The concept of "magic" was entirely foreign to the Shinobi World. However, items originating from The System often possessed universally applicable properties.
"The ninjutsu you cast is essentially a contract between your Chakra and the natural laws," Shen Mo explained. "Therefore, this object in your hand has the power to nullify all ninjutsu. Regardless of how complex or powerful a Forbidden Jutsu is, as long as it relies on Chakra usage, the dagger can revert the situation to the state before the jutsu was cast. Of course, as a counterfeit, it is limited to five uses."
"All ninjutsu?" Kakashi's eyes narrowed instantly.
"Within the context of your world's power system, yes, virtually everything," Shen Mo confirmed with a nod.
"..." Kakashi was struck silent.
As the resident expert on ninjutsu, he immediately understood the horrific potential of the item.
Leaving aside combat, if Haku were to use this dagger to break the Nine-Tails seal on Naruto's abdomen, the monstrous beast would be instantly unleashed. This was a nightmare scenario. Used strategically, this single dagger could potentially destroy an entire hidden village.
"It can only be used five times," Haku said, his disappointment obvious.
If the effect were permanent, it would be a divine artifact. A mere five uses, however, offered minimal tangible improvement to his immediate combat strength.
Shen Mo couldn't argue with the assessment. This was the volatile nature of random Jars; everything hinged on chance.
Haku placed the item into his Nareau, then turned his attention to the last remaining Tier Four Jar.
Only one left.
Sweat beaded on his pale forehead. Since Lord Zabuza's death, Haku had carried the weight of overwhelming pressure.
"If you can truly hear my will," Haku whispered, placing his hand on the final Jar, "then please grant me a power that will directly enhance my combat capabilities!"
The Jar opened with a resounding bang!
Instantly, thick threads of purple energy spiraled and gathered above the opening.
The energy coalesced into a small, circling purple dragon.
Buzz—
A draconic roar, imbued with an inexpressible sense of immense age, echoed not in the air, but in everyone's minds—as if a creature from antiquity was traversing endless years to arrive here.
This is—
"An Epic!" Even Shen Mo couldn't mask his surprise.
This was genuine shock. He had seeded two Epic-level items into the ten-item prize pool. The probability of drawing an Epic item in a sequence of two non-replacement draws was statistically low.
"That's a purple Epic-level item?" Sasuke's mouth hung open slightly, seemingly tasting the ancient aura the small dragon emitted.
"So cool! An Epic!?" Naruto, conversely, was purely awestruck. "It looks unbelievably powerful!"
"It is," Shen Mo confirmed, highly satisfied with Naruto's reaction. He looked at the Jar with unusual seriousness. "To be clear, Epic-level items are where the Jars truly begin to unleash their power. Compared to them, everything you have opened before this point was merely a trifle."
"..."
Everyone's expressions froze, even Naruto's awe momentarily fading into confusion.
They were all individuals who had opened Jars and fought against other Jar openers; they knew the terror the items held.
Yet, Shen Mo had just dismissed their current powers as minor trifles?
Epic-level items... what could they possibly be?
Haku's body trembled slightly, his face completely flushed—a tumultuous mix of excitement, anxiety, and breathless anticipation.
Finally, he reached in, his hand shaking, and pulled out the item.
It looked like an uneven, strangely ugly fruit.
Shen Mo narrowed his eyes. He had known the moment the purple energy emerged which of the two Epic items had been drawn.
A Devil Fruit.
And not just any Devil Fruit, but a Logia type—the rarest and most coveted type.
"Its name is the Snow-Snow Fruit," Shen Mo announced, a hint of genuine emotion in his voice. "This, truly, is the gift of fate bestowed upon you. A Devil Fruit, upon consumption, completely transforms the eater's life form, granting a powerful and highly growth-oriented ability. Aside from preventing you from opening any further limited series Jars, its power surpasses many of the job change items."
The inherent value was unmistakable.
The others were speechless. Completely change life form? Powerful, with growth potential?
Though they had no specific knowledge, those words alone conveyed unimaginable power—a complete, existential transformation.
Sasuke clenched his fists, breathing raggedly, his eyes burning with intense covetousness. He needed something like that! Did he truly have to earn the favor of a high-level member in the Fate Stage just to buy a higher-tier Jar?
"Gulp."
Haku couldn't help but swallow hard, keenly aware of the sudden, intense heat of the gazes directed at him. He knew that keeping this fruit unconsumed would only bring endless trouble.
"Forgive me, Lord Zabuza," Haku murmured inwardly, his gaze hardening. "I must eat this fruit myself."
He hesitated no longer. He lifted the fruit, disregarding the envy radiating from the onlookers.
And took a bite.
"Ugh—"
Clutching his mouth, Haku barely managed to prevent himself from spitting out the substance.
What was that taste?
It was as if countless discordant spices had been shoved into his mouth simultaneously. Haku had scavenged rotten food before, but nothing compared to this repugnant flavor.
"It tastes dreadful, doesn't it?" Shen Mo asked, as if stating an obvious fact. "This is, in a way, a warning. Changing your fundamental life form is no trivial matter. However, for you, this hardship should be insignificant."
Haku struggled to swallow, forcing a strained smile.
"Let alone changing my life, even losing it is nothing..."
He took a profound breath and, in one rapid motion, consumed the entire fruit. He clamped his mouth shut tightly, suppressing the urge to vomit.
His stomach churned violently.
After a long, agonizing moment, the sensation subsided, leaving him breathing heavily, his face a sickly pale color.
Shen Mo watched him finish.
He paused, opting not to mention that just a single bite would have sufficed.
Perhaps someone else will open a Devil Fruit in the future.
"Did it have any effect?" Naruto asked impatiently.
Sasuke was also watching closely. Shen Mo had described the fruit as immensely powerful, capable of changing one's life form, yet, so far, there was no visible change.
He hadn't turned into a monster.
"I feel..."
Haku looked down at his hands, sensing something profound stirring within him.