Madara Uchiha

A legendary co-founder of Konohagakure who sought to cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi on the entire planet.

Madara Uchiha (Japanese: うちはマダラ, Hepburn: Uchiha Madara) is a fictional character and one of the two main antagonists in Masashi Kishimoto's manga (and anime adaptation) Naruto. He appears for the first time in "Part II" of the manga and the Shippuden anime adaptation (During the Fourth Shinobi War Arc). He, along with its First Hokage Hashirama Senju, is one of the co-founders of Konohagakure village. Their power conflict over how to run the village, as well as the long-time feud between clans, leads to Madara deciding that humanity is beyond saving and seeks to cast a genjutsu (infinite tsukuyomi) on the entire planet, however, he is not aware that this plan will eventually annihilate humanity and turn them into numerous variants of White Zetsu.

Quick Facts

Series: Naruto
First: Naruto chapter 370: Unease (2007)
Creator: Masashi Kishimoto

Lore & Background

Madara is mentioned in the second part of the manga Naruto but does not appear in most of the series except the war arc. During his childhood, he met a child named Hashirama, but amidst the conflicts of their respective clans resulting in war, their friendship ends. After failing at several attempts to kill or defeat his rival, Madara became friends with him and accepted his treaty offering peace between the two clans. The Uchiha, Senju and all of their affiliated clans came together to form a village, which Madara named Konohagakure.

Madara took a merciless approach and did not like Hashirama's compassionate methods. After the death of his brother, Izuna, Madara became cynical and vengeful and held a grudge against the Senju Clan for slaughtering his brothers in the War. After his defection from Konoha, he believed there is no real peace. Losing all of his family and conflicted over his own clanmates, he decided to free the world from its pains, by casting Infinite Tsukuyomi upon the whole world so that there would be no war and no death.

Madara is believed to have been killed by Hashirama's hand, but he survives and goes into hiding. He awakens the legendary Eye Technique Rinnegan using Hashirama's DNA. Before dying, Madara takes Obito as his agent and transplants his Rinnegan into Nagato to be preserved for his eventual revival years later.

Reader's Guide

Defining moments include his childhood friendship and later rivalry with Hashirama Senju, his defection from Konohagakure, his secret survival and awakening of the Rinnegan using Hashirama's DNA, his manipulation of Obito Uchiha, his reanimation by Kabuto Yakushi, his full resurrection by sacrificing Obito, his capture of the Tailed Beasts to revive Ten-Tails, his casting of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and his final betrayal by Black Zetsu who reveals Kaguya's manipulation. His death comes from the toll of the tailed beasts and Demonic Statue being removed from his body, followed by a peaceful final conversation with Hashirama.