I have to admit, I'm kind of torn between "Yeah, saw that coming" and "Show your work!". Because, if we're supposed to believe this... it had better come with some better back-up. I could maybe buy Itachi as a tragic figure, trying to get enough power to stop the cycle of atrocity but only able to imagine finding that power by /following/ the cycle. But only if there's a lot more narrative weight put behind his motivation and division of heart. And, you know, he's not around to show us that himself anymore. *sighs*