The ocular power of Uchiha Makoto's Sharingan surged outward like a tide, enveloping the entire dark mining pit.
This was no ordinary Sharingan Genjutsu, but an entirely new Mental Domain Expansion Technique he had developed by incorporating Tanigakure's unique system of secret techniques.
The incoming iron sand abruptly lost speed less than three feet in front of him, as though it had plunged into an invisible swamp. Grain after grain froze in midair, suspended in the darkness and reflecting the Sharingan's faint scarlet glow like a motionless meteor shower.
Sasori's pupils contracted sharply.
He could clearly feel his chakra still circulating and his mental energy still driving it, but the control link between his puppet and his own body... had snapped, as though someone had forcibly severed it.
"That's impossible." For the first time, a crack appeared in Sasori's voice.
"Within your understanding, of course it is." Uchiha Makoto slowly took a step forward. The suspended iron sand automatically parted to either side, clearing a path for him. "But within Tanigakure's understanding, anything is possible. Genjutsu isn't merely a means of deceiving the senses. It can be another projection of the real world's rules. Sasori, your Puppet Technique depends on precise control through Chakra Threads. All I did was make the other end of those threads-your brain-believe you had already let go of them."
Cold sweat seeped from Sasori's forehead.
He had faced countless powerful opponents: the Third Kazekage, the Fourth Kazekage, Konoha's elite jonin. Yet no one had ever used such an inconceivable method to strip him of control over his puppets in their very first exchange. He had not even seen his opponent form hand seals.
"You think you can capture me with a trick like this?" Sasori gritted his teeth. The fighting spirit in his eyes did