One Piece Chapter 1000 – Straw Hat Luffy

The winds of change began blowing on that day two years ago. And as it journeyed across the Grandline Big Mom ignored it. Kaido ignored it. And all the other opponents whom faced and lost to Straw Hat Luffy ignored it. Now the threat carried along with the wind arrives at the doorstep the Yonko and oblivious to their own arrogance, Big Mom and Kaido at the chapter 1,000 mark now understand how narrow-minded they may have been. The age in which they go unchallenged has ended. The titles they used to cast the shadow of terror are just that in the face of these new generation of pirates, titles. Sea and adventure have embraced a new generation of pirates. And the one at the front leading the new era is Straw Hat Luffy, the man who declares to surpass the Yonko and become the King of Pirates. Congratulations on 1,000 chapters One Piece!

[Theory] One Piece – Yamato: The Bonds Of Sea And Adventure (Nakama Theory)

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).

[Theory] One Piece – The Adventures Yamato Followed Through The News

I have compiled a list of images that details the news Yamato could have come across when following the Straw Hat Pirates journey from Luffy’s presence in Marineford to the events that saw Luffy releasing Yamato from their bindings imprisoning them for twenty years.

Edit note: it has been confirmed after chapter 1000 that Yamato began following the newspapers surrounding Luffy’s adventure after the Battle of Marineford (post Summit War). The disappearance of Ace’s vivre card led Yamato to inspecting the following days newspaper. Yamato learned that Ace was Roger’s son at that time and of Luffy being a pirate that was making a name for themselves. Post has been updated to remove the irrelevant points.

[Theory] One Piece – Yamato And The 3D2Y Moment

Edit note: Post updated with developments from chapter 1,000.

The 3D2Y moment is definitely an intimate experience that establishes a powerful bond between the members of the Straw Hat Pirates and the readers feelings towards the main characters.

But if we do entertain the possibility that there will be another character added to the Straw Hat Pirates in the future, what would be the next best thing to bridge that gap for the 3D2Y moment?

One Piece Chapter 999 – Yamato And Ace

The freedom to sail. The freedom to adventure. The freedom to dream. The freedom to live. Underpinning Yamato’s enchantment with the world is the ability to experience it freely. Through the stories noted in Oden’s journal, Yamato has become fascinated with what lies beyond the borders of Wano. From the age of eight, Yamato has been holding onto the dream of going out to sea and on adventures. The appearance of Ace not only allowed Yamato to bond with someone appreciative of their dream but also have information conveyed about the new generation of pirates making a name for themselves in the world. Through such romanticism for adventure and freedom, Yamato has come to know about Luffy and his prominence in Ace’s eyes.

One Piece Chapter 998 – The Tobiroppo: Ancient Zoans

Unleash and exceed. It is time for the Straw Hat Pirates to put their two years of training and their experience within the New World to use with the strongest opponents they have faced now standing against. Despite their initial attitude, with Kaido moving Onigashima, the Tobiroppo finally decide to take action and combat the enemies before them. Each and every single member of the Tobiroppo including the former member, X Drake, have transformed into their Ancient Zoan forms ready to annihilate any they consider an enemy.

[Timeline] One Piece – Ace’s Adventure

Edit note: Timeline updated with content featured up to chapter 1000.

Ace has become an extremely relevant character to the story of One Piece even with his death. It could be said that because of his death, Ace’s role in the story has transformed into an even more prominent one. Ace inspired both Luffy and Sabo and has become the driving force for both their adventures in the New World. Additionally, with the current events in Wano Kuni (as at chapter 987), Ace’s journey there 3-4 years ago is holding importance to the characters featured and the developments unraveling now.

Ace desired to help Tama and Wano Kuni when he was last there but presumably aware of his current strength at that time and his inability to take on Kaido, he departed Wano Kuni ensuring Tama that when he returns, Wano Kuni will be a country where she can eat all she wants. With that will unfulfilled, it now falls onto Luffy who has promised Tama that by the time the Straw Hat Pirates leave Wano Kuni, it will be a place she can eat as much as she wants, every single day. Considering how Ace’s adventure holds such an impact on the current events, it makes me wonder what exactly was Ace’s adventure like when he set sail 5 years ago?

[Theory] One Piece – Ace And Yamato

Edit note: Post edited after the contents of chapter 999 where we learn of the reason why the Whitebeard Pirates did not attack Kaido during the 20 years after Oden was executed. Contrary to my belief, the Whitebeard Pirates were aware of Oden’s death albeit a few years after the fact but their hesitance in attacking Kaido stemmed from their concern of causing more damage to the people of Wano. As a result, Whitebeard ordered Ace to not target Kaido until he gets stronger.

Ace arrived on Wano Kuni nearly four years prior to the current events. Most likely the Spade Pirates Log Pose directed Ace to Wano Kuni or they were knocked off course their usual route and became swept up in the currents that led their ship up the waterfall and into Wano Kuni. During their two week stay in Wano Kuni, Ace met Tama, Kozuki Oden (Yamato) and befriended the Amigasa villagers. Ace also learned of the problems afflicting Wano Kuni and left Tama with the promise that when he returns, he will transform Wano Kuni into a place where she can eat all she wants.

One Piece Chapter 984 – The Daughter Of Kaido

Wow. Just wow. Even though I expected such a twist, the reality of the twist subjecting its contours and possibility onto my psyche has me electrified at the potential avenues in terms of development this reveal just brought about. The thought (Yamato’s identity) crossed me mind. I entertained it shallowly but cast its existence into the realm of improbability in favour of a flow more coloured in “actuality” but the sheer fantasy of the possibility existed within my mind. How euphoric it feels, that something so delusional and unlikely has manifested itself into substance. I dare hope more possibilities guised under the veil of impossibility be more than what we as the readers are intentionally “misled” to believe.

One Piece Chapter 794 – Sabo’s Struggles

Will Sabo be meeting the rest of Luffy’s crew soon?

I had suspected that there was a genuine reason for Sabo not being at Ace’s execution trying to save him, but for him to have become amnesic after the explosion of his ship when he left the Goa King, I can’t help but see the convenience in that twist. Sure it is to be expected that an explosion and shock can cause a person to suffer memory loss, but in this case, it does feel a little too convenient that Sabo only managed to regain his memory after Ace had died. It is not a terribly illogical development, as the possibility had crossed my mind, but I was expecting something much more…surprising.