Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-28846843-20160625201600/@comment-7292165-20160701011553

You don't have to have destructive power to defeat Hashirama. Hiruzen defeated Hashirama without destructive powers, where he used the Death Reaper Seal to end it. You have to understand that Hiruzen in his old age was able to fight Hashirama and Tobirama (though not at full power, but nonetheless were powerful as Orochimaru wouldn't waste his time). Not to mention also fighting Orochimaru. He defeated them all, and he was way passed his prime amd was rusty. If we can see what he could do here, then what people credit him in his prime, it doesn't seem so unrealistic. I'm not saying he's the strongest, what I'm saying is he would defintely give Hashirama trouble. This man mastered all five nature transformations and uses them, he is fast and adept in taijutsu, he has shown to be resourceful even when he loses his sight, he knows all jutsu of Konoha and more or so likely can use all techniques that aren't hiden or kekkei genkai. He also has a summon that can transform into a staff that can defend him and attack. The staff can easily break trees and could even push back the Nine-Tails when extending it (might be only anime but feats are feats). You can't tell me that you don't believe with all the information I gave you, that Hiruzen in his prime, couldn't give a fight to Hashirama, disregarding Sage Mode.