Naruto: Why Was Hiruzen The Longest Serving Hokage?

Known as the “Professor” for his almost encyclopedic knowledge of Konohagakure’s treasured ninjutsu techniques, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was hailed as one of the strongest Kage of his time in Naruto. He took on his post as Hokage under extremely trying circumstances, as his mentor, Tobirama Senju, was forced to sacrifice himself in order to allow his subordinates to escape a skirmish with Kumogakure’s Kinkaku Force during the First Shinobi World War. While his reign saw two more such conflicts occur, he was able to guide his village to a period of relative peace and stability by the start of Naruto’s main storyline.