Naruto: Copy System#611+612: Mihawk’s Challenge, The Gap in Strength

Mihawk ignored Zoro, his gaze fixed on Shin inside the Baratie.

"Shin Uzumaki, I want to challenge you." Mihawk said with solemnity.

Zoro stood there, utterly mortified. He had wanted to challenge Mihawk, but the man hadn’t even spared him a glance—instead, he had chosen to challenge someone else.

"Mihawk is challenging him? Who is he?" Zoro’s gaze also turned to Shin.

Unfortunately, there was nothing obviously special about him. He had an ordinary presence and looked like any regular guy—except he was ridiculously good-looking.

Even Zoro, who couldn't care less about appearances, felt a twinge of envy over Shin's face.

"You want to challenge Shin? You—a loser I’ve already beaten?" Hancock sneered. Mihawk had no right to go after Shin.

He clearly didn't understand what he'd be up against. When Hancock called him a loser, Mihawk didn't even blink. She'd beaten him fair and square—the insult was earned.

“I hope you can give me a chance.”

Mihawk's sharp eyes locked onto Shin. He desperately wanted to see just how skilled Shin's swordsmanship really was. He'd hit a wall—his abilities had plateaued completely.

It felt like he'd reached the absolute limit of what swordsmanship could offer. So Mihawk was hungry to witness superior technique, to prove that there was still more to discover on this path.

"Oh, you're challenging me? Aren't you afraid of death?" Shin asked Mihawk calmly.

————

“Who the hell is he?” Zoro was puzzled.

"The World's Strongest Man—one of the Four Emperors of the Sea—Shin Uzumaki." Zeff said calmly to Zoro.

Zeff's expression darkened. Shin Uzumaki and Mihawk looked like they were about to throw down right here.

If they actually fought, the Baratie would be the first casualty—completely demolished. But Zeff was powerless to stop them and didn't even dare speak up.

Both men were way above his pay grade...

Of course, if a fight did break out, Zeff was betting on Shin Uzumaki. One was an Emperor, the other just a Warlord.

How could a Warlord possibly match an Emperor? And Shin was the man who'd beaten Whitebeard to claim the title of World's Strongest Man. Mihawk wouldn't stand a chance.

Zoro was completely lost. The World's Strongest Man? One of the Four Emperors?

Coming from a backwater like the East Blue, Zoro really didn't know jack about the major players on the seas. It couldn't be helped—information was scarce in the Four Seas. News from the New World rarely made it out there, and even when it did, people usually forgot about it pretty quickly.

Very few actually kept track of that stuff.

————

“Regardless of life or death, I will not regret challenging you.” Mihawk’s eyes showed determination. He was not afraid of death. As a swordsman, he would not be afraid of death.

“Alright, then I’ll accept your challenge.”

Shin nodded calmly, not refusing, which surprised everyone in the Kuja Pirates.

“Shin really agreed? He’s a guy who can’t even beat me...” Hancock said.

In fact, what Hancock said was true. At this point, Mihawk was clearly outclassed by her. The current Hancock could go toe-to-toe with any of the Four Emperors without breaking a sweat.

One Admiral wouldn't stand a chance against her, and it would probably take two just to keep her in check.

So yeah, Mihawk really was out of his league. Her power had grown at an insane rate over the past few years.

“Since Shin agreed to fight, there must be a reason.” Olvia said.

"Actually, I'm just itching for a fight. It's good to stretch my muscles."

Shin heard Hancock and the others talking and glanced over at them. For years now, he hadn't found a single worthy opponent, and the boredom was killing him.

At least this Mihawk could make him break a sweat. As long as he held back his power, he could get some decent practice in.

“Monet, it’s your time to be tested.”

Shin's gaze turned to Monet, making her face full of question marks. What did he mean?

Did he not want to fight and want her to fight? Monet didn't think she was Mihawk's opponent.

Of course, if Shin ordered her to, she would obey without question.

But Monet was mistaken. Shin had no intention of letting her fight.

