The Mystery of Cutting

Hayashi understood that listening to the Breath of All Things was different from listening to the Voice of All Things, and it wasn't the same as Observation Haki.

Listening to the Breath of All Things marked a turning point for a swordsman to become a great swordsman. On the other hand, the ability to listen to the Voice of All Things belonged to the legendary 'Territory of Overlords'.

Observation Haki, on the other hand, allowed one to detect the emotions and breath of living creatures.

As Hayashi entered the realm of a swordsman, he took some time to understand the strength of the 'breath' he could perceive.

Although swordsmen could cut through steel, those who could sense the Voice of All Things in the One Piece World were typically much older. Their expertise was honed over many years of immersion in swordsmanship, marking a significant difference in skill and perception.

Despite realizing the Breath of All Things at the age of seven due to the system's ability, Hayashi's physical development hadn't caught up. This limited his ability to perceive the breath of steel.

Currently, he could only perceive the voice of certain objects - like wood, stones, bamboo, and ordinary rocks - while more rigid materials like boulders were beyond his reach.

Fragile items like paper, candles, and cups were also within his range of perception.

After weeks of exploration, Hayashi finally understood the core message that Koshiro, Zoro's master, had conveyed in the original story.

In this world, there were two types of swordsmen: those who couldn't cut anything and those who could cut anything.

Koshiro's attempt to slice a floating piece of paper with a real sword in front of Zoro was a powerful illustration.

It showed how even average swordsmen might struggle to cut a piece of paper without mastering the techniques with a real sword, highlighting the importance of skill and precision in swordsmanship.

But as long as you can hear its voice, even a bamboo sword can cut a piece of paper smoothly and straight.

Hayashi decided to put the theory to the test, and it worked.

Using Shigure Kintoki, which wasn't a real sword yet, Hayashi easily sliced a piece of paper in half.

At the same time, he understood the real purpose behind Koshiro's demonstration - to teach Zoro the skills of slashing.

Now that he had this new understanding, Hayashi decided to change his approach to training.

He started his mornings with exercise, then headed to a secluded valley. There, he would sit cross-legged and meditate under a waterfall.

The waterfall drowned out all other sounds. Even though he couldn't hear the voice of other objects, he didn't give up. He spent the entire morning focusing on the waterfall, trying to merge his own breath with its powerful currents.

Day after day, Hayashi's routine remained unchanged, except for his meals. He spent his time exercising, taking care of daily tasks, and practicing spiritual introspection within the serene valley.

Luckily, the system provided him with a special kimono that allowed him to bathe on the spot, so he didn't need to worry about washing his clothes.

In this way, another three months passed. Taking into account the previous half-month, Hawkeye's template had advanced to 11.36%.

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In the spiritual realm, the image of Hawkeye began to take shape.

As he engaged in numerous battles, the frequency of his encounters skyrocketed.

However, without any records of Hawkeye's life, Hayashi remained unaware of the current timeframe of his experiences.

Yet, he knew that Hawkeye's strength had undoubtedly skyrocketed after setting sail on the high seas.

Fighting against seasoned sword masters wasn't like bullying his peers; it provided valuable insights, unlike sparring with average swordsmen.

By absorbing and assimilating their combat experience, he gained a deeper understanding of the breath of all things.

He no longer needed to carefully grasp a faint breath before executing a precise slash; now, a casual strike was enough to slice an ordinary stone in two.

However, the breath of steel remained beyond his grasp.

But he didn't let that discourage him. He remained convinced that he could attune himself to the sound of steel breathing.

With his shadow clone by his side, he stepped out of his home and headed to the familiar valley. Today was like any other day - he had his daily tasks to complete.

As his swordsmanship improved, the system's challenges grew tougher. Gone were the days of mindless sword swinging. Now, he had to execute precise cuts with precision.

This month, the target was 300 cuts.

Hayashi stood by the gentle stream, gripping Shigure Kintoki. He fixed his gaze on the rippling water, studying every movement with intense focus.

He raised the sword and brought it down forcefully. In an instant, a fleeting white light flashed before him, signaling another precise cut.

On the stream's tranquil surface, a clean cut appeared, only to heal moments later.

As he stood there, the bamboo sword in his hand had transformed into a traditional samurai sword, its weight and balance feeling natural in his grip.

He began to swing it, the strokes sending ripples across the water's surface. It was a far cry from his clumsy attempts at sword fighting just a few months ago.

As he continued to practice, the mystery of 'cutting' began to reveal itself. His slashes were becoming more confident, more powerful, and more like the real deal - a flying slash that sliced through the air.

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Over the past year, Hayashi had gained a deep understanding of the template system. But he knew that mastering Hawkeye's template didn't mean he'd automatically possess Hawkeye's full strength.

The template's primary function was to grant him access to the One Piece world's power system, as well as the swordsmanship skills and combat experience of a seasoned master. It was designed to amplify his own abilities, not replace them. It was like a catalyst, allowing him to tap into Hawkeye's knowledge and experience.

Rather than simply copying Hawkeye's strength and swordsmanship, Hayashi chose to forge his own path. This approach ensured that his style remained unique, with the potential to surpass his predecessor.

To Hayashi, the template was a tool, not a substitute for his own growth and development.