Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-24347194-20150211225344/@comment-24071637-20150220024449

He simply doesn't have proper experience of using Sage Mode in combat and Minato can be quite modest at times. If pushed he might want to use it, which at that state without Flying Thunder God he would be faster than Itachi regularly. Also Minato we know has use of the Body Flicker Technique and uses it in a fair amount of time, Itachi as far as I remember doesn't use it if he has it, but we can assume he knows it considering it's common and his relationship with Shisui of the Body Flicker. As the student of Jiraiya, Minato likely was taught to disperse genjutsu even if it's not his strong suit, but this would more or less be overcome by Itachi's power in genjutsu. I don't see how the Yata Mirror really adds too much for Itachi, I'm not sure how changing its nature would affect Minato's attacks, considering the techniques he has been shown using do not use nature transformations. The Sword of Totsuka is alright but it's not exactly the fastest of techniques, but if it pierces Minato once it'll be all over. Tobirama's usage of the Flying Thunder God Technique was able to overcome Izuna Uchiha, who was comparable to Madara at the time. And Minato's usage of it is an improved version of Tobirama's. Minato also has access to Gamabunta who has been able to hold his own against a tailed beast on a few occasions, including Kurama, who is undeniably the strongest tailed beast. Madara compared his Complete Body Susanoo to a tailed beast, I can't imagine Itachi could compare his fully manifested or armoured Susanoo to a tailed beast, though his Sword of Totsuka would be troubling for Gamabunta, but he has shown a good level of agility. Gamabunta also uses Water Release, which Minato might bring into the game to stop any of Itachi's regular Fire Release, though he could just dodge.