Despite hailing from different generations, it would be destiny that eventually leads these two powerful figures in an epic clash. The battles these two have undertaken have tested and molded them to become the warriors they are. While this may seem like any typical battle, both figures represent different ideals and were raised in vastly different environments. They have become an embodiment of their beliefs, goals, ideals and flaws. In order to fully understand the complexity in their clash, we have to analyze the characters, the implications as well as their fights.
Naruto vs Madara: Background
Uzumaki Naruto
One of the things that was really well done in Naruto was the development of his character. We see each phase and each arc tackle not only the improvement of his powers, but the ever changing depth of his personality and character. Naruto started off as an outcast, with most of the village resenting him for carrying the Nine-Tailed Fox inside him. During this time he had no knowledge of his parents and carried the last name of his mother so that people wouldn't know he was related to the Fourth Hokage. Wanting love and acknowledgement, he became a prankster to get people's attention. There was only one figure that looked out for Naruto and that was Iruka. Iruka was the balancing factor for Naruto and the young boy felt acknowledgement and love from him. Soon after he would meet his friends and soon-to-be team Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno. Naruto related to Sasuke a lot because of their somewhat shared orphan past but was also jealous of him because he was naturally better at most things.
Having no natural ability and no affinity for learning, most of Naruto's skills and talents would come from hard work. Naruto trained a lot and yearned to prove himself through learning difficult techniques. This along with the hidden power of the Nine-Tails in him would later allow him to learn the Shadow Clone Technique and take it to new heights. What Naruto lacked in terms of training he made up for in battle prowess. He could easily analyze and make multiple decisions in the battlefield. Although he often acts like an idiot, Naruto can always come up with unorthodox ways of defeating enemies.
Later on Naruto would realize his own ninja way of never going back on his word. This would lead to a certain stubbornness and dedication to almost anything he did. Even going so far as to chase Sasuke after he left so that he could bring him back to Sakura. From lacking love and acknowledgement, Naruto became someone who could give love and acknowledgement to others. He had a way with people and could inspire even those with darkness in their hearts. He helped people like Gaara and even Nagato in changing their perspective. After losing Sasuke, Naruto would then train with Jiraiya to improve his skills. One thing that Naruto struggled to control early on was his anger. It was sparked by certain things like his uncertain past and the loss of his love ones; even the hatred of certain enemies. After learning the cycle of hatred in the ninja world, he realized that it was up to him to break the chain and create a world filled with peace and love. A world that hasn't been seen before. This ideal he would eventually carry in his battle against Madara.
Madara Uchiha
Madara was born into a time of war where the Uchiha clan had mostly been at war with the Senju. He was considered a prodigy, having killed veteran ninjas even before activating the signature eye technique of the Uchiha clan, the sharingan. He was also a natural at most things, having power, techniques and intelligence that even rivaled the "God of Shinobi" Hashirama Senju. He experienced the death of his brothers early and was left only with one cherished brother named Izuna. Madara would eventually become leader of the Uchiha, and would later be convinced of an alliance with the Senju thanks to Hashirama. This union would create the Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf Village where Naruto would grow up. Madara sought peace for Izuna, but his confident and controlling personality meant that he had a different approach to things. Unlike Naruto, Madara wanted peace through control. He wanted to subjugate every enemy, something Hashirama also disapproved of. After the death of his brother, Madara became bitter and Hashirama's rise as Hokage meant that he was now losing power and control. He eventually defected and waged war with the village. Despite all his natural gifts and powers, he was eventually defeated and went into hiding. Here he formulated a plan to be rid of the curse of hatred and its cycle in the world. He had lost faith in humanity and believed that there was no other way to remove the hatred except to subjugate everyone into his world view. He eventually envisioned the Infinite Tsukuyomi, the plan that would send everyone into a "deep bliss".
Naruto vs Madara: Skills
Naruto Uzumaki
Naruto has a variety of techniques and skills at his disposal for his battle vs Madara. His Shadow Clone Technique allows him to create multiple clones and diversify his strategies. It also allowed him to learn techniques in a shorter amount of time as multiple copies of him could train for it. His large chakra reserve is also attributed to Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox residing within him. After befriending Kurama his power level would eventually increase and his threshold for techniques sent to newer heights. His training with Jiraiya allowed him to learn the Rasengan which was the signature technique of his late father. It also helped him learn that he had an affinity for the wind element which he would later apply to the Rasengan (Rasenshuriken). He would also endure the same training that his master Jiraiya did to learn the ways of the sage. He also got a bit of each tailed beast chakra during the pivotal moments of the Fourth Shinobi War. He can draw from these different powers and elements easily. Finally, Naruto was given inheritance in the form of Ashura Ootsutsuki's power. He gained access to part of the powers of the Sage of Six Paths. His chakra, abilities and physical prowess would now reach a level far beyond any of the previous Hokage.
