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Summary

Hiruzen’s pacifist leadership led to growing turmoil and allowed threats like Danzo and Orochimaru to flourish.
Hiruzen’s inaction in the Uchiha Massacre and neglect of Naruto shaped major tragedies in the Naruto series.
Hiruzen’s failure to control Danzo’s actions and authority allowed for further tragedies to unfold in Konoha.

The Naruto series is riddled with sorrowful events, such as multiple massacres across the shinobi world’s timeline or the disheartening pasts of prominent characters. Remarkably, many of these sad occurrences within Naruto can be traced back to the choices or lack thereof made by a specific character — Hiruzen Sarutobi. As Konoha’s third Hokage, Hiruzen held immense power, yet he often neglected using his authority effectively.

The lack of intervention by Hiruzen Sarutobi, often referred to as the “God of Shinobi,” is evidently responsible for the hardships faced by the Uchiha clan and Naruto’s solitary upbringing, among other calamities. If he had acted swiftly and eliminated these dangers, the destiny of Konoha would have undoubtedly been altered significantly. Despite his reputation as a great shinobi and being called “the Professor,” Hiruzen fell short in utilizing his power and intelligence in his leadership role, resulting in numerous tragedies unfolding.

Hiruzen’s Pacifist leadership

Hiruzen Failed to Take Action Against Threats

During his tenure as the third Hokage of Konoha, Hirzen faced numerous challenges, many of which arose due to his reluctance to take decisive action against potential dangers. Known for his wisdom, earning him the nickname “Professor,” Hirzen preferred a more passive leadership style and prioritized peace over conflict and instability. Unfortunately, his pacifist disposition allowed internal strife to fester as he sought to resolve threats through dialogue rather than confrontation.

As a result, characters like Danzo Shimura became firmly established in Konoha and ultimately challenged his power and influence. Similarly, Orochimaru manipulated Hiruzen’s compassion towards his former student. Taking advantage of Hiruzen’s kindness, Orochimaru performed risky experiments inside Konoha. Despite recognizing the escalating problems within Konoha, Hiruzen did not act to address them, which proved to be his most significant shortcoming as Hokage.

The Uchiha Massacre

Hiruzen Sarutobi Failed to Quell the Uchiha’s Rebellion Peacefully

One significant regret arising from Hiruzen’s inactivity is the Uchiha Massacre, an incident pivotal to Naruto’s storyline. This event played a crucial role in pushing Sasuke towards a path of enmity and villainy, while simultaneously diminishing Konoha’s military power. Although this terrible event was inevitable, it seems that it unfolded due to Hiruzen’s hesitancy regarding Danzo and his unwillingness to address the Uchiha issue directly.

However, Sarutobi… it’s now impossible to halt the Uchiha any longer. Therefore, we need to act swiftly to prevent the ensuing turmoil, even among the innocent children who are blameless in this conflict.

It’s clear that Hiruzen Sarutobi was fully aware of the mistreatment and close scrutiny the Uchiha clan was experiencing under Danzo’s watchful eye. Yet, instead of taking action or voicing his concerns, he chose to stay out of the situation and allowed Danzo to carry out a horrific plan – the eradication of the entire Uchiha clan. In essence, Hiruzen Sarutobi played a role in the Uchiha Massacre, making him a key factor contributing to this devastating event. To add insult to injury, not only did he approve the plan, but he also used Itachi, a highly talented Uchiha member, as the instrument of destruction in the cover of night.

Naruto’s Tragic Childhood

Naruto Became an Outcast Due to Hiruzen’s Neglect

The heart-wrenching childhood struggles of Naruto are deeply ingrained in the memories of every Naruto fan, largely due to the frequent flashbacks that depicted his hardships during his early years in Konoha. At first glance, it appeared that Naruto had no one to look after him and was left on his own. However, it was later unveiled that Minato Namikaze entrusted Naruto to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s care. Hiruzen made a vow to Minato, the Fourth Hokage, that he would provide for his son, which is understandable given Naruto’s unique lineage.

Despite being tasked with looking after Naruto, a young boy, Hiruzen neglected this small duty, leaving Naruto to live alone without any supervision or guardianship. Additionally, he concealed the truth that Naruto was the son of the fourth Hokage, which resulted in the villagers disliking him and further isolating him. It’s clear that the neglect and hardships Naruto experienced during his early years significantly impacted his personality and compounded his suffering.

It can be reasonably inferred that Konoha benefited significantly since Naruto adopted the Spirit of Fire and ultimately allied with them, as he had ample opportunities to align himself with their enemies due to the harsh treatment he suffered during his formative years. However, despite recognizing Naruto’s bleak circumstances and isolation, Hiruzen took no action to improve his childhood and neglected Minato’s legacy in the process.

Allowing Orochimaru to Escape Konoha

Orochimaru Became a Threat to Konoha Due to Hiruzen’s Indecisiveness

During the early stages of Naruto’s broadcast, Orochimaru was widely recognized as one of its most memorable villains, often associated with pure evil. However, it was later disclosed that Hiruzen Sarutobi knew about Orochimaru’s cruel experiments and nefarious character. In fact, he uncovered Orochimaru’s lab where these dangerous tests on Shinobi from the Hidden Leaf Village were being performed.

Orochimaru… I thought this day would eventually arrive.

After finding out about Orochimaru’s experiments, Hiruzen decided to let him slip away. This was largely due to his compassionate nature towards his former student. Yet, Hiruzen understood the dangers of such leniency, for he knew that Orochimaru would one day pose a significant danger to Konoha’s security. As it turned out, this prediction became reality during the Konoha Crush, when Orochimaru infiltrated the Hidden Leaf Village disguised as the Kazekage.

On the contrary, Hiruzen chose to stand idly by, allowing Orochimaru to slip away unpunished. This inaction ultimately paved the way for Orochimaru’s rise as a significant menace, as he not only claimed Hiruzen’s life but also molded Sasuke’s character into one largely defined by his antagonism.

Inability to Suppress Danzo

Hiruzen Failed to Control Danzo’s Actions

In the world of Naruto, there are many captivating villains that have significantly influenced the storyline. However, among them, one character has consistently stayed in the shadows, appearing to be an ally for Konoha. The enigmatic figure of Danzo Shimura is infamous, as he is often loathed by fans across Naruto. Initially acting as Hiruzen’s confidant, Danzo later established his own covert organization known as Root.

This foundation exceeded the Hokage’s jurisdiction, for even Hiruzen couldn’t challenge Root’s actions. In fact, Danzo once attempted to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi, thinking he was feeble-minded and sentimental, regarding him as a potential danger to Konoha’s security. Remarkably, Hiruzen chose to pardon Danzo instead of taking away his powers and authority, despite the attempt on his life by Danzo.

Danzo often contradicted Hiruzen’s choices and neglected his actions, yet Hiruzen frequently pardoned him and let him retain the same influence and control he previously had. This lack of confrontation and indecision regarding Danzo resulted in numerous calamities within Konoha, including the Uchiha Massacre or Danzo’s schemes against the original Akatsuki that ultimately led to Obito seizing control over the organization. Permitting Danzo to maintain such a high position of power is, arguably, the most significant consequence of Hiruzen’s inaction, as it set the stage for various other events in Naruto.

Naruto is available to stream on Prime Video.

2025-05-23 17:54