Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 8 - Onigashima)

[Syphin]

If Ace's spirit appears during the Fire Festival in front of Luffy and Yamato (and Tama), my heart will melt.

To be able to see his younger brother defeat a Yonko and make steps toward the "summit" of the Pirate World encroaching toward a destination targeted from the moment Ace and Sabo heard their younger brother's dream. Ace's deserves such an opportunity. Not to mention with Ace's spirit appearing, it would give him a moment with Tama where he can see the promise he made fulfilled. And it would also allow Ace to see Yamato FINALLY liberate himself from the shackles of his fears constricting his heart.

Luffy, Yamato and Tama's feelings toward Ace will connect and have a hand in bringing Ace to Wano Kuni if he does appear during the conclusion of this arc. Ace's spirit may even have a hand in Kaido's defeat.

[Zack]

Yeah. Just gonna post my opinion on Monet and say I figure she's alive too. She's not a character I care about particularly, but I'd be surprised about her being dead even under regular circumstances, but it's very obvious when Oda purposely draws a panel or whatever in a way to give himself an out. It was much more obvious in Zeus's case, but it's the same concept. That said, I don't really get the idea that this is something people can't let go of as if it's something that occupies the mind instead of just being an opinion when the subject comes up.

@Syphin:

If Ace's spirit appears during the Fire Festival in front of Luffy and Yamato (and Tama), my heart will melt.

To be able to see his younger brother defeat a Yonko and make steps toward the "summit" of the Pirate World encroaching toward a destination targeted from the moment Ace and Sabo heard their younger brother's dream. Ace's deserves such an opportunity. Not to mention with Ace's spirit appearing, it would give him a moment with Tama where he can see the promise he made fulfilled. And it would also allow Ace to see Yamato FINALLY liberate himself from the shackles of his fears constricting his heart.

Luffy, Yamato and Tama's feelings toward Ace will connect and have a hand in bringing Ace to Wano Kuni if he does appear during the conclusion of this arc. Ace's spirit may even have a hand in Kaido's defeat.

I don't think Oda will have dead peoples' spirit physically appear to people. It's clearly a trope the anime loves between Bellmere and Ace, but it's not something Oda's ever done. The emotional scene there will probably come from visiting Ace's grave.

[Syphin]

Fair point. It would be cool to have Ace meet his loved ones again though.

Regarding Monet, I'm not trying to convince anyone else to believe what I do, I was merely stating my opinion when I made a response to a post. It's okay to have an opinion that is different. I try not to engage in excessive discussion on this topic because I am biased and I am a fan of Monet's character. I have already expressed how I view Oda's handling of death in this post. More than an important present time named character seeming to be killed when real world logic applies, I look at whether Oda has set up a character to die or not i.e. if there is another character ready to inherit the will of the deceased present time named character.

One final thing I need to mention as it has been confusing me. But explosions were never shown to occur in the section of the facility Monet collapsed in during the climax of the Punk Hazard Arc. Out of all the places in the facility Oda could have positioned Monet to collapse in, he chose the safest place within the research lab at that time (if you don't push the button) which hadn't been breached by the Shinokuni gas and damaged like the rest of the facility. Even though debris was falling around Monet, the last update we had by Oda in the manga was of structure C being fine. Unless, I am missing something.

! 2 pages before Caesar attacked the block containing the heart:
!
Anyway back on topic, I wonder when that Octopus is going to show up again - that's another character I am obsessed with. Will it end up saving Momonosuke and Shinobu?

[Dany]

@Robby:

Week 3 Yamato's face looked too much like Nami's, legit criticism.

Week 43, not so much.

They're easy to tell apart now, Oda's subtly tweaked the design a lot so even the extreme closeups are different now.

And anything that's a medium shot or further there's no confusion at all cause then you see the horns and hairstyle and clothes and height.

Yamato still looks like Nami more so than any character ever has. Don't ask me to articulate it; she just does :ninja:

[Jabra]

@DynoStretch:

So assuming Yamato does end up becoming the final Straw Hat, this poses some questions about their role in the group.

