Most powerful person in the manga (other than the sage w/ rineegan)?

http://www.onemanga.com/Naruto/399/10-11/

I'm thinking it's probably Hashirama (the 1st hokage). he was able to stop madara in his prime and the 4th acknowledged that madara was more powerful than him.

Well, I think either of the 2 sons of the Rikudo sage would be stronger than the 1st. They essentially each have half of his powers after all.

It's difficult to really hold the 1st in such high regard when we saw both him and the 2nd fight the 3rd. You could argue that the undead versions of them are only a fraction of the power of the true ones, but I kind of think that kishi has just retconned how strong the 1st was since the time of writing the sound invasion.

Isn't every generation supposed to be stronger than the last? I mean, Naruto hasn't fully grown up yet and look what he can already do! Comparing him to the 1st wouldn't be fair until we can get an idea of what Naruto's capabilities are in the future. The whole Will of Fire thing is that every generation will replace and improve upon the last. The previous generations are viewed upon and worshiped like gods, but the newest generation is always better than the last.

The first could also control bijuus at will, without a sharingan!

"Most powerful person in the manga" that is still alive, or in the manga in general?
in general: i would say the first (he can controll the bijuus)... that is still alive: i would say madara (he is the one that hold most of the bijuus at the moment)

is someone going to vote for naruto

^is that a question?

imho, until naruto has the ability of fully control both the kyuubi's and his own, even with sage mode, he still not powerfull enough....

.... which bring me the next question: what is power?? the ability to control, or the raw power than one has (i believe we've discuss this before.... or was it on another forum)

What about Nagato who can pull one's soul out in an instant?

I'd vote for Nagato/Pain, as his jutsu were stupid powerful, and currently alive, Madara by far. Plus, seeing as Madara was Pain's master anyway, I'm saying Madara at this point. I acknowledge the 1st Hokage ownd Madara, but whos alive out of the two?

I dunno. The third was known to be a beast in his prime. And even as an old geezer he managed to take out the first, the second and horrendously cripple Orochimaru before finally dying. My money's on him.