Zoro is in a weird spot in One Piece and has been since the timeskip for three reasons, first is that he is almost too powerful to be useful during the arcs. He's has the strength and drive to be the main character but is placed in the role of not fighting the Boss and ending the conflict. Secondly when the discussion of his full strength comes up it is almost directly tied to the strength of another character Mihawk. And lastly the biggest reason for some reason Zoro is not allowed to lose or fail since the timeskip. Even not cutting the Birdcage is played off as him not really trying to cut it , because the plot wouldn't let him, so if he tried to do it and couldn't that would mean he failed so Oda wrote a work around so that he wouldn't have to deal with it.
Pre Timeskip there were two ways Zoro was hindered during the arc. And they are both possible in this arc.
1) injury- Arlong Park, where Zoro spent the entire arc injured from his fight with Mihawk so he couldn't fight at full strength. During his battle with Killer Zoro received an injury, and for the next few chapters it was still affecting him. Even Hiyori stated his injury was still affecting him after he fought the ninjas.
2) not having all his swords- it was shown early on that Zoro can only go all out when he has all his swords, even missing one of his swords decreases his strength, and Zoro has a habit of his swords breaking of getting taken.
There is also a new option.
3) Enma- this is a new way Zoro could be temporary hindered during the War, Enma itself not under his control, Enma is unlike any other sword we have seen before where it actually can kill its user by draining their haki. But what if it goes beyond that, there have been times where Zoro has hinted that swords have a mind of there own if not mastered. Sandai Kitetsu, and Shusui were shown to not do what Zoro wanted until they where mastered. Enma could even go a step further. Because Oden loved Wano and wanted to make Wano and its people better, his sword could want that to. And since Zoro doesn't care about what happens to Wano and its people beyond the most superficial level, Enma might even want to protect the Samurai that Zoro is fighting more than Zoro hindering him.
Pre Timeskip there were two ways Zoro was hindered during the arc. And they are both possible in this arc.
1) injury- Arlong Park, where Zoro spent the entire arc injured from his fight with Mihawk so he couldn't fight at full strength. During his battle with Killer Zoro received an injury, and for the next few chapters it was still affecting him. Even Hiyori stated his injury was still affecting him after he fought the ninjas.
2) not having all his swords- it was shown early on that Zoro can only go all out when he has all his swords, even missing one of his swords decreases his strength, and Zoro has a habit of his swords breaking of getting taken.
There is also a new option.
3) Enma- this is a new way Zoro could be temporary hindered during the War, Enma itself not under his control, Enma is unlike any other sword we have seen before where it actually can kill its user by draining their haki. But what if it goes beyond that, there have been times where Zoro has hinted that swords have a mind of there own if not mastered. Sandai Kitetsu, and Shusui were shown to not do what Zoro wanted until they where mastered. Enma could even go a step further. Because Oden loved Wano and wanted to make Wano and its people better, his sword could want that to. And since Zoro doesn't care about what happens to Wano and its people beyond the most superficial level, Enma might even want to protect the Samurai that Zoro is fighting more than Zoro hindering him.
