If indeed true, then why:

[Curteth]

So, I've been told that it's a reoccurring theme in the Narutoverse that each generation surpasses the other... There appears to be a flaw in this; considering the second (I don't believe) has surpassed the 1st, and lord knows that the 3rd is no where near as the 2nd was... Then we have the 4th... etc. There may be other occurrences, or shall we round this up to "always rules to the exception" ...As convenient as that sounds... (and let's play without a handicap here, and not use the excuse of "plot no Jutsu", just for the sake of it...) I know that will be a challenge, but hey, if challenges were easy, we wouldn't have Izumaki where he is today, eh... xD

 

[Negative Knight]

I honestly don't believe that the further generations surpass the previous ones. The first generation's legend was the Sage of the Six Paths while the 5th Generation's legends stem from a creation of the 1st Generation. If anything, standards are dropping. Naruto/Sasuke and a few others are a exception to the rule but overall the 5th Generation of Kage looks like the weakest ever created.

1st Generation - Hashirama

2nd Generation - Tobirama, Muu and 2nd Mizukage

3rd Generation - Hiruzen, 3rd Kazekage, 3rd Raikage and Oonki

4th Generation - Minato, Yagura, 4th Raikage and 4th Kazekage

5th Generation - Gaara, Mei, Tsunade and most likely Darui and Kitsuchi

^^ That is a blatant regress in strength over the successive generations

 

[AmaniPaz]

Wait, I know about the first generation and others but I don't really understand you aha.

Who in your opinion is second generation, third generation and fourth generation?

 

[DimLord Urza]

I honestly don't believe that the further generations surpass the previous ones. The first generation's legend was the Sage of the Six Paths while the 5th Generation's legends stem from a creation of the 1st Generation. If anything, standards are dropping. Naruto/Sasuke and a few others are a exception to the rule but overall the 5th Generation of Kage looks like the weakest ever created.

1st Generation - Hashirama

2nd Generation - Tobirama, Muu and 2nd Mizukage

3rd Generation - Hiruzen, 3rd Kazekage, 3rd Raikage and Oonki

4th Generation - Minato, Yagura, 4th Raikage and 4th Kazekage

5th Generation - Gaara, Mei, Tsunade and most likely Darui and Kitsuchi

^^ That is a blatant regress in strength over the successive generations

Another point goes to Negative Knight!

 

[Third Sage]

Well, you can't say no one of the current generation hasn't surpassed the previous one, but you also can't say that everyone has surpassed their ancestors. As every reasonable person can conclude, this theory sometimes really comes to be true, but the most time it's just a bad argument in a discussion.

 

[Shadowkiller56]

I don't think it necessarily means that they will surpass the previous generation in terms of strength/power. But more or less, their ideals and what they use their power for. Look at it this way: Hashirama was probably the strongest Hokage strength wise overall, but the Will of Fire became more 'powerful' as it was passed down generation to generation.

You could also say the same for the Uchiha. Sasuke is probably much weaker than Madara in terms of strenght. But has developed stronger hatred also.

 

[JIRAIYA perv]

i made a thread about this before, and many (were right) it doesn't apply to all the youngsters, but as for the main ones eventually they will surpass their masters (in the right age). think of it this way a student learns stuff from his master (what the master knows) then the student will grow building extra skills above what he learned, so eventually the student will have more than the master and will inherit his master's will (master's way).

 

[Curteth]

i made a thread about this before, and many (were right) it doesn't apply to all the youngsters, but as for the main ones eventually they will surpass their masters (in the right age). think of it this way a student learns stuff from his master (what the master knows) then the student will grow building extra skills above what he learned, so eventually the student will have more than the master and will inherit his master's will (master's way).

Which reminds me of an argument I may have with the next Jehova witness that knocks on my door "if God is our father, and we are meant to surpass our father, then should we not strive to be better than God?" (sorry to those that are sensitive about religiousness) I do wonder if Naruto has an opportunity to surpass the So6p...

Great minds think alike, eh JIRAIYA perv~

Edit: Negative Knight achievement unlocked! +rep acquired

 

[Simple Math]

I honestly don't believe that the further generations surpass the previous ones. The first generation's legend was the Sage of the Six Paths while the 5th Generation's legends stem from a creation of the 1st Generation. If anything, standards are dropping. Naruto/Sasuke and a few others are a exception to the rule but overall the 5th Generation of Kage looks like the weakest ever created.

1st Generation - Hashirama

2nd Generation - Tobirama, Muu and 2nd Mizukage

3rd Generation - Hiruzen, 3rd Kazekage, 3rd Raikage and Oonki

4th Generation - Minato, Yagura, 4th Raikage and 4th Kazekage

5th Generation - Gaara, Mei, Tsunade and most likely Darui and Kitsuchi

^^ That is a blatant regress in strength over the successive generations

this