Tobirama

Biodata

Background / History

Tobirama fought during the Warring States era and inflicted the wound that killed Uchiha Izuna. Madara never forgave him for his brother’s death and initially opposed Hashirama’s request to have Tobirama summoned to the Undead Tavern 12 21.

During Konoha’s early years, Tobirama established village rules, founded the Ninja Academy and Anbu, and handled mission assignments and finances. He later complained that Hashirama and Madara repeatedly left administrative work—and the aftermath of their fights—to him 61 288 290.

As Second Hokage, Tobirama chose Hiruzen Sarutobi as his successor after Hiruzen volunteered to cover their group’s retreat. Tobirama subsequently died in battle. His decision left Danzo feeling that he had lost his chance at the Hokage position 24 25 204.

Appearance

• White hair: Present during his original life, not a consequence of aging or overwork 33.
• Red eyes and red cheek markings: Features Neji uses to connect him with historical photographs of the Second Hokage 151.
• Blue armor: Worn at the tavern and during his confrontation with Orochimaru 151 218.
• Stern expression: His cold gaze and severe bearing are immediately familiar to Hiruzen and recognizable to other Konoha shinobi 24 26 58.
• Glasses: Worn in later scenes, including his matchmaking discussions and assessment of Kirigakure’s situation 288 346.

Personality

Tobirama is disciplined, blunt, and easily irritated by disorder. On returning to life, he stops Hashirama’s enthusiastic embrace and calls his behavior embarrassing. Even while drunk, he maintains an upright posture and continues criticizing his brother’s lack of propriety. His dry responses frequently make him the straight man in the tavern’s arguments 20 21 33.

He values responsibility over personal loyalty or official status. He condemns Hiruzen for allowing public pressure to drive Sakumo Hatake to suicide and for letting his attachment to Orochimaru prevent decisive action. When Hiruzen brings Anbu to surround the tavern, Tobirama insists on separating public accountability from their teacher–student relationship 25 66.

His concern for Konoha can be ruthless. He defends Danzo’s elimination of the Uchiha coup threat as serving village stability, despite Madara’s outrage over the clan’s extermination. He later proposes exploiting Kirigakure’s instability to take the village, an idea Zhang Yu rejects 202 203 346.

Despite his reserve, Tobirama shows affection through practical support. He comforts Tsunade during their reunion and later devises schemes to bring her closer to Zhang Yu. His confidence as a matchmaker makes him a target for Madara’s teasing about his own single life 237 288 289 290.

Abilities & Skills

Flying Thunder God Technique

Tobirama created Flying Thunder God, an S-rank Space-Time Ninjutsu that allows him to teleport to marked locations 157 218 235.

• Marked destinations: Places formulas around the tavern and secretly marks Hashirama’s clothing to locate him in the Forest of Death 42 57 179.
• Passenger transport: Brings Hashirama and Madara to Zhang Yu’s location through a marked kunai; later teleports away while holding Indra’s hand 234 235 277.
• Object transport: Uses the technique to remove a cash box after verifying a payment 134.
• Barrier entry: Appears inside the Four Violet Flames Formation without damaging it 218.
• Documented variants: Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder, Flying Thunder God Slash, and Flying Thunder God: Mutually Instantaneous Revolving Technique are included when Zhang Yu copies his abilities 218.

Forbidden-Technique Research

Tobirama spent years studying forbidden techniques and created Impure World Reincarnation. He explains that his research was intended for wartime emergencies and that he sealed dangerous techniques away because he understood their risks 21 25.

• Impure World Reincarnation: Uses a sacrifice and vessel to draw a dead soul back into a controllable, nonliving body 21.
• Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags: Included among the abilities Zhang Yu acquires by copying him 218.
• Technical analysis: Immediately recognizes that Zhang Yu’s resurrection method is fundamentally different from Impure World Reincarnation 21.
• False reverse-resurrection claim: Following Zhang Yu’s instructions, tells Orochimaru that he improved Impure World Reincarnation so the dead can revive themselves. This is part of a deception, not a demonstrated upgrade 247.

