Haku began to feel…
A chill spreading through his body.
A strange sensation enveloped him.
"Do you know what makes this fruit's power strongest early on?" Shen Mo asked suddenly.
"What…" Haku started, but stopped.
Because he saw…
A longsword materialize before Shen Mo.
Swish—!
A cold flash sliced through.
To everyone's horror, the sword severed Haku's arm.
It fell to the ground.
Completely cut, without warning.
"What are you doing, Can Uncle?!" Naruto clutched his head, his face a mix of disbelief and panic, instinctively reaching for the arm.
"Stop!" Sasuke snapped, halting him.
Though shocked, he noticed something off.
"Exactly. Look, Naruto—no blood," Kakashi said.
He seemed to realize something, removing his left eye's headband to reveal his Sharingan, as if to see clearer.
The arm on the ground didn't bleed.
It whitened, then dissolved into a pile of snow.
At Haku's severed stump, white snowflakes swirled, surging out, reforming into a hand.
Fair, slender, flawless.
"…"
The scene fell into eerie silence.
It felt…
Like this human was no longer human, but a snow pile.
"You've realized," Shen Mo's voice broke in perfectly, the sword floating beside him.
"The Snow-Snow Fruit is a Natural-type Devil Fruit. As the name suggests, its eater can elementalize any body part into snow. Just as a sword can't cut water, pure physical attacks can't harm a snowman. Even if shattered, they reform instantly."
This was a Natural-type's passive skill.
No training needed.
From the moment the fruit was eaten, it worked.
Immunity to physical attacks.
"How can this be…" Sasuke muttered, staring at Haku, trembling. "Even for an Epic treasure, this is too terrifying."
"Yeah!" Naruto blurted, frantic. "How do you fight that? Smashed and still reforming—that's invincible!"
Sasuke's sword.
Naruto's fists.
They seemed meaningless now.
"That's why it's an Epic treasure," Shen Mo said calmly.
Spending three million points on one item versus a hundred items was a vast gap.
This was the allure of high-level cans.
But seeing their crushed spirits, nearly losing faith in their paths…
Shen Mo shook his head, saying, "If an unseen, seemingly flawless ability makes you lose confidence, your journey with fate ends here."
"Seemingly?" Sasuke snapped his gaze to Shen Mo.
After the initial shock, he caught the hint in Shen Mo's words.
He thought for a moment.
Then said quietly, "If he turns into snow, a sword may not cut him, but Fire Style ninjutsu could hurt him, right?"
"Likely so," Kakashi added. "Lord Shen Mo said only pure physical attacks are useless."
Compared to Sasuke and the others, Kakashi accepted this easier.
The ninja world had a similar technique—the Hidden Mist's Ghost Lantern clan's Hydration Technique.
It negated physical attacks but feared Lightning Style.
Which Kakashi could counter.
"Elementalization is just the easiest early ability of Natural-types," Shen Mo said, looking at Haku. "It negates pure physical attacks, but some ninjutsu, especially Fire Style, can still harm you. To truly unleash the Snow-Snow Fruit's power, you need constant development and training."
In the One Piece world, elementalization was near-invincible against those without Devil Fruits or Haki.
But in the ninja world…
Ninjutsu offered ways to deal damage.
"Yes, sir!" Haku's expression turned serious.
He could feel it—a powerful force within him.
Control over snow.
Far stronger than his previous Bloodline Limit.
"In the Devil Fruit's world, someone ate the Ice-Ice Fruit," Shen Mo said, nostalgic. "His power could freeze a dozen islands' worth of sea in an instant. Use him as a benchmark and strive."
"A dozen islands…" Haku, Sasuke, and the others reeled.
From those few words…
They could almost see a world-ending scene.
Destroying an entire nation in a flash!
Could Haku's Snow-Snow Fruit reach that level someday?
"But, but!" Naruto shouted, pointing at himself. "I don't know Fire Style, and my cans boost strength. Against Haku, I'm screwed!"
"True," Sasuke said, his face darkening.
To him, Haku was still a potential enemy.
But now…
His Swordsmanship Series cans seemed useless. With Haku's speed and other abilities…
Winning with Fire Style was a long shot.
"What's strange about losing?" Shen Mo said lightly.
"…"
Naruto and Sasuke froze.
They hadn't expected that response.
"Having the chance to buy Level 4 cans and opening an Epic treasure is Haku's fortune, his capital. Why would you think Haku, with such a treasure, should still be weaker than you?" Shen Mo's tone wasn't stern, just stating reality.
Naruto and Sasuke fell silent.
Unwilling, but…
Reality was harsh.
Like Sasuke, born an Uchiha, with the chance to awaken the Sharingan.
Those without talent or effort…
What could their resentment change?
"Besides, your understanding of your can series is too shallow," Shen Mo added, looking at Sasuke. "I told you, didn't I? Swordsmanship is the path of slaughter. If something can't be cut, the only reason is you're too weak, not the sword."