Hiruzen Sarutobi

Biodata

Background / History

Appointment as Third Hokage

Hiruzen was a disciple of Tobirama Senju. While their group was surrounded by Kumogakure forces, Tobirama asked who would remain behind to cover the retreat. Hiruzen volunteered before Danzō, and Tobirama immediately named him Third Hokage 7.

Danzō believed his hesitation had cost him the position. The narration instead explains that Tobirama had already favored Hiruzen: appointing him provided a reason to keep him from undertaking the fatal rear-guard mission 7.

Suppression of Hatake Sakumo

Following the Second Shinobi World War, Sakumo’s growing prestige threatened Hiruzen’s position. When Sakumo abandoned a mission to save his comrades, Hiruzen and Danzō jointly orchestrated a campaign of public ostracism against him. They exploited his belief that the village was his family, expecting that rejection by its people would destroy his convictions. The campaign broke him down over two months and drove the original Sakumo to suicide 1 3.

After Baishuo awakened in Sakumo’s body, Sakumo’s behavior changed abruptly. Reports that he had attacked a chūnin and members of the Konoha Military Police Force prompted Hiruzen to observe him through the Telescope Technique. Despite his suspicions, Hiruzen chose not to summon him 3.

Hiruzen also declined an Uchiha elder’s demand for Sakumo’s arrest and rejected Danzō’s insistence on immediate action, citing Sakumo’s achievements. He ended the argument by reminding Danzō that he, not Danzō, was Hokage 3.

Assassination

At midnight, Sakumo infiltrated Hiruzen’s bedroom wearing a hooded cloak and mask. Hiruzen woke almost immediately and identified him by White Fang, the blade Sakumo had deliberately brought to reveal his identity 3.

Hiruzen dodged the first Haki-coated Flying Slash and summoned Enma as the Adamantine Staff. His confidence collapsed when Sakumo’s next strike injured Enma through the weapon and forced him out of his transformed state. Sakumo then kicked Hiruzen into a wall and sent another slash through his Earth-Style Wall, severing one arm 4.

Unable to form hand seals, Hiruzen ordered Enma to carry him through the window so they could regroup with reinforcements. Sakumo intercepted them and mortally wounded Enma, who held onto White Fang and urged Hiruzen to flee 4 5.

Hiruzen narrowly avoided a Haki-coated punch, but the following kick severed a leg. Before he could name his attacker aloud, Sakumo killed him by crushing his head. Sarutobi Ken reached the bedroom shortly afterward and found his father dead and his mother unconscious 5 10.

Funeral and Official Cover Story

Ken organized the immediate response, ordering protection for the residence, restrictions at the village gates, and an investigation. Nevertheless, investigators found no substantial clues. Hiruzen’s body remained packed in ice for six days before his family agreed to a public memorial 10 16 17.

Hiruzen was buried at Konoha Cemetery during a village-wide ceremony attended by his family, Tsunade, Orochimaru, clan heads, and other shinobi. Jiraiya arrived too late for the funeral and later paid his respects at the grave 18 21.

Sakumo, having secured his selection as Fourth Hokage, persuaded the leadership to blame Danzō publicly. The official notice claimed that Danzō had used Root to assassinate Hiruzen for the Hokage position and that both had died in the confrontation. Tsunade and Ken accepted the public explanation while insisting that the actual investigation continue 13 18 19 20.

News of Hiruzen and Danzō’s deaths encouraged the other great villages to exploit Konoha’s instability, escalating friction along the Land of Fire’s borders 20.

Personality

Hiruzen’s outwardly kindly manner concealed a determination to preserve his authority. He regarded Sakumo as a weapon under his control and considered the decision to save a comrade evidence that this “blade” had developed an independent will. His participation in Sakumo’s persecution was motivated by the threat posed by Sakumo’s popularity 3.

He exercised authority calmly, dismissing both the Uchiha elder’s anger and Danzō’s demands without yielding control. His recurring response—“Danzo, I’m the Hokage”—reliably forced his old friend to back down 3.

In battle, Hiruzen initially trusted Enma’s durability and his own standing as a Hokage comparable to the First and Second. Once seriously injured, he endured the pain and sought a tactical retreat rather than continuing a losing fight 4.

