<p>Changing direction is one thing. I'm talking about tunnel vision in general. They don't have tunnel vision, otherwise they wouldn't use those lightning charges for the same reason Kakashi wasn't able to after he lost the Sharingan. </p><p>Also, I don't think the Third "went flying with the rubber ball." The rubber ball was his goal, so he went after it. He didn't exactly just get thrown along with it. And Third has been shown to change direction quite well. When he broke through the Earthen walls, he quickly went between enemies, taking them down left and right. That accounts for change in direction. ANd he did it, as Naruto said, in an instant. While we know it wasn't actually just in an instance, that means he's very fast, and very good at moving between targets. </p>

<p>@Asian I'm saying that when the raikages use their top speed they can't change direction immediately without slowing down. The third raikage blitzed those fodder at regular speed. He blitzed naruto with a punch at top speed and Mr. RUBBER tricked him. He was moving too fast and carelessly to notice that naruto wasn't in the rubber ball. If the third raikage does something similar against itachi, he is dead. The raikage s haven't killed any character with a name with one top speed blitz. If sasuke was a bit smarter, he should have used a smoke bomb like I said when the raikage blitzed him. And even then, sasuke still was able to make him hesitate before he closed in, meaning he was able to react to the blitz and potentially stop it. And when you look at the rest of the raikages' screen time, they haven't always opened with a blitz and their flight style isn't just about evading attacks all day long. Look at raikage vs killer bee, the raikage s like to get up close and personal. V1 raikage didn't even blitz sasuke at first he charged with regular speed and picked him up for liger bomb. Please consider all these facts </p>

<p>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? </p><p>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. </p><p>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. </p><p>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. </p>

<div class="quote"><i> <p>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? </p><p>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. </p><p>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. </p><p>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. </p> </i></div>
<p>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. </p>

<p>@MIGshinobi Yes I'm sure Sasuke would believe that using a smoke bomb would be best, but he didn't and that's that. He felt that using the black flames to cover Susanoo would the best decision. That is besides the point. Also, the 3rd Raikage isn't careless. Stop with that. He has not shown to be anything with it came personality like his son. And lets say Itachi uses a smoke bomb, he then does what? All it would obscure his vision as well. And if lets say the 3rd used his top speed then to blirz Itachi, Itachi ain't dodging it. So unless Itachi created a clone or something already, then no. </p>

<p>My point with sasuke is that had he been replaced by a more competent shinobi who would have did did his homework on the raikage, and let's say they had been given the same abilities as sasuke just for this example,someone like shikamaru, he would have known that amaterasu is a flimsy defense. In fact, it's hardly a defense because raikage was too filled with adrenaline to notice the pain. Sasuke just assumed raikage wouldn't touch the flames, it was hardly a counter attack. People like itach and shikamaru would have used a smoke bomb in that situation to obscure the raikage's sight? How do you know what the third raikage's personaility was like, he was barely shown. And no one ever complimented his intelligence, so it's safe to assume he has has an average mind. When a character is intelligent, we get both hype and feats, and all the third raikage was known for was his brawns. The smoke screen does matter, as neither the raikage or itachi can see each other, and that scenario is worse for the raikage because once the smoke clears, accidentally making eye contact is GG. Or what, is the raikage just gonna keep aimlessly running through the smoke? And now are we saying that the raikage is gonna Lolwhat just happened blitz itachi before he can make a single hand sign? Because that's what ive seen in most raikage threads, they just blitz off their opponents head before they can blink. If the raikage isn't carless as claimed, he wont open with a top speed blitz , because not even his son did that at first against sasuke. And blitzing speed in a straight line spells disaster, Mr. Rubber proved that during the war, and he didn't need to dodge, in fact his legs didn't move an inch. He simply tricked the raikage, and that's all that's needed to counter a careless blitz. Itachi is known for having insanely fast jutsu speed according to sharingan users, and he got in a shadow clone against kurenai without anyone else noticing on chapter 141 page 15. If this is a legit fight, the raikage starts a normal distance away from itachi, and activates his raiton armor and itachi his sharingan. Itachi knows the possibility of a blitz, and does a hand sign that the sharingan cant track while the lightning fast raikage is already mid way to blitzing itachi's head off as you guys say, so he isn't changing direction as runs right into a freshly spawned shadow clone that formed in between him and the real itachi at lightning speed, right into an explosion. He is disoriented and blinded by the debris and smoke, but of course he doesn't have any physical damage thanks to his OPraiton armor. The smoke begins to clear at a moderate pace while the real itachi assumes a more tactical position. The raikage isn't a sensor type so he has no clue where itachi is as the smoke finally is almost gone. So now what? Is he gonna turn around with his eyes closed ? Is he gonna keep them open , look around, risk getting hit with a match ending tsyukyomi when he doesn't know itachi's exact position yet? Is he now contemplating what a poor decision it was to open with a top speed blitz? All these questions are for you guys to answer. Or are you gonna say that this was an unsatisfactory match start, and itachi is just gonna stand still and do nothing after the raikage activates his armor and starts his undodgeable blitz? </p>

