[Analysis] One Piece – Why Yamato Will Leave Wano After Kaido’s Defeat

Looking at Yamato as a character, Oda-sensei introduced them in a very specific way that directed him toward Luffy. From the fact that Luffy was the person Yamato was waiting for to Yamato’s expression of wanting to travel aboard Luffy’s ship. There wasn’t much hesitation in Yamato’s mind about leaving with the Straw Hat Pirates once Wano was liberated and its borders opened. In order to make a case for Yamato remaining in Wano, the narrative would need to entrench Yamato and his desires within the plot threads of Wano but as at chapter 1049, that has not yet happened (potentially it still could). Rather, Yamato leaving with Luffy has only been reinforced.

[Analysis] One Piece – Kurozumi Orochi: The Mastermind Of Wano’s Ruin

Despite being Shogun, Orochi never sought to rule Wano, his intention was always to bring Wano to ruin while enjoying himself in the process. And in that regard, he was immensely successful. Orochi brought the Kozuki name to the point where it was ridiculed and vilified. When you really look at how Wano fell into devastation and had its peoples’ resolve depleted to the point of hopelessness, you come to recognise how systematic Orochi was in deconstructing the aspects of Wano that represented its identity. From the nations honor, to the pride of its people, to the symbolism of the Samurai and to the hope embodied within the Kozuki name. Orochi was the antagonist Wano created. And when he came into power, he desired revenge.

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.

[Theory] One Piece – The Story Relevance Of Yamato

Kozuki Oden had TWO wishes. One to open the borders of Wano and the second to assist the figure the world had been waiting for over the span of hundreds of years i.e. Luffy. It is pretty apparent at this point that Yamato has inherited the will of Oden and is currently fighting to see Wano Kuni liberated from Kaido and subsequently have the nation’s borders opened.

The battle which Oden mentioned would take place 20 years after his death was not just the battle against Kaido but also the battle against the World Government, the enemy which the Kozuki closed Wano Kuni’s borders to defend against. Yamato wants to fight on Luffy’s side. And such a desire will not only entail the battle against the Beast Pirates but also the inevitable battle Wano and those nations that align with their beliefs will have against the World Government when they become the target. Yamato’s wish to get stronger as he sails the seas before fighting in the war will manifest as they join the Straw Hat Pirates.

One Piece Chapter 1024 – Yamato VS Kaido: Spirit Of A Samurai

The fight rages. A father advances. A son weights through the multitude of emotions swelling up inside them. Illuminated by the light of a full moon, the two reflect back on their relations and expose their intentions through the actions they express. The future they each seek, conflicts. And present at such a convergence, they clash. As Yamato comes to terms with their father’s rejection of their dreams, he recalls memories of his past where he met people who not only believed in him but accepted him and his dreams. Yamato wants to be a Samurai and inspired was he by the legendary warriors that gave their lives for the future. Alongside Oden were the unnamed Samurai that saved Yamato. And on him, those Samurai placed their hope to carry their wills into the future where Wano Kuni could be saved. The burden Yamato chose to carry was not only his own desires but that of the nameless Samurai and Kozuki Oden. They believed in him and he has chosen to believe in himself too. The spirit of the Samurai burns radiantly within the resolve of Yamato.

[Theory] One Piece – The Chapter 1007 Oden

With the cliff hanger at the end of chapter 1007, someone who appears to be Oden enters the Treasure Repository where the Akazaya Samurai are located. Caught completely off guard by such a possibility, the Samurai could nothing but stumble back in shock and attempt to rationalise what exactly was taking place before them. Naturally, their emotions internally reacted with joy as conveyed by the tears of Kin’emon. Yet who exactly is the mysterious figure and could it really be the real Oden? Surely it can’t be considering the flashback that took place earlier in the arc where Oden was shot by Kaido as he collapse in the pot of boiling water. I also believe the figure that appeared in chapter 1004 to tend to the injured Samurai and this Oden aren’t one and the same.

One Piece Chapter 971-974 – The Heart Of A Samurai

In face of the inevitable end, the choice one has is whether they go out with a whimper or a bang and in the case of the Legendary Samurai, Kozuki Oden, the end was met with a blaze so radiant that the flames of his spirit burned within those witness to his end memories of a moment unforgettable. His actions, that were performed for the people of Wano Kuni, had their image perverted by narrations of malice through the schemes and hatred of Orochi Kurozumi. The will of his spirit didn’t end with his apparent physical death, instead it was carried through space and time in the hearts of many right through to the moment in the current time. The Kozuki will has been inherited and the wishes of Oden has been heard. The time has come for the country of Wano to be liberated from the chains of Orochi and for the Yonko, Kaido, to be defeated.

One Piece Chapter 818 – The Red Poneglyph

So the Poneglyphs do guide one to Raftel!

And so the story shifts back to journey towards Raftel and the dangers awaiting the Straw Hat Pirates in their path. The Red Poneglyph aka. “Road Poneglyph” serves as a guide to reaching the final point of the Grand Line, Raftel. Carved in four Red Poneglpyhs are the locations of certain points which when joined reveal the location of Raftel at the point where all the lines intersect. With one of the stones found, Nico Robin now needs to read the remaining three in order to find the location of Raftel. Easier said than done though as two Yonko each have in their possession a Red Poneglyph.