Yes,i know those are Naruto's summonings - part of his battle style is to use other living entities.Yes,they are 3 Gigantic Toad helpers that are legitmately part of his skillset - i know that.
What intel did Pain have on Naruto? His name? That he is the Kyuubi's Jin? Naruto came into battle with PREP. Remember the SM clones back at the Toad place.
I knew you would mention the Manda part.How was that an asspull? Because you didn't like that Sasuke escaped Deidara's suicide explosion?
Let me guess,"Sasuke was out of chakra".Where do you get that from? It was never said,and Sasuke willingly disactivated his Sharingan cause he thought the battle was over which Deidara himself pionted out,then did his explosion which Sasuke countered with summoning Manda,and FORCEFULLY using him,it's not like Manda popped out to save Sasuke - Sasuke used him against his will as a shield.
Manda did not fight for Sasuke.It was not an asspull for Sasuke to be able to summon Orochimaru's summoning - which he could do from having absorbed Orochimaru - how many years have you been reading Naruto without realizing this?
As for Sasuke vs itachi.Yes,Itachi planned to lose,but did Itachi planned for Sasuke to use the Jutsu that Sasuke himself created? Kirin,which is the strongest lightning element attack which literally uses lightning instead of just changing chakra into lightning.
Did Itachi plan for Sasuke to use Fire Style to manipulate the whether,create clouds inorder for it to rain and thunder which he could then use that thunder against Itachi forcing him to use Susano'o? Itachi simply planned to fight and die against Sasuke.Itachi didn't know what Strategies Sasuke would use.Sasuke came up with them himself.
You can't downplay Sasuke's performance in that battle simply because Itachi planned to lose.
