Senju Tobirama

Senju Tobirama (千手扉間) was the Second Hokage (二代目火影, Nidaime Hokage; Literally meaning "Second Fire Shadow") of Konohagakure. He hails from the Senju clan, who, along with the Uchiha clan, founded the first shinobi village. During his reign, Tobirama was accredited as the Hokage that developed the village's organisational system and infrastructure.

Background
Tobirama was a member of the Senju clan and along with his older brother Hashirama, both they, and their younger brothers Kawarama, and Itama were the sons of Butsuma Senju. As a child, Tobirama grew up in the Warring States Period where he became a shinobi of his clan. One day, he attended the burial of Kawarama, and several other of his clansmen, alongside his father and siblings. Hashirama later ended up in an altercation with his father about the senseless killing of innocent children. This led to his father almost striking him again, but Tobirama intervened. Later, as the three siblings met up, they spoke of peace for the future and Tobirama stated his opinion about ending the conflict by giving the shinobi a code of conduct to stop the endless killing.[2 ] He later admonished Itama for his way of thinking which sounded a great deal like the way the adults thought. Some time later, Itama was killed on the battlefield.[3 ] Some time after this, Tobirama was tasked by his father to find out where Hashirama was disappearing to. When Hashirama returned from one of these extended leaves of absence, Tobirama confronted him, informing him that their father requested to speak with him. When Hashirama questioned how Butsuma knew that he was meeting with Madara, Tobirama pointed out that he had tracked him down using his sensory abilities, which were far superior to that of Hashirama. He would later accompany his father to where Hashirama met up with Madara; here they were confronted by Tajima and Izuna Uchiha, the latter of whom Tobirama acknowledged by name.

As Tobirama and Izuna clashed, unbeknownst to Tobirama, Tajima prepared to land a would-be fatal attack on him, which was deflected by Hashirama who returned to the battlefield. Shocked by this, the two sides reached an impasse, and Tobirama listened on as Madara turned down Hashirama's offer to broker peace between the two sides. He later watched on shocked when Madara manifested his Sharingan. The two sides would part ways from this altercation without any bloodshed.

As time went by and the battles between the two clans continued, on one of these occasions, Tobirama was able to mortally wound Izuna, forcing Madara to retreat from the battlefield with his wounded brother. The next time the Senju brothers encountered Madara again, he informed them that Izuna had succumbed to his injuries and had left him his eyes to continue protecting the clan. Despite revealing that he had acquired the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Madara was still defeated. As Tobirama was about to deliver the final blow, he was stopped by his brother who still wanted to seek peace. However, the jaded Uchiha noted that the price Hashirama had to pay for the Uchiha to regain his trust was either that Hashirama had to kill himself, or his brother.[5 ]

Decrying Madara as a crazed person, Tobirama questioned whether or not his brother intended to kill him. However, Tobirama was shocked when Hashirama — fully intent on going through with this — prepared to kill himself, but not before telling everyone present to swear that the feud between Senju and Uchiha would end. Though the act was stopped by Madara, and Tobirama later watched on as, Hashirama struck a peace treaty with the Uchiha and its then-leader Madara Uchiha and with Konohagakure's creation following soon after.[6 ], Tobirama never became any less wary of Madara for his actions, and the other Uchiha by extension. After retrieving his brother from what would become the Hokage Monument — notably sparing no word of greeting for, nor even acknowledging Madara — and hearing of the position of Hokage and his brother's intent to give it to the Uchiha, Tobirama noted that Hashirama could not arbitrarily make unilateral decisions like their father had, and that things had to be discussed and agreements reached through democracy. However, during their conversation where the topic of the impending threat of the Uchiha was broached by Tobirama, Hashirama noted that he felt as though they were being watched, but Tobirama noted that as he was not moulding chakra at the moment, he had not sensed anything.[7 ]

When Hashirama later convened the first ever meeting of the five Kage, Tobirama apprehended his brother for bowing to the other Kage so easily despite being overwhelmed by the gathering. Addressing the Kage on Konoha's plans to distribute the tailed beasts to balance the power of the nations, he reprimanded his brother once again when he questioned if they could not give the beasts away for free after Tobirama noted that they would essentially have to buy the beasts from them. When threats of war were thrown around, Tobirama looked on stern-faced as his brother tried to quell the arguing Kage, sharing his hopes for the future.[8 ]

When Hashirama, who was appointed the First Hokage, died, Tobirama was appointed as the Second Hokage.[9 ] During his reign he was primarily responsible for establishing Konoha's organisational system. He established various organisations such as the Academy, the ANBU, the Chūnin Exams and the Konoha Military Police Force,[1 ] the latter of which he created as a sign of trust towards the Uchiha who made up the majority of that organisation. The Uchiha, however, would come to believe that this was just an elaborate way to ostracise them from the village, and its government.[10 ]

