A very good story is told here, of past times, before the villages existed. Hashirama tells how he met Madara: the young Uchiha was throwing stones through a small river, trying to reach the other edge, but failed. A young Hashirama came from behind, threw another stone and reached the other edge. He tried to teach Madara to throw it from upper height. The Uchiha says he knows and asks who he is, and the other said his rival in throwing stones to the shore. He also gives his name. Madara throws it again, and when fails, he accuses Hashirama of making him nervous. Because of the shouting, Hashirama gets down, like depressed. Madara apologizes, but when the other laughs saying he is better, he shouts at him again. Saddened again, Hashirama accepts to leave, but looks Madara doesn't want that. Suddenly, a body comes floating by the river, Hashirama reaches it, and realizes is from the clan Hagoromo. He has to go, and tells Madara to do the same. Before leaving, Madara gives his name, but both agree not to reveal their surnames as a ninja rule. At that point, Hashirama tells that both knew they were ninjas, with different personalities, but felt they were like friends, who knew why they were at the river. He continues the story: Hashirama soon found out that one of his brothers, Kawarama Senju, was killed in battle against the clan Hagoromo, and the Uchiha clan. As Kawarama was buried, Itama Senju cried, but their father Butsuma ordered to be strong, shinobis don't cry, born to die fighting. Hashirama was affected as well, as his deceased brother was only seven years old. He wondered when the war was going to end, so his father said until the enemies are gone, is not easy to end a war. But Hashirama was upset, telling if he was going to sacrifice children for that. Butsuma got furious and hit him, considering those words an insult for Kawarama who died fighting, was not a kid. The other two brothers comforted Hashirama, who instead kept arguing. He doesn't want to lose his brothers, and asked his father what means to be a worth ninja, and that the Senju clan is full of love. They are adults guiding children to death, just like the Uchihas. Butsuma said that they respected their enemy, if they sent children to fight, are enemies as well. And turn children in worthy ninjas means to love them. Hashirama kept shouting if dying is becoming a worthy ninja, all is to kill and be killed without knowing how started, saying their surnames is dangerous, this world of ninjas is wrong. Butsuma again attempted to hit his son, but this time Tobirama defended him, by saying he was affected. Their father accepted, and told his son to calm down, then he left them alone. Later, Tobirama says what he thinks: adults are stupids because to stop the war they only need to reach an agreement. Itama ponders about deceased family members and discontent, so his brother tells that he will die if he keeps thinking like that. The adults are on fire because of that. Ninjas must repress their emotions, create rules and follow them. Hashirama wonders if a true agreement, an alliance is possible. He keeps commenting the story, and says that the life expectancy rate was around 30 years, lowered because the amount of children who died. It's revealed that then, Itama was killed by the Uchihas, his family didn't arrive in time. A young Hashirama cried his brother. The next time at the river, Madara found his friend depressed, and asked him what happened. He kept insisting until Hashirama told that his brother died. The Senju said that by staring at the river he felt that the sad feelings left on its course. When asked if he had brothers, Madara said he had four. For him, the only way to stop war is to tell what they think without hiding anything, and reach an agreement. But that's impossible, no one can know what the other person really thinks inside. Still, he hopes that one day in the river he will find a way, as he now succesfully manages to throw a stone to the other shore. Hashirama comments how he found someone else who thought like him, like a divine signal. Madara teased Hashirama's clothes and hairstyle making him "depress". Anyway, they kept meeting each other, and trained, had friendly fights to test their abilities, jutsus, and they talked about the future. They agreed that if they showed adults how strong they were, would be listened. One time, they challenged each other to a race escalating a cliff. When they reached the edge, they sit, and watched the forest landscape. Madara said he surely had better sight, so when Hashirama became suspicious of the way he talked about his eyes, he avoided the subject. Madara recalls how he was not good enough to protect his brothers, and only one is left. Both have one brother left and wish to protect him. Hashirama then thought about the idea of a village, where missions and rank, would be assigned by veterans, and children wouldn't be sent to die. Madara thought it was a stupid idea at first, but then he agreed, that way he could protect his brother keeping an eye on him. Hashirama decided that way to hold on to make that dream come true. That place would be later named Konohagakure. But soon after that encounter, Tobirama and Butsuma faced Hashirama. His brother followed him one time, and their father investigated, Madara is an Uchiha and killed some adult members of the Senju. He is a talented powerful ninja. Hashirama assured he didn't know that Madara was an Uchiha, so Butsuma gave him a mission: to not be considered a spy, next time, follow Madara, and gather information. If he finds out, kill him. This left the young Hashirama frozen.
The story tells that the past ninja world was cruel, and worst than the latter. Children sent to die, fathers treating their sons like weapons. A first thing to question is where was the mother's role, or if sisters ever existed. Once again, the role of women, female characters was oblivied. What happened to Hashirama's mother? That's one reason to low the rating of the episode. The rest, was pretty good. Butsuma Senju was a harsh father, nothing like his son. He seemingly loved his children, but not in the right civilized way. Hashirama was right to stand, defend his brothers and question the ninja world. His personality is likable, he was serious, brave enough, strong, not fearful of his father. And his sudden "depression mode", simply says he is sensible, he doesn't hide his emotions. I like how he can feel down when someone mistreats him, like understimating himself. Hashirama is being modest, humble. Then, Tobirama really acted like he thought, and repressed his feelings given his brother's death. But he also was loyal to his family, and protected Hashirama from their father. He may be strong minded and harsh, but he loves his brother and wishes for an agreement just like Hashirama. He doesn't like either children dying. At the end, if he followed his brother was because he probably missed him, and had to find out what he was doing. And obviously, he had to tell their father for Hashirama's sake. And this leads to the friendship. Unlike in Naruto and Sasuke's case, here was pretty natural. Hashirama and Madara found each other at the river to compete with each other, somehow play, share ideas, thoughts in common about the clan war, their brothers. Each one found a friend, that person who is not family but is the same age, and can understand the same things, as he shares similar experiences. And that's how the dream of Konoha was born.
The story tells that the past ninja world was cruel, and worst than the latter. Children sent to die, fathers treating their sons like weapons. A first thing to question is where was the mother's role, or if sisters ever existed. Once again, the role of women, female characters was oblivied. What happened to Hashirama's mother? That's one reason to low the rating of the episode. The rest, was pretty good. Butsuma Senju was a harsh father, nothing like his son. He seemingly loved his children, but not in the right civilized way. Hashirama was right to stand, defend his brothers and question the ninja world. His personality is likable, he was serious, brave enough, strong, not fearful of his father. And his sudden "depression mode", simply says he is sensible, he doesn't hide his emotions. I like how he can feel down when someone mistreats him, like understimating himself. Hashirama is being modest, humble. Then, Tobirama really acted like he thought, and repressed his feelings given his brother's death. But he also was loyal to his family, and protected Hashirama from their father. He may be strong minded and harsh, but he loves his brother and wishes for an agreement just like Hashirama. He doesn't like either children dying. At the end, if he followed his brother was because he probably missed him, and had to find out what he was doing. And obviously, he had to tell their father for Hashirama's sake. And this leads to the friendship. Unlike in Naruto and Sasuke's case, here was pretty natural. Hashirama and Madara found each other at the river to compete with each other, somehow play, share ideas, thoughts in common about the clan war, their brothers. Each one found a friend, that person who is not family but is the same age, and can understand the same things, as he shares similar experiences. And that's how the dream of Konoha was born.
