Hashirama is one of the most powerful characters in the entire Naruto-verse. Many people might not believe it, but Hashirama was born a genius fighter. He was capable of using all five nature releases and was blessed with the wood release. With the wood release, Hashirama was able to tame the tailed beasts without any problems. Adding to this, Hashirama has the sage mode that further increases his power and chakra levels.
Hashirama was dubbed as the "God of Shinobi," due to his tremendous power. It's crazy to think that someone like Madara was never able to beat him. When you think about the power that Hashirama had it just makes you wonder if there is really a character who is capable of beating him. However, there are actually many characters who can take on Hashirama Senju and beat him in a fight.
Updated on August 21st, 2020 by Josh Davison: Hashirama Senju has an impactful and long-celebrated history in the world of Naruto. He and his brother helped found the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and he had a legendary rivalry with the powerful Madara Uchiha. He was the First Hokage, and he is an ancestor of Tsunade, who went on to become the Fifth Hokage. He was an immensely powerful shinobi, and he was the first leader that the Hidden Leaf Village needed to become the strong and influential village it is now. That said, several shinobi have since arisen that could likely take down even the powerful First Hokage, and there are certainly more than 10 who could do so. As such, we've tossed in another five shinobi we believe could do the deed.
15 Jiraiya
This one wouldn't be easy for either combatant, but Jiraiya is one of the three Legendary Sannin and arguably the strongest of the trio. He has a mastery over Fire, Wind, and Water Release jutsu, he has his own improved versions of the Rasengan, and he can summon giant toads such as Chief Gamabunta.
He also has access to the Sage Mode with the aid of Ma and Pa Toad to improve his jutsu even further. His variety of jutsu, his creativity, and his pact with the toads would give Jiraiya enough of an edge to bring down even the great Hashirama Senju.
14 Sakura Haruno
This one wouldn't be an easy win either, but Sakura Haruno would also be able to take down the First Hokage with the power she wields at the end of Naruto: Shippuden. Her great strength would allow her to repel any of Hashirama's Wood Release jutsu. His Great Forest Creation would be punched to shards or melted by Katsuyu's acid spit.
Sakura can also access the Yin and Yang Release that helped the First Hokage become so powerful, and her Strength of a Hundred Seal would help Sakura go toe to toe with Hashirama in Sage Mode. In the end, Sakura would, if only barely, edge out the First Hokage. Top Transformed Buddha/Summit Enlightenment may prove a complication, but Katsuyu would be able to help Sakura if the First Hokage unleashed that one.
13 Minato Namikaze
This fight would almost certainly be more decisive. Minato Namikaze is known as the "Yellow Flash" for how fast his movement is. He can teleport and he created the legendary Rasengan technique. All of Hashirama's Wood Release techniques wouldn't be much help if the Fourth Hokage can just teleport around them.
Minato can also attain a powerful Sage Mode akin to Hashirama's, albeit even more intense. The Fourth Hokage's speed, maneuverability, and ninjutsu capabilities would almost certainly give him the win.
12 Killer Bee
The Killer Bee is the jinchuriki of the Eight-Tailed Beast, has powerful Lightning Release techniques, and is a master swordsman who even tamed the living sword, Samehada. Like Sakura, Killer Bee could likely just barrel through any Wood Release jutsu from the First Hokage and close the gap on him.
Once Killer Bee gets close to the First Hokage, it would almost certainly be over for Hashirama. Killer Bee is a fast and deadly close-range combatant, and his bond with the Eight-Tailed Beast is so perfect that he'd still have the advantage if Hashirama were able to unleash his Top Transformed Buddha technique.
11 Kakashi Hatake
Kakashi Hatake, at his peak, was easily among the most powerful shinobi in the world. He already has a vast catalog of ninjutsu at his disposal thanks to his talents as the Copy Ninja, but being given the second Mangekyo Sharingan from Obito took things to a whole new level for Kakashi.
Kakashi can summon a full Susano'o, he has the powerfully destructive Kamui, and he can manipulate the world around him with space-time ninjutsu. Ultimately, Kakshi would be able to win the day, even if Hashirama unleashed Top Transformed Buddha.
10 Nagato Uzumaki
First up on the list is a member of one of the most powerful clans in the history of Naruto. Nagato Uzumaki had the Rinnegan implanted into him by Madara Uchiha. It is pretty clear that a Rinnegan will give access to all five natures as well as to the six paths technique. Nagato was never at full health while he was alive, but all of that changed when he was reanimated. Nagato showed his true skill when he fought against Killer B and Naruto Uzumaki. Both of them were perfect jinchuriki and Nagato was overwhelming them on his own. They were only saved by Itachi's intervention. If Nagato were to fight Hashirama at full then he would definitely win.
