Next Straw Hat Crewmates (Vol. 7 - Wano)

[Robby]

As far as Oda's goals go. This is the same person that told his wife that OP would be done by 2014, so do we have to go over how these goals work again?

Yes, and its also the same guy that said "a crewmate will die next year" during SKypeia when Water 7 ran for three years. And who thought originally the series would be only 5 years. Obviously Oda is bad at predicting his pacing, we all know that.

But he's been giving increasingly closer estimates along the way. We hit the red line in 2008 and it was half way, (before the war and timeskip which took two years) and he's said 60% in 2012, 65-70% in 2015, 80% in 2018, and now "five years to go" pretty recently, multiple times. We've speculated over the years if those percentages mean in terms of chapters or years or arcs, but whatever they mean to Oda, he has been steadily getting closer to the end in his predictions. He's been basically on track to go for roughly 1200 chapters/120 volumes for a LONG time given all estimations, and still seems roughly on track for that, if a little bit further now, maybe 1250 or 1300. (Mostly on account of Cake Island going longer than expected.) But Wano is probably going to be a 2 year arc, rather than a 3 year battle extravaganza like was once expected, and the rest of the places we know of can probably be handled in 6 months-1 year each until the finale.

I don't think he's going to manage it in 5 years, there's too much left especially given his regular breaks. And I have no doubt the final war could end up scaling out of his control and take five or six years by itself. But he's said it multiple times now including correcting his editor, and a LOT of things he's doing in the actual story indicate ramp up to the actual end. He IS getting to that point and its starting to show in the story and how he's approaching things.

Oda doesn't know how long the story will be in pages, but he knows how long the story is in terms of things that still need to be done and his rough idea of how long those take and he seems to think he's getting to the end, so we should start believing him.

[Shiebs]

Getting back to that Straw Hats vs Black Beard talk, do you guys think that Shiryu's sword style will be anything like Takeshi Yamamoto from Katekyo Hitman Reborn? That's what I always think of when I read his epithet Shiryu of the rain

that being said, it would probably be stupid to use water with your fighting style when you have a devil fruit

[Cockycent]

@Robby:

Yes, and its also the same guy that said "a crewmate will die next year" during SKypeia when Water 7 ran for three years. And who thought originally the series would be only 5 years. Obviously Oda is bad at predicting his pacing, we all know that.

But he's been giving increasingly closer estimates along the way. We hit the red line in 2008 and it was half way, (before the war and timeskip which took two years) and he's said 60% in 2012, 65-70% in 2015, 80% in 2018, and now "five years to go" pretty recently, multiple times. We've speculated over the years if those percentages mean in terms of chapters or years or arcs, but whatever they mean to Oda, he has been steadily getting closer to the end in his predictions. He's been basically on track to go for roughly 1200 chapters/120 volumes for a LONG time given all estimations, and still seems roughly on track for that, if a little bit further now, maybe 1250 or 1300. (Mostly on account of Cake Island going longer than expected.) But Wano is probably going to be a 2 year arc, rather than a 3 year battle extravaganza like was once expected, and the rest of the places we know of can probably be handled in 6 months-1 year each until the finale.

I don't think he's going to manage it in 5 years, there's too much left especially given his regular breaks. And I have no doubt the final war could end up scaling out of his control and take five or six years by itself. But he's said it multiple times now including correcting his editor, and a LOT of things he's doing in the actual story indicate ramp up to the actual end. He IS getting to that point and its starting to show in the story and how he's approaching things.

Oda doesn't know how long the story will be in pages, but he knows how long the story is in terms of things that still need to be done and his rough idea of how long those take and he seems to think he's getting to the end, so we should start believing him.

I'm not buying that he is being consistent recently and that is the difference between our perception.

