I honestly think Oda doesn't get enough credit as crazy as it sounds. His balancing act of developing the original crew members like Sanji and Zoro has been brilliant. Good chunk of the story and completely conquering the sea and finding one piece surrounds Robin and her knowledge so I think there's more to come. We still don't know what Country Brook was Royal Guard in. Ussop hasn't met his Father yet.

There's a lot pending for the main cast. Even simple things like Koala and Jinbe reunited seems intriguing.

If Kinemon had showed any interest in Oden's musings about Dawn's of the world or Joyboy along with opening Wano's borders and secede Momo to the throne then he'd definitely be the next crewmate and
Zoro probably wouldn't have showed the capability to master fox fire style. That's the rub with Yamato, she's not just finishing what Oden started, she's doubling down like Pedro did when he went on his own expedition. She doesn't wanna only hear about the new dawn, she wants to witness it mad max fury road style.

Oda made sure to drive this point home by making Oden's Journal pass on his message and legacy to Yamato posthumous. He didn't need to be physically there for Yamato to be impacted greatly. From the moment we hear about and finally see him, Oden is described as being larger than life and yes even death.

Her first words ever read were Oden's.

Kinemon just wasn't given that type of intricate detail put into his character.

The argument while steadfast almost seems like trolling at this point. Even the anime seems to have doubled down on the emotions in her interactions with Ace. While I've always thought so anyway, it seems like her bond with Ace and admiration of Oden and his legacy have put them as the obvious inspiration for pirate adventures that all the Strawhats come with. Jinbe had two central figures for why he fights for what he does as well, Tiger and Otohime.

We haven't even gotten to the Kaido duel and flashback with The child abuse from dear old Dad and acts of compassion from the captured Samurai who taught her to read. Oda has taken more intricate path how it concerns recruiting nakama after the timeskip.

By that logic Luffy should be more concerned with freeing slaves like Tiger because he's Nika, or overthrowing the World Government like his Dad.

Come on guys we are in mental gymnastics territory now.

I think it's already kind of hasty to imply Yamato who for all intents and purposes was introduced during the middle beginning of the end of Wano can be considered underdeveloped.

In my opinion, he did it. Oda pulled it off, he introduced a character so out of left field that you completely forgo all preconceived notions how it concerns how this arc would go and who would be leaving with the crew. Because whether you think she'll join or not, the audience is invested in the Yamato character that exceeds the investment of a side character. Her backstory and character would be designed in such an intricate way that what very little we have received seems like a lot already.

Abused by her depressive warmongering Father since adolescence, the secluded Daughter of a Yonko who idolized his mortal enemy so much so she wants to be a Man, desires to break the confines of her against her own will imprisonment to go out to Sea explore the world and fulfill whatever ambitious endeavour her idol never got to complete due to the occupation of his home Country which she's never left. Inspired by the next generation of Pirates because of good apples like Ace so she rather explore the world with his younger but more ambitious baby brother.

That's a Strawhat backstory through and through. I used to think Oda laid things a little on thick with how much he did to tie Robin, Brook and Jinbe to the crew's journey out of necessity but he seems to be doubled down here with Yamato concerning pretense. For instance whatever assumptions or reservations we have about what the dawn of the world means and who will be our window into this mystery is just as much prevalent with Yamato as it was purposed to be with the minks Carrot and Pedro. Here we have a character who was closer to the tragedies in a way that it made her empathize and idolize Oden and what he stood for, this transitioned into chasing what he was chasing. That's verbatim every other Strawhat's story that segagaway into why they decided to set sail with Luffy in the first place.

Their ambitions and dreams are shaped by their own tragedies and those who inspired them. Yamato just reached the conclusions sooner that all the others came to eventually because she's already aware of the stakes but has been held in bondage to Onigashima, all she could do is wait and prepare. So yea she already knows Luffy is amazing, and the crew by extension, she doesn't need convincing and maybe that does seem different but it makes sense with what Oda has revealed about the character's backstory through her interactions with Ace, Kaido and Oden's ghost in his Journal and legacy.

One could argue the only questions are what the role will be on the Sunny as of right now and IF another flashback is even necessary.