At some point during his era, he and the Second Raikage met to form a formal alliance between Kumogakure and Konohagakure; however, Kinkaku and Ginkaku, Kumo's Gold and Silver Brothers, attempted a coup d’etat against them. Tobirama was able to survive in that coup, but it left him near death during the fiasco.[11 ]

He also trained a three-man team of his own, which consisted of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane.[12 ] In the anime, another one of his students was Kosuke Maruboshi. On one mission during the First Shinobi World War, on which Team Tobirama performed with Danzō Shimura, Kagami Uchiha and Torifu Akimichi, they found themselves surrounded by twenty elite Kumo ninja known as the Kinkaku Force. Tobirama then realised that the only way any of them could escape alive was for one of them to be a decoy and sacrifice themselves; therefore having faith that he had trained his students well, he chose to sacrifice himself after he selected his prized student Hiruzen for the position of Third Hokage. Homura and Koharu would later become Hiruzen's advisers. After giving the title of Hokage to Hiruzen, Tobirama went off to fight the enemies where he died a noble death.[13 ]

Personality
Even as a child, Tobirama was a exceptionally stoic and composed individual with a logical and pragmatic approach to life. He was very obedient to his father, as well as loyal towards his clan, but not to the extent where it clouded his judgement, as he was able to envision a rational way for the shinobi clans to achieve peace.[2 ] As a Hokage like his older brother, he felt a great deal of loyalty and devotion to the village, and placed its well-being above all else.[14 ] He was willing to fight for the sake of his village against both Orochimaru and Sasuke when the latter claimed he is going to destroy the village.[15 ] Tobirama was also described as being strong-spirited, and passionate.[1 ] During the First Shinobi World War, Tobirama was also willing to sacrifice himself by acting as a decoy to protect his own comrades.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15">[16 ] He taught Hiruzen to love the village and protect all those who have faith in him as the next Hokage.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16">[17 ] Tobirama had the habit of folding his arms — a trait he's had since his youth.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17">[18 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18">[19 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19">[20 ]

More straight-laced than his exuberant and idealist elder brother, Tobirama was a realist by nature, traits displayed during the First Shinobi World War when he, and his small battalion were surrounded by the Kinkaku Squad, Tobirama realised the only way out for his subordinates, and acted accordingly.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-chpt481_12-1">[13 ] This was also displayed in his attitude towards the Uchiha whom he believed were almost all intrinsically cursed, based on his knowledge of them, as well as his own personal interactions with them.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20">[21 ] Such logic-only personality led him to believe firmly in laws above anything else in terms of keeping peace and order, displayed in his youth where he came to the logical conclusion that if the adults wanted to stop the constant wars, all they had to do was create laws and abide by them no matter what.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-c622p11_1-2">[2 ] Not afraid to deal with all aspects of village life, both the good and bad, Tobirama himself noted that his role as the Second revolved around mediating their new-found lifestyle, getting shinobi who had once before lived and fought only for themselves or their own clans to not only care for, but work with each other.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-21">[22 ]

Between him and his brother, Tobirama had the more assertive, directive and authoritative personality, and would often take time to talk to his eldest brother in this manner who would proceed to sulk and obey his commands.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22">[23 ] Despite viewing him as an idiot and generally soft,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23">[24 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24">[25 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25">[26 ] Tobirama nonetheless loved his brother dearly and followed his commands when he saw how serious he was about an equally dire situation.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26">[27 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27">[28 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28">[29 ] Tobirama also cares greatly for the village and, being pragmatic by nature, Tobirama valued peace and balance. Owing to his belief in the ability of laws and establishments to keep things in order, tried in his own way to help the Uchiha from falling prey to their curse by placing them in charge of the Konoha Military Police Force, giving them a duty to focus their emotions into, so that history would not repeat itself and create another person like Madara Uchiha.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29">[30 ] Ultimately Tobirama noted that while he was wary of the Uchiha, he held no hatred nor grudge towards them and noted that there were several Uchiha who transcended the mentality of their clan and also placed the well-being of the entire village and peace above all else.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30">[31 ] Citing his own subordinate Kagami who had inherited the Will of Fire.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31">[32 ] He went on to note that he actually kept a wary eye on all clans with potential that threatened to upturn the establishment of the village — noting that this mediation was what predominantly filled his role as Hokage, and that he was especially wary of the Uchiha only because they were exceptionally powerful.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32">[33 ] He was often misunderstood in this respect due to his serious nature, chiefly by Madara, who thought that Tobirama would eliminate the Uchiha to settle scores as soon as he was made Hokage.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33">[34 ] Tobirama in a battle is also a quite fearsome and brutal opponent as he, witnessed by his intentions to kill Madara, when the latter had already been defeated and incapacitated.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34">[35 ] This is also witnessed where he intends to kill a reincarnated Madara with his own hands.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35">[36 ]

