Major disconnect between Warring States and Founders Era is the inconsistent portrayal of Senju Hashirama.
Before I start: The Founders Three were plot devices in their own era, not the main characters in their own era. They were written in a very exact way in order to facilitate Madara’s fall to indoctrination and eventually leaving the village, so that it leads into the Fourth Shinobi War proper.
Any canon interpretation of the Founders Three would not be grossly ooc, because they are supposed to be kinda ooc in that time. The portrayal of Founders Era is really continuity for introductions made in the Fourth War, not continuity for the Warring States Era, sadly.
I reckon this is mainly why I ( and the pro-Uchiha side of the Naruto Founders fandom? ) will tend to paint the shippuden authorial intent onto the Founders Era. Not only because of Tobirama’s canon one / two liner, but because it makes sense.
Look at the mess of trying to fit so many genre of things into one year of Madara being in the village:
1. There is nothing to suggest that the Hokage candidature could have any impact on external investments, because what we see is the opposite of that. The village seems quite built already when Hashirama and Madara were on the cliff, so it seems Konohagakure got the funds BEFORE a Hokage was elected.
2. We have to assume, at the very least, it is Hashirama, Madara, and Tobirama working their asses off. Clearing forests, core infrastructure, piping, etc all that renovation and economics stuff. I’m sure trade, diplomacy, contracts, and policies must be in this category too because how do you get so much resources to build so much?
3. If we are generous, we can assume the Senju, Uchiha, and whatever clans putting in the work as well. ( at the time of the cliff scene, many clans are newly joining )
4. If we want to be prejudiced, we can say only Senju put in the work because “Uchiha can’t be trusted” this is very sad though, but eh I could accept it as plausible.
5. Hashirama and Madara seems to be on good terms, they’re joking with each other. But when it comes to the village, it is mostly Hashirama talking and Madara finding out things from Hashirama.
+ Madara being weak hearted.
6. Now we come to this iconic scene where Uchiha can’t be trusted. Tobirama probably prefers point no. 4
[ Click for Madara’s canon characterisation ]
I think the office talk wouldn’t have happened the way it did had Hashirama not been too obvious with his favouritism ( or if Tobirama didn’t find out about it )
If Hashirama had drafted some kind of proposal or speech about his view of Madara’s / Uchiha clan’s qualities, it might have gone better. In the Warring States just probably months before, Hashirama seems very sure of Madara. Hashirama knows exactly what he wants, what he can see working, and Hashirama says it in front of many people, even in front of Tobirama.
Then, we come to the Founders Era and there’s kind of none of that. I really draw blanks and can’t make sense of this one and it is always the main gripe I have with the portrayal of Hashirama.
The most consistent part of Hashirama’s character is his misunderstanding of Madara’s motivations.
The fact stands that Hashirama and Madara must have been separated for at least 15 years. Hashirama doesnt know Madara much at all in terms of Madara’s personal qualities, or even the Uchiha clan let’s be real. so Hashirama probably couldn’t come up with any thing more than “He’s very kind and we vibe about village.” and that would not be enough in Tobirama’s eyes.
A friend of mine from the Founders Discord server:
But that is legit tho, they were separated for a good amount of years, and even with the fact of Hashirama wanting Madara to be the Hokage, even in a vote Madara would have lost because of his reputation and the fear that surrounds him and the Uchiha in general.
Hashirama possibly could have done something, but you are right. There could have been little he could say or do with the fact that he truly doesn’t know Madara past their collective desire for the village, which in the end seemed to be more on Hashiramas part than Madaras.
Lastly in Fourth Shinobi War: Hashirama still harping on Madara and Izuna’s sibling relationship, as seen in Hashirama sending Sasuke to suicide against Madara.
And Madara totally disproved Hashirama’s theory so spectacularly, so accurately! Madara was physically blind and he couldn’t have seen Sasuke’s face. Madara could only use his sensory perception. Madara said that Sasuke was just like himself, having a straight patterned Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.
Hence, I refuse to accept that Madara and Hashirama had any last talk as “war buddies” when Madara lay dying. Hashirama, after so many years, still didn’t understand Madara. They are still not on equal grounds, Hashirama’s worldview is still so far below Madara’s.
Madara died and went to pure lands to be reunited with Tajima-papa, Izuna, his unnamed brothers, Hikaku and the Uchiha clan who now recognise Konoha was trash because they all got killed by the government, and they apologise to Madara for not seeing it clearly the first time.
Madara says that he was a weak leader who didn’t know how to communicate properly. Izuna admits that his own stubbornness and pride doomed Madara into ruling and dealing with things alone, when for 20+ years they had always been together and shared equal burden.
The only closure to the oppression and genocide is in the pure lands, when Madara was finally free of plot and god’s control and allowed to die properly without anymore reincarnations, and the Uchiha clan come together and live happily.
No one from the side of Senju & Co should partake in this whatsoever.