On the way home, Sasuke hesitated several times. Only when they were nearing the clan compound did he finally say, "Brother, I'm sorry!"
Itachi replied emotionlessly, "You don't need to apologize to me. You represented the village and advanced to the third round. That was already a very good performance."
"But..."
Sasuke lowered his head, his face dark.
Being driven into desperate straits several times by Kimimaro and Haku during the exam was one thing. Seeing Kimimaro's miserable state on a hospital bed earlier had made Sasuke feel much better, and all his resentment toward the Oto ninja had vanished.
But being ambushed by Kirigakure's Kirin and then utterly beaten by an unknown Grass Ninja was something he could not let go of.
That Grass Ninja who had humiliated him in particular left him deeply ashamed, because only Sasuke himself knew that he really had considered begging for mercy at the time.
Whenever he recalled the version of himself who had wanted to beg for mercy, he was overwhelmed with shame and felt that he had tarnished the Uchiha Clan's reputation. Among all the examinees who had advanced to the third round, he had also been one of the most pathetic, utterly failing to display the bearing expected of an Uchiha genius.
All these factors combined left Sasuke with not the slightest joy over advancing.
Seeing Sasuke so dejected, Itachi dearly wanted to comfort him.
Even by the harshest standards, Sasuke's performance today had been beyond reproach. But considering Hyuga Kagami's arrangements and the plan to provoke Sasuke into awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, he could only harden his heart and deliberately say, "Losing to a Grass Ninja is indeed humiliating, but don't be too upset. I'll explain things to Father for you."
Sasuke immediately showed his childlike side and anxiously