EDIT: No he wasn't? He still soloed Jiraiya... how the hell was he scared of him?
He said that if he knew his secrets, that he would of lost.
Obito said the exact same thing about itachi to flatter Sasuke.
MS Obito was scared shitless of Itachi too.
Let's put it like he was a scaredy cat and waited until someone else did the job for him so he can take their eyes.
Where did it say he was scared sh*tless?
He fought the leaf knowing minato and Hiruzen was there at the age of 14, how can he be scared of his own student?