10 best anime characters like Hashirama Senju from Naruto

Kakashi Hatake, Hashirama Senju, Shanks
Kakashi Hatake, Hashirama Senju, Shanks (Image via Studio Pierrot, Toei Animation)

Hashirama Senju is one of the most powerful shinobi in the series Naruto. As the First Hokage and leader of the Senju clan, he possessed incredible strength, ninjutsu skills, and the rare Wood Release kekkei genkai. Hashirama sought peace between the warring Uchiha and Senju clans and founded Konohagakure alongside Madara Uchiha.

With his compassion, visionary leadership, and god-like powers, Hashirama Senju left a lasting legacy in the Naruto world. Very few characters can match his larger-than-life presence, but there are some characters who share similarities with the First Hokage in their personalities, abilities, or roles as leaders.

Here are 10 of the best anime characters like Hashirama Senju from Naruto.


Levi Ackerman, Kisuke Urahara, and 8 anime characters like Hashirama Senju

1) Levi Ackerman (Attack on Titan)

Levi Ackerman (Image via Wit Studio/MAPPA)
Levi Ackerman (Image via Wit Studio/MAPPA)

The Captain of the Scout Regiment, Levi Ackerman, is renowned as humanity's strongest soldier in Attack on Titan. Despite his diminutive stature, Levi's prodigious physical abilities and strategic mind mirror Hashirama Senju's talents making him one of the most powerful warriors in the series.

Over time, Levi also becomes a mentor figure to a select few Scout Regiment recruits, nurturing their individual talents like Hashirama nurtured early Konoha shinobi. Both characters cement their legacies by inspiring followers to rise above fear in the fight for freedom.


2) Roy Mustang (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Roy Mustang (Image via Bones)
Roy Mustang (Image via Bones)

The Flame Alchemist Roy Mustang is a high-ranking military officer in Fullmetal Alchemist who aims to become the Führer of Amestris. Like Hashirama Senju, Mustang is highly charismatic and commands immense loyalty amongst his subordinates.

He also works towards revolutionizing the country's leadership for the greater good. While leading his team, Mustang displays tactical brilliance akin to a wartime Hokage. He is generally easy-going but becomes a deadly serious combatant when needed.

With precision flame-based attacks, Mustang overwhelms foes like Hashirama overwhelms enemies with Wood Release techniques.


3) Kisuke Urahara (Bleach)

Kisuke Urahara (Image via Studio Pierrot)
Kisuke Urahara (Image via Studio Pierrot)

The mysterious Kisuke Urahara from Bleach was formerly a captain of the Gotei 13 and founder of the Soul Reaper Research and Development Institute. After being exiled due to false accusations, he opened a shop in the human world and played a key role against threats like the Arrancar and Quincy.

As a scientist and inventor, Urahara shares Hashirama's intellectual curiosity and talent for creating innovative ninjutsu-like techniques. They also inspire loyalty among ragtag groups - the early Shinobi for Hashirama and Urahara's misfit employees.

While not Hokage-level fighters, their intelligence makes them extremely versatile and dangerous.


4) All Might (My Hero Academia)

All Might (Image via Bones)
All Might (Image via Bones)

The world's greatest hero, All Might from My Hero Academia, bears similarities to Hashirama Senju as a charismatic leader and symbol of an era. All Might's immense strength and selfless courage made him the "Symbol of Peace" who deterred villains for years.

This parallels Hashirama's reputation and role in ending the Warring States period. They inspire future generations as mentors as well - Hashirama with the early Konoha shinobi and All Might with students at U.A. High School.

Additionally, both played pivotal roles in significant rivalries; Hashirama against Madara and the Uchiha clan and All Might against the supervillain All For One.


5) Kakashi Hatake (Naruto)

Kakashi Hatake (Image via Studio Pierrot)
Kakashi Hatake (Image via Studio Pierrot)

As one of Konoha's most talented ninjas and the Sixth Hokage, Kakashi Hatake deserves a mention. While not as innately gifted as Hashirama Senju, Kakashi more than makes up for it through hard work and the mastery of over 1000 jutsu, earning him praise as a natural prodigy.

Kakashi shares Hashirama's devotion to his village and serves as a mentor/father figure to Team 7 akin to Hashirama training early Konoha shinobi. He is seen as a cornerstone of Konoha, especially during the Fourth Great Ninja War, just as Hashirama's presence boosted the shinobi during difficult times.


