"Wake up! Training has begun!" Master Snow's formerly peaceful and reserved voice exploded into my ears, shaking me from my originally lax sleep.

I wasn't too startled, after all, my time in basic training taught me how to wake up early at the slightest noise. But at the same time, did he have to be so loud?

I cracked my eyes open just a little bit, only to see that the sun was barely coming up - it was obviously very early in the morning. I estimated it to only be two or three in the morning, but the day had begun.

"Hmph! The sun will be rising soon, which is when we will meditate. Before that, you must understand a few things." Master Snow stood above me, looking down with his long monk robes fluttering in the wind. I couldn't help but feel that he was at least somewhat cold, after all, he was only wearing a baggy kasaya. His bald head wasn't helping.

"You said training has begun. What exactly am I training in?" This detail still confused me, I didn't know what we were actually training in. I needed to become as strong as possible, as quickly as possible.

After all, I still had to catch up to Leon. And with my current strength and Haru's recent promotion to HQ - I needed a lot of work. Just this was enough to sharpen my mood and straighten my face. I became fully attentive to Master Snow, awaiting orders.

"Good. We will start with a bit of history, have you heard of the Yin Monks?" Master Snow seemed pleased with my attitude and began relaxedly pace back and forth.

"The famous Yin Monks of the Grand Line? Of course I have; they hold a nearly legendary status there. Don't tell me..." As soon as he brought up the Yin Monks, I felt my mind quiver. Master Snow was most likely a Yin Monk!

Yin Monks were an elite group of uniquely trained monks on an island in the Grand Line. On the island, they built Yin Dojo - the home for all Yin Monks. Despite the islands small size, it was definitely one of the most dangerous locations on the Grand Line!

Rumors had it that one of the four Yonko had once tried to conquer Yin Dojo and bring them under their control - to no avail! It was a world-shaking battle in which the Yin Monks forced the entire Yonko's crew into retreat, establishing their near untouchable status. Their power was nothing to scoff at, and even the World Government tried to recruit them countless times.

But, alas, Yin Dojo was adamant on being independent of both the pirates and the marines. They often times remained by themselves, removed from worldly affairs, to the rest of the Grand Line's relief.

If Master Snow was one of these Yin Monks he was definitely some world-shaking individual!

"Yes, I am a Yin Monk. Today, we shall start your training in my Yin Martial Art - be grateful!" These words shook me to the core. The Yin Martial Art was the fighting style of Yin Monks and was the reason behind their boundless strength. It allowed Yin Monks to directly control their own inner energy - to enchanting effects.

However, to train in Yin Martial Art, it was required that one didn't have a devil fruit. Yet even then, the powers of the Art often times compares with the strongest of devil fruits. Just this was proved by Yin Dojo's battle against the Yonko!

Yin Martial Art was Yin Dojo's number one secret, and only Yin Monks raised in Yin Dojo could train in it. For an outsider to train it was unheard of, so my shock was without a doubt understandable.

This definitely had Grandpa Satoru written all over it...

"Yes, as you probably know, this is unheard of in Yin Dojo. It is only because of a favor we owe Satoru that Yin Dojo is doing so. Be grateful, and give your Grandpa a thousand thanks when you see him next!" Master Snow shook his head, helpless. Even he had a challenge in front of him.

After all, the monks that trained at Yin Dojo devoted themselves entirely to the art - from a young age. To train an outsider without any background knowledge and training was incredibly difficult, especially to the level that I needed to be at.

However, this would only motivate me to work harder. I may have further to catch up, but who can compare to me in terms of work ethic?

"I will start by explaining and showing you the fundamentals of the art. But before this, you must swear to absolute secrecy! If you dare reveal the secrets of the art to another outsider, it will be our heaven-destined responsibility to take your head!" Master Snow expression suddenly became incredibly severe, staring into the depths of my eyes. I could feel a faint killing aura begin to leak out of him, which was more than enough for me to realize the gravity of the matter.

I had no doubt that if I revealed the secrets of the Art, Master Snow would kill me himself. My heart solemn and my expression grave, I agreed and swore to never reveal anything.

This oath only made me realize the extent of Grandpa Satoru's power over the world - enough to even make Yin Dojo spill its secrets. Just the thought shook my mind.

"Good. Now enter the meditative position. Sense into your body, and grasp at the life force flowing. This is the life energy Yin Martial Art feeds on...chi." As instructed, I sat down and entered a meditative state, sensing inside myself. I closed my eyes and focused inward, and began to connect with strange energy flowing through my meridians - albeit seeming kind of weak.

"This inner energy, chi, is replenishable and constantly reforms. For regular humans, it is almost never used to its true potential - except for extreme situations. But Yin Monks thrive upon this energy and build up large reserves of chi to combust. This combustion is the first fundamental skill of Yin Martial Art - Yang! Watch!" I opened my eyes to see Master Snow standing right in front of me. I watched carefully as his eyes seemed to sharpen into swords - forming a piercing gaze.

He was getting serious.

His hands clasped in a prayer-like stance, while a sudden violent influx of energy flooded out of him - whirling sand and even causing the sea to tremble. I felt my own body quiver as the wind thrust my hair back, and nearly my body along with it. Strange silver steam began to emerge out of Master Snow's body, climbing higher and higher, containing some sort of roaring passion. In fact, the steam seemed to boil the air around him - resulting in his incredibly fierce appearance.

The more silver steam that rose, the crazier the encircling pressure became, just from a glance I could tell that there was an immense amount of energy being released into the air - in the form of that silver steam. It felt as if Master Snow controlled the world at that moment, with endless momentum and power on his side.

It was incredible, to say the least.

"This is Yang. The burning of the internal chi in the form of silver steam or smoke. Although it serves no offensive or defensive purpose - it is required for every single move in the Yin Martial Art. The longer and more powerful you perform Yang, the stronger the rest of your moves will be!" Master Snow took in a deep breath, devouring all of that silver steam back into his body. The crazy wind and disturbed sand and sea calmed down as soon as it started. In only a brief second, everything appeared to return to normal. And clearly, from his appearance, performing Yang was as easy as eating to him. He wasn't disturbed at all.

It was without a doubt awe-inspiring. I couldn't help begin to feel a sense of fervid excitement; just from that small display of Yang, I could tell that this Yin Martial Art was unfathomably powerful!

'I will use this Martial Art to rule the seas and establish justice everywhere!' My heart roared out.

Watch out Leon - I'm not too far behind!