[SPARRING THREAD | Closed]
[He is, he must admit, slightly nervous.
He wasn't at all the last time they fought. But he had been sure at that point that it would be over, one way or another. Either he would win, and have nothing to worry about, or he would die, and really have nothing to worry about.
But this is a sparring match. If he loses now, he'll have to live with the humiliation of having been defeated by his brother again. He'll have to keep living knowing that he still, despite having given up everything, isn't good enough.
And even if he were to win... at what cost to Itachi's health?
As he approaches, he is careful to show no sign of agitation. He wants to think that Itachi is unable to tell. But of course, he can always tell, can't he.]