Though not knowing each other for long, the dynamics between Tobirama and the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze is very unique. Both men seem to have a great level of respect for one another especially since they seem to operate the same in battle in terms of thinking. The fact that they are both users of the Flying Thunder God Technique also seems to factor into this as each has lauded the other's speed and quick-thinking.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36">[37 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-37">[38 ] Tobirama also finds Minato's quirk of giving techniques odd names amusing and noted that if they were under different circumstances he might have laughed at a name like Spiralling Flash Super Round Dance Howl Participate Formula,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-38">[39 ] and later chided Minato when during battle he decided to reiterate the name of Naruto and Sasuke's technique.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-39">[40 ] Though initially noting he was not one to laugh during battle, Tobirama later became comically irritated at Naruto when the young man casually noted that Tobirama knew a lot about what he dubbed his Shadow Clone Technique, leading the Hokage to tell him that he was also the inventor of this technique.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40">[41 ]

Appearance
Tobirama was a tall, fair-skinned man with white, shaggy hair, dark-coloured eyes — depicted as red in the anime — and three red markings on his face — one under each of his eyes, and one on his chin. In most cases, he wore the wartime attire of kin during his lifetime: armour emblazoned with the Senju symbol worn over a simple black suit, with a distinctive white fur collar. This armour was constructed from numerous blue metal plates, formed into multiple protective guards along his body, in particular: chest, waist, shoulders and upper arms. This clothing was accompanied by sandals and a happuri engraved with the Konoha emblem, in the place of the more traditional forehead protector. As a child, his forehead protector bore the Senju clan's emblem.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41">[42 ] Beneath his shoulder armour he wore two bands on each arm.

Outside of this outfit, Tobirama wore a simple, short-sleeved, blue shirt kimono with mesh armour underneath and held closed by a pale yellow sash, as well as blue pants and a bracelet of sorts on his left hand. In his youth, he wore a pair of pin-striped pants and shirt which left his arms exposed. He also did not have the markings on his face.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-42">[43 ]

Abilities
As the Second Hokage, Tobirama was an immensely powerful shinobi and was hailed as one of the most powerful shinobi of his era.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-43">[44 ] Even as a child, Tobirama was noted to be a skilled shinobi by Madara Uchiha who had noted that to take him on, as well as his father and brother, would mean certain defeat.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44">[45 ] As an adult, a testament to his prowess was such that he was able to defeat and ultimately kill Izuna Uchiha, a shinobi whose own might was said to equal his older brother Madara..<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45">[46 ] Danzō also stated that during his reign as Hokage, there was no shinobi who could match his prowess.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46">[47 ] His skills were held in such high regard that the one of ANBU captains found his power hard to believe, even having high doubts that the Third Hokage could defeat both him and his brother despite the Third being revered as the God of Shinobi.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47">[48 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-c120p10_48-0">[49 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49">[50 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ep71_50-0">[51 ]

Life Force/Chkra Prowess
Due to his Senju lineage, Tobirama inherited an extraordinary life force, as well as powerful physical energy. Likewise, his chakra was also shown to be remarkably strong as he was able to crack a wall by simply placing his hand on it and releasing his chakra through it.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-51">[52 ] He was also able to resist the control of Orochimaru's Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation, until the latter used Hashirama's DNA to strengthen the control.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-52">[53 ] Likewise, Tobirama had especially large reserves of stamina and chakra due to his lineage, and was shown capable of fighting for nearly an entire day against their rival clan, the Uchiha.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-53">[54 ] Also, Tobirama had considerable chakra control, able to use the Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique, with a single hand seal, while the technique usually requires a multitude of them.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-54">[55 ]

Sensory Perception
Aside from his battle prowess, Tobirama was also a very gifted sensor ninja since childhood. By simply touching the ground with his index finger, he could detect the presence and number of enemy shinobi.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-55">[56 ] He was even able to detect Madara Uchiha's chakra on a battlefield some distance away.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56">[57 ] His sensory skills were so refined and accurate that he could distinguish between different chakra signatures by clan, as upon sensing Karin, he determined she was an Uzumaki.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-57">[58 ] He was also able to notice how Orochimaru's new body was made almost entirely of Hashirama's cells.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-58">[59 ] He could use his abilities, along with his tracking skills, in order to follow a target undetected.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-59">[60 ]

