Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

History

Bieshu Feifan’s Graduation and Early Missions

Hiruzen approved Bieshu Feifan’s graduation after reading his mocking essay about the Will of Fire. Feifan became a genin despite knowing no ninjutsu and was deployed toward the front lines with other young graduates 2 23.

After returning from the Land of Rain battlefield, Feifan demanded his unpaid mission rewards and proposed exchanging his claimed merits for twenty or thirty forbidden techniques or A-rank ninjutsu. Hiruzen paid him money instead 23.

Hiruzen subsequently supplied Feifan with ninjutsu and arranged a chakra-nature test that identified Fire and Wind affinities. He made further instruction conditional on mastering earlier techniques. Feifan also used arguments about The Third Hokage’s Will of Fire: Deluxe Edition to obtain more time before another deployment 30 31.

Managing the Uchiha Conflict

Hiruzen initially rejected Danzō’s proposal to place the Uchiha under Root surveillance. He maintained that they were part of Konoha and warned that provoking them during wartime could endanger the entire village 25.

His restraint did not extend to protecting Feifan. Hiruzen knew that Uchiha Ji had attacked him with genjutsu but dismissed Feifan’s suspicions rather than intervene. Later, he deliberately assigned Feifan a mission with two hostile adult Uchiha, treating him as an expendable concession intended to appease the clan after earlier accusations against it 30 58.

When Danzō was captured while excavating beneath the Uchiha compound, Hiruzen assembled more than thirty jōnin, including Jiraiya and Orochimaru. He and Jiraiya helped settle the confrontation: Danzō paid compensation, while the Uchiha received a warning 60 61.

Confrontations with Orochimaru and Mito’s Death

Hiruzen personally led a prepared force against Orochimaru during the dispute over robberies targeting nobles. Orochimaru interpreted the coordinated countermeasures as proof that his teacher had deliberately arranged the confrontation. Hiruzen expressed disappointment in his former student and fought him alongside Anbu 63.

After ordering Kushina taken to Mito Uzumaki, Hiruzen guarded the Senju residence with his adamantine staff. His killing intent was intimidating enough that Feifan abandoned an attempt to exploit the situation 77 78.

Following Mito’s death, Hiruzen fought Orochimaru again during an incident involving her coffin. The battle stopped when a Feifan clone disguised as Danzō stole it. Hiruzen recognized that the thief was an impostor and ordered the surrounding shinobi to pursue him 79.

Humiliation and the Search for a Captain

Feifan repeatedly exploited Hiruzen’s concern for appearances. An outrageous hairstyle incorporating Hokage portraits helped him obtain a Wind Release scroll; Hiruzen punished the barber rather than Feifan. Later, Feifan exchanged erotic fiction for ninjutsu and a verbal promise that he would not be sent out of the village, although Anbu eventually conscripted him again 44 65.

At Konoha’s alliance banquet with Sunagakure, Feifan, Might Duy, and Might Guy performed “My Husband Is the Hokage” at Danzō’s expense. Danzō prevented Hiruzen from stopping the performance and later ordered Root to spread the songs. Hiruzen retaliated by restricting the trio to unpleasant, poorly paid D-rank missions 102.

Finding someone willing to lead them became a prolonged problem. Chūnin captains failed, Kakashi refused to continue, and Hiruzen’s eldest son also proved unable to manage them. Hiruzen eventually ordered that the trio be sent to the border through the normal rotation system 104 105 108 113.

Kumogakure Negotiations and Renewed War

When a wanted poster identified Danzō as a suspect in Daddy Shinobi’s activities, Hiruzen ordered someone to impersonate him publicly and establish that he had remained in Konoha. He then prepared to deny Kumogakure’s accusations while keeping Danzō and Feifan’s trio away from its delegation 153 160.

Hiruzen initially opposed Danzō’s demands for war. He later authorized a deployment under a Nara jōnin rather than Danzō and signed a non-aggression treaty without obtaining compensation, an apology, or additional promises 160 162 165.

He believed the Five Great Nations’ joint Chūnin Exams could secure at least ten years of peace. That expectation collapsed when Kumogakure resumed border attacks after the Third Raikage resolved his immediate financial and legal difficulties. Hiruzen first proposed demanding an explanation, then agreed that Konoha needed to prepare for war 178.

