Yuno was a bit confused, but he put on the blindfold anyway.
At Zephyr's signal, the other Marine soldiers retreated, leaving Yuno, blindfolded, standing alone in the training ground.
Zephyr pulled out a pistol and flicked it with his finger, making a crisp metallic ding.
Zephyr explained,
"Observation Haki — Kenbunshoku Haki, as it's called — is the body's inherent sense of danger. Through training, this sense can be honed to the point where you can detect an opponent's movements, gauge the force of their attacks, and even feel their aura… all without using your eyes. It allows you to judge your enemy's general strength."
He continued,
"It's about mastering the flow of life force — Ki — and reading the subtle changes in the air, allowing you to predict danger with precision. A skilled user can evade most attacks with ease."
Then his voice took on a note of gravity:
"At higher levels… you can even catch glimpses of the future itself."
Gasps rippled through the recruits, their eyes widening in surprise at the thought of foreseeing events — a feat famously displayed by characters like Katakuri of the Big Mom Pirates in the New World.
Zephyr went on,
"Normally, Observation Haki takes years to master… but there are exceptions."
Without warning, he fired at Yuno.
Bang! The bullet flew straight toward the blindfolded recruit.
Gasps broke out among the soldiers — but Yuno tilted his head slightly, the bullet whizzing harmlessly past.
More shots followed — bang, bang, bang — yet Yuno slipped away from each one with effortless precision, just like Luffy did in his fight against Katakuri when he learned advanced Observation Haki.
Holstering his pistol, Zephyr nodded in satisfaction and addressed the crowd:
"Some people are born with a natural affinity for Observation Haki, awakening it when pushed by special circumstances. From the very start, they stand at a height others can't reach."
A gulp passed through the crowd. All eyes turned toward Yuno — clearly, he was one of those rare prodigies.
The recruits exchanged bitter smiles. To share the same era as such a "monster" was… demoralizing.
For Roy, who had once dreamed of surpassing Yuno, the truth was devastating. Compete with such a talent? Impossible. Better to just accept reality.
Perhaps sensing the morale dip, Zephyr added,
"But don't be discouraged. Observation Haki can always be improved through practice. Those who awaken early aren't necessarily stronger — they just start higher up the mountain. Don't get complacent."
His eyes shifted to Yuno, and his tone became sharp:
"That goes for you too."
Yuno removed the blindfold and bowed slightly. "Yes, sir!"
Zephyr began pacing slowly.
"Next, I'll teach you the training method for developing Observation Haki. Follow it, and you'll master it in time. The hardest step is capturing that one elusive sensation. Once you find it… the rest is only a matter of time."
The recruits listened intently as Zephyr instructed:
"Close your eyes. Still your mind. Sense the world around you with your heart. Empty your thoughts… then slowly spread your awareness outward."
Yuno obeyed, shutting his eyes. Darkness swallowed everything until it felt as though he alone existed.
Then, like ripples on water, his perception spread outward from his body.
Ten meters… a hundred meters… a thousand meters — until it enveloped the entire Marineford Headquarters itself.
Countless auras of varying strength shimmered in his awareness. Each was a ripple, each moving toward him, each clearly identifiable.
"Huh…?"
In that moment, every Marine in Marineford with Observation Haki felt it — someone was scanning the entire base with an immense wave of perception.
Brows furrowed. Who dares to sweep the entire headquarters with Kenbunshoku?
Almost as one, their attention turned toward the training camp.
In his office, Sengoku frowned.
"That old man Zephyr… what's he doing now? Isn't he supposed to be training recruits?"
In their own offices, the three Admirals also sensed it.
Akainu's brow creased, and his own Observation Haki flared outward, locking onto Zephyr and Yuno. The fact that the source was a mere recruit made his eyes narrow in surprise — but he quickly retracted his presence, his usual cold snort echoing in the quiet room.
Aokiji stepped out of the office, not relying on Observation Haki but simply looking in that direction. He muttered under his breath, "Is that Zephyr-sensei?"
Kizaru lifted his eyes slightly, then lazily slouched back onto the table.
Meanwhile, Zephyr, sensing the sudden change in Yuno, paused. A thought flashed in his mind: Could this kid have never used Observation Haki before…?
The more he observed Yuno, the more convinced he became.
It was like those rare cases where someone awakens Observation Haki in a moment of crisis—unable to control it right away—keeping it constantly active and letting a torrent of information overwhelm their mind.
There was also another possibility—exactly like Yuno's case: someone who has awakened Observation Haki but hasn't yet mastered the techniques, making it impossible to fully unleash its potential.
This… without proper mastery, and he can still reach that level? This brat… what a little freak! Zephyr thought, his astonishment deepening.
He had already considered Yuno a prodigy, but this exceeded even his expectations.
Seeing Yuno openly and continuously releasing his Observation Haki, Zephyr's expression darkened.
"Alright, stop it. Keep going like this, and half the people in Marineford will take offense!"
Yuno blinked, realizing Zephyr was talking about him. He quickly withdrew his Haki, giving him a puzzled look.
Zephyr explained, "Observation Haki can be sensed by others who have it. Unless you're in battle, don't use it in crowded areas. For some, it's as good as a challenge."
Yuno immediately understood. So this is the pirate world's advanced version of 'Why are you staring at me?'
Testing his Observation Haki again, Yuno noticed it was sharper than before, and its range now spanned nearly all of Marineford.
So the one I had before… wasn't complete Observation Haki?
He couldn't help thinking of Bleach: Shinigami have incomplete Bankai… so pirates can have incomplete Haki too?
Suppressing the thought, he looked at Zephyr and asked, "Teacher Zephyr, what happened just now? My Observation Haki feels sharper, and the range has grown wider."
Zephyr replied, "You must have awakened it before, but without knowing the proper way to use it, you couldn't bring out its true power. Now that you've learned the right method, you can fully tap into it."
Yuno nodded in realization. "I see."
Zephyr chuckled. "Still… you're a monster in terms of talent. With Observation Haki like this, you're already on par with some of the vice admirals in Marineford!"
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