The meeting chamber was silent except for the faint crackle of the candles mounted on the walls. Their dim light flickered across the long table where the Akatsuki members sat, each shadow stretching and distorting across the stone floor.
Alex stood at the head of the table, his eyes scanning the faces before him with a quiet authority that made even the most dangerous shinobi here hesitate to meet his gaze for long.
The firelight caught the sharp planes of his face, leaving the rest in shadow. He had been silent for a while, simply observing, noting the way some shifted under his gaze while others refused to look away.
Finally, he gave a slow nod, as though reaching a decision. His eyes fixed on Obito.
"Just like Nagato's plan for peace was a failure…" Alex's voice was calm, measured, but it cut through the stillness like a blade. "Your plan to become the Jinchūriki of the Ten Tails and create a peaceful world with Rin is also a failure."
The statement carried a blunt certainty that immediately shifted the atmosphere.
Kisame blinked twice, his brow furrowing slightly.
"You're saying someone can actually become the Jinchūriki of the Ten Tails?" He asked, his usual grin gone for the moment, replaced with genuine interest.
Sasori's voice followed, quiet but clear. "…How is that possible?"
He didn't move much, but his head angled slightly toward Alex, his sharp eyes narrowing, studying him.
From across the table, Orochimaru's pale face tilted just a little, the corners of his lips curling upward. His snake-like tongue flicked over his lips briefly before he spoke.
"Mm… such a fascinating claim," He said softly, though his tone made it clear he was already turning the idea over in his mind.
Obito took a slow step forward, his single visible eye fixed on Alex. "…What do you mean by that?"
He kept his voice steady, but there was a small pause before his question, just long enough for someone watching closely to notice. His fingers curled slightly beneath the folds of his cloak.
Beside him, Black Zetsu shifted. Its yellow-ringed eyes darted from Alex to the shadows along the wall. Slowly, it began sliding backward, its black form blending into the dim light, moving with the slow, careful pace of something that wanted to leave without being noticed.
Alex's smirk formed the moment it moved. He raised his right hand casually, palm open toward Black Zetsu. The air in the room shifted as an unnatural pull generated at the center of his palm, and it was sharp and irresistible. The loose ends of several cloaks stirred, drawn toward the invisible force.
Black Zetsu jerked violently, torn away from the white body of White Zetsu. It's black, viscous form twisted and thrashed in the air, a harsh hiss spilling from it.
"What—?!"
With a slight turn of Alex's wrist, a translucent barrier appeared around it. The thin shell shimmered faintly, like heat waves above desert sand, enclosing the creature completely. The suction vanished, but the black mass slammed itself against the barrier to no effect.
Every pair of eyes in the room was on Alex now.
Pain stood still, gaze fixed on him without blinking.
Konan shifted her stance behind him, the folded paper flowers in her hair rustling quietly.
Kisame's grin returned, though this time it was smaller, tinged with caution.
Orochimaru glanced between the barrier and Alex, his usual smirk gone.
Sasori's eyes were sharp, measuring.
Alex let them watch for a moment before speaking.
"You're wondering why I did that," He said simply.
But no one answered as they just silently watched him.
"I'll tell you," He continued, glancing briefly at the trapped Black Zetsu. "But before you can understand, we have to start from the beginning. And that includes our little friend here."
Obito's brow creased slightly. He said nothing, but the shift in his stance was subtle, one foot angled just slightly back, as though bracing for something.
Kakuzu's dry voice cut through the quiet. "And what exactly does this have to do with our information-gathering member?"
Alex chuckled, low and brief.
"'Information-gathering specialist,'" He repeated slowly, then let out a sharper laugh, shaking his head once. He lifted a hand to his face and mockingly brushed the corner of his eye.
"That's rich."
Lowering his hand, he pointed toward the thrashing figure inside the barrier. "That 'member' you've treated with such care… to him, all of you... and everyone else in the world... are nothing but enemies. You and everyone else are just pawns to be used, discarded when they've served their purpose... And Madara was no different."
The words made several members shift slightly.
Kisame's smirk faltered. Kakuzu glanced sideways at Sasori. Even Konan's lips pressed into a thinner line.
Obito's voice cut in, tight. "Madara—"
Alex spoke over him, his tone still calm but sharper now. "Let me guess... Madara told you Black Zetsu was his will, his consciousness given form after awakening the Rinnegan. Isn't that right?"
Obito's pause was small, but noticeable. "…Yes. Black Zetsu has always said he is Madara's consciousness and wanted to achieve his goals."
Alex's smirk returned, colder. "Madara's goals? Or the goals that Black Zetsu himself had fed him?"
Obito's gaze hardened. "What—?"
"Madara," Alex said, "was a man who lost everything from his brother, his clansman, to his friend. He turned his back on the world and chased a dream of peace that never even existed. A dream planted in him by Black Zetsu."
Pain's voice came then, steady and direct. "Will you explain what you just meant by that?"
Alex turned slightly toward him. "The world knows the Sage of Six Paths as the father of shinobi. But tell me… do any of you know his true name?"
There was a brief silence as Kisame's eyes narrowed.
Sasori stayed still, but his gaze flicked toward Orochimaru.
Konan looked at Pain, but he didn't turn his head.
Orochimaru's smile deepened slightly. "Now that you mention it… I've never thought to ask. An interesting path you're walking, Alex."
Alex's eyes narrowed faintly, but the smirk stayed.
"His name," He said, "was Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki."
The name carried a strange weight in the air. Even the flicker of the braziers seemed to slow for a moment.
Inside the barrier, Black Zetsu's movement stilled, if only briefly.
Alex's gaze moved across the room, studying them.
Pain's expression didn't shift, but Konan's eyes narrowed slightly. Kisame's jaw tightened. Sasori's fingers twitched once.
Obito stood silent, unmoving, his visible eye locked on Alex.
"And that," Alex said evenly, "is where the truth begins."
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
📢 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! 🔥📚✨