Though it’s well known that the conception of Naruto is deeply rooted in an admiration of Dragon Ball, one character’s earliest concept art rips an idea straight out of Toriyama’s series. In Masashi Kishimoto’s first sketch of what the Hokages were originally intended to look like, the Third Hokage looks completely unfamiliar. Similar to the “World President” of Dragon Ball, the Third Hokage was initially designed to be an anthropomorphic dog.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was first introduced in Naruto chapter 1 as an old man in charge of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Only later do readers find out that the Hokage is widely regarded as the most powerful ninja in the entire village. With such a seemingly ordinary appearance, this reveal was no doubt a shock to many first-time readers. However, the original design for Hiruzen Sarutobi would have made this revelation even more jaw-dropping.
In Naruto Secret: Scroll of Facing Character Official Databook, Kishimoto’s concept art reveals that Hiruzen Sarutobi was originally an anthropomorphic dog character. It's unclear at what point Kishimoto began to move away from this idea. The Third Hokage that made it to Naruto's official serialization was a much more worldly old man than the intimidating dog-like figure in Kishimoto’s concept art. This change may have come about because of the Third Hokage’s role in the Leaf Village Invasion arc. It seems as if the Third Hokage was always destined to sacrifice his life in order to stop Orochimaru, and so perhaps Kishimoto believed that a more feeble looking man past his prime was better suited in this role.
The Third Hokage’s original design is a far cry from what eventually appeared in Naruto’s serialization. The dog-like creature in Kishimoto’s original sketch isn’t even fully drawn in, which has led some fans to believe that this version would have actually been the size of a dog, similar to Kakashi’s squadron of talking dogs. Though the design was eventually scrapped, there is no doubt that it would have brought some much needed variety to the world of Naruto.
The Third Hokage isn’t a particularly iconic character design in his own right, and is more memorable for the part he played in shaping the world and story of Naruto. There is no telling how popular the original incarnation of the Third Hokage could have become if he'd represented the introduction of anthropomorphic animals into Naruto.
Source: Naruto Secret: Scroll of Facing Character Official Databook