How could Madara free himself from the Impure World Resurrection technique, while Tobirama can't?


In Chapter 591, we see [Madara Uchiha free himself from the influence of
Kabuto's Impure World Resurrection/Reincarnation technique (Edo
Tensei)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/YdCBR.png), saying that he was able to do
this because [he knew about the technique's
seals](https://i.stack.imgur.com/YdCBR.png).

[![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/kB7A1.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/YdCBR.png)

However, in Chapter 620, we see the inventor of the Impure World Resurrection
technique, [the second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, wanting to be free of the
technique](https://i.stack.imgur.com/C7IOa.png), but was stopped by
Orochimaru.

[![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UIf70.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/C7IOa.png)

**How was it that[Tobirama was not able to free himself from the Impure World
Resurrection technique](https://i.stack.imgur.com/C7IOa.png), despite being
its inventor and knowing all about the technique and its seals, but Madara
can?**

* * *

Credits: Linked images are from [Mangastream](http://mangastream.com/)'s
scanlations.




When Madara frees himself of the Edo Tensei, he performs the seal. But in the
case of Tobirama, you can see that in the first attempt he only tries to crush
the wall. Also in the next page you can read this:

> _Hashirama: You increased the restraining power using my cells._
>
> _Tobirama: Now that I sense better, his body is almost made of my brother's
> cells._

So Madara was able to free himself because no one restrained him before he
performed the seal; in the case of Tobirama, he tried to destroy the wall
first and Orochimaru was able to restrain him with the increased restraining
power he has.




When Madara frees himself of the Edo Tensei, he performs the seal. But in the
case of Tobirama, you can see that in the first attempt he only tries to crush
the wall. Also in the next page you can read this:

> _Hashirama: You increased the restraining power using my cells._
>
> _Tobirama: Now that I sense better, his body is almost made of my brother's
> cells._

So Madara was able to free himself because no one restrained him before he
performed the seal; in the case of Tobirama, he tried to destroy the wall
first and Orochimaru was able to restrain him with the increased restraining
power he has.