• Why mention a mastermind for with Dragon, when you know Reverie is approaching?
• Why even mention the prisoners in post timeskip at all?
• Why keep the products, hierarchy and services from the Underworld in the narrative so heavily, if there's a chance it might not mean anything?
• Why run the Royals narrative and how they operate along with much bigger narratives like Warlords, Sabo, Alabasta and Rocks?

There's nothing wrong with you taking that bait. I see it as 2 birds with 1 stone. He can have a Seducing Woods or Luffy and Fleet running for a 5-9 chapters in any future arc, while many are more okay with it because they are of the belief that it's almost over.

I do feel like it's neither chapter count nor arcs or years. I think there's certain plot points that he has made before and during the story that when he hits them, he feels that he's reached a percentage in the story.

An example would be ending the war as 45% and it's a point that he created before or during publication. He's just filling in the gaps, but at times might enter something into the story that might extend it and bring new life into other narratives.

@Shiebs:

Getting back to that Straw Hats vs Black Beard talk, do you guys think that Shiryu's sword style will be anything like Takeshi Yamamoto from Katekyo Hitman Reborn? That's what I always think of when I read his epithet Shiryu of the rain

that being said, it would probably be stupid to use water with your fighting style when you have a devil fruit

If it is that, seems more about the style in his way of moving like water. It doesn't have to be actual water

[Shiebs]

@Cockycent:

If it is that, seems more about the style in his way of moving like water. It doesn't have to be actual water

So more like the main character from Demon Slayer

[Cockycent]

@Shiebs:

So more like the main character from Demon Slayer

Yeah, that seems like a cultural thing. This is why I get triggered when people call certain things manga or anime. They have history and traditions that they implement into their stories, but certain people just dub their cartoons as "anime" for marketing purposes.

Things like Kitsune and swordsmanship is embedded in their culture and it is applied in many works by different mangaka. Demon Slayer fleshes it out more because so many characters have detailed ways into how they move and breathe to respond in battle.

Zoro might have experienced something in his training that can be complimented by however Kinemon generates fire. I remember Kaku actually seeing something when Zoro performed Asura.

[Monquito]

So since we were having quite fun with it, this is the current matchings I have in mind so far;

Luffy-Teach
Zoro-Shillew
Nami-Devon
Usopp-Auger
Sanji-Pizarro
Chopper-Doc Q
Robin-Mystery Titan
Franky-Vasco
Brook-Laffite
Jinbro-Burguess
Sunny-Wolf

I'm just a bit troubled with Vasco and Mystery Titan, cause we know little to zero stuff from them but hopefully Mystery Titan give us 'Robin versus' vives upon introduction.
As for San Juan Wolf, as long as the series keep failing to introduce a new strawhat, that´ll be on Sunny(stop resisting it),the nickname Colossal Battleship and the lion/wolf themes foreshadow it good enough to me.

up to read about your matchings guys

[Shiebs]

I think Sanji and Jinbei are either gonna fight Jesus Burgess or Vasco Shot, I have no idea who will end up fighting who but those are definitely the most likely match ups

Also we still have one straw hat and one black beard pirate member missing so things could always change

So
Luffy vs Teach
Zoro vs Shiryu
Sanji/Jinbei vs Jesus/Vasco
Usopp vs Auger
chopper vs Doc Q
Nami vs Devon
Brook vs Laffite
Robin vs Pizarro
Franky and the Sunny vs Wolf
Last straw hat member vs last black beard member

[Yxenz]

Wouldn't it be fitting that the disinherited Prince fought the corrupted King? I mean, we don't have so much information about Alvaro Pizarro as to state this, but he could fight Sanji. Otherwise, I see Robin fighting this dude dunno why.

As for the next crewmate, now I don't see anyone by now. I would like Carrot but I just don't see it. And if there is actually another BB captain aside from Aokiji, this could be just as when the crew faced CP9 and Luffy took on both Blueno and Lucci. He could also take on two of the BBs, though that's not what I'd like, I believe it's possible.

