Nah, this was never straight up said. Hiruzen just stopped the third coffin because he realized what was happening by that point. Let´s not act like there was a specific statement there, and even the Anbu talk about how those two were the ultimate shinobi. The portrayal at that point wasn´f favoring anyone among the Hokage except Hiruzen, who was viewed as the strongest.
No lol. Kisame being one of the seven swordsman is as important to his hype as Itachi is being Uchiha. It´s just what people would know about them as, but they´re clearly the strongest of their groups which is why the ended up being recruited by the Akatsuki. Kisame was definitely not portrayed as someone on the same level as Zabuza, the first villain in the manga.
But yeah, there´s power inflation regarding DC.
No lol. Kisame being one of the seven swordsman is as important to his hype as Itachi is being Uchiha. It´s just what people would know about them as, but they´re clearly the strongest of their groups which is why the ended up being recruited by the Akatsuki. Kisame was definitely not portrayed as someone on the same level as Zabuza, the first villain in the manga.
But yeah, there´s power inflation regarding DC.
I mean you would agree that Minato was clearly portrayed above the Sannin in Part 1, right? It was never stated anywhere in Part 1 that Edo Hashirama and Tobirama were only at a fraction of their power. Kishimoto simply believed at the time that Old Hiruzen was >= them, the same Old Hiruzen who was at best relative to the Sannin.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to acknowledge Part 1 Kisame with his “Tailless Tailed Beast” moniker than by his 7 Ninja Swordsman title?





