Hiruzen Sarutobi

• Old
• Edo Tensei
• Young

• Hokage Attire
• Shinobi Attire
• With Enma

“	When the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, tree leaves shall bud anew.	„
	~ Hiruzen's last words to Orochimaru

Summary

Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Third Hokage of Konohagakure and one of the most esteemed shinobi of his time. Renowned for his mastery of all five elemental releases and his prodigious chakra reserves even in his autumn years, he earned the epithet "The Professor" for his in-depth knowledge of all of the Leaf's techniques as well as the title "The God of Shinobi", for being arguably the strongest shinobi of his generation. He was also known for being the teacher of the legendary Sannin, but he remained a source of inspiration and guidance to all within Konoha's borders even after retiring from active duty on the front lines.

Powers and Stats

Tier: 6-C | At least 6-C, possibly far higher

Key: Old | Prime

Name: Hiruzen Sarutobi

Origin: Naruto

Gender: Male

Age: 69

Classification: Human, Shinobi, Hokage

Powers and Abilities:

• Alive
• Edo Tensei

Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Genius Intelligence, Chakra Manipulation, Master Hand-to-Hand Combatant, Master Staff Wielder and Shuriken User, Acrobatics, Statistics Amplification (Shinobi are capable of enhancing their physical capabilities with the use of chakra. The Shunshin no Jutsu allows Shinobi to greatly enhance their speed by focusing chakra in their feet), Surface Scaling and Water Walking (By focusing chakra at the soles of their feet, Shinobi can scale and cling to vertical surfaces, and even walk on water), Afterimage Creation, Stealth Mastery, and Speed Enhancement (The Substitution Jutsu allows its user to instantly replace themselves with a nearby object such as a tree log, plant, person, or clone at the exact moment they are attacked. The Jutsu works even if the user is physically restrained or observed by characters as observant as Sharingan or Sage Mode users. This creates the optical illusion of the user being hit, which confuses the opponent and gives them an opening to flee or counterattack), Minor Illusion Creation and Duplication (With the Clone Technique, Shinobi can create illusionary duplicates of themselves that have no physical substance), Shapeshifting (With the Transformation Technique, Shinobi can transform themselves into other people, animals, plants, and even inanimate objects, such as weapons), Paralysis Inducement (With the Temporary Paralysis Technique, Shinobi can completely paralyze their targets from close to mid range), Fire Manipulation, Earth Manipulation, Water Manipulation, Air Manipulation, Electricity Manipulation, Elemental Manipulation, Explosive Aura (He could cause damage the surrounding environment with his aura during his face off against Orochimaru), Summoning, Soul Manipulation, BFR, and Sealing via Dead Demon Consuming Seal, Explosion Manipulation with explosive tags, Extrasensory Perception (Can sense the presence of other living beings through their chakra signatures), Genjutsu Nullification (Shinobi can typically break free from and nullify non-ocular genjutsu by intentionally disrupting the flow of chakra within their bodies), Forcefield Creation (can create a barrier with the other Hokage), Non-Physical Interaction (with barrier and sealing), Clairvoyance with crystal ball, Resistance to Fear Manipulation (Unfazed by Orochimaru's aura)

All previous abilities when alive,

• Regeneration (Low-Godly - Edo Tensei are capable of regenerating from the complete destruction of their bodies. It's stated that as long as the soul remains, the Edo Tensei will keep coming back to life)
• Immortality (Types 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8 - Edo Tensei are corpses possessed by a soul brought back from the Pure Land. They are incapable of feeling pain along with being able to survive grievous injuries such as bisection and dismemberment. Edo Tensei will keep coming back so long as their soul remains bound to the Edo realm)
• Inorganic Physiology (Type 1 - Edo Tensei bodies are comprised of dust and ash enveloping an already deceased corpse shaping it into the revived person the caster chooses)
• Self-Sustenance (Types 1, 2 and 3 - The Edo Tensei are the souls of the dead the caster wants to reanimate, the caster uses an already dead body to house the revived soul)
• Instinctive Action (Edo Tensei are programed to automatically counter enemy jutsu along with their bodies moving of its own accord)
• Resistance to Mind Manipulation, Empathic Manipulation and Emotion Detection (Even though Edo Tensei are able to retain their consciousness when brought back from the afterlife, the controller can suppress their free will binding their mind and shutting off all emotion)

