Yamato Art by punkao (https://www.deviantart.com/punkao)
We are at the stage in the story where it becomes harder to consider new characters potential Straw Hat Pirates given the limited runway left in the manga. At the moment, no other character has been as closely linked to the Straw Hat Pirates and their end goal within the story as Yamato.
When you couple Yamato’s curiosity for the “Will of D” and Luffy with Yamato’s desire to sail the seas, their love for adventure and their awareness of Joy Boy and the “Dawn”, it seems apt to have such a character more closely tied to the Straw Hat Pirates and Law than not. And given Law’s interest in the history of D, he WILL be traveling alongside the Straw Hat Pirates to their next destination that involves further information sourced from the Poneglyphs and Road Poneglyphs (Robin is the only one who can translate the stone text for him).
Yamato has expressed interest in sailing the seas.
Yamato has expressed interest in adventure.
Yamato has expressed interest in Oden’s adventure (sailing the Grandline completely).
Yamato has expressed interest in pirates.
Yamato has expressed interest in the Worst Generation members (and Cavendish).
Yamato has expressed interest in freedom.
Yamato has expressed interest in Ace.
Yamato has expressed interest in Luffy.
Yamato has expressed interest in the Straw Hat Pirates.
Yamato has expressed interest in sailing with the Straw Hat Pirates.
Yamato has expressed interest in the “Dawn”.
Yamato has expressed interest in the “Will of D”.
Yamato has expressed interest in “Joy Boy”.
It hasn’t been fully expressed yet but by extension of the “Dawn” and “Will of D” comments on top of Yamato’s echo of “the One Piece” statement when Kaido and Big Mom mentioned it, it heavily implies that Yamato also has an interest in One Piece. Yamato also has an obvious reason to fight the Blackbeard Pirates – Ace. Another reason to stand against the Blackbeard Pirates could be developed when further information surrounding the Kaido and Rocks relationship is revealed. Rocks may have betrayed Kaido and if Blackbeard has inherited Rocks will, there is reason for Yamato to stop Blackbeard.
Yamato’s interest go well beyond those limited to just the Wano Kuni Arc:
- Interest in fighting alongside the Straw Hat Pirates;
- Interest in defeating Kaido; and
- Interest in opening Wano Kuni to the word in order to fulfill Oden’s dream
Once Yamato helps fulfill Oden’s dream (which Yamato inherited), they will move on to their dream.
Theories involving Yamato and their potential going forward:
Dream:
>>Why Yamato Will Leave Wano After Kaido’s Defeat
>>The Story Relevance Of Yamato
Story:
>>How Yamato Ties Into The Future Of One Piece
>>Yamato And The Lunarian People
Relevance:
>>The Unique Relevance Of Yamato
Role:
>>Yamato The Master Brewer/Zymurgist
Devil Fruit:
>>The Okuchi No Makami And Its Role As Guardian Deity Of Wano
>>Yamato’s Transformation | Part 2
Misc:
>>Onigashima: Straw Hat Pirates VS Beast Pirates
>>Yamato following the Straw Hat Pirates adventure through newspaper articles
>>Yamato and the Straw Hat Pirates
>>Yamato and the Oden Nitoryu Style
>>Initial impressions of Yamato
There are elements to Yamato’s character and story that give you pause and make you think about the potential Yamato has and how important they could be going forward – Oda has tied them into the important aspects of the story. No new arc needs to be incorporated within the manga to develop and push forward their story. Every single major story thread that the readers expect to feature within the future of One Piece has been made so Yamato heavily ties into it. When you think about it, the extent to how Yamato has been crafted to seamlessly fit into the future story of One Piece, you can’t help but wonder what Oda’s intentions for Yamato truly are. So much effort and care has been taken to establish a character that would have no problem existing within the future story alongside Luffy. Narratively, Oda has written so much momentum behind Yamato that it becomes hard not to take notice.
12Dimension 