Abilities & Skills

Elemental Ninjutsu

• Five Basic Nature Transformations: Hiruzen had mastered all five basic chakra natures 4.
• Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall: Raised a substantial defensive barrier described as capable of blocking A-rank ninjutsu. Sakumo’s Haki-coated Flying Slash cut through it and severed Hiruzen’s arm 4.

Summoning Technique and Adamantine Staff

• Enma: Summoned his longtime companion during Sakumo’s attack 4.
• Adamantine Staff: Enma transformed into a staff renowned for resisting blades and spears. Hiruzen wielded it against Sakumo’s sword 4.
• Limitation: Advanced Armament Haki penetrated Enma’s body through the staff, causing internal injuries and ending the transformation 4.

Taijutsu and Combat Reactions

• Close combat: Had mastered taijutsu and possessed extensive battlefield experience 4.
• Evasion: Dodged Sakumo’s opening Flying Slash and later narrowly avoided a Haki-coated punch despite losing an arm 4 5.
• Awareness: Detected the bedroom intruder almost immediately and recognized Sakumo from his weapon 3.

Telescope Technique

• Remote observation: Used a crystal ball to watch Sakumo and Kakashi leaving a restaurant after receiving reports of the police confrontation 3.

Reaper Death Seal

• Forbidden sealing technique: Knew the Reaper Death Seal, which Sakumo considered Hiruzen’s most dangerous potential counterattack 4 5.
• Hand-seal requirement: Losing an arm prevented Hiruzen from forming the necessary seals; he never activated the technique 4 5.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Crystal ball — Medium used for the Telescope Technique 3.
• Adamantine Staff — Enma’s transformed weapon form, summoned during the assassination attempt 4.
• Smoking pipe — Used in his office, including during his argument with Danzō over Sakumo 3.

Relationships

• Tobirama Senju — Teacher and predecessor who selected him as Third Hokage; the narration identifies Hiruzen as his favored successor 7.
• Shimura Danzō — Old friend, political subordinate, and collaborator in suppressing Sakumo. Danzō resented Hiruzen’s appointment and authority; after both died, he became the scapegoat for Hiruzen’s murder 3 6 7 20.
• Hatake Sakumo — Celebrated subordinate whom Hiruzen targeted as a political threat. The transmigrated Sakumo killed him and succeeded him as Hokage 3 5 13.
• Enma — Longtime summoned partner who died trying to protect him and buy time for his escape 4 5.
• Biwako Sarutobi — Wife; survived the attack after Sakumo knocked her unconscious 3 4 10.
• Sarutobi Ken — Sixteen-year-old eldest son; led the initial response to his murder and succeeded as Sarutobi clan head 5 10 13.
• Asuma Sarutobi — Eight-year-old youngest son; slept through the attack and later attended his father’s funeral 4 18.
• Tsunade — Disciple who returned upon learning of his death and insisted that the search for his killer continue 15 19.
• Jiraiya — Disciple who interrupted his teaching abroad to return to Konoha, then visited Hiruzen’s grave and comforted Biwako 15 21.
• Orochimaru — Disciple and potential successor; suspected Sakumo’s involvement in the murder but had no evidence 11 19.
• Sarutobi Hiroshi — Relative and trusted aide whose appointment as Ninja Academy principal was backed by Hiruzen 41.

Legacy

• Academy curriculum: Under Hiruzen, academic textbooks emphasized placing the village’s honor and interests above personal welfare. Sakumo attributed this to Hiruzen’s version of the Will of Fire and ordered the books withdrawn 40.
• Textbook replacement: Sakumo subsequently blamed Danzō for altering the books and assigned Tsunade and the clan heads to draft replacements 41.
• Memorial remains: Because Hiruzen’s head had been destroyed, a Hokage Rock craftsman hurriedly carved a stone replacement for his coffin 16.

Notable Quotes

“Danzo, I’m the Hokage.” 3

“That’s Hatake Sakumo. My arm’s been cut off, so I can’t form Hand Seals. Quickly, take me out through the window! We’ll take him down together once reinforcements arrive!” 4

Trivia

• Sakumo’s system mistakenly identified Hiruzen as Fleet Admiral “Sengoku the Buddha.” Killing Hiruzen consequently awarded Sakumo Sengoku’s Six Powers, rather than one of Hiruzen’s techniques 4 9.