Thread:DazzlingEmerald/@comment-25152698-20141211230109/@comment-4961229-20141212134703

Healthy Prime Itachi doesn't exist. Never did. The healthiest he's ever been was right before he got his MS. That's literally it. Most likely his own eyes killed him. Susanoo use killed him. Without EMS, Susanoo starts draining your life-force as soon as you start using it. That's exactly what was happening to Sasuke at the Kage Summit. He was coughing up blood exactly like Itachi after Susanoo use.

Minato demonstrates his genius when he absolutely destroys Obito. The only time he has problems is when his emotions got in the way. Itachi has no ties to Minato. Unfortunately for Itachi, his emotions won't get in the way. We have canon statements and demonstrations on his genius. It's asinine to argue otherwise. Canon >>> unfounded opinions.

All Minato really has to do is outlast Itachi till his own Susanoo use kills him. Minato's jutsu is not chakra taxing. Minato's stamina is much greater than Itachi's. Minato is a sensor and can evade all of Itachi's other jutsu far more easily than even Raikage evaded Sasuke's. Itachi's only hope is genjutsu. You're not catching Minato in a genjutsu that easily. Itachi is safe only inside Susanoo. There's a time limit for that. Outside of Susanoo the arterial spray must flow.

This is a win win for Minato.