This is another topic I have decided to clear up. I know some Sasuke fapboys, who not being able to understand logical argument think I am in their order, will come to tap exponentially without reading the facts. In order to make the reading understandable for them, I will take my time and bring some nice panels. Therefore, let go topic by topic and clear things up.
Issue 1: As Sasuke is now, I couldn't defeat him, ...
Or so Naruto told his Konoha partner in this panel.
From the panels above, the Sasuketards or Sasuke fapboys are always claiming that Naruto was weaker than Sasuke, even though they knew Sasuke was blind. Without going deeper, I want any of them to realize that Naruto never said that Sasuke could defeat him. Rather, he said that he couldn't defeat Sasuke. Moreover, Naruto also considered what Sasuke was thinking, and we all know that in their clashes, Sasuke was forcing Naruto's hand to kill him and become the hero of Konoha, which Naruto does not give a damn about because he already was the hero for kicking Pain's ass. We should also not forget that when Naruto says "defeat", he means without killing Sasuke, and this requires more effort than going for a kill.
Now, on Sasuke's hands on the issue, we have this:
Now, in these panel with Sasuke, Sasuke who has become blind is asking for Itachi's eyes with the sole purpose of destroying Naruto. These panel clearly say that Sasuke acknowledge that he does not have the power he requires to beat Naruto, or in other terms, Sasuke meant he cannot defeat Naruto at the time. Better, Sasuke is going for a kill and total annihilation as he himself said he want to destroy everything Naruto stand for - pure hatred or denial.
Now, the next point will show that even with Itachi's eyes, Sasuke was still weaker than Naruto.
Issue 2: Naruto had vowed to not use Kyuubi's power
Yes, and I won't bring a panel. In Orochimaru's hideout, Naruto resolved to not use Kyuubi's power. He kept his void until Pain, and he did not use Kyuubi's power consciously. Rather, Kyuubi broke out as result of the natural relationship - that is whenever the Jinchuriki shows some hatred, the Kyuubi would latch on that hatred, and the stronger it is, the more Kyuubi has chance to come out.
Thus, when Naruto was making the declaration above, he was lucid and talking about his own power - that is Base Naruto and SM Naruto. Here, Naruto, without Kyuubi believe he is cannot defeat Sasuke, but most importantly, he is worried about saving Sasuke. The evidence that that base Naruto see himself has powerful as Sasuke with Indra is this:
Naruto find stupid that Sasuke is blind to see they are equal
We are both gonna die
Here, Naruto also is claiming he has the power to kill Sasuke. This give more information on his definition of defeating Sasuke. Besides, knowing the will of fire, one could understand that Naruto is not going to die because of Sasuke killing him. Rather, he will be using some sacrificial jutsus to kill his friend and go along with him. This is what the fate of the will of fire has always been and I believe Ashura did the same with Indra, [and Hashirama may also have committed some kind of suicide to keep the balance of power].
So, my point here is that SM Naruto was already as strong as Sasuke with awakened Indra, if not greater. Now, you may think I am fancying, and being bias. Then, let see next point.
Issue 3: You know my ways ... I will bring Sasuke back!
This statement is what Naruto said to Kakashi. He was not going to die with Sasuke, but bring him back. He said this after hearing Sasuke declaring war and saying he would kill him. He said this statement after seeing Sasuke capture the 9 bijus and using Chubaku Tensei. He said this after seeing and hearing one-eye Rinnegan Sasuke claiming to have become god. So what changed?
Simple. Naruto learned about himself, and has also realized he has an equivalent hidden power inside him. He is the reincarnation of Ashura, just as he sensed Indra inside Sasuke back then.
In this sequence of panel and mostly what is written in them, you can see that Naruto sensed Indra in Sasuke back then. Kishi also recollect the facts to clarify what I said above in previous points - that is Naruto was well aware that Indra was inside Sasuke and he couldn't stop Sasuke without killing him.
However, here, Naruto also learned he is Ashura and learned the whole story. Thus, since then, Naruto know he has the power to actually defeat Sasuke. Not only that, but also, Naruto know that he has actually the power of a god - someone that can achieve everything he wants.
See, Sasuke has witness that power of Naruto. He exactly know he nowhere near Naruto and he know that all his attack are petty attacks to amuse his fapboys one last time before he becomes Naruto's night. Sasuke is well aware of the fact that Naruto can kill him, and he has been asking Naruto to finish him since the beginning of their battle. He know that no matter what he does, Naruto has an auto repairable body. Anyone reading VIZ translation will see that Sasuke is asking Naruto to use the power to kill him, and only fapboys translation such as mangapanda translates purposely Naruto's statement to make the fapboys believe Sasuke is any sort of threat to Naruto.
Conclusion
I have demonstrated that the Sasuketards do not usually read the manga, and when they do, they take the side of denial. Sasuke is a deprecated warrior who has fell very low. He is the Indra falling from his godship to mere humanship while Naruto is Ashura who is transcending the realm of human to become god. This was said in hagoromo's last statement:
"You are not like my mother. Even if you have the power of all the biju, you will not change." Basically, the same Hagoromo who thought it was not good for one person to accumulate all the power acknowledge Naruto, and gave him his blessing. He have realize that Naruto is really the boy he was expecting, one that can overcome hatred and power-greed. Naruto is a sage in the true meaning of the word - just like the sage of the six paths.
