Fujitora's more likely to fight on Luffy's side than against him. Look at what he said about Luffy at the end of Dressrosa, he's practically in love with the boy. And Ryokugyu's meant to be as anti-government as he is.
Mihawk and Zoro is something that needs some closure, I agree there.
It probably won't, no.
But it is in the last stages. Oda'll take longer getting there than he thinks, but he already said he's not going to be drawing as much fights anymore, and given how the timeskip has went I have to believe him. WCI in particular showed that. He only gave Luffy a fight yet the arc lasted much longer than he expected. In the old days he'd have had real fights for Sanji, Jinbei, at least one of Nami, Chopper and Brook, some of Bege, Pedro, Carrot and the Vinsmokes. Instead all we got was a page of them showing one attack that took out some fodder at best. The closest thing we got to an actual fight with some flow to it was Pedro vs Tamago.
If by separate thing you mean a more self-contained arc that doesn't really effect the rest of the world- I'm not really sure there's anything like that left for the series. I think at best Elbaf could be a more lighthearted arc than Wano, with Shanks and the Red Hairs and the last Road Poneglyph, before we go right back into the heavy stuff with the last arc.
I think, just between Marines and Pirates, Fujitora would uphold his duties, even if he's not bad. If, lets say, Akainu is trying to stop Luffy from doing something extreme, I can see Fuji acting as a roadblock for Zoro.
The rest I agree with you somewhat. I definitely understand that fights have taken a backseat, but Imo, it has stemmed from a few things:
- The one, long continuous plot since Punk Hazard (why not much happened on PH or Zo)
- The splitting of the crew and setup of the Strawhat Fleet (why only 3 strawhats received actual fights on DR)
- The Majority of the WCI characters being present in Wano (Why only Luffy recrived fights on WCI)
Essentially, it all really depends on how Wano handles battles, personal growth and ends storylines for any number of characters. Lets say:
- Every Strawhat receives a signficant growth fight
- All of Kaido and Big Mom's major forces get signficant panel time before they fall.
Then i can see how the last ~300 chapters were worth Oda skimping out partially on fights, to lead up to this moment in particular and make payoffs. This would give me more confidence in how he deals with the rest of the likely elongated story and conclusion we are leading towards.
If not....then oh well i guess lol.
I do however, see 1 or 2 more major arcs before shit hits the fan. Wano probably isn't exactly close to the end of the NW, so geographically they still have a way to go I think. Its why Ill always argue for Vegapunk, Elbaf and Lodestar in the least occuring before we get to this Final War business, though we'll see major set-up's for it like we have been seeing already and in between the next set of arcs. Im confident in this only because we know now Laughtale is not at the end of GL, but hidden somewhere else, in a way the story can head back towards Mariejois/Fishman island for the Final War (if FI's prophesied destruction is to be belived).
And yes I think Vegapunk and Elbaf will be major. Not Dressrosa/Wano sized, but there are a number of characters that still required their stories to be addressed before we even move to the final war. Also, Bonney and Urogue are the final 2 supernova that have yet to receive crucial focus in an arc, and I think its a pointer to tell us on what Oda may have in store:
- Vegapunk: Can deal with Kuma/Bonney, Sabo/Vivi, and if his facility is located on God Valley like im hypothesizing, then it will be a focal point for Rocks/Garp/Roger, The Revolutionaries/CP-0/Tennryubito. It can deal with the return of Smoker and maybe, finally Crocodile. The Marine Science Division or the SSG has been formally revealed, nor has CP-0.
- Elbaf: I feel like this would be the last, major adventure arc this series would have before the final war/laugh tale. The huge tree (Yggdrassil?) On the island clearly is signficant. But to what extent? Does it lead to other lands or sky islands? Is the final road poneglyph hidden up there? Maybe Urogue has a major arc here? Maybe he can elaborate on the sky people and the moon? Maybe Enel returns? Maybe Uranus is related to the island?
- Lodestar: Short, Zo sized arc to celebrate the end of a journey and lead to what is coming.
I won't go beyond this because I just do not know, but I can see the above after Wano taking 3-4 years of its own context to setup the final major battles.
If the above does not happen, be sure that the final war will have to address the plots anyway, leading ti an even longer final arc. This is why I believe the Strawhats have a few more islands to go to after Wano while the Final war ramps up. We need to learn more about Vegapunk, his weapons, the Revo's, CP-0, Kuma, the Giants and more because lets be honest: The Final War is about much more than anything ive mentioned and we all know it:
- Marines
- World Government/National Treasure
- Blackbeard/Shanks
- Ancient Weapons
- Fishman Islands destruction/Noah
Imagine the above being combined with everything Ive mentioned, theres simply too much. We need to close out the Supernova plotlines (essentially make them all allies), tie back all of the Shicbukai ones (Hancock, Mihawk, Weevil, Kuma, and Buggy; where are they going next?), bring back old characters with clear plot directions (Bon Clay/Magellan, Moria, Crocodile, Enel, and Lucci) and much more. We also need to just learn more about Shanks and Blackbeard in general.
Tldr: There is certainly content between Wano and the Final War and if not, OP's geography is fucky and the Final War is about to be so bloated its not even funny.
Edit: Also love the idea of Franky being the one to take on Kuma, while the rest take care of other WG/Vegapunk related opponents. Old pacifista vs. New Pacifista seems awesome. Plus, it was forshadowed before Fishman Island.
