[Still multitasking. Bringing to him the drugs, the surgical tools. He has to be careful - he can't put Itachi under to work an operation - it'd kill him, and he won't be able to stop him panicking if he opens him up to work directly on the damage and that's as good as a death sentence right there as well.

But he can't work blind.

So he has to take a gamble.]

Itachi. Listen to me, Itachi. I've got to operate to repair the damage - but it's not safe to put you under. Do you understand?