Introduction

In the realm of Naruto Fanfiction and anime analysis, the debate over the ultimate victor between Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha is a common topic. Recently, a discussion emerged centered on whether Itachi could defeat Sasuke after receiving the Rinnegan. This article aims to dissect the plausible scenarios and key factors that would influence such a clash.

Sasuke's Evolution: From Maegeostu to Elite Maegeostu

The progression of Sasuke's power throughout his arc is staggering. Starting as a young cadet with the Sharingan, Sasuke developed into an elite user of the Maegeostu before unlocking the Rinnegan. With the Rinnegan, Sasuke gains access to new abilities, each posing significant challenges to Itachi. However, to understand the dynamics of their duel, it’s crucial to consider the specific stage of both characters.

Final Version of Itachi

When discussing Itachi, the focus often shifts to his weakened state during the finale of the series. This version of Itachi, operating on death’s door, faces numerous limitations. Despite his mastery of strategic manipulation, his physical and chakra reserves are significantly diminished, making him more vulnerable to prolonged battles. However, Itachi's strategic acumen and combat skills were unparalleled.

Initial Clash: Maegeostu Sasuke vs. Final Itachi

Even against the Maegeostu version of Sasuke, Final Itachi has tactical advantages. In their final fight, Itachi could exploit Sasuke's arrogance and overconfidence. By preying on these weaknesses, Itachi could initiate a genjutsu early in the conflict, effectively neutralizing Sasuke's strategic edge. If Itachi had killed Sasuke immediately, the fight would never have reached its full potential, highlighting the profound strategic disparity.

Enhanced Edo Tensei Itachi

For the sake of argument, let's consider the scenario where Itachi has a Gerotenshi body, wielding the Rinnegan. This version of Itachi retains his mental acuity and strategic dominance but faces the challenge of Sasuke's significantly expanded chakra pool. Sasuke, with the Rinnegan, can now channel his vast chakra reserves to maintain prolonged battles and execute high-energy techniques like Amaterasu more effectively.

Strategic Tactics: Itachi's Exploitations

Itachi, known for his unparalleled strategic prowess, could leverage his understanding of Sasuke's weaknesses further. By goading Sasuke into a relentless attack, Itachi could create a situation where Sasuke overextends himself, leading to a predictable exit from his Edwardo state. Once Sasuke overextends and exits Edwardo, Itachi could capitalize on this moment to deliver a fatal blow. This approach relies heavily on predicting Sasuke's actions and exploiting his strategic and physical limitations.

The Arrival of the Rinnegan: A Game-Changer

When discussing the Rinnegan, it's essential to recognize the immense boost in chakra and power it provides. Sasuke's access to the Rinnegan introduces new dimensions to the fight, making Itachi's task much more challenging. While Itachi could still counter each individual ability, his stamina and chakra reserves would be severely taxed, potentially tipping the scales in favor of Sasuke.

Deva Path and Preta Path

Deva Path, a high-level offensive technique, poses a significant threat to Itachi. However, Itachi's Fai Claire would likely provide enough advantage to neutralize this threat. On the other hand, Preta Path, utilizing incredibly high chakra consumption, would be a serious challenge. Itachi, with his inherently low chakra reserves, would need to be extraordinarily cautious, as even one mistake could be fatal. However, Sasuke's early proficiency with the Rinnegan paths suggests that Itachi might be able to maneuver around this issue.

Conclusion: Tsukyomi and Finality

The use of Tsukyomi remains a critical factor. Itachi's final Gerotenshi body might border on invincible in certain scenarios, potentially allowing him to defeat Sasuke if Sasuke cannot effectively break the genjutsu. However, the implications of Sasuke reaching the stage where he can reliably use the full Rinnegan, including Tsukyomi, make the outcome less certain. While Itachi could theoretically use Tsukyomi effectively, the prolonged engagement and chakra drain inherent to Sasuke's new capabilities present a formidable challenge.

In summary, the introduction of the Rinnegan significantly alters the balance of power between Itachi and Sasuke, making a definitive victory less certain. While Itachi retains his tactical genius and strategic adaptability, Sasuke's expanded chakra pool and new techniques pose significant challenges. This analysis underscores the complexity of their final clash and the immense difficulty of predicting a winner, leaving the ultimate outcome an open question in the annals of Naruto lore.