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The Hokage is highly respected in Naruto, so far, Konoha has had a total of 8 Hokage. After Naruto disappeared in Boruto, Shikamaru took over as leader of Konoha.
Among the Hokage, the third Hiruzen Sarutobi is the most controversial. He is known to be strong, wise, and a master of ninjutsu.
Hiruzen was born into the Sarutobi clan and trained from a young age in all ninja jutsu and excelled. During the First Shinobi World War, he was chosen as the Third Hokage, leading the village through difficult times and mentoring ninjas who would later become legends.
He always wants to protect the village and its people, but sometimes makes many mistakes.
Failure to handle the Uchiha clan's situation
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Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi faltered when dealing with the rising tensions within the Uchiha clan. Despite clear signs of discontent and unrest, the Third's inaction led to an escalation that culminated in Itachi's tragic clan massacre.
Too lenient with Orochimaru
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The fact that Orochimaru, Hiruzen's former student, became a traitor to Konoha and caused terrible disasters, reflected a serious miscalculation of the Third Hokage. His reluctance to confront Orochimaru decisively and sacrificially left the village vulnerable to the plots of other villages. This failure not only allowed Orochimaru to continue his plans unhindered, but also put Konoha's security in jeopardy, especially evident with the invasion during the Chunin Exams.
Underestimating the Akatsuki threat
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Sarutobi was not fully aware of the impending danger posed by Akatsuki, a failure of leadership that placed Konoha at significant risk. Despite intelligence reports warning of the growing threat, the lack of an effective strategy to counter the organization led to surprise attacks and the capture of the Jinchuriki.
The failure to strengthen the village's defenses against such a dangerous entity demonstrates a serious flaw in the village's ability to protect the community.
Not paying attention to Naruto's needs
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Among Hiruzen's mistakes, the most painful was probably his carelessness with the boy Uzumaki Naruto. Naruto – an orphan who was stigmatized as a Jinchuriki lacked the necessary support and guidance. The Third Hokage's lack of concern not only made Naruto more lonely, but also increased his desire for acceptance.