ONE PIECE: FLOW OF FATE

As Renjiro stood there, a breath away from collapsing, Drake moved to teach Maria, reminding Renjiro that this specific exercise would be his lesson until he finished it.

Shit, this is harder than I thought. I failed twice at the three-minute mark, crap. I'm going to need to rest for a little, he thought, slumping to the ground and puffing air out. Maria noticed and giggled.

"Is this the so-called Gloomfur slayer Uncle Bram has been boasting about? He can't even hold a single sword stance for ten minutes," she said, obviously catching Renjiro's attention.

Ah, I see. The basic provocation trick from the books: call out a guy who's struggling. Sadly, I'm not as immature as she is. I'd be even worse if I were to give in, Renjiro thought. He stood back up as she continued with her swings, Drake momentarily away.

Renjiro got back into the stance. Midway through, Maria spoke again.

"It'll be easier if you only inhale from your nose and not your mouth like a monkey," she advised.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I need advice from a wannabe future Marine," Renjiro replied, his voice flat.

That'll keep her quiet. If not, well, I don't want to be too harsh on a kid, but wait... I'm older than her, and I'm younger than her? Doesn't matter, she is still in the fault.He thought.

Maria twitched, becoming visibly irritated at his remark. "Wannabe Marine, huh? You talk big for someone who can't even stand still! You'll never be able to protect anything important if you're so weak! A Marine is supposed to be brave, not some crybaby orphan hunter!" she retorted, her voice rising in a childish huff.

She has a way with her words, but I won't lose this vocal battle. Strength isn't just physical, plus she irritates me, Renjiro mused. He got out of his stance and fixed Maria with a calm, piercing gaze.

"Brave?" Renjiro scoffed, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk touching his lips. "What do you know about Bravery, Maria? You've never had to face anything real. You've never actually fought. You're just repeating words you hear from adults."

Drake came into view with a loaf of bread in his mouth. As they both saw him, Renjiro and Maria instantly snapped back to their respective lessons.

Weird, Drake thought, chewing. It just felt like there was an argument coming from here. Oh well.

The training lesson continued, and while Renjiro couldn't quite meet the ten-minute mark for the stance, he got remarkably close. His consistent training over the past year was clearly paying off, providing a solid foundation for Drake's rigorous demands.

"Both of you did well. Our lesson ends here," Drake announced, wiping a few bread crumbs from his chin. "Maria, work on what I gave you. You're still below satisfaction." He then turned to Renjiro. "And Renjiro, amazing little spurt! You were able to achieve eight minutes on your first lesson. Most could only get to three to five at best. At this rate, you might even catch up to Maria!"

Maria's face instantly flushed with irritation at those words, and she quickly left the area, stomping away in a manner that clearly questioned Drake's judgment.

Yurie, now Maria... I mean, do people have anger issues, or is it just me? Renjiro thought, amazed by her outburst.

Drake, watching her stomp off, was confused too. What's with her? he wondered.

Renjiro didn't pay mind to Maria's exit. It was a few hours before noon, and he'd already completed his early morning routine and his first swordsmanship lesson, which was now at a close.

Since I won't be going on any hunts as of now, let's go over what we know about Haki, he thought.

Haki. It's the spiritual energy, the fighting spirit that supposedly lies dormant in everyone. Most people never awaken it, but in the New World, it's practically a necessity. Forget Devil Fruits; Haki is the true equalizer.

My first priority has to be Observation Haki., Because it's defensive, and it's about survival. Sensing presence, even hidden ones. Predicting movements. That's invaluable. It's how people like Enel, and later Luffy, dodged attacks they couldn't even see. The top tiers, like Katakuri, and shanks could even see a few seconds into the future. I'm obviously nowhere near that, but even the basic ability to sense intent or presence would be a game-changer for a five-year-old.

But how do I train it? There's no sensei for Haki here. I remember bits and pieces from the series: fighting in extreme pressure, focusing beyond your five senses, clearing your mind, being totally aware of your surroundings without relying on sight. Maybe training blindfolded? Or constantly trying to sense everyone and everything around me? That might just drive me crazy, or make me too noticeable.

Then there's Armament Haki. That's the invisible armor, the power to hit Logia users, the ultimate defense and offense. It'll be crucial for later, especially if I'm aiming for the Marines. And Conqueror's Haki ... well, that's just innate. You either have it or you don't. No point thinking about that for now.

For now, it's all about Observation. Drake's basic sword training, brutal as it is, probably helps too. It's about control, focus, pushing past limits. That mental discipline has to be connected to Haki. The world's about to change. Roger just found the One Piece. In a year, he's dead, and the Great Pirate Era truly begins. I need to get strong, and fast. My current five-year-old body won't cut it alone. Haki is the key to closing that gap until I'm physically capable enough to truly throw my weight around.

