[Analysis] One Piece – The Okuchi No Makami And Its Role As Guardian Deity Of Wano

Zoan Devil Fruits have been charactertized in a different context relative to their Paramecia and Logia counterparts. Rather than just possessing and imbuing power, Zoan Devil Fruits also possess a will of their own and are able to express themselves in ways impossible for the Paramecia and Logia Devil Fruits. Due to having a will, inanimate objects or lifeless mediums possessing no will of their own are able to become host for the Zoan Devil Fruits such as guns, swords, teapots or gaseous slimes. Life is able to be established within these mediums due to the nature of Zoan Devil Fruits. Further, it is also implied that the Zoan Devil Fruits have some power over deciding who consumes them. The Nika Fruit evaded the World Government for over 800 years because it did not want to fall into their hands. With that in mind, could the Okuchi no Makami Fruit have chosen Yamato to be its user for specific reasons?

One Piece Chapter 1047 – Luffy VS Kaido: Battle Of Haki

Kaido came out and straight said it, no matter how powerful someone’s Devil Fruit, if their opponents Haki is stronger, they will be the overwhelmed. Both Kaido and Luffy possess Mythical Zoans and both possess Haoshoku Haki. They have been evenly matched and are now in their last legs in terms of endurance. What Luffy seeks to do is send one last attack Kaido’s way that is impossible to dodge and defend against. A fist so massive that it covers the skies and almost rivals Onigashima in size. Onigashima is in Luffy’s way and Momonosuke is tasked to move it before the hammer of Luffy drops.

One Piece Chapter 1046 – Luffy VS Kaido: Rhythm Of Liberation

Amidst the sheer outlandishness on display, Kaido can’t help but wonder who Luffy is and how the shift in his power and presence evolved since their first encounter. Kaido’s perspective of Luffy continuously kept transitioning throughout their encounters. From a rookie unable to truly comprehend the realms of an Emperor toward one who was capable of challenging the Yonko and pushing them to the brink. Kaido now recognises Luffy’s spirit and acknowledges the will he possesses as genuine. In conjunction with Kaido’s changing view, Zunesha too is having a reevaluation of their thoughts. Zunesha did not believe Luffy was Joy Boy when they first met during the Zou Arc but now after Luffy awakened Gear Fifth and the Nika Fruit, Zunesha understands that Luffy is the one who has inherited Joy Boy’s will. After over 800 years of separation, Zunesha has experienced the rhythm of his dear friend who could not accomplish the mission he began all those centuries ago. Zunesha’s heart danced to the sound emanating from Luffy inspiring them to put all of their hopes into Luffy. All those subject to Luffy’s awakening may view it from different avenues from they all arrive at the point where they are left in awe on what is on display.

One Piece Chapter 1045 – Luffy VS Kaido: Gear Five

After witnessing the sheer madness unfolding before them, both Momonosuke and Yamato should now realise who Luffy is and how necessary his presence is to the arrival of the Dawn. Yamato suspected it and believed in it. Now he is getting the confirmation that Luffy truly is the individual Oden had been waiting on. Momonosuke as well is coming to a realisation of how special Luffy is. By being spectator to the battle Luffy is having against the world strongest creature, Momonosuke and Yamato will arrive at a path that they will realise would need to be traversed on. Supporting Luffy will be the result of what they are both currently seeing. As for Kaido, he too will come to realise the freedom on display before him is the embodiment of “Joy Boy”.

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 1043 – The Return Of Joy Boy

After this chapter Yamato’s relevance has begun to touch the realms of essential. The path forward is very much set-up to be alongside the Straw Hat Pirates. As the story begins to embrace the significance of Joy Boy more, Yamato becomes more necessary as the agent of Oden who intends to assist the one the world has been waiting for. Dissenters can can disapprove. They can disillusion themselves. They can attach their hope onto something that may or may not manifest. But what they can’t ignore is the direction of the plot and the writing of Oda. Joy Boy has returned and with it a will spanning 800 years has been inherited by Luffy who now takes on such a role. No one expected this out of Luffy, except Yamato, who realised Luffy’s importance to the person the world has been waiting for after Ace’s execution two years ago. The pieces of information Yamato possessed in the form of Oden’s journal, the newspaper articles and even what little information they had from Kaido and the Beast Pirates, he pieced it all together to arrive at the conclusion that the one person capable of fulfilling the promise left unfulfilled by the ancient figure is Monkey D. Luffy.

One Piece Chapter 1042 – Luffy VS Kaido: Trauma Of Victory

Ever since the moment it happened, that event has haunted Kaido. Persistently. Relentlessly. And Continuously. The unearned victory he claimed over Kozuki Oden who represented someone capable of overwhelming him never embodied a victory within Kaido’s mind. Not really. Kaido’s anger following Oden’s defeat in the presence of underhanded tactics took the form of an execution carried out on the one directly responsible for the situation. Kurozumi Higurashi was killed. And now with the same scenario playing out in front of Kaido but with different actors, I don’t see the reaction from Kaido to be any different in regards to the one responsible for the intervention. Rather, the resulting consequence would be many fold more severe.

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.

[Theory] One Piece – The DEVIL Fruit Of Legend

With the revelation in chapter 1037 hinting toward a Legendary Devil Fruit that brought much concern to the World Government that they sought to hide it’s real name from the world and its history, certain elements in One Piece are now painted in a different light. Specifically elements that involve certain beings and Islands. Why did the World Government seek to erase this Devil Fruit’s name and why are they so afraid of it “awakening”? Do they fear this Devil Fruit as a weapon the Ancient Civilisation of the past used? The development leaves many questions but it also establishes the a very real connection the current events in the Wano Kuni Arc have to the wars engaged between the Ancient Civilisation and the World Government of the past.

One Piece Chapter 1037 – Luffy VS Kaido: Drunken Dragon

Living a life where death is out of reach can disillusion ones mind to the value of life. When every action remains free from the ultimate consequence, what stakes would matter in ones eyes? Death becomes a dream and boredom defines itself within the realm of reality. The strength Kaido naturally possesses diminishes any semblance of challenge from approach. The actions he has taken speaks to the longing raging within his soul. Kaido demands chaos. He seeks an escape. He craves to live. And the best form of defining a life is knowing that death walks alongside you hand-in-hand. Luffy has awoken Kaido’s soul and through it, an excitement long forgotten begins to reverberate across his being. In this moment, Kaido has come to feel the joys of living once again.