What kind of job would they would have as a Straw Hat? All ten of them have some specified role on the ship, even Jinbei joining as late as he has, has now taken on the role of helmsman. What would Yamato bring to the table?

If Yamato can carve Poneglyphs then this is a done deal.

http://forums.arlongpark.net/showthread.php?t=54818&page=299&p=4122056#post4122056

[Coookie]

I do hope that the stonemason part is not going to just be ignored like the Fishman Karate dojo was. Oden was the last person we know of with the knowledge, if he hasn't left it in his journal it should be lost forever which seems unlikely and uninteresting to me.

[statu variabilis]

I for one have some issues with the stonemason idea.

Sure this is One Piece so my first gripe with it can easily be handwaved or have it simply work differently than real world but I just can't fathom how someone could learn to be a stonemason from a book. It's the kind of profession that IMHO can't be learned without actually practising it and if Yams has been practising it you get another set of questions about how where etc.

But secondly and more importantly I don't see the point of leaving any additional messages on poneglyphs. I might be completely wrong here but I think after we reach Laugh Tale the secrets of the world will get out in the open by whatever means. And if world learns what happened during Void century and/ or the will od D there simply isn't any point in leaving additional messages. And what would they even say? I can't picture Luffy caring enough to leave some message.

Also if they absolutely need to leave their own message they can always pull Roger and leave it next to poneglyph on some other material. ( like it was on the gold in Skypea )

[electricmastro]

@Robby:

Week 3 Yamato's face looked too much like Nami's, legit criticism.

Week 43, not so much.

They're easy to tell apart now, Oda's subtly tweaked the design a lot so even the extreme closeups are different now.

And anything that's a medium shot or further there's no confusion at all cause then you see the horns and hairstyle and clothes and height.

@Dany:

Yamato still looks like Nami more so than any character ever has. Don't ask me to articulate it; she just does

Honestly Yamato’s face doesn’t really look that different to me since Chapter 984. And I don’t think it’s legit criticism if you ask me, because I think it only really becomes detrimental to the reading experience when the entire design becomes too similar to other designs, like with the designs between characters in Claymore. If Oda is to be condemned as a bad artist for making female faces too similar, then I can only imagine how much criticism Yagi got for his designs as a whole.

[Jabra]

@statu:

I for one have some issues with the stonemason idea.

Sure this is One Piece so my first gripe with it can easily be handwaved or have it simply work differently than real world but I just can't fathom how someone could learn to be a stonemason from a book. It's the kind of profession that IMHO can't be learned without actually practising it and if Yams has been practising it you get another set of questions about how where etc.

The idea is that the hard labor in the seastone quarries of Wano is what enables someone to forge not only the seastone everyone is after, but also poneglyphs (seastone being harder than diamond, poneglyphs being nearly indestructible). Oden learned how to do it at age 9 because he was forced to work in those quarries as punishment, and the same could very likely apply to Yamato.
Not talking about Udon here, but the quarries where they get the seastone from (to craft stuff no one else can, like seastone nails).

So it wouldn't be like Yams was specifically taught to carve glyphs or that he is a secret master stonemason or something. Just that he earned the ability to carve material very few people can. So his "job" would be the chronicler, writing his own log like his idol Oden - while carving the Straw Hat's message would be his big moment at Laugh Tale.

But secondly and more importantly I don't see the point of leaving any additional messages on poneglyphs. I might be completely wrong here but I think after we reach Laugh Tale the secrets of the world will get out in the open by whatever means. And if world learns what happened during Void century and/ or the will od D there simply isn't any point in leaving additional messages. And what would they even say? I can't picture Luffy caring enough to leave some message.

Maybe it's a cultural thing, but I thought the idea to leave something behind at the destination of a long journey is quite common? Not talking about people leaving their garbage at Mount Everest or what, just the usual "I was here!" messages.

At least to me it's unthinkable that the crew won't leave their own message behind. Not something of great significance for the world, just a "we were here, we made it!" type of message.

And I go even one step further, Oda will use that moment as a payback to Kishimoto, who honored One Piece in the final chapter of Naruto. I don't know how the reference will look like, but there will be a reference.

!