9 Sasuke Uchiha
Sasuke Uchiha is also known as the "Other Hokage of the Hidden Leaf." Towards the end of the Naruto Shippuden, Sasuke was the only person who was capable of going toe-to-toe with Naruto Uzumaki. Sasuke received a major power-up during the Fourth Great Ninja War.
Hagoromo gave him half of his power that allowed Sasuke to awaken a special Rinnegan in his left eye. With the Rinnegan at his disposal, Sasuke is also able to absorb chakra and travel through dimensions in addition to the regular powers of the Rinnegan.
8 Naruto Uzumaki
Naruto Uzumaki hardly needs any introduction. He is the protagonist of Naruto. Currently, Naruto is the Seventh Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. Naruto has fought with the strongest characters throughout the series and throughout these fights, Naruto continued to grow. By the end of the series, Naruto is the strongest ninja in history. He has the six paths sage mode and he possesses an enormous amount of chakra. Hashirama doesn't really have a chance against Naruto. Naruto's power is far beyond the reach of a shinobi. So, this fight would be easy for Naruto.
7 Kaguya Otsutsuki
Kaguya Otsutsuki is the progenitor of chakra. She was the jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails. Kaguya is not just one of the strongest characters in the Naruto-verse, but also in the entire anime-verse. She can move through dimensions and she is the only person who can create a truth-seeking ball. Kaguya created a huge truth-seeking ball with which she was going to destroy an entire dimension. In order to beat Kaguya, it took the combined efforts of the entire Team 7 and Obito Uchiha. Hashirama has no chance of even touching Kaguya Otsutsuki.
6 Madara Uchiha
Madara Uchiha was the lifelong rival of Hashirama. Madara was the first Uchiha to awaken the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. He was able to tame the Nine-Tails with his powerful Sharingan. Despite all his abilities, Madara always fell short when he went up against Hashirama, however, when Madara was reanimated things changed. Madara had the Rinnegan, the wood release, and unlimited chakra. He got even stronger after he became the ten tails jinchuriki. He gained the ability of limbo and he could bring several meteors down on to the battlefield. In that form, Madara could wipe the floor with Hashirama.
5 Might Guy
He is also known as "Konoha's Sublime Green Beast of Prey." Most of the people ignored Guy's power until the Fourth Great Ninja War began. Guy demonstrated his power when he faced Kisame and he didn't give him an inch. Guy has mastered the Eight Inner Gates.
By opening the gates, his power grows by many folds. Guy's biggest moment came when he faced Madara Uchiha. No one was able to get close to Madara and no attack seemed to work. That's when Guy stepped up to the mark and opened the eighth and final gate. Guy was able to tear Madara's body into two with just one kick. Hashirama can't survive an attack as powerful as "Night Guy."
4 Obito Uchiha
Obito Uchiha's story is a very tragic one. He was used by Madara and Zetsu to fulfill their own wishes. Obito possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan that gave him the ability to make attacks just pass through his body. Obito became the jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails during the Fourth Great Ninja War. With the help of the truth-seeking balls, Obito was almost untouchable. Hashirama who was reanimated at that time clearly confirmed that Obito was way beyond his level. So, Hashirama himself knows that Obito is just too much even for a superb shinobi like him.
3 Hiruzen Sarutobi
Many Naruto fans don't rate Hiruzen at all. They don't think he's powerful enough to go up against the strongest shinobi, but they tend to forget that Hiruzen Sarutobi has the same epithet as Hashirama Senju. Hiruzen too was known as the "God of Shinobi."
Hiruzen's knowledge about jutsu was far superior to any other shinobi. He even knew about the special jutsu of the clans in the Hidden Leaf. An old Hiruzen was able to face Orochimaru, and the reanimated First and Second Hokage (albeit they were not at full power). However, it must be kept in mind that Hiruzen wasn't at his prime either. He was able to neutralize Orochimaru's threat on his own.
2 Itachi Uchiha
Itachi Uchiha was a once in a generation prodigy. He was forced to be on the run after Danzo made him kill his own clan members including his parents. After the tragedy, Itachi joined Akatsuki in order to keep watch on them. Itachi was a victim of an unknown disease that eventually killed him. His real power was shown when he was reanimated and when he fought against Nagato and later against Kabuto. Itachi is arguably the best genjutsu user in the series and his Susanoo was called "invincible," by Zetsu. If Itachi is at full health then he can defeat Hashirama, but it won't be an easy job.
1 Hagoromo Otsutsuki
The final character on our list is the eldest son of Kaguya Otsutsuki, Hagoromo. Hagoromo was an insanely powerful character. He was the first character who awakened the Rinnegan. Hagoromo and his brother, Hamura, were responsible for sealing their mother after an insanely long battle. After sealing away their mother, Hagoromo became the jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails himself. So, his power increased even more. Also, he had an ability called the "Creation of All Things," which allowed him to create things out of nothing. There is only going to be one result when Hagoromo and Hashirama fight, and that is Hashirama's defeat.