<p>@MIGshinobi So in the history of Itachi, he felt that he didn't need to use a smoke bomb but will now all of a sudden. Nice. Also, though it was little seen from the 3rd, we can gather from what we saw that he isn't one to rush into a situation so quickly and arrogantly. And there would be slight possibility that in the smoke that A would make eye contact when it clears but it is also possible that A can end up behind Itachi and ram him. Also, Dodai already planned the jutsu before A attacked, and with the rubber ball trick, he didn't notice because the rubber ball was big and didn't he couldn't see beyond it, just assumed it was used for protection. If Itachi could come up with something like that fine but Itachi has nothing to hurt the 3rd Raikage. That is the problem. Also, nobody in this thread ever said the Raikage is gonna blitz Itachi's head off. Nor did anyone say Itachi was just gonna stand there ready to get pummeled. I think you are taking this to the head. Honestly, I'm sick of repeating myself. If you want to believe Itachi wins, be my guest. </p>

<p>Like I said before which battle has itachi been in that wasn't handled by a genjustu, and which battle has he been 100 percent serious in that we have seen on panel? Smoke bombs are standard ninja kit, along with kunai shuriken s, and paper bombs. Madara carries smoke bombs, shikamaru, jiraiya, naruto, hell even kiba has used smoke bombs. Just because you carry a ninja tool doesn't mean it's useful in every situation. Itachi soloed deida ra with one genjustu, soloed orochimaru with one genjustu, after a small ninjutsu skirmish that kakashi admitted was itachi's warm up, and he used an exploding shadow clone that would have created smoke if they were on land, so there is your " smoke bomb" . In part 2, again holding back in a 4 on 1 fight vs team chiyo while using a 30 percent clone. Sasuke fight, holding back the whole time while sick and he used his shadow clone to help catch sasuke in tsyukyomi, smoke screen not even needed. And no , almost every single person in this thread has said itach simply gets blitzed, I'll start quoting people. Tsyukyomi and amaterasu both can one shot the raikage, so what do you mean he has nothing to harm the raikage? </p>

<p>^I don't think Itachi would use a smoke bomb, since it would hinder his Sharingan. Itachi, like all Uchiha, rely on their Sharingan as their main ability, he wouldn't handicap himself with a smoke bomb. Especially since his opponent is kage. Since the Third Raikage is a kage, he would not have an "average mind", he would have kage-level intelligence. Also, certain ninja tools don't fit character's battle style. Itachi is proficient in shurikenjutsu yet we have never seen him use, paper bombs, smoke bombs and wire strings. The third can out-run Amaterasu and also Tsukuyomi or do you really think Itachi can keep up with the Third's speed? </p>

<p>Fact check. It wasn't 1000 shinobi that the 3rd Raikage faced. It was 10,000. </p>