(I know Oda already made a hommage chapter cover shortly after Naruto finished, but I'm talking about something as significant as above. Not super on the nose, but readers of Shonen jump will get it).

[Galleon Panthera]

@Robby:

That sounds like a story hook to me.

(And DID they get to Impel Down? Is that 100% confirmed? Jack attacked the ships that were transporting Dofla as I recall.)

Yes, they are in Impel Down, at least Donflamingo is. Chapter 906 confirms this. And as such, while Jack attacked the transport prison ships, he still failed his attempt to rescue Donflamingo, I mean, jeezz it had a former Fleet Admiral and a admiral on board in the form of Sengoku and Fujitora/Issho. And the next time you see Jack, he's bandaged up and angry because the newspaper falsely declared him to be dead. So in turn, that means the entire family got imprisoned as its only reasonable that they also got transported on the ships despite not being seen.

Unless they have the ability to survive in the sea seeing as a majority of them have Devil Fruit powers…:ninja:

[otakufan]

@Galleon:

Yes, they are in Impel Down, at least Donflamingo is. Chapter 906 confirms this. And yes, Jack attacked the transport prison ships, and failed his attempt to rescue Donflamingo. So in turn, that means the entire family got imprisoned as its only reasonable that they also got transported on the ships despite not being seen.

Unless they have the ability to survive in the sea seeing as a majority of them have Devil Fruit powers…:ninja:

Considering how many Baroque Works officers managed to avoid/escape capture following Crocodile's defeat in Alabasta, I'd say it'd probably be best not to jump to conclusions as to the fates of the various Donquixote Family members.

We know where Doflamingo and Baby 5 ended up. Anything beyond that is supposition.

[Galleon Panthera]

@otakufan:

Considering how many Baroque Works officers managed to avoid/escape capture following Crocodile's defeat in Alabasta, I'd say it'd probably be best not to jump to conclusions as to the fates of the various Donquixote Family members.

We know where Doflamingo and Baby 5 ended up. Anything beyond that is supposition.

According to chapter 792, Sugar and her fellow officers were arrested by the Marines. And seeing as we are speaking of a HIGH profile crime family's main members and not their thousands of random mooks, the only place they would go, would be Impel Down. Not some random holding cell at a sheriff's place. So no, Im not jumping to conclusions.

https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_792

And yes, I know, the wiki is a fan place site, but I know that some of the editors are members here, and Im pretty sure they wouldn't put down false information for the fun of it. With Chapter 1017 coming after the break, its exactly 225 chapters ago they were taken into custody.

[statu variabilis]

@Jabra:

The idea is that the hard labor in the seastone quarries of Wano is what enables someone to forge not only the seastone everyone is after, but also poneglyphs (seastone being harder than diamond, poneglyphs being nearly indestructible). Oden learned how to do it at age 9 because he was forced to work in those quarries as punishment, and the same could very likely apply to Yamato.
Not talking about Udon here, but the quarries where they get the seastone from (to craft stuff no one else can, like seastone nails).

So it wouldn't be like Yams was specifically taught to carve glyphs or that he is a secret master stonemason or something. Just that he earned the ability to carve material very few people can. So his "job" would be the chronicler, writing his own log like his idol Oden - while carving the Straw Hat's message would be his big moment at Laugh Tale.

Maybe it's a cultural thing, but I thought the idea to leave something behind at the destination of a long journey is quite common? Not talking about people leaving their garbage at Mount Everest or what, just the usual "I was here!" messages.

At least to me it's unthinkable that the crew won't leave their own message behind. Not something of great significance for the world, just a "we we're here, we made it!" type of message.

Huh, I guess I just never thought of it that way, I like that as an explanation as to why they can carve poneglyphs, tho I just always assumed it was a matter of skill / technique purely.

I might be completely wrong here and even if I'm not, this might just be a moot point, but I think Yams spent almost all his time, if not all, on Onigashima cuz of those cuffs? If I understood what you meant correctly? Anyways I think this really just me nitpicking and not really worth discussing much.

