Naruto Columns
02/19/2024
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Tobirama's Birthday on 2/19! Looking Back on the Second Hokage Who Protected Konoha as It Grew, Eyes Fixed on the World of the Future!
A column celebrating the birthdays and achievements of everyone's favorite ninja!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the man who greatly contributed to the development of Konoha as its Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju!
Today we'll be reminiscing about the man who greatly contributed to the development of Konoha as its Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju!
■Tobirama Senju
・Birthday: February 19th (Pisces)
・Favorite Food: Fresh river fish
Supporting His Brother As a Strategic Leader
Tobirama is born into the Senju Clan amidst a war-torn world.
Beginning from when he is just a boy, he uses his intelligence and pragmatism to support his brother Hashirama as a strategist for the sake of their clan.
Beginning from when he is just a boy, he uses his intelligence and pragmatism to support his brother Hashirama as a strategist for the sake of their clan.
"ADULTS ARE STUPID.
IF THEY WANNA GET RID OF WARS...
...THEY OUGHT TO JUST SIGN PACTS AND STOP FIGHTING."
"FORTHCOMING SHINOBI MUST...
...SUPPRESS THEIR EMOTIONS, CREATE SUITABLE RULES THAT THEY THEN FOLLOW, AND AVOID EXTRANEOUS CONFLICT."
After countless years of conflict, the battle between the Senju and Uchiha clans finally draws to a close.
With the founding of Konoha, Tobirama's political acumen proves to be a great asset.
With the founding of Konoha, Tobirama's political acumen proves to be a great asset.
"WE'RE GOING TO ADMINISTER THINGS DEMOCRATICALLY FROM NOW ON...
ANY DISAGREEMENT?"
Occasionally stepping in to keep Hashirama's idealism in check, he does his best to nurture the roots of the Leaf Village.
Furthermore, after the spread of the hidden village system throughout the ninja world and the establishment of the other four major villages, Tobirama takes an important role in diplomacy as well.
Furthermore, after the spread of the hidden village system throughout the ninja world and the establishment of the other four major villages, Tobirama takes an important role in diplomacy as well.
He plans the distribution of the Tailed Beasts among the villages, carefully considering the balance of power while also advancing Konoha's interests. Tobirama's skill in governance provides a stable structure for Konoha as the village grows.
As the Second Hokage
Tobirama follows in his brother's footsteps and becomes the Second Hokage.
His many impressive achievements are passed down to future generations.
One example of this is his development of numerous jutsu.
His many impressive achievements are passed down to future generations.
One example of this is his development of numerous jutsu.
・Shadow Doppelganger Jutsu
A ninjutsu that divides the user's chakra, creating a physical doppelganger.
When the doppelganger is dispelled, its experiences and knowledge are transferred to the original body, so this technique was most likely developed for the purpose of reconnaissance.
When the doppelganger is dispelled, its experiences and knowledge are transferred to the original body, so this technique was most likely developed for the purpose of reconnaissance.
・Flying Raijin Jutsu
A ninjutsu that transports the user to marked coordinates.
This ninjutsu was Tobirama's calling card even before the founding of the Hidden Leaf Village.
This ninjutsu was Tobirama's calling card even before the founding of the Hidden Leaf Village.
・Reanimation Jutsu
A forbidden technique that calls the dead back to the world of the living.
Planting letter bombs on revived enemies and having them walk back behind their own lines, or reviving them to extract information, it has many effective applications during wartime.
Planting letter bombs on revived enemies and having them walk back behind their own lines, or reviving them to extract information, it has many effective applications during wartime.
All of the ninjutsu he develops share a quality: they eliminate the need for allies to risk their lives.
They are built with the clear purpose of weakening the enemy efficiently.
For Tobirama, who lived through an age of violent conflict and watched many ninja meet their ends, the most important question must have been: How can one save as many allies as possible?
Looking at the battles he takes part in after being revived by his own Reanimation Jutsu during the Fourth Great Ninja War, it's clear he also has a keen eye for tactics.
They are built with the clear purpose of weakening the enemy efficiently.
For Tobirama, who lived through an age of violent conflict and watched many ninja meet their ends, the most important question must have been: How can one save as many allies as possible?
Looking at the battles he takes part in after being revived by his own Reanimation Jutsu during the Fourth Great Ninja War, it's clear he also has a keen eye for tactics.
Counterattacks using Shadow Doppelgangers to return enemy attacks via the Flying Raijin Jutsu, coordinating with Minato who is skilled at the technique himself, taking advantage of his status as a reanimated being to launch self-destructive attacks...his strategies make maximum use of the techniques he created.
Plus, from his emboldening words to his allies, his experience as former commander-in-chief of Konoha is starkly apparent.
Looking to the World of the Future and Passing On the Will of Fire
"WHAT IS ALL-IMPORTANT IS THE VILLAGE.
THE VILLAGE IS THE KEYSTONE."
Always putting the village above all else, Tobirama continues to implement various policies.
He greatly deepens his understanding of his former enemies, the Uchiha Clan, for that same purpose, searching for ways they can contribute to the village.
As Hokage, he seems to focus the most on training the next generation in order to leave the future in their hands.
Tobirama has many pupils, chief among them Hiruzen Sarutobi, the man who later succeeds him as Hokage. Those to whom he passes down the Will of Fire are fated to play central roles in the story of the village.
Some time later, Tobirama and his subordinates find themselves in a hopeless situation against the Hidden Cloud, and he takes it upon himself to distract the enemy so the others can escape.
"NO, I WILL GO AND PLAY THE LURE, OF COURSE...
YOU ALL ARE THE YOUNG WILLS OF FIRE WHO WILL BE DEFENDING OUR VILLAGE IN THE FUTURE."
"SARU...
LOVE THE VILLAGE AND PROTECT THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN YOU.
DEVELOP THOSE WHO WILL BE ABLE TO PROTECT THE NEXT ERA...
STARTING TOMORROW...
...YOU ARE HOKAGE...!!"
Tobirama entrusts the mantle of village leader to Hiruzen, choosing to die as he has lived, following the path he walked as Hokage to its end.
While Hashirama and Madara were always chasing their dreams of the future, Tobirama was ever thinking of the village's future...the world of the future.
It is surely no lie to call him a great Hokage.
While Hashirama and Madara were always chasing their dreams of the future, Tobirama was ever thinking of the village's future...the world of the future.
It is surely no lie to call him a great Hokage.
Article and Composition: Yuichi Ohba (Caramel mama)
That's all for Tobirama's birthday column!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the logical brilliance and single-minded commitment of Tobirama Senju!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the logical brilliance and single-minded commitment of Tobirama Senju!
This site includes machine-translated texts for some news articles. Please be aware that you might find some unusual expressions that are difficult to understand.
