Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju were childhood friends who shared a dream of establishing peace between the conflicting Uchiha and Senju clans in the anime ‘Naruto’. However, their friendship turned sideways as circumstances and situations led Madara down a path of hatred towards Hashirama.
While they worked together initially to find the hidden village of Konohagakure, ideological differences eventually caused Madara to leave the village in his own pursuit of his goals. Their relationship has been one of the most compelling and interesting rivalries in the lore of Naruto.
The Loss Of Izuna Was The Root Of Animosity Of Madara Uchiha
One of the major reasons for Madara’s hatred was the death of his brother Izuna during the final battles with Senju. Izuna was the final surviving member of Madara’s family, and losing him broke Madara down emotionally.
He took Izuna’s eyes to obtain the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, fueling his desire for vengeance. While Izuna’s death was not at the hands of Hashirama, Madara still blamed him for being a Senju. Madara felt Hashirama had failed to protect Izuna as promised, breaking their friendship.
Another major reason for Madara’s animosity was his view that the newly formed Konohagakure was being dominated by the Senju clan under Hashirama’s leadership. Hashirama’s appointment as Hokage and the influence of Senju’s sidelined that of the Uchichas.
He feared that his clan would lose their place in the village and his worries were amplified by Hashirama’s contrasting approach compared to Madara’s more dominating one. The lack of faith in Hashirama’s leadership and his supposed bias towards his clan fed Madara’s bitterness and hatred over time.
Madara’s Clan Turning On Him Only Fueled His Emotions
Madara’s increasingly volatile behavior due to the intensity of his hatred alienated him from his own clan members over time. They grew tired of his refusal to accept peace with the Senju and the subsequent unnecessary losses inflicted on the Uchicha as a result.
When Hashirama expressed his views of establishing Konoha which offered to end to the losses, most Uchihas were ready for a compromise despite Madara’s objections. His taking of Izuna’s eyes was also seen as disrespectful by his clan members and due to this started siding with the more level-headed Hashirama rather than him.
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Feeling betrayed by his clan’s rejection, his hatred only deepened and the sense of isolation drove him to even more extreme measures in his quest for power and revenge. Madara’s hatred for Hashirama was born from circumstances beyond either of their control but intensified due to leadership differences, perceived betrayals, and the deep sadness of loss which sent him down a path of unreturnable conflict.
While they initially fought on the same still while establishing Konoha, things within and outside their control transformed their bond of friendship into one of anime’s most turbulent rivalries.