As for leaving message, it might be a cultural thing but it's not really a foreign (or strange?) idea to me. I like it and do think it could be a great moment in the series but I guess it just never occurred to me as necessary. Also this is prob a stupid thing to say after you offered leaving message on poneglyph as an option but if they leave something behind it wouldn't need to be a message on the poneglyph.

[Zik]

@Jabra:

Not talking about Udon here, but the quarries where they get the seastone from (to craft stuff no one else can, like seastone nails).

So it wouldn't be like Yams was specifically taught to carve glyphs or that he is a secret master stonemason or something. Just that he earned the ability to carve material very few people can. So his "job" would be the chronicler, writing his own log like his idol Oden - while carving the Straw Hat's message would be his big moment at Laugh Tale.

Maybe it's a cultural thing, but I thought the idea to leave something behind at the destination of a long journey is quite common? Not talking about people leaving their garbage at Mount Everest or what, just the usual "I was here!" messages.

At least to me it's unthinkable that the crew won't leave their own message behind. Not something of great significance for the world, just a "we we're here, we made it!" type of message.

And I go even one step further, Oda will use that moment as a payback to Kishimoto, who honored One Piece in the final chapter of Naruto. I don't know how the referene will look like, but there will be a reference.

! https://i.pinimg.com/564x/7c/e7/e9/7ce7e9eceb417e614ef41c9dd19a3521.jpg

(I know Oda already made a hommage chapter cover shortly after Naruto finished, but I'm talking about something as significant as above. Not super on the nose, but readers of Shonen jump will get it).

Probably will be a hidden leaf image on Laughtale or even mention of someone else who has been to the island innthe past with a name connected to Kishi or Naruto.

[electricmastro]

@DynoStretch:

So assuming Yamato does end up becoming the final Straw Hat, this poses some questions about their role in the group.

What kind of job would they would have as a Straw Hat? All ten of them have some specified role on the ship, even Jinbei joining as late as he has, has now taken on the role of helmsman. What would Yamato bring to the table?

While having a pretty unique weapon compared to the other main characters and being the offspring of an emperor is pretty significant; it would seem weird if Yamato didn't have, or not obtain, some kind of devil fruit to make their battle abilities stand out from the rest of the Straw Hats. What fruit power do you think would suit them?

Bodyguard is an interesting suggestion, in light of Luffy and Zoro having gone incapacitated and Yamato attacking Ulti for Luffy and defending Momo and Shinobu against Sasaki.

[Jabra]

@statu:

Huh, I guess I just never thought of it that way, I like that as an explanation as to why they can carve poneglyphs, tho I just always assumed it was a matter of skill / technique purely.

I might be completely wrong here and even if I'm not, this might just be a moot point, but I think Yams spent almost all his time, if not all, on Onigashima cuz of those cuffs? If I understood what you meant correctly? Anyways I think this really just me nitpicking and not really worth discussing much.

No this isn't you nitpicking, the theory is absolutely paper-thin and based on unresolved plot points:

What did the Government want from Orochi?

Was it Seastone?

Does it have anything to do with Wanoese craftsmenship, since Law commented on that delicate seastone nail?

Is the skill to forge seastone connected to carving other super hard materials, like Poneglyphs?

How exactly was Yamato's life in Wano? He was groomed to be incredibly powerful, beaten up numerous times and supplied with a yet to be revealed Devil Fruit. Throwing him into the seastone quarries at one point wouldn't be surprising. I'm not sure, but I do believe Yamato could move within Wano, not just Onigashima (he attended the Oden execution in the capital after all). Kaido limiting his freedom further during adulthood is also possible.

---

So yeah, there is no solid foundation for Yamato being able to carve stones, but I don't think it's a completely baseless assumption. If Oda wants an Oden-like figure around, that is.

As for leaving message, it might be a cultural thing but it's not really a foreign (or strange?) idea to me. I like it and do think it could be a great moment in the series but I guess it just never occurred to me as necessary. Also this is prob a stupid thing to say after you offered leaving message on poneglyph as an option but if they leave something behind it wouldn't need to be a message on the poneglyph.

It's absolutely not necessary for the crew, they won't be asking Yamato to be their Chronicler or the dude who may or not may carve some maybe existing stone at the maybe existing Laugh Tale.

