Worstgen
Cinera
If I understand things properly, Oden saved 52 * 100 * 5 people due to his dancing, so he saved 260,000. That's actually a hefty amount. Had he tried to fight Kaido when he returned, he would probably have won but would have lost the lives of a few thousand people (and if he lost, Orochi would have continued to oppress the people).
Cinera
His desire not to sacrifice anyone, his tender heartedness made him take the path of least resistance. A path where only he would suffer shame, scorn and ridicule. If he could orotect a couple hundred thousand people at the cost of only his pride, then he would accept it. His pride was worthless to him.
Cinera
I do not endorse the position of being unwilling to take sacrifices, as a perfect victory where nothing is lost is rarely feasible, but I understand Oden's actions here. From his POV he saw two paths, in the first, he lost several thousand people in an all out war against Kaido, and in the second, he lost no one and only his dignity. As long as he could endure the shame for 5 years, Wano would be free.
Cinera
It wasn't a very smart decision, but it is consistent characterisation. Oden was willing to give up his dream of going on an adventure to save Toki, so he has always been soft hearted. The ruthlessness that would have led to him deposing Kaido upon his return is out of character for him.
Cinera
His mistake was to trust Orochi and Kaido would keep their word despute their ignoble manner so far. What reason is there to expect that someone who lied, duped and swindled his way to power all to exact his revenge would keep their promise? What reason did Oden have to trust them?
Finalbeta
It was a good rant xd you highlighted the best scene in fact
Cinera
Nothing Oden knew about Orochi so far suggested he was trustworthy, from how he begged money from Oden, to how he poisoned Oden's father, to how he duped his way to tne shogunate. Everything Oden knew about Orochi suggested he was absolute scum.
Finalbeta
The cauldron gonna stay a legendary one piece symbol forever man. Can't believe Oda was so vivid in the description of that scene.
Cinera
So Oden was in fact a terrible idiot. He got bamboozled and it was foreseeable. Being stupid is not poor characterisation though, and Oden may have perhaps had a trusting nature. There's also the possibility that Oden perceived a need to apologise to Orochi on the behalf of his father and the people of Wano.
Cinera
There was no reason for Oden to expect Kaido and Orochi to honour his execution offer either, but Oden himself realised this and consigned himself to death. I guess he had accepted defeat already by that point.
Finalbeta
I feel like Oda made Oden behave like that to show even Samurai could be extremely sentimental. However that was also shown with Kumadori in the past, even though he only really cared for his mother
Cinera
I don't recall who Kumadori is.
Finalbeta
The CP9 Samurai, he was a funny folk and probably from Wano :D
Xione
He had no reason to doubt Orochi, since Orochi was keeping his word. Oden was making sure to check that he was keeping his word at that. Oden made the smart choice if anything imo. Why involve Wano into a straight up war before trying other methods? And then if Kanjuro hadn't betrayed him, Kaido's head would've been rolling in Onigashima.