We are aware of the reason behind most of the Hokage’s death. For example, Tobirama Senju died acting as a decoy while Hiruzen Sarutobi perished using the Reaper Death Seal, as did Minato Namikaze. However, the mystery behind the death of the first Hokage, Hashirama Senju, remains unexplored.
It was never told in the series why or how Hashirama Senju died. Neither the anime nor the manga addressed this ordeal. However, as usual, fans always save the day with their theories and headcanons. Extracting even the tiniest information available about the first Hokage, fans have articulated that the reason behind his demise might be his strongest jutsu, Wood Release!
A popular fan theory suggests that the first Hokage, Hashirama Senju died due to side effects of Wood Release
Hashirama Senju was known for his Wood Release techniques. It was tremendously overwhelming and allowed him to manipulate and create trees at will. These jutsu helped him a lot during battles, but it came at a cost. They impacted his body with immense strain. A theory states that the continuous use of Wood Release techniques over time took a significant toll on Hashirama’s health, ultimately leading to his premature death.
This theory also explains in detail how the energy required to maintain and control the Wood Release techniques gradually depleted Hashirama’s Chakra. This resulted in his body becoming weak and frail over time. The concept of Chakra and its importance in human life was established early on in the series. Since Hashirama was continuously spamming his Wood Release Jutsu, it drained out his Chakra. With this diminished life force within him, Hashirama became more susceptible to illness or injury.
Who is Hashirama Senju in Naruto?
Hashirama Senju was the leader of the powerful Senju clan in Konoha. They were the only clans capable of rivaling the formidable Uchihas toe-to-toe. Along with Madara Uchiha, he founded the Hidden Village of Konoha. Hashirama was mostly known for his iconic Wood Style Jutsu and his mastery of Sage Jutsu.
He also became the first person to hold the title of Hokage which was a symbol for the leader of the village and its best ninja. He contributed significantly to making the Ninja world what we saw in Naruto. He even introduced the village system and rank-based assignments. People of Konoha admired him for the kind, humble, and simple man he was. However, as we have seen in the anime, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone who threatened him, his clan, or his village.
