Sailing: I was falsely accused of watching Nami bathe, but I'm blind.

The atmosphere in the tavern quieted down again, with only Kai's slightly rapid heartbeat remaining.

Finally, after Kai felt as if an eternity had passed, Fujitora slowly and gently nodded.

This simple action, in Kai's perception, was like the rising sun, instantly illuminating the darkness in his heart!

Fujitora didn't explicitly say "I'll take you as my apprentice," but he spoke, his voice still calm, yet carrying an undeniable determination:

"Your heart is not yet completely blinded by hatred; there is still a glimmer of clarity and goodness, which is good."

He said slowly, “I still have a long way to go on this journey.”

If you're willing, then stay by my side.

"

He paused, then added, "On the way, I will teach you some... ways to better 'see' the world, and how to more effectively 'protect yourself'."

"

Although there was no formal master-disciple relationship, Fujitora's words were tantamount to giving Kai the recognition and promise he craved most! This meant that this senior, whose strength was unfathomable and whose wisdom was as vast as the ocean, was willing to personally guide his training!

A huge surprise and excitement instantly filled Kai's heart; he even felt his eyes getting hot (though no tears came out).

He bowed deeply again, his voice choked with emotion: "Thank you, senior! I... I am willing! Wherever you go, I will follow!"

"Ok.

Fujitora simply responded with a faint "yes," then stood up and placed a few coins on the table as payment for the drinks.

"Then let's go."

The road ahead is long.

"

He picked up his cane and sword, and walked calmly out of the tavern as he had come.

Kai quickly followed, his excitement still lingering.

He knew that from this moment on, the trajectory of his destiny would be completely changed.

The darkness before him no longer seemed so hopeless, because he finally saw a glimmer of light... a guiding light.

The two left the secluded tavern one after the other, their figures disappearing around the corner of the street, embarking together on a journey full of unknowns and challenges.

A new chapter is about to unfold.

The days when Kai left that chaotic island with Fujitora became a crucial turning point in his life.

He was no longer the lone wolf groping and struggling to survive in the dark, but had a mentor who was also a friend.

Fujitora did not give him a clear title of "disciple," but his actions far surpassed the teachings of most masters to their disciples.

Fujitora's guidance to Kai on Observation Haki was not like the step-by-step, gradual approach of an academic school.

He is more like a Zen master, subtly guiding Kai to understand the mystery of "mind's eye" in everyday life, in the midst of walking, sitting, and lying down.

Together they traveled between islands, sometimes by merchant ship, sometimes by ferry, and sometimes even by a giant rock that Fujitora summoned with his ability to float in the air (which was the first time Kai truly felt Fujitora's unpredictable power).

Regardless of the environment, Fujitora would assign Kai various seemingly casual but actually highly targeted "homework" tasks.

In the bustling, chaotic city, Fujitora would suddenly tell Kai to close his eyes (though he always did), and then ask him to accurately sense and describe within one minute the specific movements of a person dressed in a particular style (Fujitora would describe the material of their clothes, the sound of their accessories, and even their distinctive scent) three blocks away—whether they turned left, stopped to talk to someone, or entered a shop. This greatly honed Kai's ability to accurately lock onto and track the scent of a specific target in complex and distracting environments.

In the perilous yet vibrant primeval forest, Fujitora would take Kai deep into the woods and have him calm down so he could sense the presence of tiny creatures hidden beneath the leaves, in the soil, and even in the crevices of the rocks.

It's not just about perceiving their presence, but also about trying to discern their species, size, whether they are alert or relaxed, hungry or satisfied.

This made Kai's perception of life more delicate and subtle, and also taught him how to perceive hidden vitality and danger in seemingly calm environments.

Even in casinos they occasionally pass by (Fujitora seems to have a special fondness for gambling, but he always wins money; Kai suspects this is also a way of using his perception abilities), Fujitora would have Kai stand aside, not paying attention to winning or losing, but rather sensing the rollercoaster-like emotional fluctuations of the gamblers as they placed bets, looked at their cards, and waited for the results—greed, fear, ecstasy, despair, bluffing, or perhaps confidence.

Fujitora told him that people's hearts are often easier to "see through" than dice and cards.

“Kai,” Fujitora told him more than once, “your ‘mind’s eye’ should not only see the appearance of things, but also see their inner truth and essence.”

The wind has form, yet it also has no form; you must feel its flow, not just hear its sound.

Humans have words, but even more so, they have inner voices. You should listen to the emotions and intentions hidden behind the words, rather than just memorizing the phrases.

"

"The truth often lies in the details."

The essence, however, requires you to peel back the layers of fog, to feel with your heart, and to verify.

