Tobirama Senju has always been a character who has seen a bittersweet response from the fans of Naruto. Masashi Kishimoto has always been one to flesh out his characters, whether they be heroes or villains, and Tobirama was one of them. A character who is simply white or black morally lacks depth in many ways when it comes to shonen manga.
While the execution of such characters can certainly find twists to make them somewhat interesting, such as the case of Tanjiro in Demon Slayer, the possibility is always a risk. For a story like that of Naruto, the moral alignments of the characters are as blurry and grey as they can get. Much like any other Hokage, Tobirama has also been subjected to deeds that he may be both proud and ashamed of.
The Complexity of Tobirama Senju
As the Second Hokage, Tobirama had a duty to fulfill. Out of the many things he did, both good and bad, his treatment of the Uchiha clan was infamous. His distrust was one that could easily blur along the lines of hatred. Many think it is his prejudice and preconceived notions that clouded his judgment against the clan.
Their affinity for using the Sharingan made him doubt the Uchihas and more so their mental standing. As a result, he was always on edge and actively pushed them aside. His unfair treatment towards the clan almost made him seem racist to many fans when the real cause for his actions was more deep-rooted.
Despite all that he had done towards the Uchiha clan, that wasn’t the worst of what made him such a morally grey character. Being a Hokage also meant to be a protector. However, Tobirama was also responsible for creating some of the many Forbidden Jutsus in the Naruto universe.
The Oppenheimer Effect
When a person creates something, their intentions are either for the good of the people or not. There is never a complication to this understanding. Guns were initially created with the idea of protecting and providing for oneself and now they are commonly seen as the epitome of what a weapon is.
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Tobirama Senju created some of the most powerful Jutsus, including the Shadow Clone Jutsu and Edo Tensei. J. Robert Oppenheimer created the atomic bomb to help his nation, and not to give others unimaginable power. However, he learned a little too late that power, if given to the wrong people, can be abused almost instantaneously.
Creating powerful Jutsus and making them Forbidden wouldn’t stop them from being used and abused. On the contrary, it would only provide more motivation. Humans thrive on the idea of power, that is what runs the world. His creations, regardless of the initial intention, led to hardships, bloodshed, and the utmost horrors that brought pain to many.
Naruto is available to watch on Netflix.
