Could a Ninja Stronger Than Madara Uchiha Really Die So Easily?

Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, wasn’t just the founder of the Hidden Leaf Village—he was arguably the strongest shinobi in history. With his unique Wood Release, born from combining Earth and Water natures, Hashirama commanded respect from allies and enemies alike. Even Madara Uchiha, his lifelong rival, feared his power. While Naruto may have been the strongest of his era, Hashirama was the original benchmark of greatness—making the mystery around his death even more puzzling.

Why Did Hashirama Senju Die?

Hashirama’s death remains shrouded in mystery, which feels odd given his legendary strength. One fan even compared his power to stopping a raging flood with just his Wood Release—a feat that illustrates how absurdly strong he was. He accomplished countless things in his life, but the exact cause of his death was never clearly explained in the manga or anime, leading to fan theories and debates to this day.

Was the Strongest Shinobi in History Really Killed by Kakuzu?

Hashirama Senju is widely considered the most powerful shinobi ever. So how could someone like Kakuzu from the Akatsuki claim to have killed him? In Chapter 336 of the Naruto

manga, Kakuzu boasts about surviving many battles and even fighting Hashirama. However, this statement is often misunderstood. He says he fought the First Hokage—not that he defeated or killed him. There’s no official confirmation that Kakuzu caused Hashirama’s death.

There was a long-standing translation mistake that misled many fans. In the original Japanese version, Kakuzu says he fought the First Hokage—not that he defeated him. However, early Vietnamese translations incorrectly used “defeated,” leading fans to believe Kakuzu had killed Hashirama. In reality, Kakuzu simply clashed with him and survived, which is impressive, but far from a victory.

Many fans were misled by a mistranslated line and an illustration showing a young shinobi resembling Hashirama, leading to the belief Kakuzu had defeated him. In fact, the shinobi pictured was from the Sand Village, not the First Hokage. Kakuzu never stood a real chance. The mystery around Hashirama’s death remains unsolved, as unlike the Second, Third, or Fourth Hokage, his passing was never explained by Kishimoto—fueling ongoing fan theories.

Some fans believe Hashirama’s unique Wood Release—derived from his rare Kekkei Genkai—may have contributed to his death. Unlike others in the Senju clan, only he possessed this ability naturally. Given how much strain such power could place on the body, similar to how Sasuke’s Mangekyō Sharingan nearly blinded him, overuse of his abilities might have led to long-term damage or an early death.

Hashirama’s unique power, the Wood Release, likely contributed to his death, but not in the same way as Uchiha techniques that can be replaced. High-level jutsu, like Rasengan or Chidori, can strain the body, as Naruto and Sasuke were warned. For Hashirama, there was no way to “replace” or heal his unique ability’s toll. His unmatched power was both his greatest strength and eventual downfall.

Hashirama’s constant battles, especially against Madara, likely wore him down over time. His repeated use of powerful jutsu would have taken a toll on his body, leading to eventual exhaustion. While the exact cause of his death isn’t specified, this theory fits well with the narrative: no one is invincible, and great power often comes with a heavy price.