Board Thread:Versus Debates/@comment-28203534-20160509153448/@comment-26388300-20160510052513

I get the feeling that we never truly saw Jiraiya at his absolute best. For quite some time, he was the most powerful shinobi in Konoha; this means that, for a time, an argument could be made that he was potentially the strongest shinobi living.

Regardless, even someone as powerful and resourceful as Jiraiya wouldn't likely defeat Hashirama. He would fight well, and Hashirama would surely be impressed, but Hashirama is insanely strong... a god of war.

It would require the teamwork of the Sannin united at their primes to challenge Hashirama. And even then, admittedly, I'm not sure they could succeed.