If Itachi were so powerful, why didn't he just take down Akatsuki? It's also repeatedly suggested that SM = MS. Naruto and Sasuke would draw, Hashirama and Madara were rivals, and it's stated that Itachi and Jiraiya would draw. SM beats Susanoo, Amaterasu can be dodged and countered, and genjutsu can be countered or avoided all together; just ask all of the Senju that dominated the Uchiha clan.
If Itachi were so powerful, why didn't he just take down Akatsuki? It's also repeatedly suggested that SM = MS. Naruto and Sasuke would draw, Hashirama and Madara were rivals, and it's stated that Itachi and Jiraiya would draw. SM beats Susanoo, Amaterasu can be dodged and countered, and genjutsu can be countered or avoided all together; just ask all of the Senju that dominated the Uchiha clan.