Kagami held the old clan record in both hands, murmuring as he read:
"Uchiha Chiri. A prodigy kunoichi from the Warring States era. Specialized in genjutsu, kenjutsu, and Fire Release. Independently developed the genjutsu Izanami. Died at age twenty. Cause of death… unknown."
"Unknown?" Akio paused. "That's really how it's recorded?"
Kagami looked up, surprised.
"You know something about this?"
Akio closed his eyes slightly.
"Too many Uchiha were lost after becoming trapped in the false realities of Izanagi. But she only had one eye left…"
Understanding dawned on Kagami. He closed the record gently.
"So… an Edo Tensei–revived Uchiha woman. Blind in one eye. And Shisui fell into her genjutsu?"
He shook his head.
"That shouldn't be possible. No matter how gifted Three-Tomoe versus Mangekyō"
Akio frowned as well and turned to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru spoke hoarsely.
"It was indeed an Edo Tensei Uchiha woman. She was missing one eye. Beyond that, I don't know much.
But you, Elder… you seem to know more."
Akio froze.
"It really is her… How did that bastard even find her?"
"She was my contemporary," Akio continued slowly.
"We fought once. We were both eleven. She already had a two-tomoe Sharingan in both eyes."
He paused.
"In the middle of that fight… her Sharingan evolved into three tomoe.
And she sent me running."
"Three tomoe at eleven…" Kagami murmured. Wisely, he didn't ask for details.
"She died at twenty. That gives her nine years…"
Akio nodded faintly.
"…It's possible."
Silence settled over the room.
After a while, Akio spoke again.
"Orochimaru, thank you for the information. But Kagami's eyes aren't for sale. Choose a different reward."
Orochimaru's expression didn't change.
"Elder… do you want his Mangekyō?"
Kagami froze.
Akio nodded.
"Kagami. Leave your eyes to me. I'll need them."
To resurrect the dead, Akio required the Rinne Tensei of the Rinnegan. He had long intended to reclaim Madara's eyes but if that brat kept hiding, it would be troublesome.
Akio suspected that with his current constitution, he could forcibly evolve a Mangekyō into a Rinnegan.
A normal Sharingan, though? That was far too unreliable.
What kind of stimulus would even trigger a Mangekyō for him?
After a moment, Kagami nodded.
"…Better you safeguard them."
Akio turned back to Orochimaru.
"A Mangekyō being wasted would be a tragedy. So, what do you want instead? Kagami's payment is now my responsibility."
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"For now… nothing else."
Akio blinked.
"Then same as last time. I owe you a favor. Cash it in when you like."
He changed the subject.
"Tell me, do you think Obito becoming the Fifth Hokage is destiny?"
Kagami stared.
"You still believe in destiny?"
"Destiny exists," Orochimaru said quietly.
"But this time, I received no guidance from it."
Akio laughed.
"I did. Seems your understanding of fate still has room to grow."
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"How could I ever compare to you, Elder?"
Kagami looked between them, completely lost.
"…Am I just getting old?"
The next day.
The final vote concluded. Obito burst in, beaming.
"I won! I really won!"
"It was decided ages ago," Akio said dryly. "Why are you so excited?"
"That's Hokage we're talking about! Hokage!"
Akio scoffed.
"You're the only one who cares this much. Look around, who else is impressed?"
Obito's smile faltered. He glanced at Minato. Then Kushina. Then Akio.
"…I'm going to find Kakashi."
Minato smiled.
"Obito, never forget your dream. Become a great Hokage."
Kushina added calmly,
"Good luck, kid."
Obito paused, then looked at Akio expectantly.
Akio rolled his eyes.
"Go already. Brag to Kakashi while you still can. And don't forget, Rin's waiting too."
"Oh!" Obito scratched his head and ran off.
Akio sighed.
"Idiots really do have idiot luck."
Minato nodded.
"Without all those coincidences, Obito never would've made it. Maybe Sixth Hokage still has a shot."
"That's not the luck I meant," Akio replied flatly.
"How much good karma did his ancestors stack up for me to take him as a disciple?"
Minato: "…Perhaps."
January 8th, Konoha Year 56. Noon.
In front of the Hokage Tower.
The scene was grand, crowds filling the square, banners flying, cheers echoing everywhere.
Still, it didn't quite match Minato's inauguration years ago.
"Minato was universally loved," Akio murmured.
"Obito's not far behind. But the Uchiha name still casts a shadow. He'll need to work harder to earn everyone's trust."
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar figure moving through the crowd.
"Orochimaru? You're still here? And disguised as Uchiha Inabi again? What did that guy do to you?"
"Inabi" licked his lips and ignored the question.
"Hiruzen-sensei has stepped down for the second time. Elder… how long do you think he'll stay retired?"
Akio didn't hesitate.
"Until he dies."
"…Let's hope so."
Akio studied him, then looked up.
Hiruzen, dressed in full Hokage regalia, stepped to the edge of the rooftop.
The crowd fell silent.
Akio casually used repulsive force to block his hearing.
He'd heard the Will of Fire speech enough times for several lifetimes.
Hiruzen spoke for over ten minutes before space twisted beside him and Obito appeared.
"Huh. That entrance was slick," Akio chuckled. "Who planned that?"
Obito wore the Fifth Hokage's cloak. It suited him well enough.
His face was stiff with nerves, eyes fixed forward as he began his speech.
"That script's definitely Hiruzen's," Akio muttered.
"Twenty-two years old… still green."
He blocked his hearing again.
At some point, Orochimaru vanished. In his place stood Minato's family.
"Great-Grandfather!" Kushina called, hands supporting her belly.
"Why are you standing all the way out here?"
"Oh!"
Kushina: ???
"I'll become Hokage too someday!" Naruto shouted.
"Massive profit," Akio muttered.
Naruto: ???
Golden text flashed before Akio's eyes:
"Witnessed and completely altered a major storyline:
Fifth Hokage inaugurated.
Witness Points gained: 50 × 10."
"Five hundred points," Akio grinned.
He released the force blocking his ears.
"…What were you all saying just now?"
"'Heh heh'…?"