Board Thread:Episode Discussions/@comment-1512913-20181014115623/@comment-26358434-20181017215258

speaking of those from the era of war:

-lazing around and relying on talent wasn't an option since everyone had at least one family member or friend dead on battlefield

-graduating from academy at extremely young age or becoming jounin at the age the current generation graduates from academy was needed due to the lack of personnel

-no doubt itachi is stronger than kakashi but kakashi graduated 2 years earlier than itachi from academy, kakashi became chuunin 1 year later while it took itachi 3 years.. the war was more intense during kakashi's generation -kakashi is 8/9 years older than itachi-