Taijutsu
Tobirama boasts a high level of taijutsu skills especially in terms of speed and reflexes. His speed in particular has been praised by the likes of Minato Namikaze, who himself is renown as the fastest in history.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-60">[61 ] When combined with his Flying Thunder God Technique he could land devastating attacks before even a Mangekyō Sharingan user like Izuna Uchiha could react. Combined with his proficiency in the Body Flicker Technique, his immense speed and reflexes were such that he could react fast enough to reach his allies in time to not only deflect, but return Obito Uchiha's trap with the mysterious black orbs back to him mid-explosion.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-61">[62 ]

During Obito's attack after becoming the jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails, Tobirama was able to not only react to it, plastering the young man with explosive tags for an attack of his own,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62">[63 ] but he was also able to place his Flying Thunder God Technique seal on Obito without him noticing.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-63">[64 ]

Ninjutsu
A man of great intellect, during his lifetime Tobirama created techniques such as the Flying Thunder God Technique<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-64">[65 ], Shadow Clone Technique,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-65">[66 ] and the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation technique;<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-66">[67 ] however, with the latter, some time after its creation he labelled it as a kinjutsu.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-67">[68 ] He did however gain enough renown with this technique that those who were reincarnated with the technique from his generation immediately thought it was his doing.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-68">[69 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-69">[70 ]

Along with this technique he created a fighting style to accompany it which could be described as Kamikaze in nature,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-70">[71 ] where due to the immortal body of the reincarnated person, techniques that generally could not be used either at close-range or at all become possible. One such technique is the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, which creates a near-infinite chain of explosions on a target.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-71">[72 ] According to a member of the ANBU, his ninjustu is so far advanced it was on an entirely different level then what normally seen.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-c120p10_48-1">[49 ] He is also adept at using barrier ninjutsu, capable of erecting a Kage-calibre barrier powerful enough to trap the Ten-Tails.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-72">[73 ]

Space time ninjutsu
Tobirama was also very skilled in the use of Space–Time Ninjutsu. As its creator, he was able to use the Flying Thunder God Technique with such skill that Minato Namikaze was shocked when he realised that Tobi was more adept at the use of Space–Time Ninjutsu than both Tobirama and himself.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-73">[74 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-74">[75 ] Tobirama's use of this technique involves a unique seal of his own which he uses to mark places or targets he wished to teleport to. He was fast enough to deflect one of Obito Uchiha's orbs before it expanded despite it being a shadow clone which were noted to be slower when using technique.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-75">[76 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-76">[77 ] Tobirama skills were later further displayed when he was able to teleport both Naruto and Minato while in their respective Tailed Beast Modes on the battlefield.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-77">[78 ] Tobirama is also able to utilise the marks made by other users of this technique as destinations and teleport targets without him accompanying them.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-78">[79 ]

Stemming from his use of this technique, Tobirama could also use the Flying Thunder God Slash, which incorporated the use of kenjutsu and a sword to teleport to a target instantly and inflict a devastating wound to the enemy in a single blow.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ch624_4-1">[5 ] Tobirama is also capable of transporting himself, and multiple people at one time.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-79">[80 ] Another one of these derived techniques is the Mutually Instantaneous Revolving Technique which allows him to switch places at any point in time with another Flying Thunder God Technique user that he has marked. This technique's use was demonstrated with his fellow practitioner Minato Namikaze and together, they were able to land a surprise attack on the jinchūriki.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-80">[81 ]

Nature Transformation
Tobirama was well-known for his legendary mastery of Water Release. He could use his water technique at any time, even in areas that lack a pre-existing water source, by spewing considerable quantities of water out of his mouth, then use the water produced to follow up with another technique.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-81">[82 ] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-82">[83 ] He could further manipulate water by isolating areas within it and evaporating it at will.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ep71_50-1">[51 ] These, among other reasons, are why he is revered as the greatest known Water Release manipulator in history.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-83">[84 ]

In areas with water, he could move and stay underwater for a considerable amount of time without detrimental effects. In addition, he could use tendrils of water to grab hold of his target or pull it underwater in order to drown it. With the Water Release: Water Formation Wall, he could produce a powerful barrier of water able to easily disperse very intense fire blasts. He could also launch large pressurised missiles of water which were capable of destroying a chakra-infused earthen wall.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ep71_50-2">[51 ] He can also use the Water Release: Water Severing Wave technique which creates a high-pressure stream, capable of even cutting through the branches of the God Tree with ease. In the anime, it is also shown that he could use the Water Release: Water Colliding Wave to attack and cover a large area with water.

