters, including 500 jonin 7.

Military Police–Root Confrontation

Hiruzen initially watches without intervening as Shengyi confronts Root over the Military Police Force’s authority. He steps in only when Shengyi orders the police to arrest all masked non-Anbu personnel and anyone obstructing them. With Konoha’s forces depleted by the war, Hiruzen considers an immediate confrontation with the assembled Uchiha leadership too dangerous, but privately decides that the clan must be eliminated 14.

His attempt to accuse Shengyi of inciting a riot backfires. Shengyi exposes the Anbu’s encroachment on police jurisdiction and invokes Tobirama Senju’s agreement guaranteeing the Military Police Force’s authority. Hiruzen tries to end the dispute through Fugaku, only for Fugaku to uphold Shengyi’s position as young clan leader and police adviser 15.

Hiruzen apologizes and describes the encroachment as a trial of revised regulations. Shengyi counters that the police agreement explicitly forbids amendment by future Hokage. Hiruzen is then forced to permit Root personnel to undergo police inspection and admits that he authorized Root’s creation 16.

When Shengyi invokes Tobirama’s prohibition on privately established armed forces, Hiruzen formally disbands Root. Its members may apply to join the Anbu or return to ordinary ninja service. He refuses the alternative of giving Danzo authority within the Anbu, fearing both damage to his public image and Danzo’s eventual takeover of the organization 16 17.

Plans Against the Uchiha

After Root’s dissolution, Hiruzen, Danzo, Homura, and Koharu unanimously agree to eradicate the Uchiha. Hiruzen insists on waiting until the war ends and Konoha has recovered, recognizing that a premature civil war could destroy the village 17 18.

His principal concern is Shengyi’s potential Mangekyō Sharingan awakening. He fears that killing Shengyi’s family could provoke it, or that the Uchiha might deliberately sacrifice those relatives to produce the same result. When Shengyi recalls the clan’s ninja and assigns Shadow Clones to police duties so their real bodies can train, Hiruzen becomes furious but avoids a direct confrontation 18 19.

Following Konoha’s victory, Hiruzen welcomes Minato and the returning commanders, praises them as village heroes, and allows them to rest before submitting reports. Privately, his faction assesses their condition before proceeding against the Uchiha 23.

Kakashi’s Sharingan Dispute

At the postwar leadership meeting, Shengyi announces his intention to reclaim Uchiha Sharingan held by outsiders. Hiruzen supports Minato’s appeal to let Kakashi retain Obito’s eye, presenting it as a symbol of friendship and the Will of Fire. His private motives also include protecting a member of his faction and frustrating the Uchiha 25 26.

When Shengyi refuses, Hiruzen advises Kakashi to surrender the Sharingan and offers to arrange a replacement eye. Kakashi instead challenges Shengyi and loses almost immediately. Unable to follow the decisive exchange himself, Hiruzen turns to the Byakugan-wielding referee, Hyuga Hiashi, for an explanation 27 28 29.

Shengyi later concludes that their conflict has altered the future he remembers: the Hokage faction has united against the Uchiha rather than turning on Hiruzen, removing the pressure that would otherwise have forced his resignation in favor of Minato 29.

Retreat Before Perfect Susanoo

Hiruzen arrives at Konoha’s gate in battle gear after Shengyi’s returning Susanoo is mistaken for an invading enemy. At his request, Shengyi demonstrates the technique. Hiruzen recognizes its complete Tengu armor and wings as the Perfect Susanoo described in Tobirama’s records of Madara Uchiha, and drops his pipe in shock 38.

He immediately orders Danzo to cancel their plan to provoke an Uchiha revolt and then suppress it. When Fugaku and Shengyi visit, Hiruzen offers Fugaku an elder’s seat and then Danzo’s position as Hokage’s assistant, while remaining unwilling to surrender his own office. Fugaku’s revelation of his Mangekyō Sharingan silences the negotiations 39.

Instead of demanding office, the Uchiha announce that they will relinquish the Military Police Force, cancel their shinobi registrations, and become merchants. Hiruzen is relieved that the clan has no intention of seizing political power despite its overwhelming military advantage 39.

Acceptance of Tsunade’s Condition

Tsunade makes becoming Hokage her sole condition for returning to Konoha. Although Jiraiya initially doubts Hiruzen will accept, he later reports that Hiruzen has agreed. Tsunade returns with Jiraiya and Shizune; the supplied account does not show her formal installation 44.

