Uchiha Obito.
If Itachi stood at the edge of the abyss, Amane would pull him up and give him a chance at self-redemption.
For this guy, Amane had no idea how to wash him clean.
He could stage a play for Itachi, let the script unfold the way Itachi wanted, but that would not work on Obito.
Partly the era.
Partly the sickness Amane already sensed in Obito. Unless the halo of a protagonist descended and Amane's silver tongue conjured a miracle, there was no slot in his plans labeled Uchiha Enlightenment. Even then, it would only be a rinse.
He did not have that power.
He could handle his own affairs. The rest were not his to bear.
That man was fully broken.
He lived the clan's madness to the hilt, a single man against the world.
The resolve impressed. The deeds did not.
He hurt, so he wanted everyone to taste his pain.
If Minato had failed to recognize him, robbing him of hope, then what of Kushina?
Her death lay in his hand as well.
Obito carried countless sins.
He did not fear them.
He trudged on beneath the weight.
He dreamed alone, picturing Rin waiting for him forever, and that was the only ending he let himself see.
Was that picture real?
No one knew.
Some said Rin liked him. Some said she did not. To Amane, it no longer mattered.
Obito's life had a fierce legend to it. It needed no one to change it.
Change him, turn him into a sunny boy like Naruto, erase the darkness, and he would no longer be Obito.
Even with a time machine, that shadow in his heart would not embrace the light.
As for why Amane was here waiting for Obito and Itachi to meet, he only wanted to confirm his own reading.
Watching from afar as the two spoke, the boy fell into thought.
He could now be certain Itachi, as in the tale, had sought Obito and invited him to join the plan to annihilate the Uchiha.
Which meant the night of slaughter was close. All it needed was Danzō to fan the flames. It could fall on any coming night.
The Uchiha would need more than a play for Itachi. They had to guard against Obito.
That night he killed more than Itachi did.
It did not prove superior strength.
With only one Mangekyō eye and no Susanoo, Obito relied on Kamui.
He slipped to intangibility, then turned solid just long enough to send victims to hell. The phantom-and-fang rhythm was a headache.
But if you knew enough, you could block him.
There were many ways in this world to seal space. With enough power, you could bend it.
Catch him the moment he turned solid, and you could hurt him.
Amane had just the person in mind.
"Sasuke said you called me."
While Amane watched the pair at the shrine gate, a figure arrived at his side.
Shaved head. Sunglasses.
Identity confirmed.
"Did the operation succeed?"
Amane glanced at the easy grace in Shisui's step.
"It did. The ancestor's eyes hold tremendous power, though the nearsightedness is severe."
"The clan head had my shades modified. As long as I do not use the Mangekyō, I can see people clearly."
Shisui nodded and removed his glasses. Scarlet tomoe spun in his sockets.
They were Uchiha Kagami's eyes.
Once a guardian to the Second Hokage, Kagami had been gifted, even awakening the Mangekyō.
He burned through that power and withered away.
After death, his eyes were sealed at a hidden site known only to his blood. Shisui was his descendant.
One of Shisui's Mangekyō sat in Danzō's hand, the other with Itachi. Now was no time to rip them back. Itachi's would not be taken either.
Kagami's eyes were a fine stopgap.
They were kin. The transplant took. There was no rejection.
"See the man talking to Itachi?"
Amane pointed.
Distance muffled the words, but he knew his Ride Rin jab had cut deep.
If Itachi had not held him, Obito would already be rushing over to demand answers.
Ride Rin.
His taboo.
"Who is he?"
Shisui asked.
"He calls himself Uchiha Madara. In truth he is a pitiful man whose beloved died, who then broke inside."
Amane summarized Obito's life in a line, rubbing his chin.
"Anyway, he is not the point. I want your eyes on Itachi. See whether he walks the path I laid out. See how your suicide shook him."
"Right now he is ready to join that psycho to wipe out the clan."
Shisui opened his mouth, then only managed a wry smile.
Since the day Amane saved him, the boy's predictions had come true one by one.
He had not believed it at first. He had trusted the friend to whom he entrusted his ideal. Now his faith wavered.
Just then Obito turned from the shrine gate and slipped into space. The talk seemed done.
"Space-time ninjutsu."
Shisui frowned. He understood what that meant.
"I will brief you on his file later. On that night, you block him. If you can kill him, better."
Amane waved, then hopped up and draped himself across Shisui's back, all weight sinking down.
"Itachi is moving. Follow."
"With your craft, he will not notice a tail, right?"
Shisui rolled his eyes. He had taught Itachi everything he knew about tailing and counter-tailing.
They shadowed Itachi to a familiar place.
Konoha's Hokage building.
He did not enter the Hokage's office. He slipped through a discreet side door.
Shisui picked his moment, boosted Amane, and slipped in after.
The room was small. A candle burned on the table.
Itachi knelt within. Before him stood Konoha's collection of politicians.
The consummate operator, Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The root of the village's darkness, Root chief Shimura Danzō.
And the two pampered counselors who matched them move for move, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
All present and accounted for.
Head bowed, Itachi spoke in a voice laced with pain and a thread of relief.
"The Uchiha have decided to launch a revolution."
...