Not the best place to hang your hat, is it?

On Kuraigana Island, Zoro begs Mihawk to teach him the way of the sword. I knew it. Mihawk says he’s misjudged Zoro, who is now shamefully begging for help from his enemy. He refuses, saying he has overestimated Zoro, and it is painful to watch him beg. Zoro says that he wants to become stronger, but Mihawk retorts that he was beaten by the baboons and he couldn’t get out to sea, and he doesn’t have anything to teach to those who crawl back so nonchalantly after defeat. Zoro informs Mihawk that he did defeat the baboons, saying that all that remains is Mihawk’s head, but he isn’t stupid enough to think that he could defeat Mihawk too. Mihawk questions why Zoro wants to defeat him but is bowing and asking for him to teach him. Zoro answers that he wants to overcome him, which leads to a rare Mihawk laugh. He seems amused, saying that the proposition is ridiculous. He then tells Perona to heal Zoro’s injuries, as Zoro’s training would start when he was healed. He then inwardly says that when a man like Zoro throws away his pride, it is always for someone else. Back in Zoro’s room, Perona reads the 3D2Y tattoo on Luffy’s arm, and Zoro explains that they previously said that they’d meet up in 3 days, meaning 3D, but the crossing out and 2Y means they’ll have to meet up in 2 years instead. He says that as they are now, they could not go into the New World, so they’ll have to train for 2 years and then meet up. We then cut to all the Staw Hat crew, saying they’ll meet in 2 years at Sabaody.

We then cut to a few days earlier, on the Calm Belt, where Jinbei leaves Luffy’s group. Luffy thanks him, but he refuses, saying he should thank Luffy. He says they’ll meet again in two years on Fishman Island, then leaves. On a deserted island north-west of Amazon Lily, called Rusukaina Island, Rayleigh and Luffy go for training for two years. Before they’re left alone, Hancock says she will arrive every day to bring Luffy food, which he thanks her for. He calls her by her full name, and she thinks they’re now engaged… Anyway, Rayleigh says that she shouldn’t be so easy on him, and women are forbidden on the island during Luffy’s training. Hancock overreacts, but Rayleigh says that it is best for Luffy, and she regretfully agrees. She tries to say that the island is dangerous, but Rayleigh argues that if it wasn’t it wouldn’t be training. Rayleigh then introduces Luffy to the island, saying that there used to be a civilisation there, but it was destroyed by the nature of the island. Rayleigh counts the number of creatures Luffy couldn’t defeat at his current level – around 500 – and Luffy asks how he did it. Rayleigh replies that Luffy isn’t the only one with Haki.

Just then, a giant elephant appears which attacks Rayleigh, who has his back turned whilst explaining Haki to Luffy. Luffy tells him to watch out, and Rayleigh uses Kenbunshoku Haki to predict where the elephant would strike from. He explains this to Luffy, as being able to sense where the enemy is, how many there are, and what they will do next.Luffy remembers that Boa Sandersonia used it, and Eneru called it ‘Mantra’.  Rayleigh then strikes with Busoushoku Haki, and Luffy remembers Sentoumaru’s ‘Ashigara Dokkoi’ and when he fought Boa Marigold. Rayleigh explains that it can be used on Devil Fruit users, and can even touch those enhanced by Paramecia and Logia types, and can be infused into weapons, like the ones the Kuja tribe use. He then says only a select few can use Haoushoku Haki, before using it on the elephant. He says this is the only type that cannot be trained, and is based on the users spirit. He explains that he will take 2 years to try and put the basics of Haki into Luffy, and to try and find which Haki he excels at. The next day, they start training, and Luffy removes his straw hat and sets it on a stone, putting Rayleigh’s Vivre Card in it too, stating that ‘Straw Hat’ Luffy is on holiday.

Well, very interesting. Not only will Zoro be trained by Mihawk for two years, but it also seems like Perona is getting pretty friendly with him now. New crew member? Not really, I don’t want to fuel rumours… 2 years though. I’m assuming Oda will skip over those 2 years and put us back into the storyline, otherwise we’ll be in a very boring arc. Plus, Luffy is being taught Haki. That’s something I’ll look forward to. Who needs Gears when you have Haki? Anyway, please note that One Piece is on hiatus now for 4 weeks. Yup, you read correctly. 4 weeks. It’s probably a large gap so that it seems that 2 years have passed before the new ‘2 years later’ arc. If Oda even does that. Still, I’m pretty interested about what will happen in the next chapter, seeming as though it won’t be here for around a month.