Shadow Clone Technique

Tobirama is identified as the creator of the Shadow Clone Technique 157.

• Delegates the tavern’s accounting to a clone so he can continue playing chess with Izuna 210.

Water Release

Tobirama possesses an extensive Water Release repertoire, all of which is included in Zhang Yu’s replication of his abilities 218.

• Fills the tavern’s swimming pool with a large torrent of clear water 161.
• Adjusts the flow when the water threatens to splash nearby lighting equipment 161.

Chakra, Sensing, and Close Combat

• Chakra reserves: Neji’s Byakugan reveals calm, vast chakra far beyond that of an ordinary jonin. Tobirama’s chakra also serves as the system’s benchmark when Zhang Yu first receives a Kage-level evaluation 37 151.
• Intimidation: Releases enough chakra and killing intent to leave Asuma nearly unable to stand or resist 61.
• Sensing: Detects Hiruzen’s recent chakra presence and notices increases in Zhang Yu’s power 37 116 304.
• Close combat: Overwhelms Orochimaru with punches, kicks, knee strikes, and throws 218 219.
• Body and chakra assessment: Confirms that Tsunade’s restored youth includes a return of her body and chakra to their peak condition 345.

Administration and Bartending

Tobirama manages the tavern’s accounts, inventory, work schedules, and rules. Zhang Yu later adds bartending to his responsibilities without removing him from accounting 28 157.

• Financial verification: Checks payments against IOUs and repeatedly verifies voucher serial numbers and markings 134 150.
• Business planning: Designs the layout of the neighboring hot pot and barbecue premises 201.
• Bartending training: Promises to master the supplied guide within seven days; the bartender-training mission is subsequently completed 157 161.
• Ingredient procurement: Sends Hashirama and Madara illustrated guides for collecting herbs, flowers, and fruit for drinks and kitchen use 179 180.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Special Flying Thunder God kunai — Marked kunai used as teleportation destinations; one carried by Zhang Yu enables Tobirama to transport the group to Tsunade’s location 234 235.
• Blue armor — His recognizable armor, matching historical images of the Second Hokage 151.
• Account ledger and financial records — Used to track payments, verify vouchers, and manage daily business 134 150 210.
• Bartending guide, professional tools, and ingredients — Purchased by Zhang Yu for his training 157.
• Tavern badge — Receives a badge that must be sincerely offered and accepted, then presents it to Izuna; completion of the binding is not established in the supplied scene 301.

Relationships

• Hashirama Senju — Elder brother. Tobirama regularly reins in his enthusiasm and complains about inheriting Konoha’s workload, but defends his strength and shares his concern for Tsunade 20 24 237 290.
• Zhang Yu — Resurrector and employer. Tobirama is fascinated by his summoning ability, manages his businesses, and offers further help within the tavern’s rules. He also supports Zhang Yu as a potential Hokage 21 28 237.
• Uchiha Izuna — Former wartime opponent whom Tobirama fatally wounded. After resurrection, they become coworkers and chess partners. Tobirama later chooses Izuna as the recipient of his tavern badge, and Izuna responds receptively 21 210 301.
• Madara Uchiha — Initially hostile over Izuna’s death. Their tavern life includes cooperation, bickering, and games, but Tobirama’s defense of the Uchiha massacre reignites their conflict 12 90 202 203 319.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi — Former student and chosen successor. Tobirama repeatedly holds him accountable for his governance, treatment of village shinobi, and failure to control Asuma’s behavior 24 25 66.
• Tsunade — Grandniece. Tobirama supported her during childhood, comforts her after their reunion, celebrates her becoming Fifth Hokage, and attempts to arrange a romance between her and Zhang Yu 236 237 257 288.
• Danzo — Approves of his handling of the Uchiha coup threat from a village-security standpoint, but firmly rejects him as Hokage, judging his methods suitable only for work in the shadows 202 203 223.
• Orochimaru — A later practitioner of his forbidden technique. Tobirama violently rebukes his misuse of Impure World Reincarnation and later helps exploit his fear of the resurrected Hokage 218 219 247.
• Indra Ōtsutsuki — Fellow tavern employee. Tobirama teleports away with him after buying festival flowers; Zhang Yu’s resulting romantic suspicions are speculation rather than confirmation of a relationship 277.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Resurrection and Return to Konoha’s Affairs

