"Exactly, which is why I'm trying not to do anything that will give him a reason to think I'm anything but blissfully happy with my life and healthy." It wasn't really a grumble. Itachi knew he wasn't exactly happy or healthy, nor had he been for a while, but for the moment he was content to ignore those deeper issues and focus on more important things like the upcoming exams or fretting over recommending Sasuke for Jounin and listening to complaints from clan members.

"If that's really what you want to do..." This was Sasuke's time to do with what he wanted, and the issue of what genjutsu to cast was solely Itachi's issue, not his brother's. He felt selfish using this time to work on that.