Pretty enjoyable chapter. That was the longest action sequence I've seen in a flashback, which is not saying much but just fine for a legendary hour of war. I'll wait for the finale before finally looking back at the entire flashback.
I love this side of Kaido. He's not sitting back. He's not delegating the task of Wano to Orochi. Kaido himself got the information from the spy, he took the initiative and intercepted Oden. This time Kaido was the playmaker while Orochi sat back. It wouldn't surprise me if he personally ordered the old hag to come to the battlefield and distract Oden with a transformation as a back up plan. Kaido and Orochi have been cautious about the take over of Wano. They manipulated Oden, Sukiyaki and the Daimyos to make the takeover seem legitimate. They made a deal with Oden for 5 years to gather manpower and while Oden the fool loses his own support. Fighting all of Wano 5 years ago would have been too risky. This adds another level of pragmatism behind Kaido ordering SMILE and breaking the spirits of powerful subordinates, Kaido values his forces and I believe the Beast Pirates are more than a top-heavy pirate crew.
Quite peculiar how Kaido noticed that Oden was a changed man. The old Oden, the reckless barbarian who engaged in harem wars, would have declared war on Kaido and Orochi 5 years ago. Instead, he sought a more pacifist path and was willing to make a deal with Orochi. Kaido said this reflects soft-hearted pirates like Whitebeard and Roger who would try to avoid spilling innocent blood. This is Oden being changed by his pirate journey. Oden is not a solo bachelor anymore, he's a family man, he's the ruler of Kuri, he has a band of loyal retainers, and most importantly he has experience being outside of Wano. Even Orochi thought he was a crazy man that was going to kill him last chapter, but Oden snapped out of it and decided to talk. This new Oden was cleverly exploited by Orochi and Kaido and made into a fool, classic trope about how being kindhearted makes you weak and naive.
Oden vs Kaido looked like a Marineford-style battle clash. Showing your back to the opponent for one instance can cost you the fight. Marco got cuffed, Jozu got frozen, Akainu got floored (though he immediately retaliated from a quake punch, what a legend). It'll be interesting to see how the Fire Festival goes knowing that every major Beast Pirate has no qualms about playing dirty. Jack resorted to a gas weapon. Queen got up and headbutted Big Mom when she wasn't looking. King backstabs Ashura, a guy that probably didn't need to be backstabbed. Kaido has the old hag as insurance against Oden. And Orochi is the worst one of them all. There are no saintly Whitebeard Pirates. There are no honorable Marines. This battlefield will full of crummy, scheming, underhanded Beast Pirates.
The traitor plot remains blown wide open again. Kaido reaffirms the spy exists, and they were at it since 20 years ago at least. Shinobu is no longer in the running for me. She really has no personal beef with Oden, she idolizes the Kokuzi, Oden saved her from execution already. She knows the deal Oden clowned for 5 years for and will likely be the one to reveal it to the readers. But none of the Scabbards has still managed to stand out, this traitor plot is one of the hardest mysteries I've seen in any arc subplot. They all fought Orochi and Kaido's forces and got sentenced to boiling. Surely the traitor will be released before the others get killed? Or are they happy to die with Oden, is their righteous crusade against their lord even worth giving up their life? I'm genuinely dumbfounded and this is a good thing.
Next chapter I expect another action sequence in Oden saving his Scabbards, but I doubt he will have access to his swords and threaten Kaido again. Wano is still not crying for Oden, he's just the buffoon that got his act together too late. How does he inspire their minds 20 years later then? Scarring Kaido is legendary, but I think next chapter will be Oden's finest hour.
I love this side of Kaido. He's not sitting back. He's not delegating the task of Wano to Orochi. Kaido himself got the information from the spy, he took the initiative and intercepted Oden. This time Kaido was the playmaker while Orochi sat back. It wouldn't surprise me if he personally ordered the old hag to come to the battlefield and distract Oden with a transformation as a back up plan. Kaido and Orochi have been cautious about the take over of Wano. They manipulated Oden, Sukiyaki and the Daimyos to make the takeover seem legitimate. They made a deal with Oden for 5 years to gather manpower and while Oden the fool loses his own support. Fighting all of Wano 5 years ago would have been too risky. This adds another level of pragmatism behind Kaido ordering SMILE and breaking the spirits of powerful subordinates, Kaido values his forces and I believe the Beast Pirates are more than a top-heavy pirate crew.
Quite peculiar how Kaido noticed that Oden was a changed man. The old Oden, the reckless barbarian who engaged in harem wars, would have declared war on Kaido and Orochi 5 years ago. Instead, he sought a more pacifist path and was willing to make a deal with Orochi. Kaido said this reflects soft-hearted pirates like Whitebeard and Roger who would try to avoid spilling innocent blood. This is Oden being changed by his pirate journey. Oden is not a solo bachelor anymore, he's a family man, he's the ruler of Kuri, he has a band of loyal retainers, and most importantly he has experience being outside of Wano. Even Orochi thought he was a crazy man that was going to kill him last chapter, but Oden snapped out of it and decided to talk. This new Oden was cleverly exploited by Orochi and Kaido and made into a fool, classic trope about how being kindhearted makes you weak and naive.
Oden vs Kaido looked like a Marineford-style battle clash. Showing your back to the opponent for one instance can cost you the fight. Marco got cuffed, Jozu got frozen, Akainu got floored (though he immediately retaliated from a quake punch, what a legend). It'll be interesting to see how the Fire Festival goes knowing that every major Beast Pirate has no qualms about playing dirty. Jack resorted to a gas weapon. Queen got up and headbutted Big Mom when she wasn't looking. King backstabs Ashura, a guy that probably didn't need to be backstabbed. Kaido has the old hag as insurance against Oden. And Orochi is the worst one of them all. There are no saintly Whitebeard Pirates. There are no honorable Marines. This battlefield will full of crummy, scheming, underhanded Beast Pirates.
The traitor plot remains blown wide open again. Kaido reaffirms the spy exists, and they were at it since 20 years ago at least. Shinobu is no longer in the running for me. She really has no personal beef with Oden, she idolizes the Kokuzi, Oden saved her from execution already. She knows the deal Oden clowned for 5 years for and will likely be the one to reveal it to the readers. But none of the Scabbards has still managed to stand out, this traitor plot is one of the hardest mysteries I've seen in any arc subplot. They all fought Orochi and Kaido's forces and got sentenced to boiling. Surely the traitor will be released before the others get killed? Or are they happy to die with Oden, is their righteous crusade against their lord even worth giving up their life? I'm genuinely dumbfounded and this is a good thing.
Next chapter I expect another action sequence in Oden saving his Scabbards, but I doubt he will have access to his swords and threaten Kaido again. Wano is still not crying for Oden, he's just the buffoon that got his act together too late. How does he inspire their minds 20 years later then? Scarring Kaido is legendary, but I think next chapter will be Oden's finest hour.
Shanks vs Teach 1 page max
pretty sure "they are Pirates!!!" problem would have been solved fast if Roger Pirates are helping Oden against Beasts Pirates
Goku Luffy vs Katakuri many moves
