Naruto Columns
12/24/2023
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Madara's Birthday on 12/24! Looking Back on the Legendary Uchiha and His Solitary Fight to Create a World of Dreams!
A column celebrating the birthdays and achievements of everyone's favorite ninja!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the peerless shinobi who, despite having his name carved into history alongside that of First Hokage Hashirama, revives in Naruto's age: Madara Uchiha!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the peerless shinobi who, despite having his name carved into history alongside that of First Hokage Hashirama, revives in Naruto's age: Madara Uchiha!
■Madara Uchiha
・Birthday: December 24th (Capricorn)
・Favorite Food: Inari sushi
Heir of the Uchiha Clan, Born in a Time of Strife
It's the Era of Warring States, when ninja repay blood with blood.
Madara is born as the eldest son of Tajima Uchiha, head of the Uchiha Clan.
Madara is born as the eldest son of Tajima Uchiha, head of the Uchiha Clan.
He later meets Hashirama, with whom his fate will be intertwined.
"WE'RE SHINOBI.
WE NEVER KNOW WHEN WE MIGHT DIE.
IF THERE WERE TO BE A WAY WHERE NEITHER SIDE HAD TO DIE...
...IT'D BE WHERE BOTH SIDES REVEALED THEIR BELLIES, HID NOTHING FROM EACH OTHER...
...AND POURED EACH OTHER DRINKS AND DRANK TOGETHER LIKE BROTHERS."
Both boys want to change the war-torn era they live in, and the two forge a deep connection through this shared dream.
However, their paths are destined to diverge.
Madara and Hashirama turn from friends to foes when their opposing family ties are revealed. And while they have many subsequent encounters, those take place upon the battlefield.
As the war drags on, Madara loses his last remaining brother, Izuna—spurring him to launch an all-out offensive against the Senju.
After a duel that goes on for an entire day, Madara is defeated by Hashirama, but proceeds to test his old friend by forcing an impossible choice on him.
As a result, the two of them are able to show their cards and find a way to trust each other, and they decide to work together.
As a result, the two of them are able to show their cards and find a way to trust each other, and they decide to work together.
After the war, Madara and Hashirama found their own village, and it seems the dream they shared has finally been realized...but it's not long before Madara strikes off on his own path.
Giving Up on His Clan, Sights Set on "Dreams of the Far Future"
Public support results in Hashirama being chosen as First Hokage, and Madara fears this will ultimately lead to the annihilation of the Uchiha.
He is alienated from his clan members—none of whom share his concerns—and leaves Konoha on his own, having committed himself to a different course...
...in pursuit of his true dream for the future.
...in pursuit of his true dream for the future.
"I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BATTLES WE'LL FIGHT...
...UP UNTIL THE TIME I ACHIEVE MY TRUE DREAM."
The Final Battle
Some time after his departure, Madara returns to attack the village, as if seeking to destroy his previous dream. Hashirama confronts him, and the two go head-to-head.
The intensity of the battle between these two elite shinobi shatters the earth, rends mountains, and splits the sea as their godlike powers clash.
Throwing barbs reminiscent of the days they were stone-skipping rivals, Madara wears his opponent down.
However, Hashirama manages to take advantage of a momentary lapse in Madara's guard, and stabs him through the heart.
However, Hashirama manages to take advantage of a momentary lapse in Madara's guard, and stabs him through the heart.
The legendary shinobi Madara Uchiha is believed to have met a tragic end that day, his life taken by a man he once called friend.
But after many years pass, he emerges once more.
But after many years pass, he emerges once more.
Passing On His Name and Will
Madara, who has survived beyond his time hidden deep underground, has an unlikely encounter wherein he saves the life of a young Uchiha named Obito.
"...TO SEVER THE FATE OF THIS WORLD.
A WORLD OF ONLY VICTORS.
A WORLD OF ONLY PEACE.
A WORLD OF ONLY LOVE.
I SHALL CREATE SUCH WORLDS."
Madara may have disappeared from the spotlight, but he never gave up on his "dreams of the far future".
He passes them on to Obito along with his name, entrusting the boy with the preparations for building their new world.
With that, Madara descends into a temporary slumber.
He passes them on to Obito along with his name, entrusting the boy with the preparations for building their new world.
With that, Madara descends into a temporary slumber.
Madara's Revival: A Peerless Performance
Madara steps onto the stage once more, revived by the Reanimation Jutsu during the Fourth Great Ninja War engineered by Obito and his allies.
