This is highly debatable. I do not remember it ever being stated that Itachi purposely fumbled the tsukiyomi. Yes he lost on purpose, but Zetsu commented on Sasuke breaking out of Tsukiyomi. Using some metaphors as well indicating that Sasuke was more skilled with the sharingan than itachi.

 

I meant the Third. You know, since he knows all jutsus in the village.

 

Okey, now I want to read Naruto teaching his "awesome jutsu" to the Third because he heard that the Third knows every jutsu in the village, and he wants his adoptive grandfather to learn his awesome new jutsu that he created. The Third being who he is of course humors the boy. The thing goes well, the Third is pleasantly surprised by Narutos knowledge about the jutsu, and then Naruto finishes the jutsu showing him what it is about. Sadly now he can't back out without hurting Narutos feeling. Cue awkwardness. Then it saves his life against Oroshimaru.

Are there any fights with the Third before he dies? Maybe an OVA or movie?

 

The Third is pretty much the Hokage that is just kinda there. The plot at the time didn't really allow for craziness abilities on his part because of his age and the fact that Kishimoto hadn't planned shit out. Any situation involving the Third that isn't him fighting his predecessors and Orochimaru, is him standing there and looking like he's doing something, but he really isn't. Pretty sad.

 

I think there's a big difference between having a gimmick and being a one trick pony. Just because those people on your list tend to focus on their most potent abilities doesn't mean that's all they can do(which seems to be the complaint).

Hiruzen: Mastered five elements, high level close combat skills, high level fuinjutsu and barrier jutsu.
Jiraiya: Good at taijutsu, good at ninjutsu, good at summoning based jutsu, good at barrier jutsu, and good at fuinjutsu.
Sasuke: Good at taijutsu, good at ninjutsu, good at genjutsu, good at shurikenjutsu, good at kenjutsu, and has shown some fuinjutsu skills.
Itachi: Same as Sasuke.
Madara: Same as Sasuke but seems to be a sensor and can absorb chakra.(The pattern is that Sharingan users are some of the most well rounded shinobi in the series)
Onoki: Dust element, good at Doton, weight changing jutsu(possibly Doton jutsu), and flying(possibly weight changing jutsu).

What you're saying is aimed at exactly the wrong group of people in the series. High level shinobi are the only group that seems to have branched out into several areas while most shinobi are specialized.

It's pretty clear that Sasuke broke Tsukuyomi. The out for Sasuke is that Itachi was using it in an inefficient manner. The greatest strength in Tsukuyomi is that it distorts time. When used to torture like against Kakashi it stops you from thinking and the trauma puts down the opponent afterwards. Against Sasuke it was used the same way as the other genjutsu they were throwing around. It gave Sasuke had the chance to gather his strength and
break it.

More skilled or more powerful. I think it's pretty clear that Sasuke tilted towards the power side of those options. Especially since Sasuke imagined himself powering up to CS2 in the genjutsu.

 

We will have to agree to disagree about how one is defined as "gimmicky" or a "one trick pony". Being able to do something doesn't mean that it is your go-to (or even a less than last resort) option for you. Why yes, every high level ninja has some taijutsu skills, that doesn't mean that someone like Gaara is going to engage you in CQC when he can crush you with his sand. For me the difference is "if you removed the skill in question from their repitoire, could they still fight at the same level?" and for the most part, the answer is no. Take away Asuma's wind release, Tsunade's super strength, etc. and they become substantially weaker. There are a few more well rounded characters (Naruto, Hiruzen, maybe a few others) that could still put the hurt on other people at their level, but for most it's an instant demotion of threat level.

 

I've always imagined Hiruzen to be basically fucking Sun Wu Kong.

Yes, he has his pretty elemental jutsus, but his main "trick" was no trick at all.

Just using sheer godlike strength, speed, durability, and his giant Ruyijingubang of Fuck-Off, he smacks Bijuu around and flattens small inconveniences like other ninja.

Add to that clones. Many many clones.

Given his reliance on taijutsu and his physical capabilities, it's likely that the decline in his abilities was much more severe than, say, Onoki's - who relied on ninjutsu in long range-combat.

 

If I'm not completely mistaken, Hiruzen said, that if he would've been in his prime, he could've pulled all of Orochimaru's soul out, not just the soul of his arms.

