Madara's Hatred for Hashirama: Rooted in Ideological Conflict, Betrayal, and Destiny

The enmity between Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju has long been a focal point of the Naruto series. Their relationship is a testament to the complexity of hatred and the intricate web of fate that ties the fates of the shinobi world together. This article explores the various factors that contributed to Madara's profound hatred for Hashirama.

Ideological Differences

Madara and Hashirama had fundamentally different views on how peace should be achieved. Madara, driven by a belief in power and control, believed that true peace could only be attained through dominance. In contrast, Hashirama advocated for cooperation and understanding between the clans. This ideological clash intensified their rivalry and ultimately fueled Madara's hatred.

Personal Rivalry

As childhood friends, Madara and Hashirama had a strong bond. However, as they grew older, their relationship soured. Madara felt betrayed by Hashirama's commitment to the Senju clan and the village they were building, which he saw as a rejection of their shared dream of uniting the clans. This personal betrayal intensified Madara's hatred and made him view Hashirama as an obstacle to his goals.

Loss and Betrayal

The death of Madara's brother Izuna at the hands of Tobirama Senju played a significant role in shaping Madara's feelings. While he did not directly direct his hatred toward Tobirama, Izuna's death was a pivotal moment that fueled Madara's desire for revenge against the Senju as a whole. Hashirama, as the epitome of the Senju clan, represented the culmination of this conflict for Madara.

Failure to Achieve Peace

Madara perceived Hashirama's efforts to create lasting peace as a failure. Even after the formation of the Hidden Leaf Village, Madara believed that the fragile peace was built on a foundation of lies and that true peace was unattainable without greater power. This misperception contributed to his resentment and fueled his desire for dominance.

Theory 1: Friendship and Betrayal

One theory suggests that Madara held Hashirama's brother Izuna's death against him more because he saw Hashirama as his best friend. Madara believed that Hashirama could have stood up for him and his clan, but chose not to for his own clan's sake, which Madara perceived as selfish. This belief that hate can be equally powerful as love led Madara to view Hashirama's actions as a betrayal, deepening his hatred.

Theory 2: Destiny and Rivalry

Another theory posits that Madara and Hashirama were destined to fight each other as reincarnations of Indra and Ashura. This idea also applies to Naruto and Sasuke, who share a similar dynamic. The fact that Naruto ended up being a good person despite his trials, where Gaara and Obito did not, raises questions. However, the show portrays Naruto's good character as a result of reincarnation and destiny. Had he not been reincarnated as Ashura, it is uncertain if he would have turned out as good as he did. Similarly, Sasuke's difficult path and nature reflect his reincarnated role as Indra, leading to the conclusion that Madara and Hashirama's conflict was inevitable and written to show the repeating cycles of history with Indra and Ashura.