Attacks on His Eldest Son

News that Sarutobi Tōgo had suffered a devastating genital injury drove Hiruzen to tears. He ordered a full mobilization and declared that he would personally deal with Kumogakure. At that point, he had no grandson, while Asuma remained imprisoned 186.

Subsequent attacks on Tōgo prompted further investigations. Feifan eventually infiltrated the Sarutobi household disguised as Biwako Sarutobi and left Tōgo critically ill. Reports of infection, missing transplanted organs, and other mutilations caused Hiruzen to faint 220 228.

Before this collapse, Hiruzen had begun considering retirement, feeling that years of paperwork no longer gave him his former sense of control. Nevertheless, when he learned that Danzō had begun taking over office duties during his hospitalization, he returned and reclaimed his seat 227 228 229.

Feifan’s Advancement and Multiple Fronts

Hiruzen initially refused to recommend Feifan for jōnin, although he allowed him to submit an application. Feifan later obtained his nomination letter. Under a subtle Sharingan-assisted suggestion reinforcing his desire to dismiss Feifan quickly, Hiruzen also handed over a handwritten collection of forbidden techniques before realizing what he had done 225 230 232.

As war increased Konoha’s manpower needs, Hiruzen assigned Feifan and Kakashi to mentor the recently released Uchiha Zhongfen and Obito. He later exchanged their assignments, intending to bring Uchiha into teams with shinobi outside their clan 242 247.

During the subsequent command appointments, Hiruzen assigned Jiraiya to the Kumogakure front and Uchiha Fugaku to the Kirigakure front. A vote confirmed Mimura Hamaki as commander against Iwagakure, while Feifan received a supporting deployment rather than the command he wanted. Hiruzen also refused Danzō’s bid for the position 248.

Appearance

• Build and age: Initially middle-aged, lean, muscular, and still in his physical prime 23 25.
• Face: Stern, with a somewhat sleep-deprived appearance during his early office meeting with Feifan 23.
• Later condition: Returns from hospitalization hunched over and supported by Feifan, Might Duy, and Might Guy 229.

Personality

Hiruzen carefully maintains a kindly public manner and places great importance on his reputation. His restraint toward Feifan is partly calculated: he privately admits that concern for the image he has cultivated prevents him from disposing of the troublesome genin outright. This makes public embarrassment particularly effective against him 23 58 109.

He favors negotiation and controlled concessions over Danzō’s aggressive proposals. He refuses unnecessary provocation of the Uchiha and questions what Konoha would gain from fighting Kumogakure. However, his willingness to sacrifice Feifan to appease the Uchiha shows that preserving stability can outweigh an individual subordinate’s safety 25 58 160.

His treatment of Feifan becomes increasingly competitive and retaliatory. He resists admitting that the trio has defeated his attempts to control them, then uses mission assignments and border rotations to remove the problem. After Tōgo’s injuries, he also burdens Richuan Taiban with grueling, poorly paid work while arranging teammates to obscure the retaliation 108 113 202.

Hiruzen’s attachment to his family can override his usual caution. Tōgo’s first catastrophic injury prompts an immediate call for mobilization, while later attacks leave him physically and emotionally exhausted. He briefly questions his fitness as Hokage, but dismisses the doubt rather than reconsidering his judgment of Feifan 186 225 230.

Abilities & Skills

Five Basic Nature Transformations

Hiruzen is explicitly identified as proficient in all five basic chakra-nature transformations. Danzō considers him capable of imitating his techniques well enough to kill an Uchiha chūnin 75.

• Uses his broad knowledge to evaluate Feifan’s chakra affinities and ninjutsu demonstrations 30 81.
• Supplies Fire Release and Wind Release techniques, as well as access to other ninjutsu 30 44 55 65.

Earth Release

Hiruzen uses Earth Release to enter and conceal himself within the Hokage’s Office walls and ceiling 103 106.

• Frequently uses it to avoid Feifan’s intrusive visits 151 170.
• The concealment does not reliably protect him once Feifan becomes fast and strong enough to seize him through the wall 171.

