Board Thread:Versus Debates/@comment-26005711-20150512133037/@comment-3965545-20150720120520

"Hiruzen earned the title of Professor for being a Researcher. He was trained by both Hashirama and Tobirama, as the man that would succeed them both. At a young age he showed greater talent than Tobirama. Mastery of all five Nature Alterations, Hiden, Genjutsu, and all Ninjutsu existing in Konoha. Hence the essence of Hiruzen is his talent with Ninjutsu. To him, everyone in the village is his family member"

I read a proper translation for Madara's statement and he definitely says in life he and Tobirama were virtually the same. The part about the brothers comes after that statement.