[MiyamotoMusashi]

@Yxenz:

Wouldn't it be fitting that the disinherited Prince fought the corrupted King? I mean, we don't have so much information about Alvaro Pizarro as to state this, but he could fight Sanji. Otherwise, I see Robin fighting this dude dunno why.

As for the next crewmate, now I don't see anyone by now. I would like Carrot but I just don't see it. And if there is actually another BB captain aside from Aokiji, this could be just as when the crew faced CP9 and Luffy took on both Blueno and Lucci. He could also take on two of the BBs, though that's not what I'd like, I believe it's possible.

Aokiji is not a titanic captain, the last one is unknown.

[Yxenz]

Well that's more or less what I implied, though it's not the point of anything that I said. Even if it's not confirmed, I think just as you tho.

[Shiebs]

I still think the last straw hat will be one of the two races Big Mom says she doesn’t have in tot land (technically she said three but we know one of those is Giants, and we already have some of those in the grand fleet)

Maybe Faires?

[Cockycent]

Outside of Brook and Jinbei, Nami and Usopp are the closest to being "pirates" before joining. The last 2 members have been really experienced and Oda may or may not continue this pattern. Out of the 4 possible next nakama, I feel like Pekoms has the most pirate experience.

Carrot - Was a pirates for less than a week
Pekoms - been a BM pirate for long time
Raizo - was never a pirate
Kiki - same as Raizo

[Shiebs]

@Cockycent:

Outside of Brook and Jinbei, Nami and Usopp are the closest to being "pirates" before joining. The last 2 members have been really experienced and Oda may or may not continue this pattern. Out of the 4 possible next nakama, I feel like Pekoms has the most pirate experience.

Carrot - Was a pirates for less than a week
Pekoms - been a BM pirate for long time
Raizo - was never a pirate
Kiki - same as Raizo

I feel like the last crew member will be someone who already has a bounty on them, so either Pekoms or someone we’ve never seen before

unless my dream of either Crocodile or Moria joining happens which I would say is not very probable

[kevo_koma]

I genuinely think, Jinbei will be/is the last member to join the SH.

Think about it, we are in the endgame now and Jinbei has never officially met the entire crew as a crew member.

After Wano we will barely have anytime with the Straw Hats together, again. So Jinbei just won't have time to become established as a member if Oda introduced a new crew member.

[Shiebs]

@kevo_koma:

I genuinely think, Jinbei will be/is the last member to join the SH.

Think about it, we are in the endgame now and Jinbei has never officially met the entire crew as a crew member.

After Wano we will barely have anytime with the Straw Hats together, again. So Jinbei just won't have time to become established as a member if Oda introduced a new crew member.

I disagree, Luffy said in the beginning he wanted 10 crew members, and Black Beard, the evil version of Luffy’s crew, has 10 members too

Plus there’s still a lot of loose ends story wise, we have plenty of adventures left, there’s more than enough time for one more crewmate

[Kishido]

Yup back in the past I thought we will get 9 nakamas but with BB having a tenth I changed my mind.

But have no clue who.

Pudding should join and make babies on the ship like Oden and Toki

[FelRes]

Pudding still makes more sense than anyone in Wano tbh

[Monquito]

@Shiebs:

there’s more than enough time for one more crewmate

No there isn't, Mr Strange do the honors please

[wolfwood]

https://open.spotify.com/track/3GCpEbJzknVdpvx9WI03x3?si=TJZRINPuShWNpS25Sd2E5w

The theme song for all the new nakamates.

That mysterious new girl could still be out there.

[Johnny B. Decent]

Maybe Pudding's half sister from Three-Eye Island? :ninja:

[Shiebs]

@Monquito:

No there isn't, Mr Strange do the honors please

https://media1.tenor.com/images/4a9ab37a73e888867267c16b700ec3dd/tenor.gif?itemid=14938794

I have been hearing "were in the end game" for waaaaaay to long to take it seriously

there still at least 8 to 10 years left which is plenty for a crewmember to join

[Kdom]

8-10 years means ~4 arcs with the lengthy ones whe have nowadays so it is not that plenty
And if Aokiji is the 10th Blackbeard member, will he really be an opponent to the Strawhat ?

