Board Thread:Versus Debates/@comment-38643585-20190226232154/@comment-35409024-20190304051657

FormalCarnage. wrote: So you're saying he lost because his lack of training thus proving my point? That makes no sense, if he did not hone his skills then that is no ones fault but his own. I don't really get the context or use of the word 'conviction' in that statement so I cannot really touch on that and his relevance to the sannin means nothing. In his peak he was a strong shinobi but the sannins full strength is no where near that of team sevens, I would say that the sannin at their peak would have trouble fighting naruto alone even in this state. I'm not saying that. That's what Mifune literally says lol. In the Manga they are fighting, Mifune says and I quote...

"I could tell from our first exchange why you, who were once so strong, can be defeated and killed"

Which Hanzo is puzzled by and asks what he means and Mifune states he doesn't understand how a shinobi of Hanzo's caliber isn't aware. Then Hanzo recalls Nagato and how he said something similar. Nagato called him garbage and told him he fell off. He said he once respected him but he changed. Then he proceeds to inform him how he doesn't even know how he lost. Then it snaps back to reality and Hanzo is wondering what "they" mean and what is it that he doesn't see. The word "they" was used. Then he engages Mifune one last time and Mifune explains. He has no conviction (beliefs) and he hasn't honed himself as a weapon, telling him Hanzo no longer improves, that he has become rusted, dulled, sullied, and lost his sharpness. Then reminds him of the lesson Hanzo once taught him. That conviction is everything, you are dulled once you lose that. Hanzo realizes the truth on what they meant and realizes he lost his conviction, his belief on bringing peace to the Shinobi world. Finally realizing "if you stay true to yourself, you show you're not a blunted blade".

In other words, he got weak and lost the desire to fight for what he wants. This is prime Hanzo, someone who has his conviction, who beat the Sannin. Heck even during the process of losing his conviction he crippled Nagato who was using Shinra Tensei. That should say enough.