Kenjutsu
Tobirama was a practitioner of kenjutsu since childhood; at one point, he was seen wielding a sword against Madara's younger brother, Izuna Uchiha.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ch624_4-2">[5 ] Tobirama was also able to use the Flying Thunder God Slash technique to mortally wound Izuna on the battlefield, taking the Mangekyō Sharingan-wielding Uchiha by surprise.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ch624_4-3">[5 ] In the anime, it was said that he wielded the Sword of the Thunder God, a blade with electrical abilities, and he was said to have mastered its use despite the blade's lethal nature.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-84">[85 ]

Intelligence
Tobirama has displayed a great deal of intellect. Even as a child, he took a rational and practical approach to situations such as when he noted that if adults wanted to end the senseless bloodshed, all they needed to do was enter into a treaty and adhere to it.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-c622p11_1-3">[2 ] His intelligence allowed him to contribute greatly to the creation of a lot of the village's infrastructure and organisations from the base Hashirama had left him: creating the Chūnin Exams, ANBU, and the Academy for example. He developed various advanced and innovative techniques into his own personal arsenal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-85">[86 ]

In battle, Tobirama is highly perceptive and analytical and will employ these skills to create strategies and counter-measures while aiding his team mates as well. When he had been reincarnated by Orochimaru during the Fourth Shinobi World War, he deduced Orochimaru's plans of using Hashirama's cells to control himself, Hiruzen, and Minato. And during the battle with Obito Uchiha after the had became the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki he realised he was using Yin-Yang Release with his new weapons: thus it'd be impossible for even an reincarnated shinobi to regenerate after being hit. He also seems to be highly knowledgeable of senjutsu witnessed during his battle when he realised it was the only way to injure Obito as the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, after witnessing Gamakichi's attack.

Other Skills
Tobirama has shown very capable skill for working in unison with others. When teamed up with his brother, Tobirama and Hashirama could fight in tandem using quick, precise strikes while displaying a high amount of team-work. During their fight against Hiruzen, this team-work forced the Third Hokage to summon Enma for assistance. Similarly, he proved able to utilise his Space–Time Ninjutsu in unison with Minato's. In the anime, it was shown that he was also a powerful genjutsu user, able to shroud the area in darkness that even the Third Hokage couldn't dispel.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-86">[87 ]

Chunin exam arc
He is seen in a photograph.

Invasioon of Konoha arc
Both he and Hashirama were reincarnated by Orochimaru, using Impure World Reincarnation, to fight Hiruzen during the invasion of Konoha, although it is later revealed that due to Orochimaru's lack of mastery of this technique Hashirama and Tobirama were not reincarnated with their full powers. While fully aware of what was going on, and saddened that he would have to fight his former student, Orochimaru employed a special seal into the back of their heads to rob Tobirama and his brother of their free will. Hiruzen quickly resolved to kill his masters and used a very powerful fire technique that was easily countered by one of Tobirama's walls of water that was then turned into an attack that was stopped by Hiruzen's own earth wall.

During the battle, he demonstrated great team-work and combination attacks with his brother, forcing Hiruzen to summon Enma for assistance. Hiruzen was however in his old age unable to defeat the two Hokage, as any damage that was done was simply regenerated and was further inhibited by his desire to not hurt either. His soul, along with his brother's, was eventually sealed by Hiruzen when he combined the Dead Demon Consuming Seal and the Shadow Clone Technique to strike both of them at the same time. Before his soul was completely removed, he and his brother apologised to their former student for the trouble they had caused.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-87">[88 ]

Fourth Shinobi War arc
In Sasuke Uchiha's quest to learn the truth, Tobirama's soul was later freed from inside the Shinigami, and subsequently reincarnated by Orochimaru along with his brother, and his two successors: Hiruzen and Minato using Zetsu's spore clones as sacrifices.

Cursing Orochimaru initially, Tobirama and his brother listened on as Hiruzen and Minato explained what had happened. With his arms still crossed, Tobirama looked down the line with his brother at the Yellow Flash questioning who he was, before promptly being shown the haori emblazoned with the title of Fourth Hokage. Not one to be side-swept, Tobirama questioned the ease of use Orochimaru displayed with the technique he had invented only to be told the technique was not a hard one to learn but one which should have never been created. Orochimaru's response led Tobirama to accuse the Sannin of planning to attack the village once again sending Hiruzen into outrage. Later admonishing his brother to be quiet as he spoke, Tobirama later chided the Uchiha clan openly to which Orochimaru contracted that it was Tobirama's fault that it happened in the first place as he gave the Uchiha the Konoha Military Police Force to run and essentially ostracised the Uchiha. Rebuffing this, Tobirama explained the Uchiha clan's greatest curse: the fact that they had a greater love than any other person which if lost would turn into bottomless feelings of despair awakening the Sharingan as a result. He then explained that it was for this reason that he gave them that post so they would have something to focus their emotions on so that the world would not end up with a second Madara, who had suffered the loss of his brother whom he loved more than anything, on their hands.

