I'm not so much saying that Hiruzen couldn't have been able to beat the others or wasn't at a higher level, I'm just saying that; for the plot's sake he's giving us explinations and rationalization of certian character's powers that over hype them or give them credit beyond other characters. The reason (I believe) that Minato and Hashirama are being overglorified at this moment is because Minato is Naruto's father an Kishi inserted him in a larger role because Naruto's goal was to surpass previous Hokage and live up to as his father's legacy...with Hashirama it's a more technical relivence more then emotional or figurativly. Zetsu, the living clone, Wood release, Younger and Older brother, enemy of the Sharingan. Main rival of one of the greatest shinobi and potential main antagonist....These are reason why they're getting more credit at this moment then Hiruzen. Hiruzen's role isn't really anything relivent to the story after Orochimaru, and even then he was little to the main set, which is why we haven't seen anything of him past that one fight. Even in the flash back we didn't see him fight, although it was implied he was stong. Hiruzen couldn't have been older then his early 20s when he took hold of Hokage title and that says something but his feets don't support much...
I agree that most people have the mentality of “what have you done for me lately”, and we witnessed this just last week when people drooled over madara, simply because we got to see some of his powers, but that does not make it right (or legit), and you should be able to view it from a broad perspective and not get sucked into the “here and now”.
Hiruzen will always be relevant, because he was the guy who implemented the will of fire, the very thing which will bring naruto to victory, when the time comes .He was the longest reigning kage, during which time he managed to avoid being invaded, so when you look back at history he will always be a big part of konoha’s history. Without him there would be no sannin, and without them the story would have been totally different, because naruto would have been weak if he didn’t recieve the necessary training from jiraiya, who btw was responsible for getting info on the mighty pain. Sasuke would have also stayed in the village since he would have nowhere to go, because it was oro who gave him that option when he planted the curse seal on him. Finally, sakura would have been even weaker than she is today. See the picture?
Sure, he might not be relevant to the story now (character wise), and may never be again (unless konohamau gets a spin off), but that does not change the event of the past, unless of course kishi says so. Minato is pretty much done in the story, since naruto surpassed him on all levels(if not he is very close),and he gave naruto the task of getting rid of tobi/madara.Hashirama have yet to receive the spotlight, and he will be a big part of the story because of the whole senju/uchiha thing, and the two main characters resembles the two spirits.
With me, actions speak louder then words. In my U.S history class we learn how historians break down information that they study and choose which bits and pieces to put in the text books (perticurally the more relivent peices of the history). I am also saying that for that reason (the reson of placing the important things in the series) that Kishi may need to go back on a few things in order to make it more realistic to the universe, meaning he may not hold Hiruzen as the strongest...however, we can't determine if Hiruzen is or isn't since we haven't seen feets of battle (again, due to lack of relivence to the plot).
Well you know the phrase " History is written by winners",and sarutobi was winner....
I agree with the sentiment that action speaks louder than words,
when we have seen both and can decide if the so called hype is justifiable.Until then, it's crazy to compare a guy like itachi/jiraiya to hiruzen.itachi/jiraiya would win by defaut because we have no feats from hiruzen,so all we have is the reputation he build up as a shinobi.
IMO every Hokage has the ability to take down the other, in almost any circumstance... Lets leave Tsunade (...D cup)..
Lmao, watch out for the feminists out there,how dare you?! And to tbh they are probably reaching the floor right now if it weren’t for the beauty trick(joke ).
Well it is pretty obvious that very hokage can defeat each other,I will even go a step further and say that any kage level fighter can defeat you on any given sunday.Hell, even fodder can get lucky..
Tsunade is vastly underrrated and i hope she will fight dan, so she can shut alot of people up.She pretty much won a war by herself.
How I've broken down all the implications Kishi has given us (the implications being Hashirama and Minato seem to be star Hokage due to relivence), people have the right to argue that Hashi or Minato are better. Actions speak louder then words. Kishi has said some things but when you study something, you're allowed to make fair estimations and to question previously revealed statements...the reason why you can (especially in this case for example)...how do you expect people to accept the word of the higher ups if there is no justification? Why are we not to make assumptions or conclude based feel..."The abscence of evidence, is not the evidence of abscence" I feel that is an appropriate quote (I got if from Gin Rummy from the Boondocks aka Samuel L. Jackson lol but I believe it...go ahead question my taking morals from a tv show ). That's how I feel about God, and on this topic. I don't believe Hiruzen is the strongest nor do I believe any of the other Kage are stronger/weaker then any other...I believe in a middle ground...however for people to believe what they want (despite what the creator has said...remember the creator has demonstrated things that cause people to feel this way. It's not complete fanboy's who are making these claims (some are). Even fanboys have a right to make thes justifications based on what the creator has penned down) is acceptable because, there is evidence (in Minato's case more then Hashirama) and substancial evidence (Hashirama's case...he beat Madara, Madara is being hyped right now and as a result so is Hashirama) to argue for their side
Sometimes words do the job….
Lol, you are kinda sitting on the fence here, and despite the fact that no man is invincible, there will always be a top dog. Naruto and sasuke will be in the near future, and when it comes to kage’s kishi proclaimed sarutobi to be the strongest.
I disagree with your assessment that you can go back on the words said in the manga, unless kishi openly discredit a character e.g. a guy like tobi who has been proven to lie in the past. I have used your quote before(btw is samuel cussing? lol), and I think you are using it wrong, otherwise I could say that iruka could defeat itachi, because iruka might just have the perfect counter for him.I would rather use it when feats are lacking, and in this case the author hypes a person to the max (i.e how did hashirama defeat madara). You don’t have to accept what the “higher ups “say, you could just move, or in this case, complain to kishi/stop reading the manga(i know extreme). Nobody can fault anybody for having an opinion, even a faulty one, but you should be able to handle the critique if something is missing or you a flat wrong. I’m talking about common-sense, manga pages, and other stuff published by the auther.
I'm not saying you can't still question stuff,and everybody does,and it is very likely you will be presented with reasonable arguments, but in the end numbers don’t lie.