Originally posted by: Hotsuma
Itachi can beat Orochimaru. Who was stronger than the third (and he admitted this). I guess it mathematically works out like this.
But his rank is still anbu captain, or missing nin, tho. Hokage is the highest written rank in Naruto.
The third was very very old and Oro said himself that if he were only ten years younger he would kill Oro.
So i dont think be stronger than Oro who only beat the third cause he was to old to kill oro makes you better than Hogake.
First you must beat Jiraya and Tsunade who are sannins before you can think about being stronger than a hogake.