Many readers expected Yamato to join the Straw Hats already in the Wano Arc, but this did not happen. And even though I'm not a fan of Yamato, but rather dislike her, I'm quite sure that Yamato will become part of the Straw Hats. Still, due to the fact that Yamato did not become part of the pirate crew, many readers decided that no one else would join the Straw Hats. Because of what such rumors appeared and the assumption that Blackbeard's team was also reduced in the number of planned crew members.
However, we must remember that we learned about Blackbeard's 10 subordinates back in the Dressrose arc. The same can be said about the Straw Hats, since Luffy planned 10 team members at the very beginning of the story, not counting himself. Later, in the Post Marineford arc, Luffy repeated his words about wanting to recruit 10 crew members.
Then the question arises, did Oda change his mind? Let the example of Jinbe be the answer.
When Luffy invited Jinbe to join his pirate crew, Jinbe refused his offer, stating that he still had unfinished business and if Luffy invited him back later, Jinbei promised to join the Straw Hats. Later, many readers speculated that Jinbei would not join the team because he would be killed before becoming a Straw Hat or immediately after. Remembered in the Big Mom arc, readers, myself included, thought that Jinbe paid with his life for leaving the Yonko team.
But in the end, Jinbe joined the Straw Hats and became officially the 9th member of Luffy's pirate crew. And this despite the fact that he joined so late, right after the Wano arc, which was right before the end of the story.
Why didn't Oda let Jinbe join the team sooner? Let's imagine how much the events of the Punk Hazard, Dressrose, and even Zoya arc would change if Jinbe were part of the Straw Hats. Jinbe was much stronger than Zoro, Sanji, and possibly even stronger than Luffy. While in the Fish-Man Island arc, it might have seemed to us that Luffy was slightly stronger than Jinbe, but after the Wano arc, it becomes quite clear how strong Jinbe already was back then. After all, it was Jinbe who saved Luffy from Akainu in the Marineford War.
Why am I saying all this? Because I'm sure Yamato is in exactly the same situation. Yamato did not join the Straw Hats because she is very strong. Oda wants to focus on developing the main Straw Hats rather than the new Yamato, which is more than enough revealed in the Wano arc. In the end, Yamato was able to face Kaido head-on, without any support, in a one-on-one battle. Moreover, Yamato didn't even show the Awakening of her Fruit, and if she awakens it, her power will increase tenfold. Yamato's strength is most likely incomparable to the strength of the current Straw Hats, not counting Luffy, who, however, may be weaker than Yamato with Awakened Fruit.
Thus, having Yamato on the team would reduce the degree of tension that Oda gave us by announcing that Kizaru himself and Saturn, along with a hundred ships, would soon arrive on the island where the Straw Hats are located. And the battles with the Seraphim would have been much easier if Yamato was now part of the pirate team.
That's why Oda didn't let Yamato join the Straw Hats, but let us know that it wasn't her time yet. Why would Yamato become part of the Straw Hats? Because this is her dream - to repeat the path that Oden walked. As we know, Oden joined Roger at the very end, and Yamato will repeat his path when she joins the Straw Hats before they sail to Raftel, or the last island of the Grand Line.
How many more arcs are left before the Straw Hats go to Raftel? First, they need to resolve the issue with Vegapunk and survive the meeting with Kizaru and Saturn. After that, the Straw Hats must still visit the island of giants Elbaf, and they must also find the person who has the last Poneglyph, and only after that the Straw Hats will be able to go to Raftel. Yamato can join the Straw Hats in either of these arcs.
We'll likely see a side story about Yamato's adventures in Wano Country very soon, ending with Yamato sailing away from Wano to join the Straw Hats.
However, we must remember that we learned about Blackbeard's 10 subordinates back in the Dressrose arc. The same can be said about the Straw Hats, since Luffy planned 10 team members at the very beginning of the story, not counting himself. Later, in the Post Marineford arc, Luffy repeated his words about wanting to recruit 10 crew members.
Then the question arises, did Oda change his mind? Let the example of Jinbe be the answer.
When Luffy invited Jinbe to join his pirate crew, Jinbe refused his offer, stating that he still had unfinished business and if Luffy invited him back later, Jinbei promised to join the Straw Hats. Later, many readers speculated that Jinbei would not join the team because he would be killed before becoming a Straw Hat or immediately after. Remembered in the Big Mom arc, readers, myself included, thought that Jinbe paid with his life for leaving the Yonko team.
But in the end, Jinbe joined the Straw Hats and became officially the 9th member of Luffy's pirate crew. And this despite the fact that he joined so late, right after the Wano arc, which was right before the end of the story.
Why didn't Oda let Jinbe join the team sooner? Let's imagine how much the events of the Punk Hazard, Dressrose, and even Zoya arc would change if Jinbe were part of the Straw Hats. Jinbe was much stronger than Zoro, Sanji, and possibly even stronger than Luffy. While in the Fish-Man Island arc, it might have seemed to us that Luffy was slightly stronger than Jinbe, but after the Wano arc, it becomes quite clear how strong Jinbe already was back then. After all, it was Jinbe who saved Luffy from Akainu in the Marineford War.
Why am I saying all this? Because I'm sure Yamato is in exactly the same situation. Yamato did not join the Straw Hats because she is very strong. Oda wants to focus on developing the main Straw Hats rather than the new Yamato, which is more than enough revealed in the Wano arc. In the end, Yamato was able to face Kaido head-on, without any support, in a one-on-one battle. Moreover, Yamato didn't even show the Awakening of her Fruit, and if she awakens it, her power will increase tenfold. Yamato's strength is most likely incomparable to the strength of the current Straw Hats, not counting Luffy, who, however, may be weaker than Yamato with Awakened Fruit.
Thus, having Yamato on the team would reduce the degree of tension that Oda gave us by announcing that Kizaru himself and Saturn, along with a hundred ships, would soon arrive on the island where the Straw Hats are located. And the battles with the Seraphim would have been much easier if Yamato was now part of the pirate team.
That's why Oda didn't let Yamato join the Straw Hats, but let us know that it wasn't her time yet. Why would Yamato become part of the Straw Hats? Because this is her dream - to repeat the path that Oden walked. As we know, Oden joined Roger at the very end, and Yamato will repeat his path when she joins the Straw Hats before they sail to Raftel, or the last island of the Grand Line.
How many more arcs are left before the Straw Hats go to Raftel? First, they need to resolve the issue with Vegapunk and survive the meeting with Kizaru and Saturn. After that, the Straw Hats must still visit the island of giants Elbaf, and they must also find the person who has the last Poneglyph, and only after that the Straw Hats will be able to go to Raftel. Yamato can join the Straw Hats in either of these arcs.
We'll likely see a side story about Yamato's adventures in Wano Country very soon, ending with Yamato sailing away from Wano to join the Straw Hats.
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