Board Thread:Versus Debates/@comment-26636534-20180830184727/@comment-26107879-20181107124237

@Jason

I don't deny it can move at a decent speed depending on the wielder. But when people try to say it's "instant" or that it can't be reacted to, that's when I got to call out the falsity. It's just a tool. It moves just as fast as any other sword. The wielder is the speed factor. In this case the wielder was able to thrust after a few words were spoken.

Also just because Itachi closed his eyes doesn't mean his sword wasn't already in movement. We can't see Susanoo in that panel or the blade of Totsuka, so unless you got a direct quote from Kishimoto saying Susanoo wasn't moving then you have zero evidence to support that claim. I however, can rely on canon policy and utilize the anime portrayal. The anime shows the exact same thing and shows precisely when the sword began it's movement. Orochimaru is always able utter a word or two before the blade hits after it begins it's movements. Seeing as they aren't anywhere from being 1000 feet apart it's clear the thrust isn't mach 1 speed since that requires a movement of 1100 feet per second. But in this case Susanoo struck in about a dozen feet per second, being far from sound speed.