[Shiebs]

@Kdom:

8-10 years means ~4 arcs with the lengthy ones whe have nowadays so it is not that plenty
And if Aokiji is the 10th Blackbeard member, will he really be an opponent to the Strawhat ?

a decade isn't enough time to build a main character? it shouldn't matter how many arcs, 8 to 10 years is plenty of time to make us fall in love with a character

and also I don't think aokiji is the last BB titan, When Jesus Burgess was introduced they said Black Beard had 10 Titans, and they were still arguing if Aokiji should be allowed to join, why would they be arguing about that then and there if he was already know throughout the world as one of there 10 Titans? and Oda specifically told us in the databook all the Black Beard pirate members divisions the only one not named was the 10th division commander, but despite all the BB members having there division listed on there card Aokiji's said nothing of the sort

[Robby]

@Monquito:

No there isn't, Mr Strange do the honors please

[qimg]https://media1.tenor.com/images/4a9ab37a73e888867267c16b700ec3dd/tenor.gif?itemid=14938794[/qimg]

There's still years and years left. Oda says 5 and I can't believe it'll be less than 8 unless he REALLY rushes. (but with current pacing I do believe 8 now, rather than say, 10-13.) That'll be easier to judge when we see how long it takes to wrap up Wano, but thats probably at least a year of fighting ahead plus some wrap up after. MAYBE it'll be close to wrapping at chap 1000 but that seems pretty fast given its already had 60 chapters of setup, (including 10 chap flashback) 30 for the climax seems short. If it take another year and a half or two years, that'll change all actual endgame estimates, same way the Big Mom arc taking 2 years instead of 1 did.

And we're not to the endgame yet. There's at least Elbaf still to go before Raftel and then the War.

Plus I keep saying it'd be really weird if Oda let us know the entire course of the series 15 years in advance, there's probably at least one more surprise location we know nothing about. One more Thriller Bark or Sabondy before getting to the promised locale.

[Monquito]

@Robby:

There's still years and years left. Oda says 5 and I can't believe it'll be less than 8 unless he REALLY rushes. (but with current pacing I do believe 8 now, rather than say, 10-13.) That'll be easier to judge when we see how long it takes to wrap up Wano, but thats probably at least a year of fighting ahead plus some wrap up after. MAYBE it'll be close to wrapping at chap 1000 but that seems pretty fast given its already had 60 chapters of setup, (including 10 chap flashback) 30 for the climax seems short. If it take another year and a half or two years, that'll change all actual endgame estimates, same way the Big Mom arc taking 2 years instead of 1 did.

And we're not to the endgame yet. There's at least Elbaf still to go before Raftel and then the War.

Plus I keep saying it'd be really weird if Oda let us know the entire course of the series 15 years in advance, there's probably at least one more surprise location we know nothing about. One more Thriller Bark or Sabondy before getting to the promised locale.

Years to go yes.
Arcs to go… Not so many.

Each of the Yonkou is in the move right now, one Yonkou will be down at the end of this, the marines are on the move too, and Luffy will be one RP away from knowing where Laugh Tale is, not to mention Neko might just be carrying said info right now.
Thats all Endgame stuff really.

[Cockycent]

If you find the One Piece, there's something after that. What is it that the Roger Pirates couldn't accomplish?

Kaido is about to lose Wano, Warlord system done, Elbaf, whatever Im has going on, Sabo, Alabasta, how the Royals deal with each other. So many more things to close up and we have more questions than answers.

The SH crew will have to find the next PG and deal with so much more. Follow that with finding the OP. After that, they're still not done because there's more to it that not even the Roger Pirates achieved.