“I want you to create a place for the battle. We can’t destroy someone’s restaurant, can we?” Shin glanced at the nervous Zeff.

From the moment Shin accepted Mihawk’s challenge, Zeff had been on edge. If the two clashed, his sea restaurant, Baratie, would be doomed. But when he heard Shin’s words, Zeff immediately relaxed, gratitude shining in his eyes.

“Oh, I see.”

Monet nodded in understanding, then activated her Snow-Snow Fruit powers. The previously clear sky suddenly erupted with falling snow.

The blizzard covered nearly ten kilometers in every direction—thick, heavy flakes that brought bone-chilling cold. The sea surface froze solid under the plummeting temperatures, forming a thick sheet of ice that was quickly buried under the accumulating snow.

————

"What is this power?" Zoro asked Zeff.

Zeff glanced at Zoro. The old man had a short fuse—normally, he wouldn't waste time explaining anything to some random swordsman. But right now he was feeling generous, since his Baratie was finally going to be saved.

“Kid, let me tell you, this is the power of a Devil Fruit. Do you know?” In Zeff’s eyes, Zoro was just an ignorant little kid.

“A Devil Fruit? I know what that is. I’m a Devil Fruit user too.”

Luffy grabbed both sides of his face and stretched it hard, able to stretch it indefinitely.

“A Paramecia type, I see.” Zeff said. "If I'm not mistaken, hers is a Logia Devil Fruit..."

The Snow-Snow Fruit had incredible development potential. Sure, people called it inferior to the Ice-Ice Fruit, but if pushed to its absolute limits, it might rival even Aokiji's power.

Take the Flare-Flare Fruit and Magma-Magma Fruit, for example. If someone could develop the Flare-Flare Fruit to its maximum potential, the flames could burn hotter than magma itself.

But reaching temperatures that extreme would be incredibly difficult. In the original story, Ace's flames never matched the heat of Akainu's magma.

<><><><><><><><>

Shin and Mihawk stood on the snow-covered sea. Although the battle had not yet begun, the sword momentum had already erupted completely.

The sheer force radiating from Mihawk cracked the ice beneath his feet. Shin, in contrast, stood perfectly still.

He appeared calm, but within him was a power like a dormant volcano.

“Since you challenged me, Mihawk, let's settle this with swords.”

A blade appeared in Shin's hand—the Kusanagi, a divine weapon from another world, further enhanced by his own power.

The Kusanagi Blade was easily the equal of any Supreme Grade Sword.

“He’s a swordsman too?” Zoro’s gaze was on Shin. Right, since Mihawk would challenge him, he must also be a powerful swordsman.

Zoro didn't want to miss the duel between two powerful swordsmen. Just watching the battle of such strong people could give him a lot of gains.

“Come on.” Shin gestured to Mihawk.

Mihawk's expression was deadly serious. The moment Shin drew his sword, he felt the terrifying aura hidden beneath that calm exterior.

Unlike himself, Shin Uzumaki was holding back his true power. Only a true master of the sword could sense it.

Mihawk rushed forward, gripping his sword with both hands as he planted his feet on the ice, then unleashed a devastating slash at Shin. He wasn't holding anything back... Facing the strongest opponent he'd ever encountered, there was no room for restraint.

CLAANG!!!

CLAANG!!!

The sound of swords clashing rang out. The clear sound could be heard from a great distance, even several miles away.

The Kusanagi Blade in Shin's hand blocked Mihawk's attack. Shin hadn't moved an inch.

“Such a fast strike... and he blocked it so easily.” Zoro’s eyes widened in disbelief. He knew how powerful Mihawk's slash was just now. He couldn't even see his figure.

If he had been the one to face it, he wouldn't have known how he died.

“Mihawk, is this all you’ve got?” Shin asked him calmly.

It wasn't to anger him, but he was really a little disappointed.

Mihawk didn't say a word, not affected by his words. The Supreme Grade Sword in his hand was getting faster and faster, and he didn't know how many times he had attacked in a second.

