Nov
Nami might be the first Strawhats who we’ve seen use a “form of Observation Haki”, before they even enter the Grand Line.
Observation Haki is an amazing ability that allows the user to “feel” other’s presence more strongly, as Rayleigh put it. It allows, amongst other things, to determine where living beings are, to predict their movement and depending on how much it is enhanced to see into the future. Anyone can use Observation Haki but they must learn how to use and control it efficiently. Nami’s ability to read the changes in the atmosphere, the weather and predict what’s coming without any instrument whatsoever may not be the same but could be a guideline for her to learn to use Observation Haki properly!
Nami fights using science and intelligence! She has bested opponents who were stronger than her but she managed to outsmart them with ingenuity! Nami has several times used Mirage Tempo to make her adversary attack and/or positioning themselves where she wanted while preparing a counterattack. If she managed to learn to use Observation Haki she’ll have even more fighting skills and arsenal to defeat her opponents. Nami may not need Observation Haki to decipher the weather and the nuances changes that affect it, but being able to use Observation Haki will most definitely be useful.
One of the first times we see Nami read the change in the air was in Loguetown when she predicted that it was going to rain soon even though Usopp pointed out that the weather was too nice at the time (episode 51) and then forecasted the arrival of a big the storm (episode 52). But when the huge gust came surging through the streets of Loguetown she was completely caught off guard like everyone else most likely because it was not a natural occurrence and more possibly a result of Dragon’s mystery abilities (episode 52). Perhaps if she learns to use Observation Haki, in combination with the ability to read the weather, she will be able to sense these kinds of artificial wind surges and changes moments before they happen.
All in all, being able to use Observation Haki could benefit Nami in many ways, not just for fighting. Nami has shown us just how valuable it is to be able to predict some events before they occur during travels of the seas and outside of situations evolving fighting. Her ability to read and predict the weather is, in its own ways, very similar to Observation Haki. That would make Nami one of the pioneers amongst the Strawhats to showcase the use of Observation Haki.
NB: Currently the only Strawhats we’ve never seen use Observation Haki, at any level, are Robin, Franky, Brook and Chopper.
