Tobirama Senju

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Tobirama Senju (千手扉见)
Alias(es)	Second Hokage
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure
Occupation/Role	Second Hokage; forbidden-jutsu researcher; political adviser and mentor to later Hokage 644 688
Status	Alive; restored to a living body in his prime by Kitahara Kaede 688
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Reanimated body under Orochimaru's control	79	Orochimaru summons him through Impure World Reincarnation and uses a talisman designed to suppress his consciousness. Tobirama immediately identifies the talisman's function and the means to undo the control. 79
Independent reanimated state	84	Might Guy removes the controlling talisman, allowing Tobirama to break free and attack Orochimaru with an enormous Water Dragon Bullet. 84
Clone at half of lifetime strength	329	During the Chunin Exam conflict, his clone reveals that it possesses half of his lifetime strength while surrounded by Genin. 329
Sealed power restored	337–338	He uses Kitahara Kaede's attacks to break a seal on himself, regains his power, and challenges Kaede before being defeated. 337 338
Prime living body; Sage Body and Wood Release	688	Kitahara restores Tobirama's soul to a reconstructed living body at peak condition. The revived Tobirama possesses a Sage Body and Wood Release, though he does not have Sage Art. 688

Background / History

Tobirama succeeded his elder brother, Hashirama Senju, as Konohagakure's Second Hokage. He established the system in which Jonin lead Genin and personally taught Hiruzen Sarutobi, Kagami Uchiha, Choza Akimichi, Danzō Shimura, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu. 26

His tenure shaped Konoha's institutions. Tobirama established the Ninja Academy, completed the Konoha Hospital, created the Will of Fire, and developed systems later credited with the village's stability, including the ANBU and Konoha Military Police Force. Although he distrusted the Uchiha, he still accepted Kagami as a disciple. 93 644

During the First Great Ninja War, Tobirama selected Hiruzen as his successor after Hiruzen proved decisive during an ambush connected to negotiations with the Cloud Village. Tobirama later died protecting his students from the Gold and Silver Brothers, leaving Hiruzen with limited time to receive the training Tobirama had intended for him. 26 93 689

Appearance

Tobirama is a young-looking, handsome man with an unusually pale complexion. Even in his reanimated state, he retains the appearance of a shinobi who died relatively young. 79

• Silvery-white hair. 79
• Blue armor. 79
• Several red facial markings. 79
• Rapid hand-seal speed, described as three seals per second. 84

Personality

Tobirama is analytical, direct, and deeply concerned with Konoha's long-term security. He favors decisive action during crises and is quick to criticize leadership he considers passive or politically compromised. Learning of Hiruzen's handling of Naruto, the Uchiha Clan, and Sakumo Hatake leads him to conclude that he misjudged his former student. 28 85 94

He is proud of his inventions and protective of their proper use, particularly the Flying Thunder God Technique and Impure World Reincarnation. His research began partly from a desire to keep pace with Hashirama's extraordinary growth, and he remains eager to study unfamiliar powers and techniques. 70 689

Tobirama initially speaks harshly of the Uchiha and considers their increasing Sharingan power dangerous. However, after learning more about the clan's destruction and Danzō's actions, he acknowledges that his own disciples bear significant responsibility. 118

Despite his severity, Tobirama believes in cultivating capable successors rather than relying on one overwhelmingly powerful individual. He contrasts this outlook with Madara's and later accepts responsibility for failing to guide Hiruzen properly. 87 689

Abilities & Skills

Forbidden Jutsu Development

Tobirama is regarded as a master inventor of ninjutsu and the creator of numerous techniques later classified as forbidden. 70 93

• Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu — Created as a rapid training method; its effectiveness depends on the user's chakra reserves. 93
• Impure World Reincarnation — Originally developed for Konoha's victory and intended for use with the Mutual Destruction Exploding Tag. It requires a piece of the target's flesh. 3 93
• Bringer-of-Darkness Technique — Listed among his original forbidden techniques. 70
• Flying Thunder God Technique and Flying Thunder God Slash — Developed by Tobirama, though Minato later modifies and surpasses his use of the technique. 70 106

Water Release

Tobirama possesses exceptionally powerful Water Release and can form techniques at extreme speed.

• Water Dragon Bullet — Produces a thirty-meter water dragon from dry ground; he completes its seals at roughly three per second. 84
• Ninpō: Sky-Rending Dance — A water-style technique that disintegrates an incoming sand whip and attacks through rain droplets. 336
• Water Dragon Bullet barrage — Can create seven Water Dragon Bullets to strike an opponent's blind spots. 336
• Water Depth Absorption — Uses a Two-Tails-like phantom to absorb large chakra constructs, including Kitahara Kaede's Giant Rasengans. 337

Flying Thunder God and Sealing Techniques

Tobirama uses Flying Thunder God for rapid repositioning, ambushes, and assassination pressure. During his fight with Naruto, he repeatedly teleports around marked shuriken to exhaust Naruto's Nine-Tails Mode. 330

• Marks Orochimaru with Flying Thunder God, making escape from Tobirama's assassination range difficult. 691
• Possesses a sealing technique capable of sealing powers, which Kitahara considers useful for assessing Tsukikawa Isshiki. 368
• Previously researched time-based ninjutsu, but destroyed the unfinished work. 312

Reanimation Expertise

As Impure World Reincarnation's creator, Tobirama understands both its combat use and its weaknesses.

