Chapter 5: Teaching Ace and Luffy
"Really?"
"Of course. After all, why would I stop a man from chasing his dream on the sea?"
Monkey D. Ash smiled, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly with a warm, brotherly ease.
"Luffy, come here," Ash called, motioning with his hand.
Luffy trotted over, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Pop!"
Ash flicked Luffy right on the forehead.
"Oww! What the heck, Ash! How can that hurt when I'm made of rubber?!"
Luffy rubbed his head, tears brimming in his eyes as he glared at Ash.
"Hahaha! That's just big brotherly love, Luffy!"
Luffy: (ー_ー)!! "I don't believe you!"
Ash cleared his throat. "Now, back to the point. Ace, what you just saw—the way I made Luffy feel pain—is something called Haki, or 'Ambition', as the people of the New World call it."
"Haki?" Ace raised an eyebrow.
Ash nodded. "It's a hidden power within the human body—willpower, presence, and spirit. Everyone is born with it, but most never awaken it. Some go their entire lives without even realizing it exists. But once mastered… it becomes real power."
Ash pulled out a black blindfold from his pocket and tied it around his eyes.
"Ace, come at me. Hit me as hard as you can."
"You sure?!"
"Absolutely. Watch closely."
Swish!
Ace swung the water pipe down at full force. But Ash bent his knees slightly, leaned right, and avoided the strike with ease.
"You aimed from upper right to lower left, Ace."
Ace's eyes widened. He swung again.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Ash dodged every blow, all while wearing the blindfold and casually calling out each attack's direction. After more than twenty swings, Ace stood breathless—unable to land a single hit.
Luffy and Ace now stared at Ash with eyes filled with awe and admiration.
"That ability is called Observation Haki," Ash explained. "It lets you sense an opponent's presence, emotions, and even future movements. Master it, and you can read attacks before they happen. Some say the most powerful users can even glimpse the future."
"And the second kind," he continued, "is Armament Haki. Think of it like an invisible armor. It strengthens attacks and allows you to hit Devil Fruit users like Luffy. That's especially important when facing Logia-types who usually can't be touched."
"The Navy Admirals—Aokiji, Kizaru, and Akainu—they all have Logia powers. Without Armament Haki, they'd be untouchable."
"And finally," Ash's tone lowered slightly, "there's the rarest form: Conqueror's Haki—also known as the King's Haki. One in a million are born with it. Pirate King Gol D. Roger had it… and so do many of the New World's strongest."
Ace's fists clenched tightly at the mention of Roger, his nails digging into his palms.
"So Roger had Conqueror's Haki too, huh…" he muttered bitterly.
Luffy, meanwhile, was grinning ear to ear like a fanboy meeting his idol.
"Haha! Maybe both of you have it too!" Ash laughed.
"Alright then! Let's begin your Haki training. First, calm your breathing and feel the power inside."
"Inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale~"
Excited by the thought of such strength, Luffy and Ace practiced seriously. Knowing the terrifying enemies that waited in the New World, they trained with full dedication.
Ash didn't worry about the butterfly effects of teaching them early. After all, he was the biggest variable.
> What's the point of reincarnating into this world if you don't change it?
---
Two weeks later…
Under Ash's guidance, both Luffy and Ace had successfully awakened Haki.
Naturally, Ace used his new strength to wallop Luffy in a rematch.
"Take that! The Fist of Love!" Ace yelled.
Luffy fell to the ground, clutching his head. "Owwww! Ace, I'll get you back next time!"
"Haha! In your dreams, Luffy! Now that I've got Haki, you don't stand a chance!"
The two rolled around on the grass, bickering like always—until the forest echoed with their joyful laughter.
---
Later, while resting…
"Ah~" Luffy sighed.
"What's wrong?" Ash asked.
"It's just… I wish Sabo was here too." Luffy's voice softened, his usual cheer fading.
"Don't be sad. Maybe he's still alive," Ash comforted. "You never saw a body, right? Who knows—when you set sail, you might run into him again on your journey to become Pirate King."
Luffy grinned. "Yeah! I'll definitely travel the world and find the One Piece! I'm gonna be the Pirate King!"
As if answering his resolve, the waves on the distant sea swelled higher and higher.
"Tch. Pirate King is such a lame dream," Ace muttered, unsure.
"The Pirate King," Luffy argued, "is the freest man in the world! That's super cool!"
Ash couldn't help but laugh at the familiar scene.
Three minutes later, Luffy was snoring, face-up on the grass, snot bubble inflating peacefully.
---
Ash and Ace stood together on the hillside, the ocean breeze brushing past their faces.
During their time together, Luffy had let it slip that Ace was Roger's son—though Ash already knew. Still, he played along.
When the subject of Roger came up, Ash didn't condemn or praise the Pirate King. He explained both sides.
Roger's final words had ignited a new era—young pirates flooded the seas in search of the One Piece. Many committed heinous acts. Entire towns suffered. The Navy was overwhelmed.
But Roger had also reached Laugh Tale, uncovered the World Government's buried secrets, and sparked resistance against the Celestial Dragons. He'd triggered a movement for justice and truth.
Ash didn't pass judgment.
He only offered Ace perspective.
What came next… would be his choice alone.
---
To be continued…