"Your Water Release is still there."
Shinichi slowly walked closer, his Mangekyō Sharingan like two blood-red moons amid the steam. "It's just that my Fire Release 'skipped' the defensive stage and acted directly on you."
Takao Asai's face instantly went pale.
As an experienced Jonin, he immediately understood what this meant—the Uchiha Clan member before him possessed terrifying ocular powers capable of distorting reality and illusion!
"Y-you... what exactly do you want?"
Takao Asai forced himself to stand, his back against the wall as his fingers quietly reached for the Explosive Tag hidden in his sleeve.
Shinichi seemed to see through his thoughts and lightly snapped his fingers.
Takao Asai discovered in shock that his right hand had suddenly stopped obeying him! The Explosive Tag fluttered to the floor like a powerless fallen leaf.
"I told you,"
Shinichi's voice suddenly turned gentle, yet it sent chills down Takao Asai's spine. "I came to help you fulfill your wish."
He slowly raised a hand, the pattern of his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning faster and faster. "For example... making the Great Elder's faction disappear completely, and making the Fourth Mizukage value your loyalty again..."
Takao Asai wanted to resist, but he found that he could not even move a single finger.
His consciousness began to blur, as though he were sinking into a blood-colored sea. In his final moment of clarity, he saw Shinichi's eyes turn into bottomless vortices...
"Sleep," Shinichi whispered, gently brushing his fingers across Takao Asai's forehead. "When you wake up, Hidden Mist will be turned upside down."
Takao Asai's gaze gradually became vacant, until it finally lost all life.
Within his pupils was reflected the pattern of Shinichi's Mangekyō Sharingan, like a mark branded deep into his soul.
Beyond the barrier, Kirigakure remained immersed in sleep, no one aware