Attack Potency: Island level (While weaker, he was able to trade blows with Orochimaru and disarm him. He had a reputation for being the strongest of the Gokage. Enma, his staff, is stated to be the most powerful of all summons, which would include Gamabunta and Manda) | At least Island level (Far stronger than his old self, as his chakra reserves were much greater. Orochimaru stated that if Hiruzen had been just 10 years younger, he would've been able to kill him), possibly far higher (He was hailed as the strongest Hokage of all time back in his heyday)

Speed: At least Massively Hypersonic+, possibly higher (Able to keep up with weakened versions of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju. Should be on par with Danzō Shimura. Possibly comparable to Onoki) | At least Massively Hypersonic+, likely far higher (Far faster than his Old State)

Lifting Strength: At least Class M (Far stronger than Jirobo) | At least Class M (Far stronger than his Old State)

Striking Strength: Island level (Somewhat comparable to Orochimaru) | At least Island level (He is far stronger than his old self, and Orochimaru), possibly far higher (He was hailed as the strongest Hokage of all time)

Durability: Island level (Comparable to his Striking Strength) | At least Island level (Far more durable than his old self), possibly far higher

Stamina: Superhuman (Even being weakened due to his age and without fighting or training for many years, he could hold a fight against Edo Hashirama, Edo Tobirama, and Orochimaru, but was notably exhausted even while being as conservative as possible with his chakra), Infinite (Edo Tensei have an infinite chakra supply, that is to say their chakra reserves will refill indefinitely and continuously, meaning that they can keep fighting without fail or succumbing to physical limitations like fatigue, pain, or debilitating injuries)

Range: Extended Melee Range. Several Tens of Meters to Hundreds of Meters with ranged attacks.

Standard Equipment:

• Kunai
• Shuriken
• Fuma Shuriken
• Paper Bombs
• Enma

Intelligence: Genius (Hiruzen was known by his epithet "The Professor" due to his extensive knowledge of every technique ever developed in the Leaf village and his mastery over all five elemental natures, being able to match every elemental technique utilized by a Rinnegan wielder like Obito Uchiha. Being able to use virtually any ninjutsu technique with the minimum amount of chakra necessary to generate the most significant effect, he was able to take on multiple Kage-level opponents at once despite his waning chakra reserves. Hiruzen was also extremely skilled in both Bukijutsu and Taijutsu, being ready to battle Orochimaru, the First Hokage, and the Second Hokage in hand-to-hand and armed combat at once and wielding numerous shuriken and the Adamantine Staff with great skill. His skill and power were such that he was considered unstoppable in his prime, with even other powerful shinobi like Orochimaru not daring to challenge him)

Weaknesses: Due to his old age, both his physical stamina and chakra reserves were lacking compared to his earlier years. Has been repeatedly accused of being too soft and forgiving, which allowed Orochimaru to escape and eventually force Hiruzen to sacrifice himself to stop the rogue Sannin. | Abilities and weapons that disrupt ninjutsu like the Truth-Seeking Balls can break apart Hiruzen's form and prevent him from regenerating.

Notable Attacks/Techniques:

Hide/Show

1/2

Fire Release: The nature transformation governing the use of fire, it is most frequently performed by molding chakra in one's stomach before releasing it in its completed form as fire from the mouth and lungs, but can also be applied in other forms such as smoke, ash, gunpowder, and in the use of explosive tags.

• Fire Release: Flame Dragon Missile: Hiruzen kneads his chakra into flames and releases it as a dragon-shaped missile that he can manipulate at will to home in on his opponents from multiple directions. Alternatively, he can release it as a single stream of fire that can quickly spread across a particular location.

• Anime Depiction

1/2

Earth Release: The elemental release governing the manipulation of the earth and ground, being frequently used in the creation of sturdy physical barriers due to this release's ability to affect the density and hardness of earth and rock.

• Earth Release: Earth Style Wall: Hiruzen creates a wall of solid stone to act as a barrier or to confine a target within, growing as high as a small building if enough chakra is put into it. Hiruzen's use of this technique was powerful enough to completely divert an oncoming Water Release technique utilized by Tobirama Senju after the latter had been revived by Orochimaru's use of the Impure World Reincarnation technique.

