Board Thread:Versus Debates/@comment-34277398-20180509212801/@comment-4080775-20180514012308

It's not canon. Reason is because Kishimoto himself said that Genjutsu can't kill someone by itself. That has always remained true. Only when Genjutsu is combined with Senjutsu can it be used offensively. Even if the novel was adapted into the anime, its still not canon. Kishimoto's word remains law, especially when it comes to fundamental concepts.