Issue 1: As Sasuke is now, I couldn't defeat him, ...
Or so Naruto told his Konoha partner in this panel.
You must be registered for see images
From the panels above, the Sasuketards or Sasuke fapboys are always claiming that Naruto was weaker than Sasuke, even though they knew Sasuke was blind. Without going deeper, I want any of them to realize that Naruto never said that Sasuke could defeat him. Rather, he said that he couldn't defeat Sasuke. Moreover, Naruto also considered what Sasuke was thinking, and we all know that in their clashes, Sasuke was forcing Naruto's hand to kill him and become the hero of Konoha, which Naruto does not give a damn about because he already was the hero for kicking Pain's ass. We should also not forget that when Naruto says "defeat", he means without killing Sasuke, and this requires more effort than going for a kill.
Now, on Sasuke's hands on the issue, we have this:
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
Now, in these panel with Sasuke, Sasuke who has become blind is asking for Itachi's eyes with the sole purpose of destroying Naruto. These panel clearly say that Sasuke acknowledge that he does not have the power he requires to beat Naruto, or in other terms, Sasuke meant he cannot defeat Naruto at the time. Better, Sasuke is going for a kill and total annihilation as he himself said he want to destroy everything Naruto stand for - pure hatred or denial.
Now, the next point will show that even with Itachi's eyes, Sasuke was still weaker than Naruto.
Issue 2: Naruto had vowed to not use Kyuubi's power
Yes, and I won't bring a panel. In Orochimaru's hideout, Naruto resolved to not use Kyuubi's power. He kept his void until Pain, and he did not use Kyuubi's power consciously. Rather, Kyuubi broke out as result of the natural relationship - that is whenever the Jinchuriki shows some hatred, the Kyuubi would latch on that hatred, and the stronger it is, the more Kyuubi has chance to come out.
Thus, when Naruto was making the declaration above, he was lucid and talking about his own power - that is Base Naruto and SM Naruto. Here, Naruto, without Kyuubi believe he is cannot defeat Sasuke, but most importantly, he is worried about saving Sasuke. The evidence that that base Naruto see himself has powerful as Sasuke with Indra is this:
Naruto find stupid that Sasuke is blind to see they are equal
You must be registered for see images
We are both gonna die
You must be registered for see images
Here, Naruto also is claiming he has the power to kill Sasuke. This give more information on his definition of defeating Sasuke. Besides, knowing the will of fire, one could understand that Naruto is not going to die because of Sasuke killing him. Rather, he will be using some sacrificial jutsus to kill his friend and go along with him. This is what the fate of the will of fire has always been and I believe Ashura did the same with Indra, [and Hashirama may also have committed some kind of suicide to keep the balance of power].
So, my point here is that SM Naruto was already as strong as Sasuke with awakened Indra, if not greater. Now, you may think I am fancying, and being bias. Then, let see next point.
Issue 3: You know my ways ... I will bring Sasuke back!
This statement is what Naruto said to Kakashi. He was not going to die with Sasuke, but bring him back. He said this after hearing Sasuke declaring war and saying he would kill him. He said this statement after seeing Sasuke capture the 9 bijus and using Chubaku Tensei. He said this after seeing and hearing one-eye Rinnegan Sasuke claiming to have become god. So what changed?
Simple. Naruto learned about himself, and has also realized he has an equivalent hidden power inside him. He is the reincarnation of Ashura, just as he sensed Indra inside Sasuke back then.
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
In this sequence of panel and mostly what is written in them, you can see that Naruto sensed Indra in Sasuke back then. Kishi also recollect the facts to clarify what I said above in previous points - that is Naruto was well aware that Indra was inside Sasuke and he couldn't stop Sasuke without killing him.
However, here, Naruto also learned he is Ashura and learned the whole story. Thus, since then, Naruto know he has the power to actually defeat Sasuke. Not only that, but also, Naruto know that he has actually the power of a god - someone that can achieve everything he wants.
You must be registered for see images
You must be registered for see images
See, Sasuke has witness that power of Naruto. He exactly know he nowhere near Naruto and he know that all his attack are petty attacks to amuse his fapboys one last time before he becomes Naruto's night. Sasuke is well aware of the fact that Naruto can kill him, and he has been asking Naruto to finish him since the beginning of their battle. He know that no matter what he does, Naruto has an auto repairable body. Anyone reading VIZ translation will see that Sasuke is asking Naruto to use the power to kill him, and only fapboys translation such as mangapanda translates purposely Naruto's statement to make the fapboys believe Sasuke is any sort of threat to Naruto.
Conclusion
I have demonstrated that the Sasuketards do not usually read the manga, and when they do, they take the side of denial. Sasuke is a deprecated warrior who has fell very low. He is the Indra falling from his godship to mere humanship while Naruto is Ashura who is transcending the realm of human to become god. This was said in hagoromo's last statement:
"You are not like my mother. Even if you have the power of all the biju, you will not change." Basically, the same Hagoromo who thought it was not good for one person to accumulate all the power acknowledge Naruto, and gave him his blessing. He have realize that Naruto is really the boy he was expecting, one that can overcome hatred and power-greed. Naruto is a sage in the true meaning of the word - just like the sage of the six paths.