But here's the thing, everything about Hiruzen is just hype without fact. Kabuto also called Hashirama's power that of a fairytale, as in something that isn't really believable and soemthing about him being the strongest shinobi after the Sage. I'm not sure if I'm remembering right or if the translation was correct. There's something that's really pressing, a lot of the Japanese language can't be translated 100% into the English language so there's probably several different translations which try to give a baring on what is really meant to be said. It's taken too literal sometimes but mainly it should be taken as a general area of what is trying to be said.
Anyway, we hear hype and now we generally get feats to back it up. With Hashirama, although it's an indirect feat comparison; Madara's use of Mokuton can be translated into how Hashirama's used to be in a scale of power. Then you have Madara's hype over Hashirama has been seen partially, and implicated through flashbacks. Madara acts as a primary source although he can be subject to some level of exaggeration but when you look at it, the powers that have been demonstrated by Madara minus the Rinningan are assumed to have been had when he last fought Hashirama. And if Hashirama was able to sustain combat with him, let alone win, implies Hashi's strength to some degree although still vague. Though vague it's still more than fights Hiruzen has been shown in. We've only seen the Third fight once unfortunately. However there are no real other implications other than the hype. There's no battle stories seen through the eyes previous enemies as a primary or even history text as a secondary to give further implications to his power.
This, and for reasons I've stated about relevance, is why I'm skeptical to Hiruzen being strong enough either past nor present (during part 1) to be considered the strongest Hokage.
there's the term brown noser for a reason.