Post Yonko Saga seems more like a new beginning than the endgame. A weapon that we know nothing about is still out there. At any moment, Oda can get inspired and introduce something that flips the series on it's head. I'm being told that it's impossible to do that because recent statements. I go by the story because what he says to even his wife isn't in stone.

[Jmena]

@Cockycent:

If you find the One Piece, there's something after that. What is it that the Roger Pirates couldn't accomplish?

Kaido is about to lose Wano, Warlord system done, Elbaf, whatever Im has going on, Sabo, Alabasta, how the Royals deal with each other. So many more things to close up and we have more questions than answers.

The SH crew will have to find the next PG and deal with so much more. Follow that with finding the OP. After that, they're still not done because there's more to it that not even the Roger Pirates achieved.

Post Yonko Saga seems more like a new beginning than the endgame. A weapon that we know nothing about is still out there. At any moment, Oda can get inspired and introduce something that flips the series on it's head. I'm being told that it's impossible to do that because recent statements. I go by the story because what he says to even his wife isn't in stone.

That's true… it feels more like the beginning of a new era rather than the end of the series XD

[.access timeco.]

Regardless of how much content we think One Piece still has, the fact is that Oda himself is trying to finish the thing. There's a lot of meaning in Oda stating that he intends to finish the manga in 5 years, but people brush it over as "he is always wrong at his predictions". Will he manage to do that? Doubtfully, but that's not what is important in that statement. The true meaning of that statement is not how many years One Piece will take to be finished, but that Oda is already working with his eyes set on the end of the manga.
The disposition he has shown in that interview is different from anything in the past, it's very clear in his very eyes (and is him, not us, who know what the manga still holds) we are now entering the final portions of One Piece, not starting something new.

[Cockycent]

Hope that disposition is stronger than his urge to introduce new things

[wolfwood]

The people versus Oda rages on i see

[.access timeco.]

To be honest, since WCI arc Oda is giving me a clear feeling of "I want to get there asap" with "there" being all the big events he planned for said arc or for the big story and get everything tied up. He seems to focus a lot on those while rushing through the small details and intricacies of each arc unlike what he used to do (and the result is that the sideplots started relying a lot more on contrived coincidences). So finding out he actually has the end in sight was really fitting, it perfectly matches the feeling the manga itself has been giving (at least in my eyes) for the past few years.

[Monquito]

Most if not all of the stuff you guys claim to be 'too much to go', could easily be covered in Elbaf, LodeStar and Laugh Tale really.

[Robby]

@Monquito:

Most if not all of the stuff you guys claim to be 'too much to go', could easily be covered in Elbaf, LodeStar and Laugh Tale really.

Sure. But stuff like Shanks, Vegapunk, Revolutionaries, etc. getting into those same arcs will obviously… make them longer.

Doesn't matter if Oda puts all the stuff in one place, its still all the stuff that still needs to be adressed. He can skim and go lightly on things we assume should take time, Elbaf might be a quick 10 chapter arc like Amazon Lilly... but after all this time I don't thik Oda can help himself. Especially if the myriad of Big Mom plots are all still tied to Elbaf.

[Monquito]

@Robby:

Sure. But stuff like Shanks, Vegapunk, Revolutionaries, etc. getting into those same arcs will obviously… make them longer.

Doesn't matter if Oda puts all the stuff in one place, its still all the stuff that still needs to be adressed. He can skim and go lightly on things we assume should take time, Elbaf might be a quick 10 chapter arc like Amazon Lilly... but after all this time I don't thik Oda can help himself. Especially if the myriad of Big Mom plots are all still tied to Elbaf.

yeah but none of that adresses to a new crewmate in particular.

Assuming LodeStar and Laugh Tale are not inhabitated, and that the next stuff we know of it's a big war in which Luffy has to invade Mariejoas(cause yo' kno he got to wreck Fishmen Island and is just right below) and all those characters in Mariejoas and Fishmen Island are all well known and unlikely to join the SH´s.
chances are super slim now.

