Uchiha Yin smiled at how happy Izumi looked. The girl really knew how to talk; chatting with her always left people feeling good.
Kurotsuchi finally managed to stop crying. The moment she lifted her head, she looked for Uchiha Yin.
She found him within seconds. Seeing him and Uchiha Izumi smiling together sent a sharp pang through her chest.
Her eyes dimmed, and she said hoarsely, "Mikoto, am I really that useless? I lost the match just like that. I've embarrassed Lord Yin!"
Mikoto was glad Kurotsuchi was finally talking. "Don't worry about the result. Yin won't mind!"
Mikoto's words did little to comfort Kurotsuchi, but she nodded to show she understood.
Mikoto could tell she was no better. With a quiet sigh, she asked, "Do you know why you lost to Izumi?"
Kurotsuchi's expression shifted several times before she answered reluctantly, "Because I wasn't as skilled as her. There's nothing else to say!"
Mikoto smiled faintly. "No. You're actually about equal in skill. By rights, the match should have ended in a draw."
Kurotsuchi looked surprised, and a little hopeful. "Then why did I lose?"
She lowered her head, plainly confused.
Mikoto glanced toward Izumi. "The difference is combat experience. You have far too little of it, so you couldn't bring out your true strength in that match!"
She paused. "And there's a considerable gap in your composure, too. You let your emotions take over during the fight. You used many of your Ninjutsu poorly. How could you possibly expect to beat her like that?"
By the end, Uchiha Mikoto's tone had grown stern. She was no longer offering comfort.
The indignation and hurt on Kurotsuchi's face slowly gave way to guilt and embarrassment.
*I was too full of myself. Even just now, I'd assumed I should have beaten