Madara Uchiha
Madara also has very powerful chakra and this was largely in part of his relation to the Sage of Six Paths via Indra Ootsutsuki. He uses numerous styles of ninjutsu and could do seals, restricting techniques, and summoning with ease. He also has a different version of the Shadow Clone technique that allowes him to hide his original body. He is also one of the few ninjas who had an affinity for all elements which allowed him to manipulate his fire techniques and later on learn the wood techniques of Hashirama. When he was reincarnated, he was given numerous modifications by Kabuto and also gained Hashirama's cells to strengthen his own. This allowes him to regenerate and heal quickly even when in battle. Later on, he would also gain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and the Rinnegan to use at his disposal. These two powerful eyes combined meant he had more reach and power than ever before. This combination of gifts, techniques, intelligence alongside the raw power of the Ten-Tailed Beast would mean one of the most difficult battles for Naruto.
Naruto vs Madara: Battles
Madara and Naruto first clashed during the heat of the Fourth Shinobi War. Naruto, having been busy with his clones in different parts of the battlefield, was suddenly faced against the powerful Uchiha. Madara tried to summon the Nine-Tails' power from Naruto but Kurama helped Naruto resist and fend off Madara. With the appearance of the five Kage, it would be a while before they faced each other again.
The next Naruto vs Madara battle would be just after Madara defeated the five Kage. Madara riled up Naruto by talking about how he and Obito manipulated Nagato and this sent Naruto on a rage. Naruto would be divided here as well with his attention in two places. One was fighting Madara's Wood Dragon and the other was helping Kakashi Hatake. With the revival of the ten-tails, Madara and Obito tried to convince Naruto that what he was doing is futile and no one is worth the effort he was doing. Madara kept convincing Naruto of his world views which Naruto ignored and never accepted. Naruto challenged his notions and told them that it was his comrades that gave him strength. With the help of the rest of the allied forces Naruto was able to remove the control of the Ten-Tails. Obito was prevented from fully reviving Madara when Naruto convinced him that he was being manipulated. Naruto told Obito that they both had the same circumstances and that it was not too late to change. Madara however had a fail-safe in place, he made Black Zetsu take control of Obito to complete his revival.
With Madara going back to full power, he easily dispatched Naruto and his friends and also removed the Nine Tails from Naruto's body. This lead to Naruto entering a catatonic state. Sakura tried her best to stabilize Naruto, and Obito, now free of Madara's control tried to help as well. During this time Naruto would meet with Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths. The sage would give him the power and inheritance of Ashura Otsutsuki.
Now revived, and with new power, Naruto prevented Madara from killing Guy and nearly caught Madara off guard with a substantial increase in power. With the help of Sasuke and his inheritance from Indra, they started overwhelming Madara. This caused Madara to take Kakashi's Mangekyo Sharingan and escape momentarily.
The final battle of Naruto vs Madara (video above) takes place when Madara returns with the power of the Rinne Sharingan and the Ten Tails. While Naruto and Sasuke are formidable, he keeps them busy while completing the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Sasuke protected Naruto and a few others from the powerful genjutsu, but everyone else succumbed to the power. Madara revels in his supposed his victory, only to be back-stabbed by Black Zetsu to give way to the revival of Kaguya Otsutsuki.
Naruto vs Madara: Good versus Evil?
Naruto and Madara's conflicts weren't necessarily a good versus evil scenario, but more of how two different perspectives of good battled it out. One side believed in freedom, love, resolve while the other believed in control and power. Madara felt that there was no longer hope and thought that only the Infinite Tsukuyomi could bring true peace to the ninja world. Naruto was a lot more hopeful and believed that everyone had the power in them to succeed and remove the hatred. Madara's sense of good became so warped that it eventually became evil, though it was not as malicious as some villains might intend. Madara had resolve to do whatever it took for his way, and so did Naruto. This adds depth to the different view points of each. You can say that each of them were a shade of gray, one darker and one lighter. Each of them had the same purpose but different means of achieving it. Ultimately, this made all the difference when it comes to Naruto vs Madara.
Resolution
Thinking about the battle in its entirety, one can't help but feel that a battle of Naruto vs Madara would easily end in Madara's victory. Another train of thought that we can see is that Naruto wasn't also fully committed to most of the fights. If he were left to focus on just one enemy, he could've possibly overpowered Madara by himself early on. Despite that, Naruto inspired everyone with him and his resolve and desire to keep his ideals and stand firm eventually won over Madara's ways. It was Naruto's willpower and confidence in his beliefs that molded him and helped him win the battle and the war.
