"You're too weak."
Those three simple words left Sasuke utterly speechless, striking him to his core.
"Can a sword truly cut water?" Naruto still couldn't grasp the concept.
"Ordinary slashing is indeed useless against this method of elementalization," the long sword beside Shen Mo floated gently. "However, every living being possesses another innate power: Willpower."
Buzz—
The slender sword vibrated subtly.
Suddenly, an invisible, overwhelming aura surged from it, forcing everyone to instinctively retreat several paces. Their skin felt a sharp, cutting sensation, as if they were being sliced by countless invisible blades.
Sakura instinctively touched her face, wondering if she was bleeding, but her skin was smooth.
"Aura, killing intent, fighting spirit..." Shen Mo paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over the group before he continued, "If you can effectively manipulate these powers that are unseen by the eye, you can materialize Willpower into a weapon."
As he spoke, the fierce aura surrounding the sharp sword began to slowly compress inward.
It was an indescribable feeling. Though the power was invisible, everyone could sense that something tangible was being concentrated onto the blade.
For Sasuke, this sensation was incredibly profound.
Eventually, in everyone's perception, the sharp sword appeared covered in a subtle, dark sheen, its inherent sharpness no longer recklessly leaking outward.
—Haki.
Another power drawn from the world of One Piece, the ability to materialize one's own Willpower.
"Just as words can wound, the will can be transmitted," Shen Mo slowly brought the sword closer to them and addressed Haku. "If this sword cuts you now, you will die, and elementalization will offer no protection."
"...That's true, I can feel it."
Haku tentatively touched his arm. Everyone saw the reaction: goosebumps were rapidly rising on the newly regenerated limb.
Moments ago, even when his arm was severed, he felt no pain.
Now, simply the proximity of the sword caused a sharp, stinging pain that seemed to originate from beneath his skin.
"I get it!" Naruto clapped his hands, his face shining with sudden, misguided enlightenment. "In other words, if your aura is strong enough, you can even scare someone to death!"
(ー_ー)!!
Shen Mo felt his entire demonstration had been wasted.
"How is that even possible!" A few prominent veins pulsed on Sakura's forehead.
"Idiot," Sasuke muttered, staring intently at the blade. "Willpower alone is insufficient. The key is controlling that will... For me, it must be Sword Intent. I felt that power... Damn it!"
The final word was whispered.
Sword Intent! Relying on his own training, that level of mastery seemed years away. Aside from 'Heavenly Flying Immortal,' which temporarily channeled Sword Intent, his other ordinary attacks were incapable of achieving this.
I must obtain the true method of Sword Intent as soon as possible... Is opening more Jars the only way?
"I know, that's what I meant, right, Mr. Can Seller?" Naruto insisted, putting on a defiant face that clearly stated, 'I was going to say that anyway.'
"You will understand when you reach that level," Shen Mo replied with a casual laugh.
He retracted the long sword.
The surrounding Mirror Dimension silently dissolved, and the street returned to normal.
"Envy over another's good fortune solves nothing. You must work diligently to earn money or develop new techniques. That is how you open more Jars and seize opportunities to change your destiny. Keep up the good work," Shen Mo glanced at Naruto and Sasuke one last time, offered a gentle smile, and silently vanished.
The young Genin stared at each other, their eyes filled with complex, unspoken emotions.
"I always feel like every time he appears, it's like a bizarre dream," Sakura swallowed, still shaken.
"That's right," Haku agreed, deeply moved.
In what felt like barely ten minutes, he had fundamentally transformed into something non-human. Yet, Shen Mo arrived and departed with unsettling abruptness.
"Don't you guys think..." Naruto began tentatively, "Mr. Can Seller seems to be in a really good mood today?"
"Now that you mention it..." Sakura pondered.
It was true. While he had smiled before, his aura had often been subtly intimidating. Today, he seemed genuinely lighter, even offering unexpected encouragement.
Of course, Shen Mo was in an excellent mood.
He had successfully accumulated the necessary funds for Ikaros.
"Although my current combat power is no less than Ikaros's, an assistant is certainly a necessity," Shen Mo muttered to himself as he returned to his small room. "She needs high combat strength, a highly obedient personality, and, most importantly, robust growth potential and learning capability..."
Shen Mo's operating model now mirrored that of an expanding entrepreneur. His earned capital was divided: personal enjoyment, and expanding the company's scale and profitability.
As the number of Jar purchasers increased, his workload grew. Naruto pestered him daily, and recently, the Hyūga Clan sought consultation whenever they opened Jars with unfamiliar contents. This volume was only set to increase.
It was becoming tedious.
As a mechanical life form, Ikaros could store vast amounts of knowledge and information, and installing new functions was simple. Her growth potential was immense.
Crucially, she didn't require sleep.
"Ikaros is the definitive choice for the Merchant Association's first official employee," Shen Mo concluded.
Since there were no suitable candidates for recruitment, he had no choice but to purchase one.
"Meow meow." Beside him, Himari waved her tiny paw in annoyance.
"You don't count. At best, you're a cute mascot," Shen Mo told the greedy cat.
He opened the system and initiated the purchase.
In an instant, a figure materialized within the room.
Long pink hair, an exquisite face, and a tight, highly revealing battle armor that accentuated her perfect figure. If a person of weak willpower had looked upon her, they would have likely succumbed to a massive nosebleed.
Most striking of all were the pair of vibrant pink wings extending from her bare back.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Her artistic blue gaze appeared veiled by a hazy mist, which, paradoxically, made her stunning beauty seem almost dreamlike and unreal.
"Indeed..." Shen Mo stared at Ikaros before him, murmuring, "Anime and reality are profoundly different."
Ikaros's unfocused eyes seemed to register Shen Mo's presence.
She slightly parted her lips.
A slight expulsion of mist was followed by a pleasant, yet plain and direct voice.
"Master recognition ceremony... commencing."
A chain attached to the collar around her neck extended, wrapping securely around Shen Mo's palm.
It then slowly vanished—not dissipating, but transforming into a hidden, materialized contract.
"I am the entertainment-use all-purpose artificial angel, Alpha type, 'Ikaros'."
As she completed her self-introduction, Ikaros's expression seemed to soften, becoming marginally more lifelike. Her blue eyes, now fixed on Shen Mo, held a timid anticipation as she delivered her final command response.
"I will fulfill all your commands, Master."