ive watched up to the latest episode of naruto and iv always been wondering (maybe iv missed it) as to why Sarutobi is the Third Hokage if there is already a Fourth Hokage? did the Fourth die and the third who was hokage before him took over again or something?

Well yes, if you were paying attention to the first couple of episodes you would have got that, they do go back. Well maybe you should have just payed attention to all of the episodes. Yes the 4th Hokage died sacrificing himself to save Konoha from destruction of the Kyuubi. Thus when the 4th died, the 3rd came out of retirement and viola there you go.

Yes i belive you would find that out in the first 10 or so episodes

It should've been explained in the first, alone. That whole opening sequence, pretty much.

Geesh, I hope he didnt join just to say that, that would be horrible.

Most do. One post and leave, never return, or get scared away.

O well...his loss

yep this is explained in the first episode I believe, or at least in the first 10.

It really was explained in the first anime episode that the Fourth died when he sealed Kyuubi inside Naruto, but I don't remember any explanation why the Third became Hokage again after Fourth's death. Why didn't Konoha choose Fifth Hokage after Fouth's death. Well, I think it doesn't matter anyway...

I think that at the time of the crisis a choice for a fifth would have been hard because of all the troubles and the 3rd came back on as an emergency and was hence forth put as the Hokage again.

That and probably no one else was qualified for the job.

yeah i do remember what happend with the kyuubi i just sort of assumed when the fourth hokage was appointed that the third was dead or killed

Well it is more likely that the 3rd retired and chose a 4th. Then the 3rd had to come out of retirement because the legendary sannin couldn't be found. And also he was the most qualified.

Well, I think that this topic has been resolved. I believe a mod can close this now.