But I believe we have to look at it from the author's perspective, an author who has to write the final station of a 30+ year long journey. It can't be just good, it has to be as perfect and as memorable as possible. Everyone present needs to be relevant in some way. And if Yamato were to join the crew, then the message-carver job would be his personal climax in all of this, his dream fulfilled.

[Monquito]

I think Wano as a whole has made a valid point in the existence of pirate apprentices.

We've seen bassically as many apprentices as doctors in Drum, or Carpenters in Water 7. Buggy, Shanks, Teach, Marco, White Bay, Oden himself, and probaboy Kaido with Rocks. Tama was even given the Shanks treatment.

Yamato tentatively getting it as an official position is not coming out of the blue.

[Zik]

I'd be cool with it but it'd be weird in a funny way.

28 year old super strong yet super naive pirate apprentice. If the parallels continue or just remain that might set up Yamato to one day be a pirate captain on his own way after the story is over sort of mirroring Shanks or Whitebeard or even Big Mom in a way.

[electricmastro]

Really though, would anyone else here be willing to go along with the idea of a bodyguard position?

[Monquito]

The greatest Pirate Crews out there ended up dividing in several, once their captain went gone.

Roger's produced Shanks and Buggy.
Newgate made Teach and Marco, several others went back to being independent captains, and White Bay did long ago.
Rocks made 75% of the Yonkou
The Sun pirates went three different sections with Jinbe, Arlong and Macro
The Charlottes are already discussing leadership once mamma goes missing, and there's already Chiffon Pirates.

I'd say at least Usopp and Yamato would end up making brand new crews resulting from the SH's separation at the end of the series.

[Zik]

@electricmastro:

Really though, would anyone else here be willing to go along with the idea of a bodyguard position?

Outside of chronicler being a little interesting to me for storytelling reasons and the narrative if it's not that w/e Yamato's official role becomes its no big deal to me.

I can rock with bodyguard even if its a stretch. Same with pirate apprentice or combatant (after Zoro is officially made 1st mate).

[electricmastro]

@Zik:

Outside of chronicler being a little interesting to me for storytelling reasons and the narrative if it's not that w/e Yamato's official role becomes its no big deal to me.

I can rock with bodyguard even if its a stretch. Same with pirate apprentice or combatant (after Zoro is officially made 1st mate).

The idea came to me looking back at how Luffy was told he was needed to conserve his strength, and this is in addition to when he almost used Gear Fourth on Ulti, which uses up a lot of energy as well, and may have contributed to why he ran out of stamina in Round 2. I suppose some say Sanji and Jinbe did well doing that, but I think it still would help for them to conserve their strength as well, and would help make for less bickering for that matter.

[Cockycent]

From a battle aspect, Yamato is there to cancel out the Fujitora and Jesus types of the arc like Sabo did. Aberrations and outliers like Smoker and Fuji won't always find reason to let it play out. There's the BM types that attack each side as well and don't let up.

[electricmastro]

@Cockycent:

From a battle aspect, Yamato is there to cancel out the Fujitora and Jesus types of the arc like Sabo did. Aberrations and outliers like Smoker and Fuji won't always find reason to let it play out. There's the BM types that attack each side as well and don't let up.

It would probably help emphasize on enemies that might get in Luffy’s way and lower his stamina in his attempts to get to the “main boss.” Some people tend to shrug off anyone who isn’t the “main boss” as fodder/pathetic/wastes of times that aren’t worth paying mind to, but along with what CP0 said, Kaido is definitely not the only one the rebels should be considered about even though Kaido is emperor and they’re not, and that I suppose it would help the Straw Hats if they had someone who had a dedicated position of tanking, blocking, and taking down enemies the captain shouldn’t waste energy on.

[Blowfish]

@black-leg:

Black Maria and Yamato are the same age, give or take.

My bad, I didn't realize that information was released, haven't been able keep up with finer details for a long time. But it's good to know.

