That would be stupid since he can't control the Kyuubi like Madara and wood is a weak defense to protect the Kyuubi.
That's false, Orochimaru stated that Hashirama was able to bend bijuus to his own will
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and it was strong enough to overpower Madara's control over Kurama as well. Plus the Kages said he could control Bijuus as well
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. Hashirama's wood jutsus were strong enough to catch and use full Kurama's tbb, take the blast from that tbb and stop the swing from PS sword.
He would be closer to Prime Minato's level that's for sure U_U
Too bad Minato died before ever reaching his prime, he died mid to high 20's and prime is usually around 30-45.
How could he control Bijuus? Wood Realese only showed restraint
Orochimaru said Hashirama can bend Bijuus to his own will
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and the Kages said he could control Bijuus
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.
He can only suppress their power. He did not have most of them either, but rather a few of them only.
Orochimaru stated he can bend Bijuus to his will
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plus Mei said Hashirama was one of the few people who can be said to truly control Bijuus
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. Hashirama had Bijuus 2-8 before fighting Madara and 2-9 after. First Kage meeting Hashirama was sharing the Bijuus with the other villages and the sand village already had the 1 tails while no other village had one so Hashirama had all but the 1 tails. As Hokage, Hashirama can't just leave the village so he had to have them before becoming Hokage and he was Hokage when he fought Madara and took Kurama so yes he had most of them.
It's been stated, that Hashirama can control Bijuu. Not just restrain but control. We also know that he had most of the Bijuu in his possession at one time. We saw that with Senju DNA the Juubi could be controlled, therefore I don't think it's out of way to suggest Hashirama could mimic the feat on one Bijuu at a time.
With that in mind; do you think that Hashirama could've merged his Mokuton to a Bijuu like the Kyuubi to augment it's physical attack, like Madara via Susano'o? As if Hashirama wasn't op enough.
Hashirama could bend Bijuu to his will according to Orochimaru (who is known for knowing things) so you are right there and he did have Bijuus 2-9 since he gave them away to the other village but the sand village had the 1 tails already. I don't think he could combine his wood with the bijuus but I do think he would collaborate it with them, like grabbing and holding down the enemy while the bijuu attacks.