Itachi caught a flicker of Sharingan in Sasuke's eyes and prepared himself for a more serious onslaught, but the red glistening in the darkness was gone as quickly as it came. So Sasuke was merely confirming Itachi's position. And now. . . the attack. Itachi ignored the stab of disappointment he felt at another straight attack, moving to block the strike with a timing calculated to account for his impaired sight.
Then, the first true surprise of the battle occurred. It had not been a straight attack after all; Sasuke had used some foresight, and Itachi had underestimated him. Underestimated Sasuke and overestimated his own eyesight, once again. If he were at his full mental capacity, he should have a perfectly accurate appreciation of his own limitations. But no, he had assumed he'd be able to catch a change in the trajectory of the sword before it was too late. He had measured his newly lowered strength against the creatures of the Institute, but Sasuke was on a different level. Even if he was not as strong yet as Itachi hoped he would become, he was certainly much faster than a monstrous nurse.
Mentally cursing, Itachi tried to dodge back from the low strike -- too slow. When had he become so slow in comparison to Sasuke? When had he not been able to read his movements in advance? Penance came in the form of steel biting into his right leg. He'd managed to slide back far enough that he wouldn't lose a limb, but the tip of the blade still sliced deep into the outer side of his calf and raked across his shin before swinging wide.
This was unacceptable. Sasuke was more of a challenge than he had suspected, and if he kept underestimating his brother he was going to get killed. Something that could not and would not occur. He would have to take this seriously, and provide a decent offense. Itachi began to consider his options even as his leg crumpled under him and he caught himself on his hands in another defensive crouch. The sword would have to be neutralized, that much was certain, but that could not be effected quite yet. Not when Sasuke was too far away and the range of Itachi's weapons too short.
Sasuke was off balance currently, his momentum still carrying him forward while the sword swung back. Itachi could make use of this to get closer, and to strike preemptively in the process. With this in mind, he lunged forward suddenly. Soon the backswing of the blade would turn into a forward stroke, but for now there was just enough time to grab the back of Sasuke's head and force him face-first into Itachi's uninjured knee. It was not the kind of move Itachi would normally use, not distant enough and a little too vicious, but Sasuke would not be expecting it and that was all that mattered now.
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Then, the first true surprise of the battle occurred. It had not been a straight attack after all; Sasuke had used some foresight, and Itachi had underestimated him. Underestimated Sasuke and overestimated his own eyesight, once again. If he were at his full mental capacity, he should have a perfectly accurate appreciation of his own limitations. But no, he had assumed he'd be able to catch a change in the trajectory of the sword before it was too late. He had measured his newly lowered strength against the creatures of the Institute, but Sasuke was on a different level. Even if he was not as strong yet as Itachi hoped he would become, he was certainly much faster than a monstrous nurse.
Mentally cursing, Itachi tried to dodge back from the low strike -- too slow. When had he become so slow in comparison to Sasuke? When had he not been able to read his movements in advance? Penance came in the form of steel biting into his right leg. He'd managed to slide back far enough that he wouldn't lose a limb, but the tip of the blade still sliced deep into the outer side of his calf and raked across his shin before swinging wide.
This was unacceptable. Sasuke was more of a challenge than he had suspected, and if he kept underestimating his brother he was going to get killed. Something that could not and would not occur. He would have to take this seriously, and provide a decent offense. Itachi began to consider his options even as his leg crumpled under him and he caught himself on his hands in another defensive crouch. The sword would have to be neutralized, that much was certain, but that could not be effected quite yet. Not when Sasuke was too far away and the range of Itachi's weapons too short.
Sasuke was off balance currently, his momentum still carrying him forward while the sword swung back. Itachi could make use of this to get closer, and to strike preemptively in the process. With this in mind, he lunged forward suddenly. Soon the backswing of the blade would turn into a forward stroke, but for now there was just enough time to grab the back of Sasuke's head and force him face-first into Itachi's uninjured knee. It was not the kind of move Itachi would normally use, not distant enough and a little too vicious, but Sasuke would not be expecting it and that was all that mattered now.