Shadow Clone Technique

Hiruzen can leave a shadow clone at his desk while his real body remains hidden nearby 103.

• Feifan discovers one such decoy by squeezing it until it disperses 103.

Staff Combat and Taijutsu

Hiruzen fights with an adamantine staff and directly engages Orochimaru and Manda. His combat presence while guarding the Senju residence causes Feifan to withdraw without testing him 78 79.

• Can readily dodge Feifan’s small fireball during the hospital incident 85.
• Restricts himself to taijutsu while fleeing hospital staff because using recognizable ninjutsu could expose his identity 85.

Ninjutsu Knowledge and Restricted Archives

Hiruzen possesses Wood Release instructional material and maintains handwritten copies of forbidden techniques 85 232.

• His copied collection includes the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, Flying Thunder God, Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, Four Red Yang Formation, Four Symbols Seal, and Five Elements Seal 232.
• The collection Feifan reads does not contain the Reaper Death Seal or Impure World Reincarnation 232.
• He uses access to techniques as leverage, including demanding mastery of fifteen Wind Release techniques before granting Feifan access to forbidden material 81.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Adamantine staff / Monkey King’s Staff — Carried while guarding the Senju residence and used against Manda 78 79.
• Smoking pipe — Frequently used while reviewing documents, handling disputes, or composing himself during Feifan’s visits 25 30 58.
• Handwritten forbidden-technique scrolls — Kept in his restricted collection; Feifan obtains genuine techniques from them 83 232.
• The Third Hokage’s Will of Fire: Deluxe Edition — A book associated with his teachings that he gives Feifan, who repeatedly challenges its arguments 30 31.
• Erotic fiction — Accepts Feifan’s writing in exchanges involving ninjutsu and deployment promises; also confiscates Night Shift Nurses 65 81.

Relationships

• Bieshu Feifan — A subordinate whose graduation Hiruzen personally approves. Feifan calls him “brother,” but Hiruzen regards him as irritating and expendable; their dealings develop into repeated bargaining, humiliation, and retaliation 2 58 102 232.
• Shimura Danzō — An old friend, Hokage Advisor, and persistent rival for the Hokage position. Hiruzen rejects many of his proposals but also protects him from political consequences, including providing an alibi during the Daddy Shinobi controversy 25 58 153.
• Orochimaru — His former prized student. Hiruzen is distressed by his robberies, experiments, and grave-robbing, and fights him on multiple occasions 63 79.
• Jiraiya — A trusted military asset and fellow mediator during the Uchiha–Root dispute. Jiraiya criticizes Hiruzen’s treatment of Feifan, but Hiruzen later entrusts him with the Kumogakure front 61 170 248.
• Tsunade — A potential commander whom Hiruzen wishes were available, but whose condition prevents her from accepting battlefield command 248.
• Sarutobi Tōgo / Dongwu — His eldest son and a jōnin. Hiruzen initially considers him reliable; his repeated injuries become a major source of grief and anger 108 186 228.
• Asuma Sarutobi — His younger son. Hiruzen orders him beaten after the Scroll of Seals incident and later receives reports of another fight at the Ninja Academy 83 216.
• Hatake Sakumo — A shinobi Hiruzen later regrets failing to protect. He repeatedly wishes Sakumo were alive to provide dependable military leadership 153 248.
• Kakashi — A subordinate repeatedly assigned difficult teammates, including Feifan’s trio and Obito. Hiruzen is disappointed by his refusal to continue helping the trio 104 105 242.
• Uchiha Fugaku — The Uchiha leader with whom Hiruzen maintains formal relations. Hiruzen later places him in command against Kirigakure despite Fugaku’s reluctance 178 248.
• Might Duy and Might Guy — Feifan’s companions and frequent participants in the disruptions of Hiruzen’s office. He attempts to control their activities through mission restrictions, captains, and border duty 102 113.

Notable Quotes

“Danzo, I am the Hokage.” 25 58 160

“Danzo, it was just two Uchiha brats causing trouble. There’s no need to blow it out of proportion. The Uchiha are part of the village, too.” 25

“Orochimaru, you were once the student I was proudest of.” 63