Madara's Best Friend
If Madara and the others in this post lived under different circumstances, I think it makes more sense for Madara to be ‘best friends’ with either Tobirama or Gai. They are more compatible with Madara than Hashirama. Not considering Izuna as Madara’s best friend since that wouldn’t be fair. Izuna probably knew Madara better than Madara knew his own hand. No I don’t ship Mads with Hashirama, Tobirama, Izuna, or Gai, but seeing wholesome MadaGai comics made me think how this entire time, those artists had a point.
Hashirama
Others have discussed this extensively, but while Hashirama is the only one who can fight Madara as an equal, he wasn’t a good friend to Madara. Beyond the initial founding of Konoha, which stemmed from a genuine desire for peace and wanting a better future for young ones, Hashirama was selfish in his motivations for why he wanted Madara to stay in Konoha. It was always about the village for Hashi. There was never genuine reflection about Madara’s concerns or consideration for his well-being, even when Madara was basically screaming for help in his own way. Hashirama was also not even close to Madara on an intellectual level. Not that I think Hashirama was the total airhead he liked to present himself as. On the contrary, I think he was often quite manipulative when he pretended to be dumber than he is. But whereas Madara had the capacity to foresee far into the future the issues about shinobi villages due to their social structures, Hashirama was set on his ideals of what the village must be like and unwilling to stand up to defend his ‘friend’ Madara. And then he killed his best friend over his flawed beliefs once Madara no longer played by his rules.
I think Hashirama would only be suitable for being Madara’s true sparring partner/rival, even if Gai would exuberantly declare himself ‘rival’ anyways.
Tobirama
This only applies if Tobirama left Izuna alone.
Tobirama tried to make the village work. And to his credit, the village worked. It survived well into the future thanks to social structures and policies enacted by Tobirama. Tobirama was the one who propped up the village and ensured it ran smoothly after its founding, not so much Hashirama, even if Tobi’s ways eventually lent themselves to the dark underbelly of Konoha that Madara foresaw. The intentions were noble, even if his methods flawed.
If neither Tobi nor Hashi killed Izuna, Izuna would likely have survived until much later. If Madara was somehow convinced for a truce and to build a village anyways, Izuna at his side would be a much more level-headed negotiator than Madara and would ensure the treaty was fair to the other founding clan, the Uchiha, too. If the canon events had been even slightly different, I believe there was ample opportunity for the Uchiha to thrive as well. The entire story could have been so different.
Despite the abundant past misgivings between the Uchiha and Senju, I believe Madara and Tobirama could be friends who respect each other if Izuna lived and they were all working on Konoha together. They are much closer intellectually, quieter and more introspective, would be able to bounce more realistic ideas off each other, maybe invent new jutsu together. Tobirama was pragmatic and logical, which could be a better foil to Madara than Hashirama, who seemed to often drive Madara to extreme emotion.
Gai
This lovely cinnamon bun is among the purest characters in Naruto. There isn’t a single vile or dark thing about him. Even his teeth are shiny. He would be so good for Madara and his mental wellbeing, like he was for Kakashi. Gai tried to hang out with Kakashi when the Copy Cat was traumatized by multiple deaths so he wouldn’t be alone, protected Kakashi when he was distracted on a mission and almost got killed, and was just there when needed. Even when he was pushed away repeatedly, Gai never gave up on his friend.
If Madara had a real friend in Gai like Kakashi did, one who will be present and support his buddies through anything, who knows? I’m sure the grouchy hermit Madara would resist and try to push this overbearing green beast away too, but that wouldn’t stop Gai’s insistence. The ridiculousness to ensue would have been a balm for Madara’s tortured soul. Both men’s dedication to the future generations and physical training are also bonding points. With someone who still cared for him, maybe Madara wouldn’t have gone down the path he did so readily? Madara was at a point of total isolation without Izuna and the support of his clan, an untrusted outcast left with no one who still wanted his protection when he abandoned Konoha. At that point, he didn’t have anyone to look out for his back. He was also abandoned. It’s really tragic.
Have a picture of happy Madara. It’s uncommon.