 

There's nobody like that in the series. Everyone would be downgraded at least one rank. Take away Jinchuuriki abilities from Naruto and Sasuke would crush him. He couldn't fight at the same level.

For me the difference between having a go-to move and being a one trick pony wouldn't be fighting at exactly the same level, it would be them still being considered dangerous in the series. Take away Sasuke's Sharingan? He'd still kick the crap out of Asuma, Zabuza, and a lot of others. Post war he's probably Kage level without doujutsu. Tsunade's super strength? She still has the impact jutsu Sakura uses.

Gaara is a good example for you because he branches out using the skill in question. He uses his sand to fight, fly, sense, and for fuinjutsu.

In comparison take away a lower rank shinobi's ability(Shikamaru shadow, Hinata's Jyuken, Lee's tajutsu, Chouji's calorie based stuff) and they may as well retire.

Hiruzen's trick is that he's good at pretty much everything shinobi related.

 

Lol, what? Sasuke is nowhere near Kage level without his Sharingan/Rinnegan. What are you smoking? Most of his techniques, even the ones that don't technically require it, rely on the Sharingan for him to pull of.

Really, Sasuke's eyes are both Kage level.

 

Take away Sasuke's body and his eyes could still fight on the same level.

 

That's wrong. It's very wrong.

A: Sun Wu-Kong was a little bitch compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

B:

Hiruzen was, of course, incredibly skilled in all forms of Jutsu, but he was known and feared primarily for his use of Ninjutsu.

Try again.

 

You're forgetting that his stats have increased along with the number of techniques. His speed is comparable to a ten tails Jinchuuriki and his strength is great enough to create shockwaves. His chakra is almost certainly at bijuu levels as well. Doujutsuless Sasuke would blitz around like a Gated Guy(perhaps not 8th gate) and spit out enormous Madara sized jutsu. Clearly Kage level.

 

Oh look, Vincent is sucking Sasuke's dick in public again. Big surprise there.

 

Oh, are you throwing a tantrum when confronted with facts again? I notice how you didn't try to dispute anything I said but just started whinging like a child.

 

Tantrum implies that I've lost control of my emotions and am acting out in a wild manner based on anger and frustration.

This is disdain. Calm, levelheaded disdain.

English, how does it work?

The fact of the matter is, Sasuke would be NOTHING without his Sharingan. Take them away and he can't do shit even on the level of Gai or Kakashi, let alone Madara or Naruto.

He depends upon his super eyes almost entirely. They're far more important to his fighting style than anything else in his arsenal. You're just enamored with him because you wish YOU were an emo edgelord that attracted women and endless forgiveness for no explainable reason.

But you're not, you're just a semi-faggy fanboy.

Onto Fics:

Reading Legacy of Uzushiogakure, right now. I'm still a pretty big fan of it, even if it isn't as good as it once was.

 

While I wouldn't word it so offensively, the fact of the matter is that Sasuke would be drastically depowered without his Sharingan, which is the only reason he's ever won a fight ever.

Yes, he'd be strong, no one denies that. But Kakashi or Guy would smack the shit out of him, as would most Kage level ninja.

Sasuke without his Sharingan is just not that threatening.

 

So you say but I clearly see a tantrum. Trying to disguise your tantrum with psychobabble is fooling no one.

The fact of the matter is that Sasuke is still Kage level without his doujutsu, and you've said nothing to dispute it. Note that all the people you're naming to compare to Sasuke are all Kage level themselves. Kakashi, Guy, Naruto, and Madara. Reletively strong one's too. You don't say someone isn't Captain level in Bleach by comparing them to Yamamoto or Aizen.

I didn't say he wouldn't be drastically depowered. Just that he'd still be Kage level which he would. Kakashi would only beat a doujutsuless Sasuke with Kamui(what puts Kakashi on Kage level). Also like I told WD Guy is a fairly strong example of Kage level.

 

Translation from Vincentspeak: Sasuke, sasuke, give me your cock, I NEEED it to feel complete. Let me have your raven tressed locks so I can love myself more when I look in the mirror, teach me to scowl and glare like a gigantic assface like you so that I can be smugly superior for no real reason.

Please, Sasuke, let me BE you.

 

Am I the only person who hates it when ranks in a military organisation are used when describing one's effectiveness as a warrior?