Starting with the Tsuchikage, Ohnoki, Madara takes on the Allied Shinobi Forces alone, putting on an impressive show by using his fire style jutsu, Sharingan, Susano'o, and Rinnegan in quick succession to dominate the battlefield.
He even drops giant meteorites, showing power beyond human understanding that breaks the morale of the shinobi opposing him.
He even drops giant meteorites, showing power beyond human understanding that breaks the morale of the shinobi opposing him.
The Allied Shinobi Forces gather together, with the Five Kage teaming up to take him on.
Yet in front of Madara's otherworldly strength, they too are overwhelmed.
Yet in front of Madara's otherworldly strength, they too are overwhelmed.
Just as Madara prepares to finish off the Five Kage with the sword of his Perfect Susano'o, the Reanimation Jutsu is undone, sending his soul to the afterlife.
Or so things would have gone...but Madara intercepts the release of the jutsu by rescinding the summoning contract from his own end and binding his soul to the reanimated body, enabling his bloody dance to go on!
Or so things would have gone...but Madara intercepts the release of the jutsu by rescinding the summoning contract from his own end and binding his soul to the reanimated body, enabling his bloody dance to go on!
After closing the curtains on his fight with the Five Kage, Madara heads to where Obito is facing off against Naruto.
Finally, he begins the last steps of "Project Tsuki no Me".
Reviving the Ten Tails, the presence of which is essential for Infinite Tsukuyomi's activation, Madara's side gains even more power to crush the Allied Shinobi Forces with.
Reunion of Old Foes
In the midst of the chaos, Madara comes face-to-face with the resurrected Hashirama, who he sees as his fated enemy.
With his "true dream" about to be realized, and the rival he delights in fighting before him, Madara's combat abilities reach their peak!
Madara enjoys his fight with Hashirama to the fullest, unleashing powers even greater than those he possessed in life. But when Obito—who had become the Ten Tails' Jinchuriki—is defeated, Madara quickly changes plans.
Using the Art of Rinne Rebirth, he is able to restore his original, living body!
Using the Art of Rinne Rebirth, he is able to restore his original, living body!
"THIS IS THE FORM, THE BODY I NEEDED!
IT'S NOT A BATTLE WITHOUT RAGING BLOOD AND A POUNDING HEART!!"
Madara Uchiha, Reinvigorated!
Now truly revived, Madara defeats Hashirama and steals his Sage Jutsu chakra, before moving on to the Tailed Beasts!
Despite taking on all nine Tailed Beasts simultaneously, Madara captures them with ease.
In addition, he extracts the Nine Tails from Naruto and stabs Sasuke, fatally injuring them both.
Having eliminated those standing in his way, Madara himself becomes the Ten Tails' Jinchuriki!
In addition, he extracts the Nine Tails from Naruto and stabs Sasuke, fatally injuring them both.
Having eliminated those standing in his way, Madara himself becomes the Ten Tails' Jinchuriki!
Madara forges onward toward the completion of his plan, despite the dogged attempts of Guy—who opens his Eight Inner Gates—and the revived Naruto and Sasuke, until finally...
...he succeeds in creating a world of dreams!!
...he succeeds in creating a world of dreams!!
All living beings are trapped in the Infinite Tsukuyomi genjutsu and drawn into an illusionary world, aside from the former Hokage resurrected by the Reanimation Jutsu, and Team Seven who were sheltered by Sasuke's Susano'o.
Madara's "dreams of the far future" are a hair's breadth from fulfillment, when suddenly—
—Black Zetsu's betrayal cuts his victory short.
The Death of a Legend
Madara's life begins to fade once the Tailed Beasts are extracted from his body.
And as his story is brought to a close, his self-declared "war buddy" comes to his side.
And as his story is brought to a close, his self-declared "war buddy" comes to his side.
"I GUESS...
NEITHER YOU...NOR I...
COULD ACHIEVE WHAT WE WANTED."
Madara and Hashirama speak of the opposing dreams they fought for, and the hopes they once shared as children.
Freed from the many things that bound him, Madara is able to return once more to simply being comrades with Hashirama, and his long, long journey chasing dreams comes to an end.
"WAR BUDDIES...HUH...
WELL...I...GUESS...
THAT'S...OKAY...BY..."
Article and Composition: Yuichi Ohba (Caramel mama)
That's all for Madara's birthday column!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the conflicts and dreams of Madara Uchiha!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the conflicts and dreams of Madara Uchiha!
