Rayleigh took Junichi to purchase supplies for their sea journey.
Before long, he returned with bags of goods and followed Rayleigh to the pier.
The six-month-long training would take place on an uninhabited island.
At the pier, Shakky had already prepared a small sailboat. When she saw the two approaching, she waved in greeting. "The boat is ready for you."
As she spoke, she looked at Junichi.
"While you're training out there, you won't be able to enjoy the five meals a day. But I'll still keep my promise. Every month, I'll send some rare fruits, vegetables, and desserts your way. Make sure to enjoy them."
Junichi was a little surprised at her words. He didn't really care that much about the five meals a day, but didn't expect her to be so thoughtful.
Well, he might as well accept it. In the wilderness, being able to enjoy some fruits and desserts now and then could ease the monotony.
"Thanks," he nodded slightly.
"No need to be so polite," Shakky waved her hand dismissively. She glanced at Rayleigh, then turned and walked away.
After that, Junichi boarded the small boat and, under Rayleigh's navigation, departed from the Sabaody Archipelago.
---
By evening, they arrived at an uninhabited island with a dormant volcano. The geothermal heat and volcanic rock provided abundant nutrients.
This made the island's ecosystem especially lush.
"This is the place where you'll be training for the next six months," Rayleigh said, pointing to the island.
Junichi looked around and slowly nodded. It looked a lot like the island where Luffy trained in the original story.
Could it be the same one? Whatever. That kind of detail didn't really matter.
"I've heard that the strong ones on the sea all use a power called 'Haki.' Is that true?" Junichi asked while carrying his luggage ashore.
Rayleigh gave him a glance and adjusted his glasses. "That's right."
"Can you tell me more about it?" Junichi asked curiously. This was one of the main goals he had for coming to the One Piece world.
The versatility of the two types of Haki would allow him to handle almost any kind of battle. Whether it was martial arts, swordsmanship, genjutsu, ninjutsu, or bloodline limits, he'd be able to hold his own.
Only by mastering both types of Haki would he have the confidence to face Itachi.
"You're still a long way from that... but I guess it doesn't hurt to explain," Rayleigh thought for a moment, then slowly began to explain to Junichi.
Haki was a latent power that all living beings possessed.
It manifested in two primary forms: Armament Haki and Observation Haki.
Armament Haki was like a controllable, invisible energy. It could be shaped according to the user's will into powerful attacks or armor-like defense.
Observation Haki allowed the user to sense enemies beyond their line of sight and perceive their number, strength, position, and condition.
In the One Piece world, Haki was the ticket to entering the world of the strong. Only those who awakened Haki were qualified to venture into the New World.
Although in the original story it seemed like everyone had Haki, as if it were everywhere, that was only because the Straw Hat Pirates' status had risen so much.
Across the entire sea, those who awaken Haki were actually very rare. And among those, only one in thousands ever reach the peak of mastery.
After finishing his explanation, Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, his gaze sharpening, and asked, "You want to learn Haki?"
Junichi nodded seriously. There was no question about it.
"Forget it!" Rayleigh shook his head, his tone stern. "With your current physical condition, you're nowhere near ready to develop Haki. Forcing it will only harm your body."
Junichi fell silent.
"I can feel your urgency," Rayleigh sighed and softened his tone. "Though I don't know why. But training doesn't work just because you're in a hurry. No one can break the rule of gradual progress."
Junichi remained silently calm. Under normal circumstances, what Rayleigh said would be absolutely correct.
But the problem was... his situation wasn't normal. The threat of Itachi forced him to improve his strength quickly. And the Proficiency System gave him the ability to grow rapidly in a short amount of time.
Of course, he couldn't reveal that cheat.
He wouldn't tell anyone. So he simply smiled and said, "Let me give it a shot, who knows, maybe I'm a Haki prodigy?"
"A prodigy? You?"
"Why can't I be a prodigy?" Junichi disagreed.
"Heh, real prodigies show signs around the age of ten. You're already fifteen, don't go fantasizing about things that don't exist."
He had seen countless geniuses. Without exception, those monster-like kids would show shocking talent as early as eight or nine years old.
By the time they were fifteen, even without formal training, they'd be strong enough to take down small Sea Kings.
Looking at Junichi, he felt like he must be blind to ever mistake the boy for a genius.
But Junichi wasn't angry at all, still smiling. "Just let me try. Who knows, maybe I'm a hidden genius?"
Rayleigh looked exasperated. After all that talk, he still wouldn't give up?
"Fine," he sighed deeply, helpless. "Go ahead and try it for yourself, see the reality for what it is."
After a pause, he taught Junichi the method to awaken Haki.
It was a very standard method. Its biggest strengths were that it was safe, stable, and gradual— even if it failed, it wouldn't cause any major harm. And once Haki was awakened, one could continue training indefinitely. It was something you could work on your whole life.
This must be the same method Luffy learned, huh?
This was proper instruction.
Kaido's training style—"either die or succeed"—was just too extreme. Way too extreme!
"You look like you can't wait to start," Rayleigh said after finishing the lesson, glancing at Junichi. "Go ahead and train here. I'll go catch dinner for tonight. Don't wander too far, or I won't make it in time to save you from the beasts."
With that, he took off his clothes and jumped into the sea.
Junichi nodded obediently. For someone at chunin-level like him, this island was far too dangerous.
For the sake of staying alive, it was smarter to stay put.
"Guess I'll train right here."
He casually picked a clear spot, put down his luggage, and began training in Haki.
He stood before a large tree.
Following Rayleigh's instructions, he adjusted his breathing, emotions, body, and will, imagining his body as a dormant volcano. And flowing inside that volcano—was the power of Haki. What he had to do, was find that power and awaken it.
Hoo!
He suddenly opened his eyes, intense emotions stirring within them, as if something was about to erupt. He threw a punch, pouring all his strength into it. It felt like the power hidden deep within him surged with the strike.
Smack!
His fist struck the tree bark, but all it made was a faint, unimpressive thud.
"Tch—!" Junichi hissed in pain and pulled back his burning fist.
His skin was red and swollen.
As for Armament Haki? Not even a trace.
But on his system panel, a message popped up faithfully:
[You have practiced Armament Haki. Proficiency +1]