• Shadow Clone Technique
• Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique
• Anime Depiction
• Five Release Great Combo Technique
• Anime Depiction

1/5

Shadow Clone Technique: Hiruzen can create physical clones of himself that can fight independently of him and even perform their own techniques. However, the clones can be dispersed instantly if struck with a sufficiently powerful blow.

• Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique: Hiruzen applies the Shadow Clone Technique to shuriken that he has already thrown, quickly multiplying their numbers to turn a small handful into a veritable barrage in an instant. This can be applied to both normal shurikens as well as the much larger fuma shuriken.
• Five Release Great Combo Technique: After creating four shadow clones of himself, Hiruzen and his clones each perform a massive display of one of the five basic elemental natures from multiple directions to either nullify an oncoming attack or overwhelm a single target from all sides. This technique was powerful enough to completely match a similar technique used by Zetsu-controlled Yamato during the Fourth Great Shinobi War.

• Summoning Enma
• Anime Depiction
• Transformation: Adamantine Staff
• Anime Depiction
• Dead Demon Consuming Seal

1/5

Summoning Technique: The Summoning Technique is a space-time ninjutsu that can summon weapons, familiars, tools, and other targets across vast distances by using blood as a sacrifice. Like most ninja, Hiruzen can only summon creatures with whom he has a contract with. Besides, Hiruzen has demonstrated the ability to counter the use of this technique by others, halting the summoning of the Fourth Hokage through the Impure World Reincarnation Technique while battling Orochimaru.

• Monkey King: Enma: Hiruzen's trusted ally and long-time contract holder, Enma is a mighty familiar who is proficient in both the use of ninjutsu and taijutsu, being able to fight independently of Hiruzen if necessary.
  • Transformation: Adamantine Staff: Enma transforms into a staff of unparalleled hardness to be used as a weapon in combat, proving sufficiently strong and sturdy to shatter the wood constructs created by Hashirama Senju and the branches of the Ten-Tails with ease even while acting independently of Hiruzen. Enma can extend and expand at will in this form to catch foes off guard as well as manifest his limbs to grasp and claw at enemies. However, although Enma is incredibly durable in this form, he isn't invulnerable, as the Sword of Kusanagi used by Orochimaru proved sharp enough to cut him.
  • Adamantine Prison Wall: Enma multiplies his staff form to form a protective cage around Hiruzen. Supposedly being "impossible to break," it proved sufficiently durable to protect Hiruzen from the Wood Release techniques of Hashirama Senju.
  • Dead Demon Consuming Seal: Hiruzen summons a god of death that removes his opponent's soul at the cost of his own life. This seal is powerful enough to restrain one of the Tailed Beasts and can be utilized with Shadow Clones to affect multiple targets at once, sealing away both the First and Second Hokage as well as Orochimaru's arms. However, this process is lengthy and takes excessive amounts of chakra. As a result, this technique can potentially be resisted if Hiruzen is especially weakened before using it, which allowed Orochimaru to escape the brunt of the technique. Upon completion, both the user's soul and that of the target are sealed away in the belly of the god of death, unable to be summoned, accessed, or otherwise escape without the use of the Uzumaki Clan's Shinigami Mask.

Sensing Technique: By molding his chakra into the appropriate form, Hiruzen can locate and keep track of other living beings through their chakra signatures, working through walls and visual obstructions. As a result, he was able to battle both the First and Second Hokage with Taijutsu even after being blinded by a Genjutsu technique used on him moments prior.

Telescope Technique: Hiruzen can watch anyone whose chakra signature he's familiar with through a crystal ball, allowing him to continually keep watch over any person of interest no matter how far away they are. However, due to the passive nature of the ability and the need for a crystal ball, it is ill-suited for combat purposes.

Body Replacement Technique: When he is about to be struck by an attack, Hiruzen can quickly switch places with a log or some other object the instant before the attack reaches him, creating the optical illusion that he was struck as he escapes. Hiruzen can then use this distraction to flee and regroup or make a surprise attack.

Note: Prime Hiruzen was stated to be the strongest Hokage in history; however, this is very probably a hyperbole, his powers in his prime state were never shown, and he has no feats to back up this claim or being above Prime Hashirama.

Notable Matchups

Notable Victories:

Notable Losses:

Inconclusive Matches:

Discussions

Discussion threads involving Hiruzen Sarutobi