So I was re-reading a few previous chapters of the Wano arc, when I came across an interesting statement made by Kawamatsu.
He stated that when a child of Ringo is born, they are gifted a Katana, which stays with them through life, and becomes a Grave Marker for them, when they die.
Now the fall of Ringo happened 18 years prior to the current storyline, which would have made Zoro 3 years old at the time. The popular theory is that he was born in Wano/Ringo as a Shimotuski, and by some means eventually made it to East Blue. But if that is the case, then where is his birth Sword?
There is two likely scenarios here.
1) Zoro was not born in Wano as a Shimotsuki, as he would have been accustomed to this tradition just as every other child who was born into the Shimotsuki Family. Even Kuina, was given a Meito, which most likely was given to her at birth. So this tradition even applies to the Shimotsuki's who left Wano ages ago. So even if Zoro wasn't born on Wano, and was only conceived there before his mother made it to East Blue, he still should have been gifted a Katana upon his birth, even in East Blue.
2) His birth Sword is still on Wano, and this could make for a pretty interesting plot twist. If Zoro really was born on Wano, and the Shimotsuki Clan was wiped out, but before that could happen, Ushimaru sent his mother away, he would still need to answer for the fact that his wife and child are missing. What better way to do that, then to fake this deaths, and create mock graves. In Zoro's mock grave, there should be a Katana there. The one that would have been gifted to him upon his birth. Zoro did make the cooment that he wanted to visit the Grave of Ryuma, so at some point he will be going to Ringo's Graveyard. If that's the case, will he find his own Grave there? If that's true, then will we finally solve the mystery of the famous "Death" foreshadowing cover page for Zoro? It's not that he actually die, but instead, he already has "Died".
This also strikes another interesting question. Is Kuina really dead? The Shimotsuki's clearly follow the tradition of their family, even though they left Wano and travelled to East Blue, but Koshirou didn't place the Wado Ichimonji on her grave, as is the custom to a Shimotsuki who has died. He gave it to Zoro. If she really is dead, then will Zoro return to her grave, and place the Sword into it, once he becomes the World's Strongest Swordsman? Thus fulfilling both of their desires to become the WSS? He travelled the World with her Sword, made it one of the strongest, and then returns to place it upon her grave. That would be extremely poetic if that was the case.
So what do you guys think. Is there a grave and a Sword waiting for Zoro once he makes it to Ringo's grave? Or is he not a Shimotsuki? Or is he a Shimotsuki, but for some strange reason, was never given a birth Sword?
He stated that when a child of Ringo is born, they are gifted a Katana, which stays with them through life, and becomes a Grave Marker for them, when they die.
Now the fall of Ringo happened 18 years prior to the current storyline, which would have made Zoro 3 years old at the time. The popular theory is that he was born in Wano/Ringo as a Shimotuski, and by some means eventually made it to East Blue. But if that is the case, then where is his birth Sword?
There is two likely scenarios here.
1) Zoro was not born in Wano as a Shimotsuki, as he would have been accustomed to this tradition just as every other child who was born into the Shimotsuki Family. Even Kuina, was given a Meito, which most likely was given to her at birth. So this tradition even applies to the Shimotsuki's who left Wano ages ago. So even if Zoro wasn't born on Wano, and was only conceived there before his mother made it to East Blue, he still should have been gifted a Katana upon his birth, even in East Blue.
2) His birth Sword is still on Wano, and this could make for a pretty interesting plot twist. If Zoro really was born on Wano, and the Shimotsuki Clan was wiped out, but before that could happen, Ushimaru sent his mother away, he would still need to answer for the fact that his wife and child are missing. What better way to do that, then to fake this deaths, and create mock graves. In Zoro's mock grave, there should be a Katana there. The one that would have been gifted to him upon his birth. Zoro did make the cooment that he wanted to visit the Grave of Ryuma, so at some point he will be going to Ringo's Graveyard. If that's the case, will he find his own Grave there? If that's true, then will we finally solve the mystery of the famous "Death" foreshadowing cover page for Zoro? It's not that he actually die, but instead, he already has "Died".
This also strikes another interesting question. