@K.:
I do not have evidence per se. Just using intuition and reading the narrative structure. However, it is the same way I deduced that the Straw Hats would escape from Whole Cake Island from the get go, unlike the alternatives of defeating or becoming allies with the Big Mom Pirates. To me, it felt right that the Straw Hats would, escape from an emperor, defeat one with a group effort, get mentored by one and finally defeat one using their own strength.
The thing about that is that Momo is a kid. So him becoming a ruler would be mostly in name. Yes, he is going to show leadership qualities and he will succeed at avenging his father. But that is only the first stop in his journey as a character. There is also Hiyori. Her having stayed behind and lived the 20 years that Momo skipped should be meaningful enough to garner respect. She is also older, and a Kozuki heir, she also is seeking to avenge her father. To me, any of them could become the next figure head of Wano. Maybe both, maybe Hiyori is allowed to leave Wano after 20 years of isolation. People have speculated that the song she plays on her instrument while wearing the mask is Bink's sake. It might be her that ends up leaving Wano with a couple of retainers.
That is even without discussing what will be of Wano after the upcoming confrontation. A while back, I was discussing with Kaido (another member here) that the amount of destruction that Wano would suffer. We saw what 1 king kong gun could do in Dressrosa, there will be several more coming. Kaido's dragon form could obliterate mountains. Kaido (member) mentioned that most of the damage would be physical, so it could be rebuilt. But, I argued that is not taking into account the Beast Pirates chemical weapons, whatever dirty tactics Orochi might pull, not to mention Big Mom that can throw a miniature sun at your face. Whatever CP0 is cooking up. The question is: Will there even be a Wano after all of this? Maybe both Wano citizens and the Minks will be looking for a new place to live.
Yes, Momo and Tama could be their own group which would include the Minks as well. The same way Oden had Dog and Cat at his side, why can't Carrot do the same?
But the reason why Tama joining Momo is not as neatly tied is because her connection to Ace and by relation to Luffy. So, even if I see it as possible, I think she fits better with the SH crew.
You said that Carrot and Luffy's relationship is deeper than Tama's. But then you are saying that Carrot is more connected to the SH's. So you include the group. Yes, Carrot has more of a connection with the Straw Hats because she has known them for longer and for WCI. But, to Luffy specifically, that I argue against. Carrot's interaction with Luffy did not start until she boarded the Sunny. Tama was the first person Luffy interacted with in Wano, and the entire first act emphasized on that relationship with how Luffy understood the problems in Wano, and how he went against the dictators of Wano for her sake.
I think what makes it clearer is that when Carrot was crying about Pedro, it was Sanji whom comforted her. Not Luffy.
Carrot's first 30 chapters were: she traded a blow with Zoro, jumped high, disappeared into the background until she appeared on the boat. Tama's interaction might have been mostly with Luffy, but he is the captain, those are the interaction that matter the most. She displayed bravery by confronting the Beast Pirates, almost getting sold for prostitution. Although famine runs amok in Wano, she shared her birthday meal with Luffy getting poisoned in the process. Luffy breaks her free from the dead promise with a dead Ace. Luffy lets her put his hat on (something he has done rarely), then she is reminded of Ace through Luffy's actions and mannerism. Shared a small moment with Luffy and Zoro. Now Tama is going to go help free Luffy.
Tama has been with Chopper but a couple of chapters and they did not even start their rescue mission. All the antics, will come in the following chapters. Her charisma? She was drooling along with Big Mom, while Chopper is freaking out. Tama DOES NOT NEED to be Carrot 2.0.
To summarize: my point is that I completely disagree that Tama's story arc will remain the same: the kid waiting for her inspiration to pick her up. She waited for 4 years and Ace died, if what I am reading from her is right. There is 0% chance she will rinse and repeat with Luffy. Their promise cannot be Ace 2.0, their dynamic has to be different. I am not even talking about being a crew member or not. I am talking simple character interactions and character development.
Momo staying in Wano as leader or just the heir to me is based on not expressing otherwise. If he decided to go out like Oden, it wouldn't be a reach. It can be built upon more. The opening borders subplot is still at play as well. I'm guessing that Oden traveling out of Wano was a way of inviting others to come, while also getting to know the outside world. We saw CP0 talking with Orochi earlier, maybe the WG tries to take advantage once Orochi is out of the picture.
