"I'm suggesting that he's getting older, and I can no longer afford to think he'll be content as a Chuunin for much longer. I'm also suggesting that I'm woefully in the dark about my brother's current skill level, which isn't acceptable." Itachi nodded. "If I think he's ready, I'm going to consider recommending him for jounin in a few months, after his birthday."

Moving up in the ranks was dangerous, but a young Jounin like Sasuke not in a time of war of a shortage of ninja would be given time to adjust to the riskier missions. He would be all right.

But if Obito tried to put Sasuke in ANBU, Itachi would probably end up thrown out of Konoha for assaulting the Hokage. ANBU was not a place he ever wanted to see his little brother.