Minato's Talent

ShounenSuki, "四代目と比べられりゃ　誰だってキツイだろうーよ　なんせ　あやつは忍としての器は歴代一だ った… 術の才に溢れ　頭脳明晰…人望に満ち　まぁ…ワシ並みに男前だったしのォ」

"Being compared to the Yondaime would be hard for anyone. Anyhow, that guy's ability as a shinobi was first among all... There was no end to his ability with jutsu. He had a keen mind... Very popular. Well... he was a handsome man, like me."

Anyway, as I said in the earlier thread, I would interpret these quotes as saying that the Yondaime was the most talented shinobi ever"

Frankie "it's important to note why the Yondaime Hogake is known as "歴代" = rekidaiichi = History's best. It deals with his talent as a shinobi:

The original text is "なんせあやつは忍として器は歴代一だった...” -> "nanse ayatsu wa shinobi toshite utsuwa wa rekidaiichi datta...". A literal translation of that would be "Afterall, his ability/caliber/capacity as a shinobi was number one in history".

To put it simply, the reason Minato is known as the "greatest" is because he possessed the potential to become the strongest."

Jiraiya[2]:
Nah... Minato had the sort of talent you only find once in a decade. / We haven't had another genius like him since. // He was a kind man, and yet his spirit was incredible. // He became the Fourth in the blink of an eye... //

Gottheim, ""No. Minato is a once in a decade talent. Geniuses of such a degree aren't born (just) like that."

Viz, Jiraiya: Aw come on, everybody pales in comparison to the fourth lord. As a shinobi his capacity was unparalleled, a true one-of-a kind. He was overflowing with talent for jutsu and intelligence....He was socially popular...And well, he was quite a looker, just like me.

Kakashi: Its because I truly believe...That you're the only shinobi that can surpass the fourth Hokage.

Stupid Side Text Quote - Exceptional talent. Silent passion. These two things gave birth to a sinobi without equal.

Viz, Ei, "We exchanged blows several times. A noble man. A finer shinobi never lived" "One of Konoha's three great shinobi Jiriaya called him a child of prophecy "

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