On the other side, after following Lola's group into their camp, Jin finally saw the so-called shadow that could make people stronger.
"So this is… the shadow you were talking about?"
Staring at the violently struggling shadow in Aike's hands, Jin frowned in surprise.
"This thing can really make someone stronger?"
Judging by how fiercely it writhed, it didn't look trustworthy at all.
"Yes," Aike said with a grin.
"As long as you stuff it into the body, you'll gain powerful strength."
"That's right. We tested it ourselves."
"How did you even capture so many shadows?" Jin asked.
"By risking our lives to hunt zombies, of course!"
"Yeah! And we also discovered that salt can purify zombies!" Aike said proudly.
"We're pretty amazing, right?"
"…Mm. Amazing…"
Jin truly hadn't expected these people to dare hunt zombies.
Their courage really wasn't small.
But salt purifying zombies…
Was it because salt came from the sea?
That was actually an interesting discovery.
After thinking for a moment, Jin asked:
"Will using this cause injuries?"
Even though he was only a shadow clone and didn't particularly care about danger, this clone still needed to survive long enough to gather information.
If the moment the shadow entered his body the clone vanished, then everything afterward would be meaningless.
"Ignore that, Ninja Bro," Aike quickly explained.
"We've done many tests. As long as the number of shadows is controlled, there won't be much burden."
"With your strength, you should be able to handle plenty."
All their hopes were riding on the man before them.
If he wanted, they were even willing to give him all the shadows.
"That won't be necessary," Jin said.
"I just need to understand how it works."
"After all, I'm only a clone."
A clone's durability was far inferior to the main body.
Even if this method could increase strength, it should be tested by the real body later.
Right now, he only needed information.
"Clone?"
Lola stared at him in shock.
"What do you mean—you're not the real one right now?"
"Mm. I'm just a clone. My real body went to rescue my companions."
As he spoke, Jin raised his hand and formed another Shadow Clone.
Poof!
A second identical Jin appeared.
"Use this one for the experiment."
"C-clone?!"
"Woah, it's really a clone!!"
"So this is what a ninja is like?! That's insane!!"
"Hey Ninja Bro, can you show us Fire Style later?"
"And Water Style too!"
"Shut up!" Jin snapped.
"Is now really the time for ninja performances?!"
He truly couldn't understand these people.
Why was everyone in this world like this?
The group didn't get angry—instead, they scratched their heads awkwardly.
"Then… show us after you defeat Moria!"
"Yeah, yeah, got it."
Heaven help him—these people were basically kids.
If Luffy met them, they'd probably start playing together instantly.
"T-that's one amazing ninja…" Lola swallowed nervously.
Her brother Cracker used Devil Fruit powers to create biscuit soldiers—but Jin's clones appeared out of thin air.
So this was a ninja…
Cool. Way too cool.
"Ninja Bro, hurry and test the shadow!" Aike urged excitedly.
"Alright. Do it," Jin said, pointing at the newly created clone.
Even if this one exploded, at least one clone would remain.
Aike looked at the expressionless clone, then raised the shadow.
"I'm starting."
"Stop talking and do it already."
"O-okay!"
Psh!
With force, Aike shoved the shadow straight into the clone's body.
The next moment, something incredible happened.
The shadow was actually absorbed, slowly sinking into the clone's body.
Jin's eyes widened.
"It went in?!"
"So that's how it's used?"
Just stuff it in?
That felt… oddly similar to the Sharingan.
"Yes," Aike said happily.
"Once it enters the body, you gain a powerful enhancement!"
The clone's body trembled slightly.
"Well?" Jin asked.
"How does it feel?"
The clone looked down at itself, then back at Aike.
"…I don't feel anything."
Wasn't it supposed to boost strength?
Where did the boost go?
"Probably because you're too strong," Lola said.
"One shadow doesn't make much difference to you."
"…Oh. Right."
"By the way—what's your bounty?" she asked.
"Four hundred million."
"…WHAT?!"
Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
Four hundred million?!
"That's incredible…" Lola murmured.
At this level, even in the Grand Line such people were extremely rare.
Only in the New World did monsters of this caliber become common.
Someone with this kind of bounty, once entering the New World…
Even challenging an Emperor might not be impossible.
"We'll talk about that later," the clone said.
"Explain the shadow effect first."
"I felt nothing. Are you sure this works?"
"It definitely works!" Aike insisted.
"Even if the power increase is small, there are other effects."
He pulled out a flintlock pistol.
"How good are you with guns?"
The clone stared at the outdated weapon.
"…Never used one."
Could something this primitive even hit a target?
"Then try it."
Aike tossed it over.
"You'll notice something different."
