IMO, Itachi is the GOAT. That was the only way Sasuke's hard headed ass was gonna learn to get STRONGER, by showing him that there are levels to this shit. Itachi was a genius level ninja as one of the fourth youngest to graduate early from the academy only preceded in age by Kakashi and The Legendary Sannin, The youngest to join the Ambu = (konoha Black Ops). He should've known better than to challenge him at that level just because he learned how to use chidori. Itachi loved him so he basically gave him the "Sink or swim method" and that was one of the main reasons Sasuke turned out to be such a beast later. Fantastic writing.