[.access timeco.]

I still dream of a better reality where Caesar joined as the last SH.

[Robby]

@Monquito:

Assuming LodeStar and Laugh Tale are not inhabitated,

Guessing that they're going to get to a new island and then have no one new to interact with there is a strange assumption to make when that's never happened before..

Also they might skip Lode Star since they already know about the need for a map to Raftel unless its a requires stop.

[Johnny B. Decent]

@Robby:

Guessing that they're going to get to a new island and then have no one new to interact with there is a strange assumption to make.

Also they might skip Lode Star since they already know about the need for a map to Raftel unless its a requires stop.

I think it will, if Roger's words mean anything. Like, it's where you go to use the RP to make the X where Laugh-Tale is?

[Shiebs]

We’ve literally never been to an inhabited island in the entire series, and now all of the islands we go to will be? Unlikely

[Robby]

@Johnny:

I think it will, if Roger's words mean anything. Like, it's where you go to use the RP to make the X where Laugh-Tale is?

No. The last stop is just where you find out you need map pieces, which in theory requires a second trip. Once you have those four pieces they make an X which marks the spot.

On Zou they specifically said "we're telling you that part in advance, so it's not needed for you get to Raftel."

We might visit it anyway cause its the next to last island, but its in no way required after Zou skipped a step.

[Monquito]

@Shiebs:

We’ve literally never been to an inhabited island in the entire series, and now all of the islands we go to will be? Unlikely

Little Garden and that island where Gaimon got stuck weren't originally supposed to be inhabitated by any inteligent species.

However, I could give that Lode Star might be a place for a rare race, like the three eyes or whatever King is.

But Laugh Tale is definitely conected to the ancient kingdom that got wrecked, it would be incredible weird if its got people living in it, plus that might be the place Luffy and Teach get at each other's throats and thats all interaction we're actually getting there.

[Robby]

@Monquito:

Little Garden and that island where Gaimon got stuck weren't originally supposed to be inhabitated by any inteligent species.

There's a difference between an island being uninhabited… and the island having no one on it when the Strawhats get there. They're not going to arrive at an empty location.

[Cockycent]

There's been this subtle thing about uncharted locations. Would Oda tack on 1-2 uncharted locations (outside of the spots already hinted to the audience) for Nami to reach her goal? Would it be cheap for Nami to receive a world map without doing it on her own? She doesn't have to reach every island to achieve her dream. There are places taken off the maps like God Valley and there are places not really known about til recent like Baltigo. They won't have to get there for her to map it. Just her figuring it out would be cool. Especially if others with more experience have failed to do it

I still think that the other 3 Blues might be visited by the crew. Of course we saw Chopper in the South, some members were born in those other spots and Oda has spammed North blue the most through flashbacks, but as a crew, I can see them going there. If not, another Grand Line trip, starting from another Blue before Paradise is more likely

[Kishido]

So with Carrot not being the traitor Imnow give her small chances.

Even if I still think she is boring as hell

[Coookie]

@Kishido:

You should've put spoiler tags on that or waited until tomorrow.

[Nilitch]

Honestly, I had the feeling that she was gonna join in at the moment she appeared. Too bad I wasn't around back then, I would have pinned my post

[Candide]

@Kishido:

So with Carrot not being the traitor Imnow give her small chances.

Even if I still think she is boring as hell

We still don't know if the traitor 20 years before current time line is the same as the one in current story.
I find it hard to believe Carrot is the traitor though. Would love it if she was to join.

[Yxenz]

Why would Carrot have more chances to join if she was the traitor?

[Cockycent]

Carrot being the traitor has been a great meme for a long time

[Shiebs]

Still betting on unseen character from one of the three races big mom doesn't have (scratch that make it two, we know one of those races is Giants)

[HeartOfDarkness]

@Cockycent:

Carrot being the traitor has been a great meme for a long time

Not as great of a meme as her being a main-character material lol.