Board Thread:Versus Debates/@comment-26005711-20160126181655/@comment-27660682-20160316235143

AsianReaper wrote: Well, the Fourth Raikage was changing direction quite well with NTCM Naruto, and both were moving quite fast. Naruto in NTCM is just about as fast as the Fourth Raikage, while changing direction. You're telling me that Itachi is fast enough to keep up with those speeds?

Itachi isn't nearly as fast as the Raikages. He might keep up with the Sharingan, but like you said, Sasuke only managed to dodge the Fourth when he was going at, as you say, "regular" speed. So how would he fair against the fastest punch? Or the Third's Hell Stab? If he barely dodged the Raikages at "regular" speed, a full on speed dash would barely let them defend themselves, much less give a counter attack.

Also, let's look at it this way. If the Third Raikage blitzes, he'll be able to get in very close due to his immense speed. Itachi might manage a dodge, but if he does, I think that's all he'd manage to do. If he tried throwing a smoke bomb, the Raikage would simply keep moving through it.

In regards to your comment about the Fourth Raikage hesitating, of course he hesitated. There were the black flames of Amaterasu in front of him. But he quickly assessed the risk vs the reward, and attacked again before Sasuke could react. He's that fast. He stopped, assessed the situation, and took action, all in the time it took Sasuke to just realize he had hesitated. It's no different than if the Fourth decided to quickly retreat; Sasuke had no opportunity for a counter attack. So the hesitation is hardly an advantage; by the time Itachi realized a Raikage hesitated, the Raikage would already be on the move again. This is the same problem in all raikage versus threads. Why do you think itachi, or anyone for that matter as this isn't just about itachi anymore, needs to beat raikage in speed in order to win? Battles aren't determined purely by speed. The 4th raikage changed direction only when he wasn't at top speed. When he blitzed naruto at his top speed naruto used his own speed to dodge yes, but raikage failed to change direction and punched straight into the wall. My point is that when the raikage s use their TOP speed there isn't changing any direction. Itachi doesnt even need to be as fast as naruto to evade that attack. He can just use a bunshin feint, substitution, genjustu,  tank with susanoo, or just deceive the raikage. The 4th raikage used regular speed at first because he wasn't as hotheaded yet and was making a better decision. If he opened with his top speed blitz and missed his attack for whatever reason sasuke had the advantage. He only blitzed sasuke after dodging an attack while sasuke was focused on casting amaterasu. Sasuke dropping a smoke bomb is a better decision. Sasuke didnt react because he was confident that his amaterasu would stop the raikage from hitting him, but he clearly didn't realize the raikage is too hotheaded to care. If sasuke drops a smoke bomb, and THEN, steps outside of susanoo, the fact that raikage runs into the susanoo doesn't matter as he doesn't know where sasuke is. Then sasuke hits raikage with amaterasu while raikage is confused. It's called using a distraction and tricking your opponent. Sasuke used no deception whatsoever and that's why he lost. If the third hokage does the same thing against itachi, him running through the smoke doesn't do much for him as he lost sight of where itachi is. Looking around in the wrong direction can spell doom because the second he accidentally locks eyes with itachi he is dead, and this has been my point. It doesn't come down to a battle lf stamina when he is a close range fighter, is likely not as intelligent as itachi, and itachi has one shot kill options that aren't even projectiles. The raikage's speed is important but it isn't the end all. He has the advantage of being able to evade attacks all day long but he still has to use his speed and strength up close to do his best. And carelessly using thst speed and overextending spear can get him killed, it was shown multiple times and like I said all of raikages' top speed blitzes have failed to work on an intelligent character with a name.