6) Jellal Fernandes (Fairy Tail)

Jellal Fernandes (Image via A-1 Pictures)
Jellal Fernandes (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Jellal Fernandes, a powerful Mage from Fairy Tail, shares similarities with Hashirama Senju as visionary leaders embroiled in ideological conflicts. As a prodigy, Jellal became a part of the Magic Council at a young age to guide mages toward "paradise."

However, his extremism led him to commit atrocities against his followers for "their own good". This mirrors the complex relationship between Hashirama and Madara as well as Konoha's dark origins, showing how seeking control and unity, even with good intentions, can lead to disaster.

However, both later find redemption by protecting their communities from the shadows rather than officially leading them.


7) Minato Namikaze (Naruto)

Minato Namikaze (Image via Studio Pierrot)
Minato Namikaze (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Minato Namikaze was the Fourth Hokage of Konoha renowned as the "Yellow Flash" for his Flying Thunder God Technique. As Hokage, Minato demonstrates Hashirama's compassion and leadership abilities, earning the village's trust and admiration.

He believed in the ideals of unity and love, influenced by his mentor Jiraiya's teachings. Minato sacrifices his life to seal the Nine-Tails fox spirit inside his newborn son Naruto, entrusting the future to the next generation - just as Hashirama entrusted Konoha's future to its youth.

Both cement their heroic legacies through their selflessness in life and death.


8) Shanks (One Piece)

Shanks (Image via Toei Animation)
Shanks (Image via Toei Animation)

The powerful pirate Shanks from One Piece shares Hashirama Senju's qualities as a compassionate, free-spirited leader bringing peace to the world. Originally rivals with the Navy, Shanks' respectful attitude led Fleet Admiral Sengoku to declare a ceasefire between them to prevent further bloodshed at Marineford.

This exemplifies Shanks’ diplomacy stemming from moral courage - similar to Hashirama's belief in pacifism. Shanks also inspired Luffy towards becoming King of Pirates just as Hashirama inspired shinobi toward the 'Will of Fire' philosophy. Their badass combat abilities reinforce followers’ confidence as well.


9) Joseph Joestar (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Joseph Joestar (Image via David Production)
Joseph Joestar (Image via David Production)

The flamboyant master strategist Joseph Joestar from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has several traits reminiscent of Hashirama Senju. As gifted fighters, both are extremely innovative - Hashirama created Wood Release while Joseph outsmarts enemies intellectually through trickery and unpredictable attacks.

They share a boisterous sense of humor, especially in their youth. In later years, Joseph also grows into an influential mentor for the Joestar clan just as Hashirama nurtured Konoha's early days.

Their outward goofiness often hides surprisingly wise personalities with the emotional intelligence to convince violent enemies to stand down. Both leave lasting heroic legacies immortalized for generations.


10) Yamato (Naruto)

Yamato (Image via Studio Pierrot)
Yamato (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Yamato is one of the Anbu directly under the Hokage's command in Naruto. He possesses the Wood Release kekkei genkai ability, just like Hashirama Senju, due to having Hashirama's cells, which grants him the power to create and control trees, wood, and plants.

This also enables him to suppress tailed beast chakra, making Yamato invaluable for handling jinchūriki like Naruto Uzumaki. As such, Yamato serves as a "pillar" protecting Konoha, much like the First Hokage.

He is also assigned as Team 7's captain to oversee the training and discipline of Naruto, Sakura, and Sai. Yamato mirrors Hashirama’s protective instincts for comrades and steadfast devotion to the Will of Fire ideal that holds Konoha together.


Conclusion

Hashirama Senju is in many ways the archetypical wise leader - powerful yet kind-hearted, visionary yet pragmatic, mighty in battle yet gentle at heart. While the Naruto legend's peerless mixture of shinobi skills and magical Wood Release powers have no equal, several anime heroes reflect parts of his multifaceted heroic legacy.

Through their strength, wisdom and leadership, characters like Roy Mustang, All Might, Shanks and others inspire loyalty and hope in others. Some even dream of building a better world like Hashirama Senju's united Konoha village.

Hashirama remains incomparable, but these great anime heroes embody aspects of the First Hokage to drive positive change in their worlds as well. Evaluating heroes by Hashirama's example shows what traits truly define moral greatness


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Edited by Tiasha
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