If keitaro cleared stage 1 in sasuke 37

[shunsukenumber98]

Honestly, with the nerfed stages 2 and 3, could he have made final? And if so, how would he had done? 

[dakohosu]

May 16, 2024 1:33:48 GMT -5 shunsukenumber98 said:

Honestly, with the nerfed stages 2 and 3, could he have made final? And if so, how would he had done? 

I'd probably say yes, given that he beat 39's harder Stage 2 with only 5 extra seconds and the log, as well as almost beating 40's Stage 3 with the full Dimension and Vertical Limit. 

Realistically the only things I could see stopping him are mental mistakes. He was still in his phase of being mentally blocked by Stage 2, like trying to rush and hence failing the Spider Drop in 35, and timing out in 36 due to taking ages to rest before the Backstream. I'd say given how much more lenient 37's TL was it's much less of a risk, but he also might let that give him false security, just like what happened to Ryo in 28 and Yusuke in 30. At the same time he may also be more relaxed knowing that the Backstream had been toned down compared to the ones that stopped him prior.

With Stage 3 he absolutely had the capability to clear as he'd beaten the fully fledged version in practice several times, though his run in 39 does concern me, especially as he failed the transition from the non-moving pole of the Sidewinder so you can't put it down to the buff. It being his debut Stage 3 run after so many failed Stage 2 attempts, and knowing that he was hyped as an UnCli member and someone who could demolish Stage 3, could very easily get to his head and cause a freak fail, if anywhere on the Sidewinder. If not though, then he'd definitely clear. I'd actually say 37 was quite a few competitors' only shots at clearing Stage 3 in their entire career, like Jun or Hioki; at least Keitaro has displayed he can beat the full version and that 37 wasn't his only chance to break out to the Final. 

Re how he'd do on the Final, I'm inclined to say late Jugo Dan/early Tsuna Nobori given that he's extremely fast and explosive on the Salmon Ladder.