Board Thread:Versus Debates/@comment-26005711-20150704102606/@comment-26323734-20150704193314

Sarada Uzumaki wrote: Minato 87 wrote: Prime Hiruzen can't defeat Hokage Minato (without Kurama) and Hashirama (without Sage mode). And Hiruzen is good in Fire and Earth release and Kakashi has Chidori and Raikiri. How Hiruzen can win? Hiruzen was said to be the strongest out of the first four Hokage, Minato and Hashirama included. Kakashi cant perform Raikiri without his sharingan and Hiruzen knows chidori and every other technique in the village so GG Kakashi.

The whole thing with Hiruzen being the stongest was a retcon. I´m not even sure if he was ever called that in the manga. However it´s pretty obvious that Hashirama was severly buffed during Shippuden. Before that the fourth Hokage was the greatest of all Hokage. But right after the timeskip it was stated by Chiyo how Hashi was the only one known to history who could treat the Biju like pets.

Hiruzen is worse than Kakashi according to the Databooks. Furthermore Kakashi keeps improving, it´s mentioned in his Novel how he learned a new technique called purple lightning and he still knows 1000 Jutsu. However I´d still give it to Hiruzen, but the God of Shinobi quote is either bullshit/filler or a retcon by Kishi, which is likely since he decided later on where to go with his story.