Naruto: The mystery behind Hashirama Senju’s death finally explored

In the deep, rich, arcane history of Naruto, perhaps no character has been given quite the legendary stature that Hashirama Senju has. Often referred to as the First Hokage and the “God of Shinobi,” Hashirama was a warrior of unrivaled power, who established the Hidden Leaf Village and even fought against the likes of Madara Uchiha. One big mystery still exists despite all of his achievements, How did Hashirama Senju die?For decades fans have debated, and while the official canon is still murky, we now have a better picture of the man behind the myth and why his death might have been just as complicated as his life.Hashirama Senju wasn’t merely powerful. He was the most powerful shinobi of his day and age. His Wood Release jutsu, natural healing abilities, and chakra reserves were so large that even Madara Uchiha required the Nine-Tails to equal him. So how could a character like him just die off screen.The bad news is… we really don’t know. Kishimoto never provided a satisfactory answer for Hashirama’s demise in the original Naruto manga. As with anything else that isn’t explicitly stated in the manga or databooks, we’re left to make educated guesses based on the scant evidence found throughout the manga.Some go as far as to say that Hashirama died from his wounds received in battle or due to a slow degradation from health due to overexerting his life force. Sadly, his miraculous regenerative abilities weren’t for free. Perhaps it was using them too often, or maybe it was the back-breaking wars he waged while keeping peace in a delicate new town that ultimately dulled even “God of Shinobi.”Legends among modern fans and ninjas claim he was killed in battle during the First Great Ninja War, protecting Konoha in those formative and frail early years. Though unconfirmed, this fits well with the time period’s bloody ambience and Hashirama’s character to self-sacrifice in order to spare others.The legacy of Hashirama certainly isn’t. His ideals of peace, unity, and protection would go on to become the foundation for Konoha’s future. Even in death, his legacy continued—molding generations of shinobi, most prominently a little blond boy by the name of Naruto Uzumaki.Tobirama, his little brother and successor, continued Hashirama’s legacy, albeit with harsher policies as a default. Tsunade, his granddaughter, would inherit not only his chakra genius but his vision of a serene village free from conflict. Madara, his ultimate opponent, was tormented by Hashirama’s legacy until the bitter end—illustrating how far his shadow loomed.Even Orochimaru’s fixation on Hashirama’s cells is very telling. His DNA was a holy grail of sorts—utilized in everything from Yamato’s powers, to Danzo’s experiments, to the creation of White Zetsu. In a respect, Hashirama never really left the world’s stage. Elements of him—both physical and metaphorical—formed the ninja world long after he was gone.Hashirama Senju’s death will eventually receive a proper reveal or a flashback as flashy and elaborate as some of the Big Three’s recent trailers, but maybe that’s the point. Sometimes, legends fade not with a bang, but with achievements accomplished and a legacy that endures eternally in those they influenced.