Personality

Hiruzen combines an approachable public manner with calculating political behavior. He gently reassures villagers during the false fire alarm and skillfully encourages returning soldiers, but the narration contrasts these gestures with his private grudges and hostility toward the Uchiha. He is particularly frustrated by experienced figures such as Shikaku, whose reactions he cannot easily influence 3 4 23.

His caution is strategic rather than conciliatory. He restrains Danzo when violence would risk an unwinnable civil war, yet later approves the clan’s eradication. He also guards his own authority against his allies, refusing Danzo access to the Anbu and resisting any suggestion of yielding the Hokage’s office during negotiations with the Uchiha 3 17 18 39.

Shengyi repeatedly exposes his temper. Hiruzen crushes or bends smoking pipes during their disputes and briefly lashes out at Homura after seeing Perfect Susanoo, though he subsequently apologizes to his old colleague 4 16 19 39.

Abilities & Skills

Military Leadership

Hiruzen directs Konoha’s defensive planning and wartime mobilization 7.

• Anticipates threats from both Kumogakure and Iwagakure.
• Delegates defensive planning to Shikaku and dispatches reinforcements.
• Coordinates clan leaders, advisers, mission recalls, and diplomatic outreach.

Political Maneuvering

Hiruzen uses institutional authority, public reassurance, and negotiated concessions to protect his faction 15 16 23 39.

• Attempts to frame Shengyi’s enforcement action as a riot.
• Presents returning commanders’ service through the language of the Will of Fire.
• Offers political offices to appease the Uchiha once military suppression becomes untenable.
• Is constrained by Tobirama’s written regulations when Shengyi invokes them publicly.

Knowledge of the Uchiha

Hiruzen has access to Tobirama’s observations of Madara and understands the strategic danger of advanced Sharingan abilities 18 38.

• Considers emotional trauma a potential trigger for Shengyi’s Mangekyō awakening.
• Recognizes Perfect Susanoo from its humanoid form, Tengu armor, and wings.
• Underestimates Shengyi’s actual progress while the latter conceals his research and strength 6 18 38.

Equipment / Items

• Tobacco pipes — Habitual accessories, repeatedly bent, crushed, discarded, and replaced during stressful encounters with the Uchiha 4 16 17 19 23.
• Crystal ball — Used to look at women during his leisure time 6.
• Battle gear — Worn when responding to the alarm at Konoha’s gate 38.

Relationships

• Shengyi / Uchiha Seiichi — Political adversary whose talent, legal challenges, and overwhelming strength repeatedly undermine Hiruzen’s plans 3 15 16 38 39.
• Danzo Shimura — Longtime associate and Hokage’s assistant. They cooperate against the Uchiha, but Hiruzen restrains his provocations, dissolves Root under pressure, and refuses him control over the Anbu 3 16 17.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu — Advisers and partners in the Hokage faction; both support the decision to eliminate the Uchiha 17.
• Fugaku Uchiha — Clan head whom Hiruzen initially expects to pressure into compliance. Fugaku instead supports Shengyi and later reveals his own Mangekyō Sharingan 15 39.
• Tobirama Senju — Teacher and predecessor who died covering his students’ retreat. His regulations force Hiruzen to concede the police dispute, while his records allow Hiruzen to identify Perfect Susanoo 16 17 38.
• Jiraiya — Student and intermediary who conveys Tsunade’s condition for returning to Konoha 26 44.
• Orochimaru — Student. Shengyi remembers him as Hiruzen’s eventual killer in the original storyline, not as an event already occurring in this timeline 29.
• Minato Namikaze — Jiraiya’s student and a celebrated wartime commander. Hiruzen supports his appeal on Kakashi’s behalf 23 26.
• Kakashi Hatake — Member of Hiruzen’s faction through the Jiraiya–Minato teaching lineage; Hiruzen intervenes in the dispute over his Sharingan 26 27.
• Tsunade — Accepts her demand to become Hokage in exchange for returning to the village 44.
• Biwako Sarutobi — Wife; her death during the Nine-Tails’ attack belongs to the original future recalled by Shengyi 29.

Trivia

• Hiruzen, Danzo, Homura, and Koharu are collectively called “Konoha’s F4” in the narration 6 29.
• Smoke from Hiruzen and Homura’s pipes becomes thick enough to make villagers believe the Hokage’s Office is on fire, nearly prompting an Uchiha ninja to use Water Release on the building 3 4.