Whiteknight
Active member
I've seen a few other people suggest that the manga is about halfway through the war at this point, which I agree. The first stage, where the Edo Tensei summons are playing the biggest role in primary combat is coming to an end, and Madara's plans with using the Zetsu clones to draw out Naruto and Bee has started.
I think now is a good point to start comparing Naruto and Sasuke, since we know they are going to fight in the end. Both of them have some pretty powerful new techniques and they are going to learn to master them on the battlefield.
We've only seen Sasuke for two pages in the end of episode 553: He was using a full-power Susanoo with what appear to be Amaterasu-based arrows. We have to assume that his old MS techniques (Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, Susanoo) are all more powerful and Amaterasu+Susanoo combinations are better. We also have to assume that he has at least one new EMS jutsu, like Madara. Sasuke's other skills (ninjutsu, taijutsu) were always strong and are probably better now.
Sasuke's old weakness, if he ever really had one, was his chakra reserve. Back in the early parts of the manga he was limited and always had less chakra than Naruto. In the fight against the Kages at the summit, he had more than enough chakra to stand up to the Raikage, Darui, Gaara, the Mizukage and finally the Tuschikage before running out. Against Danzo, he was able to spam several powerful MS techniques without running out of chakra. His eyes were the limitations in that battle. We have to assume he has even more chakra now.
Saskue has no real limitations. He gets better techniques, is perfecting and combining his techniques, and is increasing his chakra levels very quickly.
Compare to Naruto. Naruto always had juge chakra, and with Sage mode and Fox mode he has big sources to draw from. Naruto has fox chakra mode has limitations: Naruto can't use the tailed beast ball yet, he can't stay in the shroud for long, he runs out of chakra at unexpected times, etc. He also can't do all the beast transformations that Bee can do. The mode also puts some limitations on his ability to make clones in large numbers. His taijutsu in all modes is good.
In terms of ninjutsu, Naruto hasn't really learned anything new. He has new types of Rasengan to use, mostly just new ways of making and using normal rasengans. He also has the chakra arms. He only knows one element (wind) and only has one elemental attack (Rasenshuriken). Wind is weak against Sasuke's fire, but strong against Sasukes lighting. Naruto doesn't know how to stream his chakra, or has never done it. He has a lot of big flashy attacks (Rasenshuriken, Odama Rasengan, etc) but not many defensive attacks or smaller strategic ones. He still doesn't have the control to form a normal rasengan with one hand. Even in sage mode he needs clones to make a simple rasengan. He still needs two clones to make a Rasenshuriken. Sage mode and Chakra mode are both limited, he can switch between them but cannot hold either for too long. Naruto has no real defensive techniques either, besides his ability to dodge.
If the two fight today, who wins? How do you think they are going to improve during the war?
I think now is a good point to start comparing Naruto and Sasuke, since we know they are going to fight in the end. Both of them have some pretty powerful new techniques and they are going to learn to master them on the battlefield.
We've only seen Sasuke for two pages in the end of episode 553: He was using a full-power Susanoo with what appear to be Amaterasu-based arrows. We have to assume that his old MS techniques (Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, Susanoo) are all more powerful and Amaterasu+Susanoo combinations are better. We also have to assume that he has at least one new EMS jutsu, like Madara. Sasuke's other skills (ninjutsu, taijutsu) were always strong and are probably better now.
Sasuke's old weakness, if he ever really had one, was his chakra reserve. Back in the early parts of the manga he was limited and always had less chakra than Naruto. In the fight against the Kages at the summit, he had more than enough chakra to stand up to the Raikage, Darui, Gaara, the Mizukage and finally the Tuschikage before running out. Against Danzo, he was able to spam several powerful MS techniques without running out of chakra. His eyes were the limitations in that battle. We have to assume he has even more chakra now.
Saskue has no real limitations. He gets better techniques, is perfecting and combining his techniques, and is increasing his chakra levels very quickly.
Compare to Naruto. Naruto always had juge chakra, and with Sage mode and Fox mode he has big sources to draw from. Naruto has fox chakra mode has limitations: Naruto can't use the tailed beast ball yet, he can't stay in the shroud for long, he runs out of chakra at unexpected times, etc. He also can't do all the beast transformations that Bee can do. The mode also puts some limitations on his ability to make clones in large numbers. His taijutsu in all modes is good.
In terms of ninjutsu, Naruto hasn't really learned anything new. He has new types of Rasengan to use, mostly just new ways of making and using normal rasengans. He also has the chakra arms. He only knows one element (wind) and only has one elemental attack (Rasenshuriken). Wind is weak against Sasuke's fire, but strong against Sasukes lighting. Naruto doesn't know how to stream his chakra, or has never done it. He has a lot of big flashy attacks (Rasenshuriken, Odama Rasengan, etc) but not many defensive attacks or smaller strategic ones. He still doesn't have the control to form a normal rasengan with one hand. Even in sage mode he needs clones to make a simple rasengan. He still needs two clones to make a Rasenshuriken. Sage mode and Chakra mode are both limited, he can switch between them but cannot hold either for too long. Naruto has no real defensive techniques either, besides his ability to dodge.
If the two fight today, who wins? How do you think they are going to improve during the war?
