How did Madara and Hashirama meet?

As children, on a riverbank, competing at skipping stones, without knowing at first that they belonged to the rival Uchiha and Senju clans. They shared the dream of a world without war for children.

Why did Madara leave Konoha?

Passed over for the post of Hokage (Hashirama is chosen in his place because of Tobirama's distrust), Madara feared the marginalization of the Uchiha clan; he loses faith in the village and leaves it.

Who won the duel at the Valley of the End?

Hashirama. Madara, who controlled Kurama with his Sharingan, is defeated by Hashirama's Mokuton and Sage Mode, and believed dead. Kurama is then sealed inside Mito Uzumaki.

How did Madara survive?

He faked his death. Having transplanted cells from Hashirama, he awakens the Rinnegan at an advanced age, bequeaths his eyes to Nagato and his plans to Obito, then returns later via Edo Tensei.

Why are there two statues at the Valley of the End?

They depict Hashirama and Madara, carved in memory of their legendary duel, on either side of the waterfall.

Madara et Hashirama : l'amitié fondatrice de Konoha

Madara and Hashirama: The Friendship That Founded Konoha

July 9, 2026

1237 words | Reading time: 7 min

CharacterHashiramaKonoha

Two children on a riverbank dreamed of a world without war. From that friendship between an Uchiha and a Senju was born Konohagakure, the first ninja village, of which Hashirama became the First Hokage and the God of Shinobi. The story follows the split — Tobirama imposes a village selection that sidelines Madara — then the duel at the Valley of the End, Kurama controlled by the Sharingan against Wood Release (Mokuton), and the secret survival of the defeated one.

Two children who dreamed of peace, who became the greatest rivals in ninja history: the broken friendship of Madara and Hashirama is the foundation of the entire Naruto universe. Here is their story.

Two Children on a Riverbank
The Founding of Konoha
The Split
The Duel at the Valley of the End
Madara's Secret Survival
Summary Table
FAQ

Two Children on a Riverbank

As children, Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju meet on a riverbank, competing in a friendly game of skipping stones — without knowing at first that they belong to the two rival clans, the Uchiha and the Senju. Both having lost brothers in battle, they share the same dream: a world where children would no longer die in war. On discovering their origins, however, they are forced to part ways and to fight each other, each having become the head of his clan.

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Seen from behind, two children on a pebble bank facing a tree-lined river: one crouching in a light-colored robe, the other standing in a dark blue kimono, with spiky black hair. — The two boys cross paths at the water's edge before they even know they belong to enemy clans.

The Founding of Konoha

As adults, they make peace and together found Konohagakure, the very first ninja village in history. Hashirama becomes its First Hokage: nicknamed the "God of Shinobi", he is the only one to have naturally awakened Mokuton (the Wood Release element), a power capable of taming the tailed beasts.

Two men in period dress shake hands in front of two hangings, one blue bearing a red-and-white fan, the other purple; two groups of men watch them from either side of the courtyard. — Peace between the two clans is sealed before their assembled members: this is the founding act of the first ninja village.

The Split

Contrary to popular belief, this is not a rivalry of ambition: on the contrary, Hashirama wanted Madara to become Hokage. It is his brother Tobirama, out of distrust, who imposes a selection by the village — one that sidelines Madara. Feeling rejected and fearing that the Uchiha Clan would be marginalized, Madara eventually leaves Konoha.

🗿 A fan of this legendary duel? Find it in our Naruto posters.

The Duel at the Valley of the End

Madara returns to face Hashirama, bringing under his control the Nine-Tailed Fox, Kurama, whom he enslaves with his Sharingan. The fight takes place at the Valley of the End: thanks to his Mokuton and his Sage Mode, Hashirama wins, and Madara is believed dead. Kurama is then sealed inside Mito Uzumaki, the first jinchuriki. In memory of the duel, two monumental statues of the two rivals are carved on either side of the waterfall.

Under a full moon, a giant multi-tailed fox roars amid enormous roots and wooden trunks overrunning the landscape; a figure with spiky black hair stands on one of these structures. — The Nine-Tailed Fox, now under control, runs up against the wooden structures Hashirama raises from the ground.

Madara's Secret Survival

In reality, Madara survived and went into hiding. Having taken cells from Hashirama, he transplants them into himself, awakens much later the Rinnegan, then secretly transplants his eyes into the young Nagato and entrusts his plans to Obito before dying of old age. He returns only afterward, reanimated by the Edo Tensei (Reanimation Jutsu) during the Fourth Great Ninja War. It is revealed only later that the two founders are the reincarnations of Asura and Indra, the sons of the Sage of the Six Paths — a cycle that will continue with Naruto and Sasuke.

Close-up in dim light on the wrinkled face of an old man with long, spiky white hair; his only visible eye is red, marked with black patterns. — Presumed dead at the Valley of the End, Madara in fact grew old in hiding, long enough to prepare his succession.

Summary Table

Aspect	Details
Meeting	As children, on a riverbank; rival Uchiha/Senju clans unknown at first; dream of a world without war
Founding	Creation of Konohagakure, the first ninja village; Hashirama, First Hokage and "God of Shinobi"
Split	Hashirama wanted Madara as Hokage; Tobirama imposes a village selection that sidelines him
Duel	Valley of the End: Madara controls Kurama via the Sharingan; Hashirama wins (Mokuton + Sage Mode)
Survival	Madara fakes his death, transplants Hashirama's cells, awakens the Rinnegan, returns via Edo Tensei

FAQ

How did Madara and Hashirama meet?
As children, on a riverbank, competing at skipping stones, without knowing at first that they belonged to the rival Uchiha and Senju clans. They shared the dream of a world without war for children.
Why did Madara leave Konoha?
Passed over for the post of Hokage (Hashirama is chosen in his place because of Tobirama's distrust), Madara feared the marginalization of the Uchiha clan; he loses faith in the village and leaves it.
Who won the duel at the Valley of the End?
Hashirama. Madara, who controlled Kurama with his Sharingan, is defeated by Hashirama's Mokuton and Sage Mode, and believed dead. Kurama is then sealed inside Mito Uzumaki.
How did Madara survive?
He faked his death. Having transplanted cells from Hashirama, he awakens the Rinnegan at an advanced age, bequeaths his eyes to Nagato and his plans to Obito, then returns later via Edo Tensei.
Why are there two statues at the Valley of the End?
They depict Hashirama and Madara, carved in memory of their legendary duel, on either side of the waterfall.

In summary

From friendship to hatred, Madara and Hashirama shaped the entire ninja world — and sealed a cycle that their heirs, Naruto and Sasuke, will in turn have to face.