One Piece Chapter 1044 – Luffy VS Kaido: Joy Boy Awakens

The hands of fate tick forward guided by the age ascending to the dawn. And with its ascent, it cast out reverberating waves of sound that embody the beat of drums carrying liberation within its breath. Empowered by this resonance, Luffy has reawakened and within his spirit so too the representation of the Sun. Joy Boy has arrived and the truth surrounding Luffy and the Gomu Gomu no Mi has come into focus. How will Kaido react to Luffy’s current state when he discovers that the opponent before him is the Joy Boy he is aware will bring the world to salvation. Instinctively, Kaido already knows Luffy is special. Relief colours his smile and satisfaction imbues his breath. All Kaido needs is proof that Luffy is Joy Boy. And Kaido will receive it in this battle.

One Piece Chapter 1041 – Hiyori: Tears Behind The Mask

A song carrying memories of love. A song conveying feelings from happier times. A song passed down from parent to child. A song embodying the void left within her heart at the unfair deaths cast onto those she loved. Kozuki Hiyori has had to hide herself and act as someone unlike her true self for 20 long years. In order to save her nation, she played the part required of her. Yet the only time a physical mask was worn was during the performance of a song so dear to her soul that the conviction steeling her heart could not keep at bay the sadness overwhelming her. Even a smile characterized by deception could not manifest itself in her heart during that song. A song that served as her final tie to her past that carried with it the love left with her. Through the song called “Moon Princess” Hiyori now sheds her metaphysical visage and embraces the truth of who she is in front of the one who cast her into such darkness. Orochi learns who Komurasaki is as death ascends ever closer.

One Piece Chapter 1004 – Tama’s Kibi Dango

As the Beast Pirates overwhelm the Samurai rebellion with sheer numbers, the likelihood of the raid succeeding decreases with every moment. Though unbeknownst to both parties, Tama has made herself a player within this war and took it upon herself to change the very flow of the battle with the assistance of Nami, Usopp, Komachiyo, Speed and the other Beast Pirates she had pacified. The pieces in play which the Beast Pirates expected to slowly devastate the rebellion are now being turned again them thanks to Tama’s Kibi Dango. Each and every SMILE user present on Onigashima are being rounded up and converted into allies against Kaido’s forces. What the Beast Pirates and CP0 thought to be an expected result is now rapidly crumbling into chaos revealing the ignorance consuming the Beast Pirates. Destiny beckons and the nine shadows begin to make their way into the light.

One Piece Chapter 955 – The Coming Of The Storm

And so it begins…

Crocodile felt it. Enel felt it. Rob Lucci felt it. Moria felt it. Hody felt it. Caesar felt it. Doflamingo felt it. Katakuri nurtured it. The Marines realise it. The World Government fears it. Whitebeard recognized it. Ace sacrificed his life for it. Shanks ignited it. Buggy is envious of it. Law supports it. Big Mom’s territory was shaken by it. And now that storm known as Luffy is targeting the strongest creature in world, Kaido, whom is seriously underestimating the threat this one rookie poses. And can bet such disrespect will undeniably lead to Kaido’s downfall.

One Piece Chapter 953 – The Komagitsune, Onimaru

Hopefully we get to see more of Onimaru in this arc because he is a cool character

What an interesting turn of events with Gyukimaru being the fox, Onimaru, a companion of the Daimyo of Ringo who passed away shortly after Wano Kuni was lost to Kaido and Orochi. Onimaru took it upon himself to protect the honour of all those who passed away in Ringo from having their graves disturbed by the Beast Pirates. He also took himself to see Kawamatsu’s mission through once Kawamatsu unexpectedly disappeared one day. For twenty years, he too has been fighting for the day when Wano Kuni can be reclaimed.

One Piece Chapter 952 – Hiyori And Kawamatsu

Are Kappa’s classified as Fishman?

Hiyori is quickly being built up as the secret weapon of Wano Kuni no one knows about save Zoro and Kawamatsu. Despite the prisoners of Udon rallying behind Momonosuke as the son of Oden, Momonosuke has no right to ask them to lay their lives down to save the world still fresh in his mind given his lack of suffering alongside the rest of them. As conveyed by Shutemaru earlier in the arc, just because they are figures from the past who the people of Wano Kuni once knew, that does not mean the people have to follow them. The fate required in the upcoming battle demands an ironclad level of respect and honour. Something which I believe Hiyori earned based on how she has been continually fighting for her family’s dream over the last 20 years.

One Piece Chapter 950 – The Heir To Wano Kuni

What it meant for the people of Wano Kuni to liberate themselves from the crushing shackles of Orochi and Kaidou

Even though minimal coverage has been focused on Kozuki Oden as a character relative to the Wano Kuni Arc, he has been established as an honourable and powerful character, one who cared about the country of Wano Kuni and wished for it to genuinely prosper both economically and socially. With his son now standing in his position foreign to the weight shouldered on such a leadership role, how will Momonosuke react to the responsibility and courage asked of him? From now on, Momonosuke cannot merely reside in the background and leave the mess in the Wano Kuni for someone else to clean up, he has to proactively lead the eyes asking questions of him to fight for their own freedom and future.

One Piece Chapter 946 – The Great Wall Of Big Mom

In order to open up the opportunity to defeat the Yonko at a later time, Luffy needs to learn to survive Big Mom

As expected Luffy has put his foot in his mouth and attracted the wrath of an enraged Linlin. Fortunately for him, Linlin has not seen passed his disguise and realised who he is but chances are high that Linlin will come to recognize who Luffytaro is once he escapes the Prisoner Mines. What I am curious about is whether Big Mom will retain some of her core kindness once she remembers and reverts back to her fully realised Big Mom self.

One Piece Chapter 945 – Big Mom VS Queen

Oh Linlin, you don’t even realise how terrifying that comment was

It’s on! The clash between two monstrous pirates has began and the stage is the Prisoner Mines. You can bet though that Luffy will be incorporated into the fight given Kid and Killer’s lives being on the line. You can also bet that Luffy will attract Linlin and Queen’s chagrin once he reveals that there is no O-Shiruko left because he ate it all up. The glorious, unexpected and unknown thorn in both their sides will continue to distress their egos.

One Piece Chapter 943 – The Despair Known As SMILE

Finally the truth behind SMILEs is revealed…

What tragic treatment of people by the representative who was meant to protect them. For the leader of Wano Kuni to treat his people as disposable as garbage, how utterly inhumane. I expected Orochi to behave in such a deplorable manner but even with that expectation, it is still hard to comprehend that a person can go through with such cruelty. Orochi knowingly included the failed SMILE’s in the left over food for the outer Wano villages and intentionally desired them to consume the fruits and have their emotions stripped away save for smiling and laughing. All because Orochi considered their grieving for their deceased loved ones an inconvenience and annoyance. How far will Orochi morally fall before he is satisfied?