Volume One, Chapter 10: Twilight

“Two conditions? Do tell,” Feng Tian asked with genuine curiosity.

“The first is absolute freedom outside of the mission. No one shall influence my thoughts—not even you,” Scorpion stated firmly.

A playful smile curved Feng Tian’s lips, a flicker of admiration shining in his eyes. “That’s reasonable enough. After all, the strong must have their pride.”

“I agree. Our primary goal is to gather the Tailed Beasts. Beyond the mission, as long as you don’t turn your blade against your comrades, you may act freely.”

“Secondly...” Scorpion’s voice darkened, carrying a chilling resolve. “If I encounter a formidable ninja who obstructs the mission, I must be allowed to turn their corpse into my puppet, making them a part of my power.”

Feng Tian’s expression shifted slightly but soon returned to calm. He nodded slowly. “In principle, that is acceptable. But remember, never take a life lightly unless absolutely necessary.”

“Our organization may dwell in shadows, but we avoid unnecessary bloodshed to prevent drawing unwanted attention and trouble.”

“Very well, then I, Scorpion, am willing to join you!”

With that, Scorpion retracted all his puppets, including the Third Kazekage, and strode toward Feng Tian, curiosity lighting his gaze. “By the way, I’m curious—what’s the name of our organization?”

The question didn’t only stir Scorpion; even the silent Shisui turned his eyes toward Feng Tian, their faces alight with intrigue. They’d been together long enough yet never knew the organization’s name—a secret indeed.

Feng Tian stroked his chin thoughtfully, sinking into deep contemplation. Scorpion and Shisui exchanged bewildered glances, their faces clouded with confusion.

“What’s going on? After all this show, there’s not even a name? How unreliable can this be?”

Their unspoken thoughts made them feel as if they had boarded an untrustworthy ship.

Finally, Feng Tian spoke with a slight excitement, “Let’s call it Twilight.”

“Twilight? It’s the light that walks through the darkness—a perfect embodiment of who we are.”

“Twilight,” Shisui nodded approvingly.

Yet Scorpion’s next question chilled Feng Tian’s face with a flash of coldness. “Besides the three of us, there must be others. I wonder—are the masterminds behind this organization the Konoha high command, or the Uchiha clan elders?”

A subtle frost passed over Feng Tian’s expression but quickly vanished.

“Scorpion,” he said, “you know the smart ones tend to die quickly.”

“You shall know what you must, but I advise against seeking the truths better left buried.”

With those words, Feng Tian’s eyes flashed into the Mangekyō Sharingan, his gaze deepened, and he activated “Reversal Cause and Effect.”

In an instant, the scroll containing the Third Kazekage puppet appeared uncontrollably before Scorpion’s eyes. Miraculously, the giant blade severed moments ago by Shisui’s Susanoo was restored.

At that moment, Scorpion realized with shock that he had lost control over the puppet. Instead, Feng Tian, with a mere flick of his hand, positioned those lethal blades across Scorpion’s throat.

“What... is this ability?” Scorpion asked, not trembling before the threat but rather captivated by Feng Tian’s extraordinary power.

As a puppet master—especially a prodigy—he had never imagined his own puppets could break free and be wielded against him.

“How shocking,” he thought.

“Just a little trick, nothing worth mentioning,” Feng Tian said coldly, then deactivated the technique.

“That topic is closed. What lies ahead is a mission with great risk. Are you prepared mentally?”

At Feng Tian’s words, Scorpion and Shisui exchanged a glance before nodding slightly.

They were battle-hardened geniuses who had faced countless fights—few challenges seemed insurmountable to them.

Feng Tian nodded in satisfaction and continued, “Then, let the plan to capture the One-Tail, Shukaku, begin.”

As he spoke, he sketched a rough map on the earthen wall beside them with a kunai.

“With the Third Kazekage assassinated by Scorpion, the Sand Village is leaderless and in chaos—an ideal moment to seize the One-Tail!”

His gaze shifted to Scorpion, approving.

“Though the Third is dead, several formidable foes remain worthy of caution.”

“First is Rasa. His control over the Sand Gold is rivaled by no other Kage-level fighter—he demands our utmost attention.”

“Next, Scorpion’s grandmother, Chiyo. She keeps a low profile, but her puppetry skills rival yours,” Feng Tian said, casting a meaningful glance at Scorpion.

Scorpion merely snorted softly, saying nothing.

“Lastly, there’s Maki. He’s sharp-minded and an excellent leader. His combat abilities are unknown, but he’s certainly someone to watch.”

By then, the map on the wall had taken shape. As a native of the Sand Village, Scorpion was once again impressed.

Despite its roughness, every key point was meticulously marked—the number and placement of guards, even the secretive residence of the Kazekage.

Scorpion’s eyes widened in astonishment, lips trembling as he asked, “How did you draw this? Even I, from the Sand, couldn’t make a map like this.”

“Just some small tricks,” Feng Tian said with a faint smile, then began outlining their battle plan.

The three geniuses required almost no communication to grasp the complex strategy. Within moments, the deployment was complete.

After finishing, Feng Tian led the way outside, followed by Shisui and Scorpion. His spirit ablaze, he proclaimed, “Then, the mission to capture the One-Tail officially begins!”