I guess my main point is even if we don't get information on a Mother for Yamato or another inspiration mentor type , what we know now is sufficient enough to warrant passage on the Thousand Sunny. Do I think the relationship of Kaido and Yamato needs to be expanded through flashback even if minor to define exactly where the disconnect happens, definitely. Because if the implication is Oden's death is the catalyst, then even more it seems Oda banked on the Yamato backstory of being inspired by Oden and how he lived his life despite never directly interacting with him, finding his Journal and growing resentment against Kaido and his Operations, right down to meeting Ace and first hearing of Luffy.

It's pretty dense already.

@Zik:

I'd be cool with it but it'd be weird in a funny way.

28 year old super strong yet super naive pirate apprentice. If the parallels continue or just remain that might set up Yamato to one day be a pirate captain on his own way after the story is over sort of mirroring Shanks or Whitebeard or even Big Mom in a way.

I've suggested this is where Oda is probably going for awhile now. Especially If there is a Kaido flashback like Big Mom and Doflamingo received, I think we'll see that Kaido's beginnings were similar. Except he was surrounded by Monsters of equal if not surpassing footing in the Rocks.

[Monquito]

@Cockycent:

From a battle aspect, Yamato is there to cancel out the Fujitora and Jesus types of the arc like Sabo did. Aberrations and outliers like Smoker and Fuji won't always find reason to let it play out. There's the BM types that attack each side as well and don't let up.

Sounds kinds reasonable actually.

Sabo, Law and Kidd can only get so far in the series, and these extra forces keep coming up.

I'll add Thriller Bark Kuma to the list.

[freawaru]

How many more chapters is everyone predicting this arc will last?

One thing I think Yamato would be in dire need of before joining would be more interaction with the crew. I think it's been almost a year of real life time since they've interacted with Luffy, which was almost immediately after their face reveal. Other than that there's been like a panel of passing dialogue with Franky.

[Deicide]

@freawaru:

How many more chapters is everyone predicting this arc will last?

Considering we didn't even get the climax? Not any less than 30, and not counting the epilogue.

[wolfwood]

Since Oda seems deadset on shortchanging the strawhats i will hazard a guess on there being two volumes or less to go

[Zar]

101 - Yamato/Kaido flashback. If brief enough I can see some of the strawhats' fights tied up this volume too.
102 - All minor fights done, Kaido vs Luffy and Yamato.
103 - Kaido defeated. Big Mom either defeated or retreats. Momo turns dragon and saves the capital. Start of post-arc celebration, vol might end with the fire festival.
104 - Post-arc stuff, reveals, intermissions with other groups.

My guess. Lots of factors to consider, like if Oda's gonna have all the strawhats finish their fights in one chapter for a cool collage, how many fights will be off screened (Hawkins and even Big Mom feel like contenders) etc.

[Kishido]

After Yamato….will we close this thread?

[Shiebs]

So Yamato said he wants to sail with Luffy this chapter, so much for the whole he wants to be Momo’s retainer thing

[Coookie]

[Cockycent]

Just gotta hope Lufy doesn't deny him and redirects him to Momo duty. Luffy has a history of directing Yamato to Momo.

[Blowfish]

It's interesting that a lot of what was and can still be said about Carrot was created by Oda in a more if not abrupt, but thoughtful manner. Yamato's relation to Kaido and infatuation with Oden make that much more of a complex and interesting character. If you include how they can be perceived as naive and the whole being held captive from the world and even what they know about the New Dawn from Oden's Journal, it's kind of strange Oda decided to double down on that with another character when he had Carrot to potentially build on it with. If Yamato wasn't joining that is.

Not to say that Carrot's own narrative how it concerns the New Dawn doesn't carry weight but rather considering it's Oden whose driving Yamato compared to a Pedro, it just holds more narrative weight within the story comparable to the likes of Tom and Fisher Tiger, hell even the Rumbars at this point just because of how associated to Laboon is tied to the entrance to the Grandline etc. The Journal in particular is what makes it all so tangible, the fact they know Wano needs to be Liberated as opposed to just following the pack or that they have to sail with Luffy and his crew to bare witness to something in the grand scheme. Obviously outside of obsession with Oden, beating Daddy and a green spirited desire for adventure (sounds strangely familiar…) they have yet to acknowledge they're actively hoping to witness this but the mere desire to travel the sea like Oden did will definitely lead to the purposed new dawn as implied which I'm sure was implied in the Journal at the very least...