As for the final battle, we can look at the map. Onigashima (where the Fire Festival will be) is kind of away from most of Wano. Not saying that the rest of Wano can't be affected by any impact. Just that it is away from the majority of Wano and that counts for something.
I don't see why Carrot wouldn't make sense for Momo's possible crew either. Or even for Carrot and Tama to follow Momo as he travels with the SH crew.
After Carrot and Wanda "saved" Luffy from the Guardians, she was educating him on Zou and why Bepo couldn't leave the forest. So the interactions started before boarding the ship. Wanda did most of the guide, but Carrot was interacting with him after being introduced through the Zoro clash. You used "first 30 chapters", if i'm not mistaken. Carrot's 1st 30 chapters includes clashing with Randolph, eating chocolate with Luffy and Chopper casually as if they aren't in a Yonko's territory, etc. It was like she was 1 of them on so many levels. Whereas Tama is just there with them (Chopper, Luffy and Zoro). Outside of the Ace connection, there is no antics, gimmicks, etc. This is why Carrot just wins. It was so fast with her and with so many members of the crew. Carrot fell into their habits/antics/gimmicks quicker. Tama is 3 chapters away from that same 30 and it just isn't the same. Not saying that it won't develop. Just saying that i've never seen a character fall in line so quickly with the SH crew. Never seen the anime use filler to give a character a "can I join" moment either. Carrot is undeniably getting rare treatment. Again, Tama's first 30 will be in 3 chapters and Carrot's first 30 goes into the forest where she fought Randolph. Just to make sure we are on the same page with that.
When Carrot got really emotional at first over Pedro, it was Luffy that saved her from Kata and said "i'm the captain" then said multiple times that he trusted that they can handle the rest. This adds to her wanting to be useful even more and be the first to show the audience Sulong. This was all before Sanji got back to the ship. Sanji having that moment with her further proves that her connection to the SH crew isn't limited to 2-3 members. She's had girl time with Nami (bathing, changing clothes), childish and goofy with Luffy and Chopper (at times Brook), and emotional moment with Sanji.
Not saying that Tama will not get as much or even more than Carrot when it comes to any of the factors that we discussed. It's just that in both of their times allotted (30 ch), it can be said that Carrot's interactions and treatment as a character desolates Tama's when it comes to being on the same page as a SH member.
With your summary, you are saying that I feel as if Tama will be the same and get no further hint of being a SH member. I haven't implied or said that. I am going off what has been provided so far. Her master and herself have more to be told about their Kozuki connection and there is time to grow with Chopper.
–- Update From New Post Merge ---
@Solid:
We have seen early concepts of nine strawhats before the series started, so i’d think Oda had a general idea of all the future strawhats since then, but some details and traits changed along the way.
And obviously we would not get to see any kind of hints in the early strawhats sketches for crewmembers that had yet to join.
Both Jinbei and Brook were hinted at since arlong park and reverse mountain, even though they appeared 100s of chapters later.
The one only one who kind of goes against this is Vivi, since Oda didnt know yet that Ms Wednesday would turn out to be the princess of Alabasta when she was introduced, but im not sure if she really counts.
As for when Oda would have decided to make a character like Tama, we don’t know yet, but if she will turn out to be a strawhat, it is possible he had her in his mind since all the back in early grandline. Oda planned Aces death since before he was introduced, then with further linkinig Ace to Wano, and Oars jr amigasa hat in marineford, it is possible for her to have excisted in Odas mind since then.
As for her powers, it is a common fact that His favourite game series is dragon quest, with dragon quest V specifically having monster taming gameplay elements that launched back 1992, and then later Oda mentions Final Fantasy IX in his WSJ comments, that has a character resembling Tama in Eiko.
https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Eiko_Carol
Both young girls, 8 respectively 6 years old, purple hair, and controls big monsters.
Not to mention Tamas resemblences to a lot Hayao Miyazakis heroines, one of Odas favourite movie directors.
I also see Luffys and Tamas relationship conncetion to Oda IRL. Oda said that Luffys is his ideal child, but irl Oda has two daughters, that comes and visits him in work studio once a week. And now suddenly Luffy has a little sister in the series.
Interesting because Carrot is like a younger female Luffy. Sheltered, selfish, childish, goofy, etc. If there was a little sister, I would think that Carrot would make just as much sense as Tama. Especially after the Pedro death.