As for what the real truth actually was, Itachi didn't know.
"Forget it. Back then at the academy, using the Uchiha Clan to give you trouble, that was my fault... But it's also true that I don't like you as a person. You always choose to shoulder everything alone, and that's why I hate you."
Although his strength couldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Itachi's, Tsutama was five years older than Itachi, so his experience was naturally much greater.
A reclusive, self-centered, self-righteous genius with arrogance—that was where Tsutama believed Itachi's flaws lay.
In battle, he always resolved everything by himself. Even if he cared about his teammates, he didn't want to enjoy the satisfaction of completing a mission together with them, but instead shouldered it all alone.
Like a lone ranger walking in the dark.
If it were a lazy person, meeting a like-minded teammate like Itachi, they would certainly be delighted.
Tsutama knew he was weak, but he still had the dignity of a Ninja; Itachi's way of doing things made him deeply resentful.
Hearing Tsutama's words, Itachi was slightly stunned.
He hadn't expected Tsutama to say something like that.
But then he fell silent.
Arrogant, huh?
"If you want a better future, you'd better leave this squad as soon as possible. In this squad, you will never be promoted to Chunin."
Tsutama let out a sigh and walked past Itachi.
Itachi stood rooted to the spot, thinking: in this squad, there's no way to advance to Chunin—what did that mean?
Was he saying that, among the three Genin in this squad, he would never be able to become the team leader?
Very quickly, Itachi stopped dwelling on it and instead focused his mind on the current escort mission.
The patrol had nearly reached its end; they could head back.
Just then, both Itachi and Tsutama's bodies tensed at the same time. They stepped back, standing shoulder to shoulder, and drew their Kunai.
In front of them appeared a Ninja clad in black, wearing a mask with bizarre patterns.
Looking like that, he was clearly no ordinary passerby.
He was an attacker sent to interfere with their mission.
"Running into me… you two are just unlucky, I guess. Let's start by dealing with you little brats first."
He said it lightly, almost casually.
"What the hell, one after another, all so full of themselves."
He was already pissed about being overshadowed by Itachi in the team, and now this random guy showed up to lecture him—Tsutama's dissatisfaction flared up at once.
"Watch how I teach you a lesson and rip that mask off your face!"
A phony bastard playing at ghosts! That was how Tsutama judged him in his heart.
As soon as he finished, he grabbed the Kunai in his hand and charged at the Black-clothed Ninja.
Itachi opened his mouth, wanting to stop Tsutama, but found his body wouldn't move; even speaking was extremely difficult.
For a Ninja, calmly analyzing the difference in strength between enemy and self was the most basic of basics.
This kind of behavior from Tsutama seemed extremely dangerous in Itachi's eyes.
A Ninja who cannot objectively analyze the situation—once he runs into a powerful Ninja… he'll die!
And die in an instant!
His body burst apart like a watermelon smashed open.
Blood and flesh exploded, splattering in front of Itachi.
It all happened so suddenly that Itachi didn't even have time to react.
He just stood there in a daze, his mind totally blank.
Tsutama's body was convulsing violently and painfully on the ground. Very quickly, the movements grew weaker.
His chest had been twisted into an unrecognizable shape, a massive amount of blood pouring out.
With injuries like that, even the most skilled Medical Ninja would have a hard time saving him.
"Heehee, in the Ninja Realm, there's never any shortage of these simple-minded idiots who are desperate to earn merit. Look, death is something this sudden and this real. Don't you agree, Uchiha Itachi?"
"Why do you…"
"I know everything, you know. About the Uchiha."
The Black-clothed Ninja spoke in a mysterious, unfathomable tone.
Itachi felt an extremely terrifying pressure bearing down on his throat and body.
Right now he was like a frog fixed under a snake's gaze, trembling all over, his skin crawling.
Unlike Tsutama, he understood the gulf between their strengths, and so he was even more afraid.
He wanted to raise his Kunai and stab this Black-clothed Ninja, but his body refused to obey, retreating instinctively in fear.
As if convinced that the instant he moved, he would be killed on the spot.
The Black-clothed Ninja greatly enjoyed that struggling yet bewildered look of fear on Itachi's face.
"Didn't expect there'd be someone like you among the Uchiha…"
He lifted his foot and walked toward Itachi, then suddenly stopped.
Someone was clutching his pant leg.
It was Tsutama's hand, his eyes almost unfocused, clinging desperately to life in his dying state.
The sight left the Black-clothed Ninja incredulous.
In theory, with his chest cavity twisted like that, it should have been impossible to survive; he should have died instantly.
"The human body really is fascinating. Is this what they call the Will of Fire supporting you?"
There was no answer to the Black-clothed Ninja's question.
Tsutama only spoke in a very faint, very weak voice:
"Hurry… go…"
Those two words used up all his strength.
Even if Itachi escaped alone, that would be fine.
He knew that neither he nor Itachi could possibly be this man's match.
Only by finding their Jonin leader, Minazuki Yuzuki, would Itachi have a chance to survive.
As for him, he was beyond saving.
Itachi's body gave a slight tremor.
In his eyes, an intense emotion began to brew. It hurt—pain that sank deep into the bone.
Power…
Bang!
His thoughts were cut off.
The Black-clothed Ninja's foot had stomped down on Tsutama's face.
The black ninja sandal was stained with blood.
Tsutama's face was crushed into a bloody mess under his heel.
Itachi's eyes were filled with nothing but rage.