Upon hearing the question posed to his brother and the reason behind it, an enraged Tobirama tells Sasuke that he would not allow him to harm the village and begins raising one of his fingers. Sasuke, Jūgo and Suigetsu all tense up in fear before he and Hashirama have an intense stand-off, as his elder brother told him to lower his finger. Tobirama finally obliged as the Naka Shrine almost collapsed around them. Later told that Madara was on the battlefield, Tobirama sensed and confirmed this which lead him to declare that he was heading to the battlefield. Ignoring Orochimaru's threat to bind him further, Tobirama told the Sannin that his refining of the Impure World Reincarnation was to his own detriment as they had been reincarnated at nearly their full power in life. Tobirama placed his palm on the wall, causing it to break, intending to leave. However, Orochimaru was able to stop Tobirama's movements thanks to having Hashirama's cells. Finally succumbing to his brother's wish to save Sasuke from the impending darkness. Tobirama listened on as Hashirama retold the history he had lived through.

With Hashirama's story finished, Tobirama confirmed that indeed many Uchiha had transcended the limitations of their clan such as his subordinate Kagami. Clearing up the misconception that he hated the Uchiha, Tobirama explained his role as the Second Hokage had been to mediate between the various clans and the well-being of the village, and that he kept a close eye on all clans that posed a threat to the latter's stability. Later, with Sasuke's decision made to protect his brother's sacrifice, Tobirama informed Hashirama, who had instructed him to prepare to transport them, that with Orochimaru binding them, he would not be able to do so. They later made their way out of the Naka Shrine, where a new addition to their group appeared. Answering Hashirama's question he noted that from Karin's chakra, she seemed to be an Uzumaki. Later he was sighing deeply as his exuberant brother directed them to their respective faces on the Hokage Monument; there atop his likeness, Tobirama vowed to stop Madara once and for all.

Arriving with the cavalry, Tobirama commended Minato who had arrived before them for his superior speed. When Minato accesses the Yin portion of Kurama's chakra, and promptly calls Tobirama and Hiruzen to him to teleport them, Tobirama was once again impressed by Minato's initiative of marking the battlefield. When Minato transports Tobirama to the marked location to his designated location, Tobirama and the other Hokage use the Four Red Yang Formation barrier to trap the Ten-Tails. After his brother added an extra measure of restraint, Tobirama and the others prepared their counter-attack on the beast. When the beast attempted to launch another Tailed Beast Ball, Tobirama and the other Hokage kept the barrier intact, completely nullifying the attack, leaving the Ten-Tails as the only injured party. Tobirama then marvelled at the level of Sasuke's Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi noting that he had never seen one so powerful, and later commended Naruto and Sasuke's team-work, noting that a feat like that was not easy to pull off even for the most synchronised teams.

Tobirama's attention was later called to Obito's cries atop the Ten-Tails. Realising that Madara was using the young man as a medium to revive himself, Tobirama and his brother sprung into action to stop the Uchiha's plot. Creating two shadow clone which led Tobirama to lament that while maintaining the barrier, this was his limit in terms of clones. Rushing towards where Madara was, the original Tobirama was shocked to see Minato arrive atop the beast, and cut Obito down. As he looked on, he realised that Minato had actually created a shadow clone himself, and teleported to the enemy, leading Tobirama to wonder if Minato had marked the target already. Despite his injury, Obito still became the jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails, and was quickly confronted by Tobirama, Hashirama, and Hiruzen. As the three Hokage discussed the situation, noting that Obito was now more powerful than them in any case, the young Uchiha quickly dispatched Hashirama and Tobirama with ease, destroying large portions of their bodies.

Instructing Hiruzen and Minato to jump of range, it is revealed that Tobirama was able to react to Obito's attack and plastered him with explosive tags, impressing Minato with his speed. Calling out to his brother who also prepared to act, Tobirama detonated the explosive tags giving Hashirama the opportunity to bind Obito. Noting that as the creator of the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation technique, he had also created and used the unique fighting style which accompanied it, his Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags technique. After piercing his chest with his own hand, he threw out a myriad of paper which turned into explosive tags and attached themselves to Obito. These tags would keep summoning more and more tags, thus drowning Obito in explosions and destroying his own body in the process. However, the mysterious substance which the young Uchiha had formed, protected him from the explosions.

Regenerating in time, Tobirama sent a clone of himself to deflect Obito's expanding orb. Grabbing onto the orb, Tobirama teleported himself to Obito where he noted that he would be returning this to him. As the technique expanded some distance away from his allies, the real Tobirama appeared informing them that it was a clone that he had just sent to the location revealing that during their previous confrontation he had also managed to mark the jinchūriki with his own technique formula. As an impressed Naruto exclaimed that Tobirama could copy his father's technique, Tobirama corrected him, noting that the Fourth was the one who was emulating him and reprimanded Naruto for addressing him in such a disrespectful manner. As the two young men rushed forward to attack Obito, Tobirama called Minato to action noting that if they used clones it would slow the Flying Thunder God Technique to which Minato noted that with their immortal bodies it didn't matter. As both men mark each other with their respective seals, they sprung into action; Tobirama teleported himself behind Obito while Minato teleported himself in front of Naruto and Sasuke's attack. Using the moment Obito was distracted, Tobirama and Minato activate the Mutually Instantaneous Revolving Technique to switch places, causing Obito's body to be engulfed in the flames of the attack.

