In what ways specifically? I don't think I've picked up on much.
Well first Oda had him become nationally wanted criminal right off the bat so his presence is known throughout the country
Then he develops personal connection with Okiku, Tsuru and Tama.
Then he develops even more of a connection with Yasu on his solo journey which leads him to knowing sufferings of the village full of people who are fed defective SMILES.
Then he builds even deeper connection with Hiyori and it eventually leads to him making a promise of defeating Orochi, which obviously evolved to him defeating Kaido. He also gets Enma which plays imperative role as it is Oden's blade and Kaido mentioning no samurai as monsterous as Oden.
Connection he builds with yasu and then village full of SMILE users comes to fruition during Yasu's death which was presented as a major moment which again led to him declaring to Hiyori that he would defeat Orochi. Which in turn evolved into defeating Kaido because he is the main culprit.
Oda also did a nice little Yin/Yang parallel thing with him and Luffy where
-Luffy was in hot ordeal with Kidd and Killer boiling at the hands of Queen
-Hyogoro and other samurais were there to see Luffy come through hence building connection
-Big Mom played some role in ending of that ordeal
-Zoro was in cold ordeal with Queen's freezing plague effecting Samurai and Chopper
-Big Mom's presence playing a role although it was more minor
-Hyogoro and Samurai saw Zoro come through
I think we would probably see Zoro's lineage as well and Ryuma would probably be part of it. And obviously Kaido taking Onigashima to flower capital is a big step in Zoro slaying Kaido as Ryuma slayed the dragon on top of flower capital.
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Sorry lol, typed too much. You don't have to read if you don't want to