Board Thread:Versus Debates/@comment-142748-20150410212019/@comment-142748-20150412234322

Trappedinmygenjutsu wrote: Hashirama has experience with how Uchiha fight, but you are assuming he will instantly recognize Itachi as an Uchiha. Their main distinctive feature is their EYES, and by the time he sees that the game is over. Itachi would have relatively low chakra reserves and that is the only knowledge Hashirama would be able to go by (chakra sensing). Even if Hashirama uses his top tier moves from the start, Itachi does have moves which could clear that level/range of landscape (Ameterasu, Matagama, etc). Yasaka Magatama isn't on any level of Hashirama's techniques, and Amaterasu was said to be beneath the notice of shinobi of Hashirama's caliber so its not much use. Hashirama's top tier moves, hell even his mid-tier moves would overwhelm Itachi to the point where Itachi would have to turtle in his Susano'o in an attempt to just survive, which would start hurting him.

Also, look at the knowledge. Hashirama knows Itachi is a Uchiha and will fight him like one. 30M is not that long of a distance, it would take ME around 5 seconds to move that distance (and I am no ninja). If both started the fight by moving at each other, it would probably take 2 seconds or less in order for the 1st punch to be made. And Hashirama has a bit of superior speed to Itachi so he can increase that distance with a single shunshin before Itachi can even move. And at 30 meters, there's more than enough time for Hashirama to create any of his Forest techniques. You are just making assumption after assumption that Hashirama would some how know Itachi's moves and abilities inside out. Aren't you doing the same thing for Itachi? Itachi somehow would know exactly how to deal with Hashirama? If Hashirama is anywhere near as reckless his grand daughter is (due to their godly healing abilities) then Hashirama is done for, as one strike of the totsuka blade would finish Hashirama for good. Hashirama is unaware that anyone could make Tsukuyomi seem to last for three full days of agonizing torture as Hashirama didn't exist during that time. Hashirama would have to spend quite a while during the battle figuring out all of Itachi's abilities and how to counter them. First of all, that isn't Hashirama's fighting style at all. In every battle he's been shown, he tries to avoid damage despite his super healing. Not to mention his strategies are Mokuton first, ask questions later. And unless Totsuka strikes harder than a Perfect Susanoo blade, Hashirama can catch it with the Hobi Technique. Itachi would at least have knowledge that Hashirama was a hokage (if you can't at least give Itachi that credit than you are just saying his an idiot.) Itachi's research on Konoha's history may or may not include the abilities of all of its former leaders, but this knowledge of Hashirama would be greater than Hashirama's knowledge of Itachi. And Hashirama would know that Itachi is a Uchiha. Either from the knowledge giving to him for the match, or from his distinct chakra signature. Itachi has never shown encyclopedia knowledge of any of the Hokages, so claiming that somehow he'd benefit in that area is a bit of overestimating him. In the Naruto series, knowledge is the key in battle. Pain stated Jiraiya would have won if he knew about the six paths. While Pain was much stronger than Naruto, but lost due to Naruto having knowledge about all of Pain's abilities. Nagato was likely referring to Jiraiya's genjutsu, Gamarinsho, which he had no knowledge of. If all six Paths were caught up in it (as Jiraiya would have prior knowledge of them), Jiraiya would have won due to that fact. Otherwise he was simply overwhelmed.

Sage Mode Naruto had prep going into that battle, loads of help...and he still lost until Hinata's intervention, so that isn't a good example. I enjoy both Hashirama and Itachi very much (Both can win the fight), but the slightest mistake made would be the end for either character. Its not about 'enjoying' either character though man. Hashirama is just on a higher tier than Itachi and Itachi is at a severe disadvantage in everything. If Hashirama had Sage Mode, the gap between them would be as far as the horizon is wide. Hashirama and Madara were more powerful than any ninja of the Modern Day until Naruto and Sasuke came into their own.