"

Under Fujitora's unique, entertaining (or rather, educational in everyday life) guidance, Kai felt that his previously scattered and disorganized perception abilities were beginning to be systematically sorted out, integrated, and enhanced.

His "mental network" has become more robust, its coverage has steadily expanded, its perception accuracy has improved day by day, and its ability to capture and analyze various kinds of information has become stronger and stronger.

He felt as if he had gained a pair of true "eyes," a pair of "eyes of the heart" that could penetrate illusion and reach the core.

This improvement is comprehensive, not only reflected in the perception of the physical world, but also in the capture of life force, emotional fluctuations, and even some vague "intention" or "killing intent".

Kai found that she had become more sensitive to danger and more perceptive of other people's emotional changes.

This ability will undoubtedly become his most powerful weapon and talisman in future battles and interactions with others.

Chapter 33 Whipping

At the beginning of his enlightenment, the world appeared with unprecedented clarity and depth in his perception.

Simply training in Observation Haki is clearly not enough for Kai to establish himself on the perilous Grand Line.

Fujitora was well aware of this, so while instructing Kai on Haki, he also began to hone Kai's physique and combat skills.

Fujitora did not directly teach Kai any specific swordsmanship style or physical techniques.

He seemed more inclined to unleash Kai's own potential and, based on Kai's blindness, guide him onto a path that best suited him.

The most direct and cruel training method is to utilize Fujitora's unpredictable Gravity Fruit ability.

"If the foundation is not solid, the ground will shake."

"Fujitora's tone remained calm as always, "No matter how sharp your senses are or how fast your reactions are, if your physique is weak, you will not be able to withstand the attack of a strong person, nor will you be able to convert your sensory advantage into effective combat power."

"

From that day on, Kai was often enveloped by an invisible, perfectly balanced gravity.

The gravity wasn't too strong to crush him, but it was enough to make every movement he made several times heavier than usual.

Whether walking on rugged mountain paths, practicing basic punches, kicks, and dodges on flat ground, or even doing daily chores like carrying water and chopping wood (if conditions permit), Kai must contend with this extra burden.

Sweat streamed down his forehead and back, soaking through his already worn-out clothes.

The muscles were sore and aching from overwork, and every breath was a heavy gasp.

Several times, he was so exhausted that he almost collapsed to the ground, too weak to even move a finger.

But Fujitora seemed to ignore this, only occasionally saying indifferently, "If you're tired, take a break."

But you must never even have the thought of giving up.

"

Kai gritted his teeth and never considered giving up.

He knew that Fujitora was helping him lay a solid foundation, and he also knew that this hardship was nothing compared to the betrayal and humiliation he had endured.

Whenever he felt exhausted and on the verge of his limit, he would think of the ship that resolutely left, the cold eyes of his companions, and the vow he made in the darkness.

These memories, like the most potent stimulant, spurred him to drain the last bit of strength from his body, to get up from the ground again and again, and to continue his seemingly endless, gravity-bound training.

In addition to training his basic physical abilities, Fujitora also instructs Kai on how to integrate his senses into his combat movements.

“Your ‘sharp mind’ is your greatest advantage,” Fujitora said, “but an advantage is meaningless if it cannot be turned into a victory.”

What you need to learn is how to make your body keep up with the speed of your perception, so that 'the intention is there and the form moves with intention'.

"

He will require Kai to train in rapid dodging and counter-attack while enduring gravity.

He would randomly and without warning attack Kai with a cane-sword (not drawn) or small stones, forcing Kai to make the fastest and most effective evasion or block action the moment he sensed the attack.

He will also instruct Kai on how to infuse his senses into his weapons (currently only the captured dagger) or his fists and feet.

“Don’t just aim with your eyes (even though you don’t have them) or your arms,” Fujitora explained. “Use your ‘heart’ to lock onto the target’s presence and weaknesses.”

When you swing a weapon or punch, your intention should precede your action, and your perception should be like an invisible thread, guiding your attack straight to the vital point.

"

Kai strives to understand and practice Fujitora's teachings.

He began to try to rely not only on muscle memory and instinct when swinging his knife, but also to concentrate his perception to "feel" the trajectory of the blade cutting through the air, to "predict" the opponent's possible block or dodge, and to find that fleeting, best angle and timing for attack.

This process was also fraught with difficulties and setbacks.

The loss of spatial awareness and distance due to blindness makes it difficult for him to control the force and landing point of his attacks as precisely as a normal person.

But he did not get discouraged. He practiced again and again, learning from his failures time and time again.

He gradually discovered that when he highly integrated his perception with his physical movements, his attacks seemed to become smoother, more precise, and more... unpredictable.

Under Fujitora's seemingly strict and even somewhat cruel, but actually well-intentioned, guidance, Kai's body and combat skills grew at an astonishing rate, like a sponge absorbing water.