Griffin was born in Hana no Kuni in the West Blue. The geographical environment of Hana no Kuni was unique—half of the country enjoyed perpetual spring with flowers blooming year-round, which was how the nation got its name.
The other half, however, was a frozen continent where ice never melted for millennia.
The most legendary pirate from Hana no Kuni was Chin Jiao, the leader of the Happo Navy, who had reached a bounty of 500 million berries thirty years ago. He hid his immense treasure beneath this frozen continent.
...
Griffin awakened his Ice Release at the age of four, but without any ninjutsu heritage, all he could manage were simple ice and snow formations.
This wasn't the ninja world; there was no one he could turn to for guidance. If he wanted to train in Ice Release, he had to rely solely on himself.
Back then, he thought that since it was Ice Release, practicing in the glaciers might yield some results.
Using the money he earned as a bartender, Griffin gathered a set of equipment and ventured into the frozen continent.
The unique environment of the glaciers did help him make progress in developing his Ice Release. However, he became too engrossed in his training and was caught in a blizzard, leaving him lost in the icy wilderness.
Before him stretched an endless expanse of white, each step sinking into the soft snow layer.
His thick down jacket had long been penetrated by the cold, and even his breath carried the stinging pain of ice particles.
Everything was swallowed by this dead, silent whiteness, with only the wind howling in his ears, as if mocking his foolishness and insignificance.
...
It was pretty stupid...
But what could I do?
I was all alone...
When he was two or three years old and nearly starving to death, he had even begged to enter the orphanage run by the World Government.
He knew it was an organization for selecting spies, but he had no other choice...
Unfortunately, his physique was too weak—even the orphanage didn't want him.
Later, after awakening Ice Release, all he could do was create ice at the bar to scrape by.
At least he didn't have to risk being bitten to death by wild dogs while scavenging for food in the trash bins of the wealthy districts...
The seas were turbulent, filled with countless heroes and overlords, but...
This grandeur was built upon the suffering of countless commoners.
The hardships of his early childhood had long taught Griffin one truth...
This world had no concept of fairness or justice.
The sea belonged to the strong.
Only oneself was the one reliable existence.
...
The blizzard showed no signs of stopping.
With Chakra, Griffin's physique was at least better than in his previous life, so he wasn't at immediate risk of freezing to death.
But he was starving.
Resisting the low temperatures had consumed most of his energy. The emptiness in his stomach felt like a hand gripping his organs, sour and painful.
His vision blurred, and his consciousness began to drift.
So hungry...
Too hungry...
Am I going to die?
Even with a second chance, would I still die such a meaningless death?
Somehow...
I just can't accept it.
...
Thump—thump—
Thump-thump-thump!
Thumpthumpthumpthump!!!
His gradually slowing heartbeat suddenly accelerated, a burning pain spreading through his chest.
His nearly closed eyes felt as if two flames had erupted within them.
His pupils were dyed crimson, with pitch-black tomoe rapidly spinning and solidifying within them. The previously blurry snowy landscape became clear.
His faint gaze burned like bloodfire.
Responding to his unwillingness—
The Bloodline Limit belonging to the Uchiha clan...
The Sharingan awakened at this moment!
...
The trajectory of the wind and snow slowed and clarified.
Griffin sensed something and looked toward a patch of snow. Through half a meter of accumulated snow, he saw a plump spindle-shaped fruit.
The fruit's surface was covered with uneven patterns, mottled in deep blue and pure white, with faint traces of crimson threads visible.
Its top tapered slightly, bearing a withered deep black stem.
A Devil Fruit!
...
He heard it.
Griffin was certain he heard this fruit calling out to him.
It was an indescribable resonance, like that of a snowfield wanderer.
...
Devil Fruits were known to taste terrible, with all who had eaten them giving poor reviews.
Yet Griffin found it delicious—so far, it was the most delicious thing he had ever eaten!
...
Its name—
Snowfall White Wolf.
An Ancient Zoan believed to have gone extinct long ago, once hailed as the King of the Frozen Continent.
In Griffin's consciousness, an image emerged.
The same wind and snow from ancient times, the last Frozen King lying quietly on the snowy plain, blending with the surrounding whiteness as if returning to a mother's embrace.
——
Observing the snow-white fur growing on his body and feeling his instantly strengthened physique, dozens of times more resilient.
Griffin suppressed the inexplicable sorrow welling up within him, his crimson eyes gazing deep into the storm.
...
Step by step, as flowers bloomed at the edge of the ice and snow.
Griffin halted, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth, gradually spreading until it turned wild.
He survived...
He truly survived!
...
——
——
——
Swoosh—
A sharp sword slash cut through, dispersing the wind and snow.
The diverted cold wind rushed forward, causing Shanks' cloak to flap loudly.
"Those eyes... it seems you've made your resolution."
A resolution to die!
The blade of 'Griffin' trembled slightly, emitting a humming sound.
Shanks' expression was stern, an almost imperceptible aura radiating from him, harsher than the raging blizzard.
Griffin didn't respond, his figure darting forward like a white lightning bolt, each swing of his blade resembling the swipe of a Snowfall White Wolf's claw.
"For a man who has made his resolution, I should take this seriously."
Shanks' sword seemed to move casually, yet it always deftly blocked Griffin's attacks.
For a moment, white and red figures flickered in the snowy mist, like lightning.
...
...
"Such physical skills... Was he not even serious when fighting me?!"
Nearby, Major Doll swallowed hard, straining to keep her eyes wide open, yet completely unable to follow the movements of the two in the field.
Shock and fear filled her chest, but her body acted faster than her heart.
She stepped forward, wanting to join the fray.
Her superior was fighting a Pirate—how could she, as his adjutant, just stand by and watch?!
Click—
The sound of a trigger being pulled clearly echoed beside Doll.
Beckman, cigarette in mouth, spoke hoarsely: "Lovely Marine lady, I admire your courage, but how about we let our captains fight alone?"
"After all... even if you go over, you'd only distract him."
...
With Beckman's gun aimed at her, Doll couldn't move a step.
The Vice-Captain of the Red-Haired Pirates, a great Pirate with a Bounty of 778,000,000—Ben Beckman!!
Beckman shifted his gaze to the battlefield, a faint smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
"The Marines... have produced quite a monster!"
He could clearly see that Shanks wasn't going all out, but for a Marine to keep up with his swordsmanship—this was far beyond the level of an ordinary officer!
...
"Lovely lady, I haven't had the pleasure of learning your name?"
Doll remained silent.
Unfazed, Beckman changed his question: "Then, could you tell me the name of that Marine?"
...
"...Griffin."
"Uchiha Griffin!"