Consider this a lot of what became Yamato could've been applied to Hiyori's character and it would've made perfect sense , why wouldn't she look up to and emulate her Dad? In this case I think I would've been more convinced considering a Kouzuki sailed with Roger. But Oda found some way to make it even more interesting. The Daughter/Son of the Antagonist? Why create a character so intricate if she wasn't gonna join the main cast?

[ArmamentHero]

With this chapter… Yamato is a done deal.

Jinbe, a former warlord and now Yamato, the child of a Yonkou.

Strawhats really making all kinds of gains

[Deicide]

Chapter 1,016 confirms our next nakama!

ZEUS, of course! Or is it Watta/Cotton/Fluff now?

What? You thought it confirmed Yamato? Silly, there's still a lot to happen before that is confirmed. Yamato's desire is clear, but character arcs are meant to change character's views on things. His character arc is just beginning.

At least wait to see what happens in his fight with Kaido. Many truths can come from that, and some of them may change a lot of things about Yamato.

[otakufan]

@Deicide:

Chapter 1,016 confirms our next nakama!

ZEUS, of course! Or is it Watta/Cotton now?

What? You thought it confirmed Yamato? Silly, there's still a lot to happen before that is confirmed. Yamato's desire is clear, but character arcs are meant to change character's views on things. His character arc is just beginning.

At least wait to see what happens in his fight with Kaido. Many truths can come from that, and some of them may change a lot of things about Yamato.

Yamato's character arc still has a ways to go, but let's not pretend that this isn't a pretty clear statement about the direction it's heading.

[ArmamentHero]

We've already seen Yamato slowly but surely get away from the Oden stuff. He also just proclaimed in front of ole dad is intent to join luffy. Pretty much like how jinbe did it.

It's clear where this is heading.

[Syphin]

@Syphin:

…I also wonder if Yamato is treating "Kozuki Oden" like a mantle. As is common in Western "Superhero" comics, certain characters inherit the mantle of an identity/symbol from a past character that died, retired, moved on, or by other circumstances were unable to continue representing the mantle. Oden was Wano's superhero and Yamato has taken up the mantle and become Oden to finish what Kozuki Oden was not able to complete (opening Wano's borders and assisting "Joy Boy"). Yamato assumed a similar style of clothing as Oden (the "mantle"), and even refers to Oden's journal as their bible (The Bible - where the "take up the mantle" idiom originates from).

Beyond opening the borders of Wano Kuni, Oden also mentions that "the entire world awaits a figure ("Joy Boy")...and when that figure appears after an 800-year span, this country must be prepared to welcome and work with them."

!
Yamato twenty years later to Luffy - "…someone else has to carry on Oden's will!! That's why I choose to open this country to the world!! I want to fight on your side!!!"

From a certain angle, Yamato seems poised to continue working with the figure the world has been waiting for beyond Wano, especially when you take into account Yamato inviting himself aboard Luffy's ship.

Yeah chapter 1016 reinforces my belief in Yamato.

Chapter 984:

!
!
Chapter 1016:

!
It seems clear that Oda has set up Yamato to be the one to assist Luffy (who has inherited the will of Joy Boy) going forward into One Piece. Yamato holds knowledge (and potentially skills) the Straw Hat Pirates will need in achieving what Joy Boy and Roger were unable to do.

Yamato being one of the nine shadows also supports Yamato's character being continually relevant to story post-Wano.

[electricmastro]

Hmm

[Dragon D. Luffy]

Yamato gained a lot of points this chapter but him wanting to join the crew isn't really news. He was in the "at the very least it is a red herring" territory before, and still is.

Which is the highest territory anyone has been since post-timeskip, to be fair. There is no evidence Oda has even considered the possibility that Carrot or another character could join, while for Yamato he has considered it and made it a major plot point. Now it's either follow through with it, or subvert it.

[Zik]

@ArmamentHero:

With this chapter… Yamato is a done deal.