• Identifies that Orochimaru's control talisman strips a reanimated person's consciousness. 79
• Knows that removing the talisman gives the reanimated individual an opportunity to break free of control. 79
• Recognizes that a masterless reanimated body cannot be maintained indefinitely because the technique remains incomplete. 87
• Views the technique as a potential means to restore Konoha's deceased talent and reinforce the village's foundation. 99 138

Tailed Beast Fusion

During his battle with Kitahara Kaede, Tobirama summons the Two-Tails and forcibly fuses it into himself.

• The fusion produces floating spikes that nullify Kitahara's sand net. 336
• Enables the absorption technique used against Giant Rasengans. 337
• The Two-Tails is confused and does not willingly participate. 336

Enhanced Living Body

After his true revival, Tobirama's reconstructed body possesses capabilities beyond those he had in life.

• Restored to his physical prime through Kitahara's time and life-force manipulation. 688
• Possesses Wood Release and a Sage Body. 688
• Does not possess Sage Art despite these enhancements. 688

Research and Training

Tobirama remains an active researcher after returning to the living world.

• Discovers methods to absorb and use pale golden energy, though Kitahara had already reached similar conclusions. 368
• Is assigned to cultivate older-generation shinobi with new energy after acknowledging the gap between himself and Tsukikawa Isshiki. 372
• Recruits shinobi from the great villages into a system for absorbing Karma Energy. 421
• Trades Flying Thunder God information to Mu in exchange for knowledge of Dustless Blindfold/Camouflage techniques. 709 710

Relationships

• Hashirama Senju — Elder brother and the First Hokage. Tobirama frequently handles the administrative burden Hashirama avoids, but remains protective of him and concerned for his well-being. 168 717
• Tsunade — Great-grandniece. Tobirama taught her ninjutsu as a child and later works alongside her after his revival. 52 688
• Hiruzen Sarutobi — Former disciple and chosen successor. Tobirama later condemns Hiruzen's failures as Hokage, while regretting that his own early death left Hiruzen inadequately trained. 26 85 689
• Danzō Shimura — Former disciple whom Tobirama initially valued highly as a possible Hokage. He becomes disgusted by Danzō's Sharingan experiments and role in the Uchiha tragedy. 26 27 95
• Kitahara Kaede — Initially clashes with Tobirama over Konoha's direction and later fights him during the Chunin Exam. Kitahara ultimately restores Tobirama to life and relies on his research ability. 338 688
• Naruto Uzumaki — Tobirama first tests Naruto in battle, then becomes the Sixth Hokage's mentor after recognizing Naruto's political inexperience despite his immense strength. 325 688 689
• Orochimaru — Reanimates Tobirama and attempts to control him. After Tobirama's later revival, Tobirama marks Orochimaru with Flying Thunder God to deter him. 79 84 691
• Sasuke Uchiha — Tobirama offers to help Sasuke become stronger, and Sasuke later asks to become his disciple. 331 338
• Madara Uchiha — Hashirama's longtime rival and Tobirama's adversary. Tobirama remains wary of Madara but acknowledges his value in diplomacy and Konoha's future affairs. 179 696

Story Role / Major Arcs

Reanimation and the Chunin Exam

Orochimaru steals Tobirama's body and summons him through Impure World Reincarnation during the Chunin Exam. Tobirama's soul is pulled from the chat group, and Orochimaru attempts to suppress his consciousness with a control talisman. 79

After Might Guy removes the talisman, Tobirama breaks free, attacks Orochimaru, and confronts Hiruzen. He demands Hiruzen's abdication and questions him about the Uchiha Clan's destruction, Sakumo Hatake's fate, and Naruto's treatment. 84 85

Kitahara seals Tobirama's reanimated body, but Tobirama's soul returns to the chat group. When Hiruzen summons him again, Tobirama continues the reckoning until Hiruzen, Danzō, Koharu, and Homura step down from power. 86 87 93 96

Chunin Exam Battle with Naruto and Kitahara

Tobirama later participates in the Chunin Exam conflict at reduced strength. He ambushes Naruto, outmaneuvers Nine-Tails Mode with Flying Thunder God, and allows the younger shinobi to spread out rather than immediately overwhelming them. 325 330 331

He subsequently provokes Kitahara, fuses with the Two-Tails, and uses Kaede's attacks to break a seal restricting his power. Although he recovers his strength, Kitahara defeats him; afterward, Sasuke seeks Tobirama as a teacher. 336 338

Revival and Guidance of the Sixth Hokage

Kitahara revives Tobirama as a living person in his prime, citing both his research ability and the need for Tobirama to guide Naruto. Tobirama accepts after learning that the Ninja World faces dangerous future enemies. 688 689

He assists Naruto with Hokage duties, criticizes the excessive minor work left on the Hokage's desk, and adjusts his approach after admitting that he cannot simply impose the standards of his own era on the present. 693 697

Tobirama also agrees to help a restored Hiruzen seek forgiveness from those harmed by his past decisions before allowing Hiruzen any return to political power. 689

Notable Quotes

“I really misjudged him. Hiruzen isn't suited to be Hokage.”
— Tobirama Senju 28

“I'm already dead. What do I have to fear?”
— Tobirama Senju 25