In the study.
Sasuke had already been sent away by Amane.
What happened today would remain their secret. Unless Sasuke wanted a beating, he would never run to Itachi and tell him.
Compared to Shisui's dive, a beating was a small thing, but even if Sasuke sought out Itachi now, the two would not talk like brothers anymore.
Shisui's death had struck Itachi too hard. Before long he would even clash openly with the clan, and the night of slaughter would be close.
Amane looked over the newly shaven, sunglasses-wearing Shisui. The man's aura had flipped entirely, and Amane was satisfied.
He swore he could march Shisui right past Itachi in broad daylight and Itachi still would not know who he was.
Fugaku, though, confirmed Shisui's identity and fell into thought.
He had no idea what trick his son was playing.
Lately he had grown used to thinking. Every talk with this son drove him to consider the fate of the entire Uchiha.
"Amane, what are you going to do?"
After a long silence, Fugaku drew a deep breath.
Uchiha Shisui.
One of the few pacifists of the clan. He had joined Root long ago. Why was he standing in the clan head's study dressed like this?
Shisui stood stiff, ill at ease.
Blind, he relied on hearing to place people. From the voice alone he knew the man before him was the clan head he respected.
Only three sets of breathing filled the room.
Too lazy to explain more, Amane lit a Hua-zi and stepped to Shisui.
"Tell us everything that happened today, every last detail. Do not hide anything."
"Or I will pour a few more bottles of that antidote down your throat."
Antidote?
Shisui's face went pale. He swore that was worse than death.
But...
Was it really right to tell the clan head what had happened?
"When I say speak, speak."
"Remember this, you are a dead man now."
Amane was calm. He had saved Shisui to make Fugaku fully grasp how cruel reality was.
If even Uchiha Shisui, a man loyal to Konoha like his ancestor, could not be trusted, then what of Fugaku?
What of the Uchiha now?
In Amane's plan, Shisui was a vital piece.
A dead man, was he?
The dead do not talk.
Had he not killed himself so no one would know his eye was stolen, nor the filth behind it?
He hesitated.
Some things were meant to rot in his gut along with his corpse.
"If you do not want the Uchiha to be hunted to the last by your only entrusted friend, my brother, then do not hide a thing."
Amane added it quietly and waited.
This was Shisui's last chance. If he still dithered like an old woman, Amane had ways to force his mouth open.
He had means enough.
His father was here too.
"You mean Itachi..."
Shisui froze, truly unsettled.
He had not forgotten his last words to his dearest friend before the plunge. When he handed over the Mangekyo, he had been clear.
He wanted Itachi to protect Konoha and guard the Uchiha name.
Could it be...
He drew a long breath and began.
Facing where he had heard Fugaku's voice, he half knelt.
"Here is what happened. The frequency of our clan meetings has drawn the attention of the Third and Danzō. They have concluded the Uchiha are about to launch a coup."
So the leadership knew.
Fugaku's face hardened. He did not interrupt.
Clan meeting attendance was internal. He had been certain no one from the top was inside.
Yet the content had leaked.
Who had done it?
"It was Itachi, yes?"
Amane did not spare anyone's face. He spoke the name that made Fugaku's heart sink.
"Mm. I learned it only today as well. He has become a double agent between the village and the clan."
Shisui gave a bitter smile.
Surprising, yet within reason.
It was Itachi.
Shisui knew his friend well. He was a man who tried to shoulder everything alone.
At least for now.
What startled him more was that Uchiha Amane also knew the secret.
It seemed he had underestimated the boy who saved him.
From the way the kid spoke to him and to the clan head without a tremor, Shisui could guess a few things.
He could not confirm them yet.
"So it is."
Fugaku let out a long sigh and could only smile wryly.
He steadied himself and looked at Shisui. "Then why are you like this now?"
More than Itachi's status, he wanted to know what Shisui had gone through. He was curious why his son said that once he met Shisui, his mind would change and he would cooperate with Amane's plan.
"Uh."
Shisui looked embarrassed.
"Clan Head, forgive me. I had intended to use Kotoamatsukami on you."
The diving prince hesitated, then took off the sunglasses and revealed the sunken lids.
Both eyes were gone.
"Kotoamatsukami, your Mangekyo ability?"
Fugaku frowned.
The Mangekyo, the clan's forbidden power, born only through true pain.
He was surprised Shisui had awakened it, yet losing it was a mortal blow to an Uchiha. Where were his eyes?
"Kotoamatsukami can silently control a person's will and even alter memories, forcing a change of mind."
"They call it the strongest genjutsu."
Strongest made Amane snort, though the power was terrifying.
Silently control a man.
It had been puffed up, then Danzō's first use was seen through by Ao of Kirigakure, a man who got a Byakugan by luck.
What a joke.
Strongest genjutsu, was it.
He knows my ocular art too?
Shisui's mouth twitched. He sighed. "Yes. After I learned of the clan's plan, I went to Danzō and the Third myself and informed them of Kotoamatsukami's effect."
"I intended to use it on you to quell thoughts of revolt."
"I did not expect to be ambushed by Danzō and lose one eye, then be surrounded by Root on my way back..."
"Hold it."
Before he could finish, Fugaku finally spoke, eyes wide with disbelief.
"You are telling me you proactively told the leadership about Kotoamatsukami, that hypocrite Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō?"
"Yes. Why?"
Shisui nodded as if it were only natural.
"Heh."
"Why?"
Fugaku seemed to snap. He stepped in and cracked a ringing slap across Shisui's face.
SLAP!
Then the roar tore from his throat.
"Do you have any idea!"
"You damn well had it coming even if you died!"