How do think Kakuzu survived his encounter against Hashirama?

[TheMask]

Maybe Hashi didn't know about his hearts and he used that to get away.

Kakuzu got that jutsu after he failed the mission. So he abandons his village, Steals their kinjutsu and the four replacement Hearts from the village elders.

 

[Kirin The Dragon Sage]

Naruto was compared to shikamaru in terms of intelligence. So i suggest people don't underestimate him in that field. Kakuzu was so powerful not even kakashi could handle him and i believe kakashi was called the strongest jounin in the leaf in part 1. Pain/nagato was also outsmarted by naruto so nagato is automatically dumb? Kakuzu without earth grudge fear had water element as his affinity I think he could've had some pretty powerful techniques otherwise the village wouldn't have send him to assasinate hashirama. His speed seems to be on par with kakashi who was said to be the second fastest ninja in part 1 in terms of pure footspeed, kakashi improved in part 2 so we've to take that into consideration.

How come Kakashi is the strongest jounin in Konoha, he sure weaker than Gai.

 

[Uverdore9]

How come Kakashi is the strongest jounin in Konoha, he sure weaker than Gai.

Kakashi is overall the strongest or was in leaf. After opening seventh gate maybe he's below gai.

 

[Nerosmoke]

The Same way Madera and everyone else who fought Hashirama survived.