The only way I could see and understand a double back to Mariejoa is the way Oda presents Sabo and Vivi' s situation to the crew, in particular Luffy. Because I'm sure everyone else will be thirsting for a chance to help Luffy save a brother they never got the chance to help save before sans Jinbe of course.

But will it be revealed straight away to them through Newscoo or word of mouth? If news of Sabo's situation is anywhere as vital to these next few arcs as Ace's capture was back in Paradise then I could only imagine how difficult it'll be for Oda to keep Luffy from attempting a rescue. Especially with Vivi being involved. Oh and coming off the hype of beating two Yonko.

The only way I see him not giving a reason to go backward is because for whatever reason the crew becoming aware of what happened at reverie is delayed or kept from them or new information is brought to light that Vivi and Sabo have been taken to a new military base run by Vegapunk's SSG or even the new Marine HQ.

Even saying all of this, Madam Sharley's prophecy is still a thing. Luffy will have to go back to pop that bubble eventually.

Another pointless add on by Oda I might add to that, just like with Kaido, Oda had no reason to differentiate at this point either. Could have easily used the "Rookie" term here but why is apprentice used if that's a direct translation? Both his biological father and his idol started their pirate careers this way.

The most certain thing you can bet on all patterns and foreshadowing aside, we've never had two members occupy the same role in the crew. Either it's Apprentice which seemed to be heavily centralized by Oda between Zou and Wano, or Zoro finally becomes First Mate and Yamato slides into Combatant. But I don't know.

Like Robby and Zik have said, sometimes it's all about clout with Oda and Luffy waltzing into The Red Hairs Camp with a crew that includes a Yonko's overpowered bastard child turned Strawhat Pirate apprentice just seems like too juicy for Oda to pass up with all the epic one liners and jokes that could be had with that set up. Just like Jinbe being the former Warlord who's only steering the family vacation volkswagen.

We have to also consider that Yamato is supposed to be in the vein of Marco, Kaido, Shanks and hell even Blackbeard, they were apart of the previous generation but not necessarily calling the shots or making the waves if you will, they either followed Zebec, Roger or Newgate as Apprentices. But each in their own way become a catalyst to the new era and I think that's a role Yamato might play later down the line for let's say, Makino's baby if there's ever a Two Piece.

@Coookie:

That's the official translation exactly

Some people are gonna be really upset it seems. I didn't think it'd go over head this much.

Consider never has Luffy mentioned or request Jinbe join his crew based on him being any kind of a capable Helmsmen. Jinbe took that designation upon himself because he knows as a veteran Pirate that's the best role he could serve as the Ocean dweller and veteran sailor.

Yamato knows they're a noob to being a Pirate. What she knows about it is the oppressive force her father has been to Wano the last 20 years. She's in no rush to be a leader just based on her reaction to Kaido's intentions for her in the grand scheme of his project. With a vocalized desire to sail with the Strawhats, not Luffy alone, I feel like that part is important about her declarations.

Combatant is also still a possibility, but that's only if Zoro commits or acknowledges his own status as the crew's Vice Captain or First Mate during his fight with King as I assume something like that would come about in a situation of Zoro's resolve to support Luffy and protect the crew came into question, almost taunting his loyalty to his crew more than his own desire to stand above all swordsman. By actions we know the answer, how he handled Kuma comes to mind, him bowing to Mihawk is probably the best example, but out right stated by Zoro that his dedication to the crew and Luffy's success has supplanted his own goals is what one would call development. Not just narrative awareness for the audience, but the character themselves become aware of how far they've come. Self acknowledgement.

I think the only reason Zoro or Oda to be more specific left Zoro's true role in the crew, or his obvious position as First Mate or Vice Captain ambiguous, is because Zoro himself said he'd cut down Luffy if he ever got in the way of his dream. He's the only crewmate with that distinction but up til now he's shown time and again to be the most loyal to not just Luffy, but the entire crew.

At various points in the story so far the original members have prioritized other things or left because they thought it was best for whatever reason. Not Zoro despite openly stating he'd not just leave, but cut him down the moment he felt Luffy was in his way.