Initially believing the attack to have damaged Obito since the orbs were not able to react in time to defend the Uchiha, Tobirama — who had teleported to Minato's side — was shocked to see Obito emerge from the flames unscathed. As he observed Minato, he noted that it was odd that the Fourth's arm had not yet regenerated from such a minor injury leading him to deduce that Obito was also using Yin–Yang to nullify their ninjutsu. Sharing this with Minato, he urged the Fourth to be more careful from that point forward. After chiding both Minato and Naruto for acting without thinking, Tobirama later looked on in shock as Gamakichi attacked Obito with the Starch Syrup Gun technique before disappearing. Watching as Obito deflected the attack, and Naruto later prepared one, with realisation dawning on him, Tobirama teleported Naruto to Obito's location where the young man sent the Rasengan crashing into Obito, Tobirama noted that it appeared that senjutsu was effective against Obito's new form as Gamakichi's attack had demonstrated.

Retreating to their comrade's side after the attack landed, Tobirama noted that since the attack had connected physically with Obito, that he had no way of negating the attack. While the others conversed Tobirama mused to himself, that Naruto's ability to cooperate instantly with his Flying Thunder God Technique and use of senjutsu reminded him greatly of his own time fighting alongside his own brother. When Obito erected an enormous tree which in turn produced four Tailed Beast Balls, Tobirama noted that best case scenario, he and Minato could only teleport two of the balls leaving the Alliance still in danger. Calling out to his brother who was still locked in battle with Madara, they find themselves trapped within a barrier. Asking Minato if he would be able to manage teleporting two of the balls outside the limit of the barrier, the Fourth responds that in his current condition, he would not be able to achieve this, but noted there was another way, with this, Tobirama watched on as the father-son duo bumped fists and prepared to launch a counter-attack.

Watching on as the father-son duo prepared their counter-measure, and the Alliance is teleported outside the barrier erected by Obito before the Tailed Beast Balls could explode, Tobirama lauded Minato for saving them yet again. He later explained the concept behind what Naruto and Minato had done, likening it to the link a Shadow Clone Technique user has to its clones and Naruto's chakra acting as a proxy for Minato to teleport everyone. Tobirama was later exasperated at the fact that Naruto who had come up with this strategy was stumped by the Second's explanation and later exclaimed when Naruto commented that he knew a lot about shadow clones, noting that he had created the technique after all.

As Naruto entered the Tailed Beast Mode and prepared to attack Obito with renewed vigour, Tobirama reminded him that only senjutsu-based attacks were effective against Obito, leading the Second to confirm that Naruto was an even bigger idiot than his own brother. When Naruto later reassessed his strategy and the father-son duo both do Tailed Beast Mode mantles and form a giant senjutsu-enhanced Rasengan, Tobirama teleported them to where Obito was, but the jinchūriki anticipated the attack and was able to deflect it. Noting that their Flying Thunder God Technique might have become anticipated, Tobirama later commended Naruto when he formed a senjutsu-infused Tailed Beast Ball as a counter-measure, commeting that Naruto may become a better Hokage than even his brother. Tobirama and the others soon found themselves face-to-face with the Ten-Tails once again as Obito prepared to continue the Eye of the Moon Plan.

As the beast warps into a giant tree, the roots of which begin grabbing the shinobi and absorbing their chakra, Tobirama uses the Water Release: Water Severing Wave to tear through the branches to save Naruto from its clutches, but Tobirama noted that despite being able to sense Naruto's location, it was futile as he was not able to stop the branches from regenerating. Asking Minato if he was able to teleport to Naruto's aid, the Fourth noted that his chakra levels were too depleted to do so, Tobirama looks on as Hiruzen appeared and is able to locate Naruto and extract him. Grabbing onto his student and his successor, Tobirama teleported them some distance away where they watched on as the giant tree began to open. As Naruto and Sasuke leaped into battle once again, Tobirama noted not only how Sasuke's potential was comparable to that of Madara but how similar Naruto was to his brother were as well. As Hashirama broadcast his own memories via the Mind Body Transmission Technique, Tobirama looked on solemnly as his brother rallied the Alliance to fight. He later quietly watched the proceedings as the Kage arrived on the battlefield and smiled as Shikamaru said he would fulfil a role with Naruto similar to the one Tobirama had with his brother.

