I like to question things and that usually leads to my best theories. I personally consider the best theories as questions being asked by sophist. Follow that with evidence from the manga to back up what could be the answers to those questions. Not the conclusion that I want, but what actually makes sense. If the idea doesn't stem from something I question, it's not worth thinking about going further.
Well, an idea i've been sitting on is centered around Kaido and Orochi. Ever since Kaido's formal introduction, i've questioned his motives. What does he really want and why? Most of what he says implies that he wants to go out in some large battle with the strongest involved. A lot of this became weird when the Shogun was informally introduced. I questioned if the Shogun was a leader that schemed (Spandem) or was he powerful (Lucci). If it was the former, he might be taking advantage of Kaido. If it was the latter, he would be someone that Kaido respects to some capacity enough to partner up with.
As the story progressed into Wano, we don't see too much of why Kaido doesn't just kill Orochi and rule Wano on his own. We see Kaido echo the sentiments that Orochi tries to uphold. He tells his underlings to make sure the term "pirate" isn't used. This goes with the oppression and brainwashing that Orochi wants to keep intact. Why does Kaido even care about keeping the brainwashing and order intact?
We've recently gotten some of Orochi's backstory in Oden's flashback. This character that put the ideas in Orochi's head has been outside of Wano before. They said that by getting money and weapons, that Orochi can gain a massive backing power. Isn't this what Kaido has constantly talked about. Having someone for even more weapons. The Beast Pirates had it with Doffy, but now he's done. Jack was sent to find the next partner. May this next individual be someone who can help the Beast Pirates cover if or when they lose Wano? Save that for next time, but you get where i'm going right?
Kaido and Orochi seem like a weird pairing. You have an individual (that is now dead), who put these ideas in Orochi's head and helped him along the way. Kaido, who wants to die and wants a battle of the strongest or at least a war. What connected these two?
Another line of questioning is about Oden and Kaido. Out of all the Roger Pirates, why target Oden? He was the only one capable of translating the Poneglyph's text. How would Kaido know where to find Oden? Well, there are a few that know about Wano.
- the WG via Drake and Cipher Pol 0 have been here. Drake recently, so he's irrelevant, but i'm not sure of how long CP 0 have known about Wano.
- The Minks made it to Wano. Howthey got there was by chance
- This older women has been outside of Wano. She says that she has been out of the country
So, out of these, which was most likely to link Kaido to Wano? I think it was this possible Kurozumi lady that made the link and another individual that is connected to the Rox crew. I will go further and speculate that there is another outside force that is keeping this partnership together.
I questioned why we got Orochi's backstory along with Oden's. Of course it makes perfect sense to juxtapose their rise, but we have also been learning about the Rox crew. Rox was introduced 2 chapters before this arc in 907. Then that same crew was mentioned in the very first chapter of this arc. As we continue on in this arc, we have breaks where the Reverie's happenings are addressed. Oda keeps the audience aware of multiple things
- the Revs - first that the Admirals clashed with them, then somethings with Sabo and Alabasta
- the Warlords - first through Mihawk, then the end of the Warlord system
- Rox - in 907, Garp spoke on Rox in reference to Kaido/BM, then we were educated about the God Valley Incident. Sengoku even said to Akainu that this is too much of a coincidence.
- some of Wano - We got King and Queen's reveal, plus the SWORD reveal for Drake
I don't think Kaido and BM are the only Rox Pirates here. I think another is here and with the Clone Clone fruit user, was the key to the Orochi/Kaido partnership. The differebce is that this individual is still around, while the Clone Clone user is dead. Like Sengoku, I don't think this is a coincidence either. The way that he looked at Akainu was as if the WG was also aware of whatever mess was afoot.
Last time Shanks was warning WB about pulling Ace off the search for Teach. Now, he is warning the Gorosei of another pirate. I think this individual might have been the reason that Akainu was instructed by the Gorosei to lleave Wano alone. Akainu told Sengoku during ch. 957 and told Kizaru in ch. 907.
I don't believe that all of this is a coincidence. There might be a mastermind that put Kaido and BM together, as well as getting Kaido and Orochi in on a partnership. All I can say is that it's possibly a Rox member. I can't put my finger on who exactly. We know of Bakkin being a Rox Pirate long ago. I think the WG is highly aware of this Rox Pirate and that same pirate might have been part of why the Warlord System was shut down.
In conclusion, I think the WG was prepared to or was aiding a Rox Pirate outside of Bakkin before Shank's warning and the shutdown of the Warlord System. That Rox pirate, along with the the individual that got into Orochi's head about the Kurozumi, is behind Orochi and Kaido's partnership. It could be the Silver Axe, Ochoku, Shiki or maybe someone else. I can't wait to see how Oda handles this and what he's trying to tell us.