The blade couldn't even be seen, only the afterimages left in the air.

"So fast!" Luffy exclaimed, eyes wide with amazement. But beneath his excitement, a heavy feeling settled in his chest. Even someone as dense as him could recognize what he'd just witnessed.

He'd always thought he was pretty strong, but reality was starting to hit home. The sea was crawling with monsters, and his current power wasn't nearly enough.

Still, nothing would ever shake his dream of becoming the Pirate King.

Zoro stayed silent. Mihawk was terrifying, sure—but Shin Uzumaki was on another level entirely.

As for Usopp, the coward was shaking like a leaf and didn't dare make a sound. 'Is this what real powerhouses look like? Maybe being a pirate isn't such a great idea. Maybe I should just go home...'

————

Shin stood firm against Mihawk's onslaught—not taking a single step back. He parried every blow with one hand. A single slash from Mihawk could cleave a warship in two, but against Shin, it felt like a child's tantrum.

“I’ve let you attack for so long, it’s my turn now.” Shin said calmly.

“Hmm?”

Mihawk felt a crushing sense of danger grip his heart as a terrifying slash tore toward him. In that moment, it was as if the entire world had become a blade, every edge turning against him.

Pfft!!!!

Mihawk's body flew out, blood splattering from his body, staining the snow red.

“He sent Mihawk flying with one attack... incredible.” Zeff was witnessing a duel on a level he'd never imagined.

The outcome, however, was not what he had expected. Mihawk was powerful, but Shin Uzumaki was on a completely different plane of existence.

"If I had that kind of strength, I could definitely become the Pirate King!" Luffy declared.

“Kid, don’t daydream.” Zeff glanced at Luffy.

But thinking of this guy's grandfather, Marine Hero Garp, Zeff didn't dare to say much.

But then he remembered the boy's grandfather, Marine Hero Garp, and held his tongue. Though Zeff was no longer a pirate, he had a history. The Marines could still decide to settle old scores.

Compared to the shock of the others, Hancock and the Kuja Pirates were perfectly calm, as if Shin's display was completely normal.

And to them, it was. They all knew Shin was invincible.

No matter how overwhelming the force he unleashed, they saw it as normal. They had become his most fervent devotees.

————

“Can you keep going?" Shin asked Mihawk, who was picking himself up off the ground. Mihawk struggled to his feet, clearly in bad shape.

A massive gash stretched across his chest, blood seeping through his coat.

"Of course." Mihawk would never give up so easily.

Even wounded, retreat never crossed his mind. He had searched for Shin for too long just to face him in battle, and now that the chance was here, he would seize it.

He hadn’t fallen yet, and until he did, he would never admit defeat. To rise as the world’s greatest swordsman demanded terrifying perseverance—and this kind of injury was nothing he couldn’t endure.

“Good.”

Shin's figure vanished. The moment he disappeared, Mihawk pushed his Observation Haki to its limit, searching for him.

“Behind.”

Mihawk swung his sword backward with all his might, but it met only empty air.

“Damn it.”

When Mihawk realized something was wrong, he felt a pain in his back, and his body was thrown out uncontrollably.

He'd been hit again, this time from behind.

“A wound on the back is a shame for a swordsman.” Mihawk said in a deep voice.

He had countless scars, but this was the first on his back.

“Then let’s see if you can erase that shame,” Shin said, slashing at Mihawk again. He wouldn't stop just because his opponent was injured.

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!

Mihawk was thrown back again. The impact sent a numbing shock up his arm, and the webbing of his hand split open. The hilt of his sword was now slick with his own blood.

Even his Supreme Grade Sword, Yoru, now had a chip in its blade from Shin's last attack.

Looking at the notch on his sword, Mihawk felt a sharp pang. This was his most prized possession.

But he also knew that now was not the time to be heartbroken about the sword.

He gripped Yoru and counterattacked, unleashing waves of green energy that hardened into flying slashes.

However, Shin parried every single one with ease.