This. The amount of Hiruzen wank on this site is ridiculous.
It's more legitimate than the Itachi wank.
Old Hiruzen > Ei
Old Hiruzen > Onoki
Old Hiruzen > Yagura
Old Hiruzen > Gaara Sr.
Old Hiruzen > Danzo
60 y/o Hiruzen > Orochimaru
Young Hiruzen also said he was stronger than Tobirama, to his face.
Kakashi said the 8th gate surpasses Hiruzen in power.
Hiruzen himself said he was stronger than Minato.
Even now, Hiruzen's called "one of the strongest" in relation to the likes of Hashirama, Tobirama, and Minato.
There's a reason he inherited the title "God of Shinobi."
Kishimoto's words far outweigh any need for feats. If he says Hiruzen was the strongest Hokage in his prime, then that is a fact as far as the Narutoverse is concerned, so how about you shut the f-ck up?
Exactly, just like how Hanzo beat the Sannin and in his prime could had beaten Pein. How? No idea, but it's what Kishimoto said.
I see.
He remains featless and therefore fodder. Hype wankers are funny.
Also Iruka's words were and I qoute - "He was SAID to be the strongest". Fodder Iruka hasn't even seen Hashirama.
And Hiruzen replied "What do you mean
WAS?"
Doesn't really matter since Hashirama's and Madara's true power were a mystery to everyone except each other, and perhaps their siblings. Hashirama's true power was considered a fairy tail, and Onoki didn't even know that Madara was going easy against him and Muu.