The Naruto universe is filled with distinct beliefs and ideologies, some that have even shaped the entire political landscape of the shinobi world. While every nation and clan has their own distinct beliefs and values, some are so profound that entire nations have been based on them. One such belief is the Senju Clan's Will of Fire, which allowed their bloodline to live and survive in times when the world only knew darkness.
The Hidden Leaf Village was also founded on this very belief, which dictates that peace can only be achieved through love. Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage was a staunch believer of the Will of Fire, as he entrusted this belief to the people of the Hidden Leaf, hoping it would guide them towards a peaceful existence. Delving deeper into this ideology reveals how it shaped the Hidden Leaf's history, and the generations that came after.
The Origins of the Will of Fire
The Will of Fire can be traced back to the times of the Sage of Six Paths, as this belief originated from one of his sons, Asura Otsutsuki. Asura believed that attaining true peace is only possible through love. Due to this belief, Hagomoro Otsutsuki chose Asura as his successor, as he believed that the ideology of finding peace through love is far superior to Indra’s belief of maintaining peace through power and domination. Furious with the decision, Indra instigated a feud with Asura, as he believed it was his birthright to be the successor since he was both older and stronger.
The beliefs of both sides lived on through their respective bloodlines, with Asura’s Senju Clan taking up the Will of Fire, and Indra’s Uchiha Clan basing their power in the Curse of Hatred. Their fates were also forever interlinked as the spirits of Indra and Asura were destined to be reincarnated through their respective bloodlines. The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, had the spirit of Asura imbued inside him as he embodied this belief and called it the ‘Will of Fire’, basing it as the life philosophy that the Hidden Leaf was founded upon.
How the Will of Fire Shaped the Hidden Leaf Village
Although forming the Hidden Leaf Village was a combined effort of the Senju and Uchiha Clans, it was the Senju’s Will of Fire that had triumphed over all other beliefs, and the very same ideology continued to shape the Hidden Leaf’s affairs for decades to come. Every single Hokage that has led the Village has been a staunch follower of the Will of Fire, and it is speculated that without embodying this belief, one can never achieve the title of Hokage. This is evident from the case of Orochimaru and Danzo, two highly skilled shinobi that were potential candidates to become Hokage, yet they were passed over as they did not possess the love and loyalty needed to lead the Hidden Leaf.
The Will of Fire is also one of the forces behind the Hidden Leaf’s inherent power, one that allows the Village’s shinobi to continue fighting against despair and hopeless odds. This belief is also symbolic of the hopes and dreams of the previous generation being carried on to the next, as those that die live on in the hearts of the coming generation. This is evident from the teachings that have been passed on through generations, such as from Hashirama to Hiruzen, who then passed these ideals to Jiraiya, and then Jiraiya to Naruto, and so forth.
Followers of the Will of Fire
While the Senju Clan directly inherited the Will of Fire, several other characters have also been shown to be staunch followers of this loyalistic belief. Almost every shinobi in the Hidden Leaf embodies the Will of Fire to some extent, but some have gone above and beyond for the Village, giving an exemplifying display of this belief.
The most notable one is Naruto Uzumaki, who, despite being discriminated against by his own Village, still had feelings of affection and love for those around him. It was his Will of Fire that led him to believe that he could become Hokage and create a just world where love would prevail and people could live in peace and harmony. Through Naruto, the Will of Fire lived on, ensuring the peaceful coexistence of the Hidden Leaf with the rest of the shinobi world.