As the forces mobilised once again to get on the offensive, Tobirama requested that Minato lend him the connection he had with Naruto's chakra to aid the shinobi on the battlefield. While he noted he would not be able to transport the whole shinobi Alliance at once, Tobirama was able to teleport the shinobi on the battlefield out of harm's way. As he alerted them all about what he would do, he charged them to fight without reservation.

Legacy
As the Second person to hold the title of Hokage, Tobirama noted that his role was to sustain society during the period of time where persons who initially belonged only to clans and thought of only the well-being of their own kinsmen, had to start thinking collectively of the village as a whole instead of just their own interests. Because of this, he had to keep an eye on clans that posed a threat to the village, such as the Uchiha amongst others.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-88">[89 ] He was known for building Konoha's infrastructure and revolutionising the ninja system on a whole by establishing organisations such as the Academy, and ANBU: institutions and organisations adopted by most if not all of the Five Great Shinobi Countries as well as smaller ones. He also believed greatly in the Will of Fire and putting the good of the village above all else as well as gaining stability within the village, beliefs which he passed on to the next generation.

Tobirama also set up the Konoha Military Police Force and assigned the Uchiha to it as a sign of trust. He in fact knew how unwieldy the Uchiha's emotions were and sought to have them focus their efforts of a single, constant goal all the while protecting the village as well. This, however, actually contributed to the Uchiha's demise as some came to see it as a means to ostracise them from the rest of the village and its governance and eventually led to the Uchiha Clan Massacre. Tobirama was also responsible for the creation of several powerful techniques such as the Shadow Clone Technique, the Flying Thunder God Technique, the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation technique, which was used in initially by Orochimaru in his quest to destroy Konoha and Kabuto Yakushi's attempt to fuel the Fourth Shinobi World War. Inadvertently, however, this had the reciprocal effect of having the dead make amends for the wrong they did during their life, the Fourth Kazekage and his son Gaara being prime examples. Orochimaru was also able to reincarnate the three other previous Hokage to participate in the Fourth Shinobi World War, providing invaluable support and also helping Sasuke Uchiha escape the Curse of Hatred. On a whole, Tobirama is still revered as an extraordinary shinobi, and trail-blazing Hokage who made invaluable contributions to the shinobi world.

Video Games
Tobirama Senju is a playable character in the following video games:

Quotes

 * (To Hashirama and Itama) "Grown-ups are idiots. If they really want to bring an end to this endless fighting, they need to sit down with one another and reach a truce…"
 * (To Hiruzen) "Listen Saru. Guide the people, and believe in them, for it's from among them that one will come who will carry on when your time is done."
 * (To Danzō and Hiruzen) "I will be the decoy… you are the bright young flames who must protect the village. Danzō, you and Saru have always been rivals in everything… But what we need now is unity. Don't bring your personal squabbles into this. It's true I was slow with my decision. First you must look within and know yourself without losing your calm. Right now you will just bring danger upon your friends. At any rate… Danzō… Saru… there's no need to be hasty at your age. One day the time will come. Just stay alive… until then."
 * (To Hiruzen) "Saru, you must protect those who have faith in you and who love the village, and train up to those to whom you can entrust the next generation… from tomorrow, you will be the Hokage…!"
 * (To Sasuke) "My brother believed that the village was something that demolish the boundaries between clans. Well in the end it wasn't that simple… My brother was too soft… and Madara too dangerous… My role as Second Hokage was to mediate between them while protecting and reinforcing the village."

Trivia

 * 'Tobirama' (扉間) means 'the space between two doors'. 'Doors' (扉, tobira) are seen as the access to progress and improvement which alludes to his role as the Hokage that built up Konoha's infrastructure. '扉' is also used to refer to title pages, tying in with the Hokage title, as a Hokage is as representative for the village as the title page is for a book.
 * Tobirama, along with Hashirama, Minato, and the Konoha symbol, had his face appear in the ending omake of Shippūden episode 129 within the fireworks.
 * According to the databook(s):
 * His favourite words were "Mind – technique – body" (心・技・体, Shin – gi – tai).
 * In many of the games they are present in, Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju bear each others respective English voice actors, with Hashirama being voiced by Peter Lurie, and Tobirama being voiced by Jamieson Price.
 * In the English version of Naruto Part I Hashirama is voice by Jamieson Price and Tobirama is voice by Peter Lurie, but in the English version of Naruto: Shippūden Hashirama is voice by Peter Lurie and Tobirama by Jamieson Price.
 * Tobirama had the habit of folding his arms — a trait he's had since his youth.

Voice actors
Japanese : Ken'Yu Horiuchi (Part l & Part ll)

English : Peter Lurie (Part l), Jamieson Price (Part ll)