@choperman:
Orochimaru's sword which could stand it's own with the third hokage's staff and is said to be extremely powerful couldn't even scratch the four tails, I know he was weak then but that's one of his best attacks either way, and I was under the opinion the senin were on equal terms in strength, I haven't seen a move yet that jiriya could use to hurt the four tails back in the day….
I always got the impression Orochimaru and Jiraiya were closest in terms of equal strength (fighting ability) but Tsunade…? Nah, all she has going for herself is super strength and medical ninjutsu. Jiraiya and Orochimaru are a lot more versatile and if push comes to shove even Jiraiya can have the super strength (Sage Mode). Orochimaru is nearly impossible to kill and knows hundreds of forbidden jutsu. Just think about the theme this manga has presented since the beginning. 3 Person Squads. 2 boys, 1 girl. The guys were always stronger and the girl mainly served as backup. Even in non-Konoha teams we can see this theme being played. Example, look at Nagato, Yahiko, and Rin. Rin served as the "bridge of support" for her 2 guys. I wish it was different but alas this is 'Naruto'.
Anyway, that's all besides the point. If Jiraiya really wanted to hurt or defeat Naruto back then he could have, but that's all I can say really. I can't provide you how exactly but Sage Mode would have contributed greatly to it. Remember Jiraiya survived and subdued Naruto when he was in 4 Tails Mode. Jiraiya wasn't going all out and he wasn't trying to kill Naruto.
I say back in the day because it seems like kishi hyped up the half-bijuu forms way back in the day but now seems to be making them a lot weaker just them transforming made a huge crater before, a crater that was far beyond the power level of what the original top of the world fights were like, remember anything of that caliber when three of the strongest men in history were fighting, the hokages
When Naruto transformed before that was an uncontrolled transformation with his power forcefully escaping his body in a fit of rage and senselessness. The Jinchuuriki now have more stable and controlled transformations. Besides, the crater being made from Naruto's transformation was not only done to display the scope of power but it was done for effect. Remember Goku's first transformation into a Super Saiyan? Now look at his recent ones and they're far less exaggerated and seemingly less powerful.
The time the Hokages were fighting was when they were contained in a very small impenetrable barrier. They couldn't go all out in there and the Edo Tensei resurrections were half-assed.
The bijuu seem to be constantly swaying in terms of power, from the strongest creatures in the world at half power, easily beating two senin,
If you're referring to "creatures" then yeah they would be the strongest even at half power, and that has stayed consistent. As for Orochimaru like you said he was weak during that fight. Extremely weak. Yet, he fought toe to toe with Naruto releasing 4 Tails. And Naruto didn't beat Jiraiya. Jiraiya subdued and beat Naruto in his 4 Tails form without going all out.
to being beaten off screened a whole power by dediara,
Deidara and Tobi beat the 3 Tailed Jinchuuriki together. 2 S-Class Ninja, and we all know how strong Tobi really is.
to being extremely powerful against pein the strongest akatsuki when only at half power, getting the shit kicked out of him by sasuke, having a hard time with kisame, to beating the shit out of naruto and bee, to being fended off by kakashi and gai three at a time
Pein was extremely tired by the time Naruto went 6 Tails on him. He already destroyed the village, lost 5 of his bodies, and now he had to fight a refreshed monster. Pein still beat him in that mode after all of that though. Then Naruto then went up to 8 Tails almost breaking out of his Chibaku Tensei. Of course he was extremely powerful against Pein.
Sasuke had the advantage of the Sharingan and Uchiha Blood coupled with the fact Naruto had less than half control of his Biju at the time of the fight.
Kisame had the advantage of his chakra draining sword and he already has chakra levels comparable to a Biju.
Naruto and Bee are being teamed up on by 6 Jinchuuriki and Naruto is already tired from previous fights in the war.
I'm just very confused where there supposed to be at in terms of power
Kakakashi and Gai are holding their own but that's all they're doing. The Jinchuuriki aren't being made to look weak. If anything they've pushed Gai and Kakashi back. All Kakashi did was cut off a few of their chakra arms and Gai pushed back some poisonous gas. Also, Kakashi and Gai have gotten a lot stronger since and after the timeskip while the Jinchuuriki's haven't. Yet the Jinchuurikis are closing in on them. I think we need to see a little more before we start judging whether or not the Jinchuuriki are as strong as we're made to believe.