where was it stated that hashi was weaker during him vs hiruzen?

[Elio]

Did i say he killed him ? oh.

You said he defeated him...he did not. Hiruzen died at the end of the fight not Oro. So therefore he lost. -.-

 

[SuperFlyzzED]

It was stated at the beginning. That's why many people were confused afterwards. Kishimoto made it seem that he was stronger than both Hashirama and Tobimara. The truth is they were going easy on Hiruzen on that battle, so that he can dispose of them. When Hashirama was declared to be the strongest Kage produced in Konoha. People were not really satisfied in seeing that to be the truth. Some people believe Kishimoto made a huge lie in the story or he was downplaying Hiruzen's character.

 

[Drakengard]

I wonder how many people are actually going to be surprised if we get a flashback of Hashirama's fights and they end up crapping on Edo Hashirama's >_>