🌟 Patreon Shoutout Time! 🌟
A massive, heartfelt thank you to 'javier zamora' for becoming a part of our Patreon family and joining us on this incredible journey! 🥳🔥
Your support truly means the world to me 💖 and helps keep this adventure alive and growing every single day.
To everyone supporting me — thank you so much! 🙌✨ Let's keep moving forward together and make something amazing! 🚀
Want even more awesome perks and exclusive content? 👀
👉 Unlock exciting rewards by joining higher tiers! 🎁
🔗 patreon.com/Myth_Valley
***********************************
Alex leaned forward now, no longer lounging. His eyes sharpened, burning as they swept across the table.
"For now, keep the course. Strengthen what we've built. Protect our people, our land. Because soon…" His tone darkened, a shadow rolling over the table. "…soon, we move against the great nations. And when that day comes, the world will not remember you as criminals. They will remember you as the architects of a new era."
The silence filled the large hall.
Nagato's Rinnegan narrowed slightly. 'A new era…? We bled for the dream of peace, and the world mocked us. But this man… his voice makes me believe again.'
Obito's lone eye glinted, conflicted. 'Peace... Maybe his method might be really able to work...'
Kakuzu rubbed his fingers together, already counting imaginary profits from a world remade.
Deidara's hands twitched again, palms whispering against each other. 'A new era of art through destruction… maybe his vision and mine aren't so far apart.'
Sasori's gaze lowered, lost in the thought of permanence.
Hidan clasped his hands together and shouted.
"ALL HAIL LORD ALEX, BRINGER OF DIVINE ORDER!"
Kisame laughed uproariously, pounding the table once with his massive fist. "Heh. If this is divine order, I like it. Just make sure there's blood in it."
Itachi said nothing. But his eyes never left Alex, the faintest crease forming between his brows. 'You've taken control of them with words alone. But words can be as deadly as blades. The question is... whose throat will they cut in the end?'
And at the head of the table, Alex reclined again, a smirk tugging faintly at his lips. His hand brushed briefly against Konan's as she leaned in to whisper a note about Yahiko's data accuracy.
It was a fleeting touch, but enough to make her pulse quicken before she drew back with perfect composure.
Alex's eyes gleamed. 'The pieces are in place. Just a little more and soon... the real war will begin.'
After a few minutes, the room slowly emptied after Alex dismissed the gathering. The long shadows of the flickering torches painted the walls in crimson hues, giving the Akatsuki base its usual foreboding aura.
One by one, the cloaked figures dispersed.
Alex pushed himself up from his seat at the head of the table, stretching slightly, when he felt a familiar presence approaching.
The aura was calm, steady, and sharp. And it was unmistakably familiar.
He turned his head, and sure enough, Itachi Uchiha was walking toward him with that quiet grace, eyes half-lidded yet piercing.
Alex allowed a small smile to tug at his lips. "So, Itachi… what is it? Do you want something from me?"
Itachi stopped a few paces away, his crimson Sharingan flickering faintly in the dim light, though he hadn't fully activated them. His expression remained unreadable, voice smooth and calm.
"…There's something I wish to speak with you about. But not here. I want this conversation to be… private."
A murmur, low and steady, with the faintest edge of tension hidden beneath his stoic composure.
Alex chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Always so secretive. Very well. Follow me."
Without another word, he turned and walked out.
Itachi followed silently, like a shadow moving behind its master.
The base's corridors twisted endlessly, the faint dripping of water echoing from somewhere deep within. Torches crackled on the walls, the occasional groan of the structure filling the silence.
The heavy door creaked open with a deep metallic groan, its hinges protesting before giving way. A rush of fresh air swept over them, cool and crisp, brushing against their faces like a gentle welcome.
But what greeted them was not the gloomy curtain of rain that had always drenched the Iron City under Nagato's oppressive barrier.
Instead, clear skies stretched infinitely above.
The golden sun poured its warmth onto the rooftops, scattering shards of light across the metallic towers of the village. The whole city gleamed, glistening like a jewel of steel.
The rivers of iron reflected the sun's brilliance, as though the village itself had been reborn under Alex's reign.
Alex stepped out first, his cloak flaring slightly in the breeze, his hair catching strands of sunlight. His lips curved in satisfaction.
'Much better…' He thought.
His Observation Haki spread outward instinctively, washing over every street, every hidden corner. The faint murmur of villagers, the distant clang of metalworks, even the hushed whispers in the alleys, all of it pulsed clearly in his mind, like a living heartbeat beneath his feet.
Behind him, Itachi followed silently, his crimson eyes narrowing against the sudden brightness.
They walked side by side until they reached the edge of the rooftop. From here, the entire village stretched out before them, basking under the sun's glow.
Alex stopped, resting one hand lazily on the iron railing, the sunlight kissing his sharp features.
He turned his head slightly, his voice steady but curious.
"So… Itachi. What is it you wanted to talk about?"
For a long moment, Itachi did not answer. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, the steel city shimmering under the daylight. His mind stirred with memories of blood, betrayal, and sacrifice, swirled like shadows beneath the warm surface of the present.
Finally, he spoke, his tone calm, but his words heavy with meaning.
"…You are the one, aren't you? The one who saved Shisui's life… and the fate of our clan."
The words lingered in the air, like the toll of a distant bell.
Alex tilted his head, a slow smile forming. He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he let the silence breathe between them, watching Itachi's expression carefully. Then, with a casual wave of his hand, he chuckled.
"Ah, that? Don't make it sound like some grand miracle. It was nothing much. I just couldn't sit by and watch kind, innocent people die because of the stupidity of a few fools. If I had the power to change that… then why wouldn't I?"
His eyes glinted mischievously now, his tone shifting as he leaned slightly closer.
"And speaking of that kid Shisui… tell me, how's he doing these days? Hm? Has he finally found himself a woman, or is he still running around like a wild sparrow?"
Itachi's stoic mask cracked, just slightly. His lips curved into a faint, rare smile. He shook his head slowly, his hair swaying with the breeze.
"He's still busy with the duties of a shinobi. He says he has no time for such things."
Alex groaned dramatically, throwing his head back with a sound that was half-laugh, half-grumble.
"Tch. That idiot! Wasting his youth like that. Hah, maybe I should go pay him a visit… give him a few lessons on how to enjoy life before it passes him by."
At that, Itachi's composure faltered completely. A soft laugh escaped his lips. His shoulders eased, and for once, the heavy burden he always carried seemed lighter. Standing there beside Alex, under a sun that painted everything gold, he felt at ease.
The rooftop filled with the sound of their laughter mingling with the wind, the clang of the city far below, and the distant cries of crows soaring across the brightened sky.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
📢 Author's Note 📢
If you're enjoying this story and want more chapters right now, I invite you to check out my Patreon. There you'll find:
✅ Daily updates – never miss a day of new content
✅ Advanced chapters – read far ahead of public releases
✅ Exclusive perks & extras – only available to patrons
Your support not only gives you early access but also helps me dedicate more time to writing and expanding this story. Every reader who joins makes a huge difference.
👉 Dive into more chapters today: patreon.com/Myth_Valley
Let's keep the adventure alive! 🔥📚✨