Zhang Yu summons Tobirama alongside Izuna. After refusing Hashirama’s exuberant welcome, Tobirama examines his restored body and establishes that the summoning preserves living flesh and peak strength without the sacrifices or control mechanisms of Impure World Reincarnation. He joins the Undead Tavern Work Group and begins working at the tavern 20 21.

Hiruzen’s visit brings Tobirama back into contact with Konoha’s leadership. He demands a report covering events since his death, then condemns the handling of Sakumo’s suicide, Orochimaru’s experiments and defection, and Danzo’s overreach 24 25.

Tavern Administration and the Sarutobi Dispute

Zhang Yu formally places Tobirama in charge of accounts, inventory, schedules, and rules. His strictness does not prevent him from joining the other employees in unauthorized drinking; after being caught, he promises a new liquor inventory system despite having secretly placed a Flying Thunder God formula in cold storage 28 42.

When Asuma ignores the opening notice and smokes at the entrance, Tobirama makes him extinguish the cigarette, collect the butt, and apologize. After Asuma returns with Hiruzen and Anbu, Tobirama rebukes both father and son. He then joins the employees in demanding liquor purchases as compensation, helping push the bill to 4.8 million ryo 58 66 67.

Bartending and Business Expansion

Tobirama’s identity gradually becomes known to more visitors. Neji recognizes his appearance and unusually large chakra reserves, and Kakashi confirms the truth while instructing Team Guy to keep it secret before the Chunin Exams 150 151 152 153 154.

He trains as a bartender, uses Water Release to fill the new swimming pool, and coordinates ingredient gathering in the Forest of Death. When Zhang Yu expands into the neighboring shop, Tobirama plans its layout; the later game room gives him an opportunity to combine chess with clone-assisted accounting 157 161 179 180 201 210.

Konoha Crush and Orochimaru

Forewarned of Orochimaru’s attack, Tobirama and Hashirama take positions behind Hiruzen wearing Anbu masks. When Orochimaru fails to summon their souls, Tobirama teleports inside the barrier and confronts him directly 211 212 218.

Orochimaru repeatedly mistakes the brothers for his own reanimations. Tobirama beats him into acknowledging who created Impure World Reincarnation; neither Orochimaru’s control commands nor his release sequence affects their living bodies. Zhang Yu eventually summons the brothers away 218 219.

Tsunade’s Reunion and Succession

After Hiruzen’s death, Tobirama opposes Danzo’s candidacy and accompanies the search for Tsunade. He transports Hashirama and Madara to her location, helps prove their identities through childhood memories, and comforts her as she recounts the deaths of Nawaki and Dan 223 234 235 236 237.

Although he initially considers Zhang Yu better suited to the Hokage position, Tobirama supports Tsunade when she ultimately accepts it. He accompanies her to the succession announcement and watches the ceremony through the tavern chat group’s video 237 256 257.

Matchmaking, Festival Preparations, and Later Travels

Tobirama and Hashirama devise schemes to bring Tsunade and Zhang Yu together, including a plan to lock them in the same room. Tobirama later buys all of Ino’s flowers for the summer festival and offers his newly received tavern badge to Izuna 254 277 288 301.

On later outings, he plays cards while Naruto and Sasuke fight at the Valley of the End and helps swap the hot-spring signs. During the Kirigakure visit, he reports on the Three-Tails situation and proposes exploiting the village’s instability, only for Zhang Yu to insist on keeping a low profile 319 320 336 345 346.

Notable Quotes

“I chose a ninja willing to take responsibility, not an old man who glosses over problems and lets dangers fester!” 25

“I created the techniques. How they're used is the choice of those who come after.” 211

“As long as it doesn't violate the tavern's rules, I'll handle it.” 237