Board Thread:Versus Debates/@comment-27821571-20161109155503/@comment-734582-20161205093458

I think it's fairly clear Itachi and Jiraiya are on the same level. Even in the databooks they have the same total points.

Itachi didn't want to fight Jiraiya because the risk of losing is simply too high. Kisame may think differently about this (He can heal mortal wounds via his sword), also because he would've been there as backup.