Here's an analysis of the theoretical conflict.
What we know: Zack was a member of SOLDIER, First Class. This means he was fit for SOLDIER, and suffered no crucial or debilitating reaction to Mako or Jenova injections.
Cloud was never a member of SOLDIER; his recalled experiences were based on those of his friend Zack. However, he was built like a member of SOLDIER. It can be assumed that he didn't make it primarily because of adverse reaction to the Jenova injections.
Cloud's problem was not a function of pure combat. Nor was it a problem that involved Mako showering in any way. As a matter of fact, Cloud likely bares a remarkable resistance to Mako. Note the following:Cloud: I never was in SOLDIER. I made up the stories about what happened to me
five years ago, about being in SOLDIER. I left my village looking for glory, but
never made it in to SOLDIER...... I was so ashamed of being so weak; then I
heard this story from my friend Zack... And I created an illusion of myself made
up of what I had seen in my life...... And I continued to play the charade as if
it were true.
Barret: Illusion, huh...? Pretty damn strong for a llusion, I'd say.
Cloud: I'm physically built like someone in SOLDIER. Hojo's plan to clone
Sephiroth wasn't that difficult. It was just the same procedure they use when
creating members of SOLDIER. You see, someone in SOLDIER isn't simply exposed to
Mako energy. Their bodies are actually injected with Jenova cells...... For
better or worse, only the strong can enter SOLDIER. It has nothing to do with
Jenova Reunion. But weak people...... like me, get lost in the whole thing. The
combination of Jenova cells, Sephiroth's strong will and my own weakness are
what created me. Everyone knew that. I'm...... Cloud. ......the master of my own
illusionary world. But I can't remain trapped in an illusion any more...... I'm
going to live my life without pretending.
Now, with all due respect to Zack, the so-called "proto-Cloud" of the Kalm flashback was obviously based on Zack. Literally. Cloud took on all of his characteristics, such as having no issues with motion sickness. However, that also means that Cloud's battle capabilities were really those of Zack: Level 1, insignificant HP, no magic, and no Limit Break.Barret: So what about him? You know...... Cloud?
Doctor: I'll say it again, he's got Mako poisoning. I've never seen a case this
bad. An immerse amount of Mako-drenched knowledge was put into his brain all at
once...... No normal human could survived it...... It's a miracle he did!
However, we must also assume that the same conditions apply to the young Cloud: Level 1, insignificant HP, and no magic. Cloud might have developed Braver, but since he would have had a gun at that point, I doubt it.
If the battle were to take place at this early point, it would appear to have the makings of a draw...except for one point which I shall address in a moment. Bare this in mind, however: Cloud was, according to my theory, not in SOLDIER because of the Jenova, not because he wasn't a sufficiently talented fighter (or a potentially talented fighter).
Now, we have at this point an apparent draw. However, we see both Cloud and Zack confront Sephiroth in the Mako Reactor. Zack, as we all know, didn't fare so well. Cloud, on the other hand, came out the victor. After being stabbed by the Masamune, a sword that reputedly only Sephiroth could wield, Cloud took it by the blade and hurled it, along with Sephiroth, into the depths of the reactor.
However, this does not immediately doom Zack's cause. It could be argued that Cloud had greater impetus to defeat Sephiroth; it was his hometown that Sephiroth destroyed, his mother who was killed during the calamity, and Tifa who was injured -badly- by Sephiroth earlier. Nevertheless, this leads to an argument that I feel would put Cloud back in the lead, so to speak. That argument is as follows: in FFVII, Cloud was very clearly interested in what people thought of him. If it was indeed an emotional outburst that allowed him to throw Seph down, then the intense desire to prove himself would, in my mind, prove the deciding factor in a conflict between Zack and the young Cloud.
Zack dies before progressing further as a character. A fair comparison beyond their young selves would, therefore, be difficult to determine. However, consider the following:
Zack has no Limit Break.
Cloud, having a sword, would have developed a Limit Break at this point.
Advantage, Cloud.
The following is a possible reason for the fact, but is not critical to the argument.
From a certain scene in Beginner's Hall, we see even a bully's victim execute a Limit Break. They should be available, with proper weapon, early on. "But Sephiroth had no Limit Break!" you cry. Very true. As a matter of fact, the members of SOLDIER you fight in battle, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Class, also have no Limit Breaks. This is clearly theoretical, but it may be that acceptance of Jenova sterilizes Limit potential, so to speak. "But Vincent..." Yes, Vincent was treated with Jenova. However, his case can be argued in one of two ways. Either he didn't accept the Jenova, partially explaining his strange Limit physiology, or he did accept the Jenova. That would explain why none of his Limits involve a gun. Rather, his Limits are the manifestation of the experimentation.
The point is that Cloud, imbued with Limit potential, would have an advantage in terms of a later-stages battle, even if Zack were to grow in combat ability at Cloud's rapid pace.
What I think really seals the deal in this argument, however, is Sephiroth. Ignoring everything that happened in Nibelheim, let's look to the "final battle" of the game. Cloud vs. Sephiroth. Cloud cannot, no matter how hard you try, lose this battle. I simply cannot see, in a real world-style duel, Zack defeating Sephiroth. By extension, then, Cloud would triumph in this later stage of the theoretical contest.
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