The clone caught it.
The moment his fingers wrapped around the gun, a strange familiarity surged through him—
as if he'd handled firearms for years.
Instinctively, he raised it and fired without aiming.
Bang!
A falling leaf in the distance was pierced clean through—
the caterpillar on it blown apart with a perfect headshot.
"WOOOAAH!"
"That's insane accuracy!"
Buckteeth ran over, picked up the leaf, and held it high.
"Look! Dead center—the caterpillar!"
Jin stared in surprise.
"So this is… the shadow's effect."
"Yes," Lola nodded.
"The shadow carries its owner's skills."
"Once absorbed, those techniques surface in your mind."
"Just like now—even though you've never used a flintlock, you can shoot perfectly."
Jin nodded slowly.
Now he truly understood.
This Shadow-Shadow Fruit ability…
It was far more advanced than the Nara clan's shadow techniques.
"What about powerful shadows?" Jin asked.
"Can they be used freely too?"
"Stronger shadows are better," Lola replied.
"But they're dangerous. Ordinary people can't withstand them."
"Moria loves strong shadows the most—because they create powerful zombies."
"And he also loves strong corpses."
She spoke without hiding anything—even information paid for in blood.
"Strong corpse plus strong shadow…" Jin muttered.
"No wonder he's obsessed with zombies."
"That's basically reviving a powerhouse."
"Yes, but since the shadow and body don't match, the strength can't be fully unleashed."
"Makes sense."
Jin's thoughts deepened.
How many powerful shadows could Moria himself withstand?
If the limit was high…
That would be troublesome.
"Want to continue?" Aike asked, bringing over another shadow.
"No need," Jin waved him off.
"Using shadows on a clone is a waste."
A clone's durability was too low.
It could collapse mid-insertion.
He had learned enough.
"Oh…"
The group exchanged disappointed looks.
"Ninja Bro, don't be polite," Aike said.
"You can have all the shadows."
"I'm not being polite. A clone genuinely can't use them."
"…I see."
They sighed.
"Any other intel?" Jin asked.
"Like other commanders."
"Besides the invisible man," Buckteeth said,
"there's the doctor."
"He has no combat ability—just a normal human who commands zombies."
"And the ghost user…"
"…we've never seen her real body."
"That's fine."
A ghost user hiding herself made sense.
Though… a woman afraid of cockroaches… probably just a kid.
She didn't seem very threatening.
"So only three main figures?"
"Yes—but we don't know how many powerful zombies exist."
"Understood."
Jin nodded.
"Thanks for the information. In return, I'll help you reclaim your shadows."
He gestured to the clone.
The clone dispelled itself, sending all memories back to the main body.
Jin then turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" Lola asked.
"To meet up with Luffy and the others."
"Please take us with you," Lola said seriously.
"I told you—your condition won't help in battle."
"But waiting to die is worse," she clenched her fist.
"If we don't gamble this time, I don't know if we'll ever get another chance."
Jin fell silent.
"Even if you might die?"
"So what?" Lola said firmly.
"We're pirates. Since when do pirates fear death?"
"Yeah! Ninja Bro, take us!"
"Even if we die fighting, we won't regret it!"
"We don't want to wait anymore!"
Looking at their stubborn eyes, Jin suddenly smiled.
They could've simply waited safely for their shadows to return.
Yet they chose to fight.
These malnourished, exhausted people suddenly looked… admirable.
"…You guys," Jin said softly,
"I think I actually like you."
"Huh?!"
"Are you proposing again?!" Lola shouted.
"NO!"
After yelling, Jin took a deep breath and smiled.
"From now on—
we're friends."
"…Friends?!"
"A four-hundred-million-bounty man calling us friends…"
"Strength has nothing to do with friendship," Jin shook his head.
"Yes! We're friends!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Being acknowledged by someone this strong meant everything to them.
"However—" Jin added.
They immediately tensed.
"Relax," he smiled.
"We can't all leave."
"Why?"
"Some people must stay and guard the shadows," he said.
"They may be crucial later."
Lola looked at the shadows and nodded.
"That's true."
"Pick the stronger ones to come with me," Jin said.
"Lola, that's your call."
She instantly understood.
This wasn't about strength—
he was reducing casualties.
Most of them were barely surviving already.
This man… was unexpectedly gentle.
Soon, Lola selected around twenty capable fighters—including Aike and Buckteeth.
"Alright," she said.
"Let's move."
"Heh, Ninja Bro," Buckteeth grinned.
"Looks like we're fighting side by side now."
Jin sighed helplessly.
Looking at the light in their eyes—
the light called hope—he smiled.
"Try not to die."
"YES!!"
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