Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-3965545-20170621043245/@comment-27797856-20170622113235

Rafaelrios123 wrote: He is sannin-level everyone knows that,the real problem are the fanboys that think he is way beyond that,when he isn't. Pretty much this.

Itachi knew full well that he would lose against Jiraiya (with Kisame by his side too), so he's definitely not above sannin-level. He might've placed Orochimaru under a genjutsu, but as Orochimaru wanted Itachi's body, he couldn't kill him or physically exhaust his body either. Orochi did lose to Sword of Totsuka, though, so I guess there's that...

What you got to remember is that Itachi is so OP in a few fights because the plot demands it.

I would put him in the same category as Kisame: Incredibly powerful, but not without weaknesses.