Why does Madara hate Hashirama in Naruto?

The Naruto series, created by Masashi Kishimoto, is well-known for its deep character development and intricate relationships.

Among the most compelling dynamics in the series is the relationship between Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju.

Their connection, beginning as a childhood friendship and evolving into a bitter rivalry, plays a crucial role in the narrative of Naruto.

To understand why Madara harbored such intense hatred for Hashirama, we must explore their story, which spans from the Warring States Period to the establishment of the Hidden Leaf Village and beyond.

The Genesis of a Rivalry

Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju were born into a time known as the Warring States Period, a chaotic era where ninja clans were constantly at war.

The Uchiha and Senju clans, the most powerful of their time, were sworn enemies.

Despite this, Madara and Hashirama, unaware of each other’s true identities, met by chance during their childhood.

They quickly bonded over their shared dreams of a peaceful world, free from the relentless cycle of violence that defined their lives.

This friendship, however, was undercut by the tragic reality of their respective family loyalties and the loss of their brothers in the ongoing conflict.

Their friendship began with innocent competitions and discussions about their aspirations.

These early interactions laid the foundation for a strong bond, which could have transformed their world had the circumstances been different.

However, this friendship was doomed from the start due to the violent feud between their clans.

The Shattering of Friendship

The turning point in their relationship came when Madara and Hashirama discovered each other’s true identities.

Hashirama belonged to the Senju clan, while Madara was from the Uchiha clan.

This revelation placed them on opposing sides of a conflict that had been raging for generations.

Although Hashirama remained committed to preserving their friendship, Madara found it difficult to reconcile his loyalty to his clan with his bond with Hashirama.

The deep-seated rivalry between the Uchiha and Senju made it nearly impossible for them to remain friends without betraying their families.

Madara’s internal conflict escalated after the death of his younger brother, Izuna Uchiha, who was killed by Hashirama’s brother, Tobirama Senju.

This loss deeply affected Madara, who had a strong bond with Izuna. In the Uchiha clan, siblings shared a special connection, often acting as each other’s protector.

Izuna’s death left a profound void in Madara’s heart, intensifying his hatred for the Senju clan and, by extension, Hashirama.

Madara’s grief and anger led him to embrace the Uchiha clan’s “Curse of Hatred,” a phenomenon where intense negative emotions could transform an Uchiha’s desire for peace into a quest for power and revenge.

The loss of Izuna pushed Madara towards darkness, and he began to see Hashirama not as a friend but as the embodiment of the Senju clan’s oppression.

Madara’s shift from a peace-seeking friend to a vengeful rival was now complete, fueled by a deep sense of betrayal and a desire for revenge.

Divergent Ideologies: Dreams of Peace vs. Desire for Control

Despite their shared vision of a world without war, Madara and Hashirama had fundamentally different approaches to achieving peace.

Hashirama believed in cooperation and the establishment of a system where different clans could coexist peacefully.

His ideal was to create a village where all ninja could live together harmoniously, leading to the founding of Konohagakure, the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

Madara initially supported this vision, hoping that the creation of a village would bring an end to the constant fighting.

However, over time, he grew disillusioned with Hashirama’s methods.

Madara believed that true peace could only be achieved through strength and control.

He was convinced that without a powerful leader to maintain order, the cycle of conflict would continue.

This difference in ideology created a rift between the two friends, with Madara becoming increasingly paranoid about the future of the Uchiha clan within the new village system.

Madara’s fears were not entirely unfounded.

As the village began to take shape, tensions between the Uchiha and Senju clans persisted.

Hashirama was chosen as the First Hokage, the leader of the village, despite Madara’s concerns that the Uchiha would be marginalized.

This decision reinforced Madara’s belief that the Uchiha could never truly coexist with the Senju, leading him to leave the village and pursue his vision of peace through power.

The Final Confrontation

Madara’s departure from the village marked the beginning of a series of conflicts between him and Hashirama.

Madara, believing that he was acting in the best interests of his clan and the ninja world, attacked Konohagakure multiple times, seeking to take control of the village.

His ultimate goal was to obtain the power of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, a formidable force that he believed would give him the strength to enforce his vision of peace.

The conflict between Madara and Hashirama culminated in a final battle at a place that would come to be known as the Valley of the End.

This epic confrontation was a clash of not just power but also ideals.

Hashirama fought to protect the village and the peace they had worked so hard to establish, while Madara fought to assert his belief that only through his leadership could true peace be achieved.

The battle was intense, with both warriors pushing their abilities to the limit. In the end, Hashirama emerged victorious, but the victory was bittersweet.

He was forced to kill his former friend, putting an end to their long-standing rivalry.

Even in defeat, Madara’s feelings were conflicted. He respected Hashirama’s strength and conviction but could not forgive him for choosing the village over their bond.

Legacy of Hatred and Respect

Madara’s hatred for Hashirama was complex and multifaceted.

It was not driven by a simple desire for power or domination.

Instead, it stemmed from a sense of betrayal and the loss of his brother, compounded by the ideological differences that drove them apart.

Madara felt that Hashirama had chosen the ideals of peace and the village over their friendship, a choice that Madara could not accept.

Despite this, there was an underlying respect that Madara held for Hashirama.

He recognized Hashirama as his only equal, the one person who could understand his dreams and ambitions.

This respect was evident even in their final battle, where Madara acknowledged Hashirama’s strength and leadership, despite opposing his vision for the future.

Final Words

The story of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju in Naruto is a powerful narrative that explores the complexities of friendship, loyalty, and ideology.

Their relationship, marked by both deep bonds and intense conflict, serves as a reminder of the challenges in overcoming historical animosities and achieving lasting peace.

Madara’s hatred for Hashirama was not born out of pure malice but was a tragic outcome of their circumstances and differing visions for the future.

In the end, Madara’s story is one of a dreamer whose vision of peace was tainted by loss and betrayal, leading him down a path of darkness.

Hashirama, on the other hand, remained committed to his ideals, even if it meant sacrificing his friendship.

Their tale is a poignant reflection on the nature of conflict and the difficulty of reconciling personal desires with the greater good, themes that resonate throughout the Naruto series.