For now, let's start with Observation. I'll try meditating in the forest, not too far, and try sensing my surroundings. If not, I'm going to tell Renzo to hit me with rocks—he'll love that.

Renjiro made this decision to immediately start training and try to obtain Observation Haki. He went home, quickly ate breakfast, and left without delay.

As he entered the familiar forest path, he found a large, smooth rock near a patch of sunlight. He sat down, crossing his legs, and closed his eyes. The sounds of the forest immediately intensified: the rustle of leaves, the distant chirping of birds, the faint buzzing of insects. He focused, trying to reach out with something beyond his normal senses, straining to feel the 'presence' of the trees, the animals, anything. He sat there for a long time, his brow furrowing in concentration, but nothing happened. He only felt the gentle breeze on his face and the warmth of the sun. Frustration began to bubble as he realized just how abstract "sensing presence" truly was.

He opened his eyes with a frustrated sigh. "This is ridiculous! How the hell am I supposed to train this?" he muttered, running a small hand through his hair. He took a deep breath. "No, let's not give up. If Usopp can do it, you can too!" Renjiro closed his eyes once more, returning to his training, determined to grasp the abstract concept of sensing his surroundings.

"Feel your surroundings. Be your surroundings," he murmured to himself, trying to channel some elusive inner calm.

Suddenly, he heard a distinct rustling in the bush directly behind him, much closer than the general forest sounds. His eyes snapped open, a hopeful glint in them.

"Aha! An animal!" he exclaimed, ready to prove his budding Haki.

He spun around, only for his face to fall. It wasn't a magnificent beast or even a squirrel. A lone, stubborn branch had simply snapped off its tree, tumbling harmlessly into the undergrowth. Renjiro stared at it with a look of utter defeat, a comical pout forming on his lips.

"A damn branch," he grumbled, kicking a loose pebble. "Man, I'm not gonna get this any time soon. Should I call Renzo? No, let's try this for a week at most."

Renjiro, to no avail, couldn't feel any progress in his Haki. He knew Observation Haki often awakened in times of extreme need, but it was also possible to train it manually. Through this frustrating initial attempt, Renjiro felt the immense pain and struggle he'd have to endure to be able to protect what was close to him.

After that day, during his next sword lesson, Renjiro was finally able to hold his ten-minute stance perfectly.

"Boy, you've yet to fail to amaze me. Great job!" Drake praised, a rare smile gracing his lips. "Today, we'll be learning a method of swordsmanship... a very practical one, forged in the fires of the Grand Line from my mercenary days." He then turned to Maria. "And Maria, you'll be learning this right alongside him today."

"What, Father?" Maria reacted, her voice laced with an appalled tone. "But I'm way too advanced to start over now!" she protested, clearly displeased at the thought of having to learn alongside Renjiro.

Cry all day, but I'll surpass you within a week or two, Renjiro thought, a silent smirk forming.

Drake looked visibly angered by her outburst. "Young lady," he boomed, his voice sharp, "swordsmanship doesn't end! Just because you know one method doesn't mean you know another. It's about versatility, not only perfection!" Maria glared, but looked away, seething in angry silence.

Drake picked up two more wooden swords, handing one to Maria. "Forget what you see in storybooks," he began, his voice gravelly but clear. "This isn't about elegant duels or fancy names for moves. This is about survival. It's about ending a fight before it starts, or surviving when you're outnumbered and outmatched. I call it the Mercenary's Edge."

He demonstrated a series of rapid, no-nonsense movements: a swift forward lunge, a sharp, sweeping cut, and then an immediate recovery into a defensive block, all executed with minimal wasted motion. Each move was efficient, powerful, and designed to inflict damage or defend instantly. "You move with purpose. Every step, every swing. You strike hard, you block harder, and you never, ever let your guard down."

Maria, clearly annoyed at having to learn this 'basic' method alongside Renjiro, quickly found her resentment turning into physical frustration. Drake's "Mercenary's Edge" wasn't pretty. It was repetitive, demanding, and focused on raw power and proper body mechanics rather than graceful forms. She struggled to mimic the sharp turns and powerful lunges, her smaller frame wobbling as she tried to keep up.

Renjiro, however, observed with a different understanding. This isn't about flashy moves; it's about surviving, he realized. Every motion is efficient, every strike meant to end a fight. This is true combat. Even as his five-year-old body protested the strenuous movements, his mind rapidly grasped the core principles. He pushed himself harder, determined to master this brutal, effective style.

Drake watched them, a hawk-like intensity in his eyes. He corrected Maria's grip, adjusted Renjiro's foot placement. "Faster, Maria! Deeper, Renjiro! You swing like you mean to cleave an axe through a log, not slice butter!" His voice was a steady, relentless drill sergeant, pushing them both to their limits under the morning sun. Sweat beaded on their young brows, and their limbs began to ache, but Drake showed no sign of letting up.