Jinbe, a former warlord and now Yamato, the child of a Yonkou.

Strawhats really making all kinds of gains

I thought this was obvious after the mention of Kaido's son and Yamato's reveal.

@Cockycent:

Just gotta hope Lufy doesn't deny him and redirects him to Momo duty. Luffy has a history of directing Yamato to Momo.

LOL

[Deicide]

@Dragon:

Yamato gained a lot of points this chapter but him wanting to join the crew isn't really news. He was in the "at the very least it is a red herring" territory before, and still is.

Which is the highest territory anyone has been since post-timeskip, to be fair. There is no evidence Oda has even considered the possibility that Carrot or another character could join, while for Yamato he has considered it and made it a major plot point. Now it's either follow through with it, or subvert it.

Yeah, my thoughts exactly.

I feel it's early to say he will join because he wants to, considering he barely had time with Luffy and the crew. Also, characters evolve over their arcs. Usually, new crewmates start not wanting to join, and end up joining because the experiences change their views or force them to reconsider. Yamato is eager to join, but could the experiences ahead change his mind? He's not following Luffy because Luffy showed him how great a person he is, but because Luffy is the "chosen one" in his opinion, and I find that a highly unpersonal reason to enter the "family".

Not saying it's impossible. At this point, Yamato is ahead of Carrot in my expectations (I felt she was ahead when Yamato was introduced, but he has quickly overtaken her position).

I'll form a better opinion when we start delving into Yamato's mind, but his backstory at this point is quite underwhelming.

–-----------------------

BTW, something called my attention this chapter: Kaido believes Luffy and Momo are dead, then say that Yamato should be focused on protecting what matters first. This calls me back to what I said in previous chapters: Yamato leaving Momo's side allowed Kanjuro and Kaido to threaten the kid, and also may have doomed Kiku and Kin'emon. I wonder if this trail of thought will keep coming back ahead.

[FelRes]

@Dragon:

Which is the highest territory anyone has been since post-timeskip, to be fair. There is no evidence Oda has even considered the possibility that Carrot or another character could join

I mean, there was that comment Luffy made about Sanji's wife becoming another crew member.

I'm sure that's still gonna go somewhere… right?

;_____________;

[Deicide]

@FelRes:

I mean, there was that comment Luffy made about Sanji's wife becoming another crew member.

I'm sure that's still gonna go somewhere… right?

;_____________;

Also people thinking Big Mom will just leave Wano because Luffy promised to return Katakuri that he'd return Tottoland to defeat her.

Character declarations can be hints, but shouldn't be taken as certainties.

[electricmastro]

@Dragon:

Yamato gained a lot of points this chapter but him wanting to join the crew isn't really news. He was in the "at the very least it is a red herring" territory before, and still is.

Which is the highest territory anyone has been since post-timeskip, to be fair. There is no evidence Oda has even considered the possibility that Carrot or another character could join, while for Yamato he has considered it and made it a major plot point. Now it's either follow through with it, or subvert it.

I mean, Luffy gave Yamato freedom and she’s willing to challenge an Emperor for Luffy’s sake. I think that can provide a pretty strong basis for the start of a potential friendship.

[Dragon D. Luffy]

@FelRes:

I mean, there was that comment Luffy made about Sanji's wife becoming another crew member.

I'm sure that's still gonna go somewhere… right?

;_____________;

I actually hope we get a scene of Sanji going back to WCI and grabbing his bride to take her to the sea in the manga's epilogue, tbh.

Anyone has read Heroes of Olympus (Percy Jackson's sequel series)? There is a scene at the end of it that does exactly that. It's a giant example of pandering to fans, but it's so satisfying.

[ArmamentHero]

I can understand the 'red herring's argument, but I think Oda is just being straightforward here, like he was with Brook for example.

[Dragon D. Luffy]

Oh I'm 90% sold on Yamato myself. Oda just isn't the type of guy who does red herrings a lot overall.

I feel like this is going to turn into a 100% as soon as we get the flashback, similarly to Brook too.

Heck, the amount of work Oda puts in Yamato's DF appearance is going to be a big hint on how serious he is about it.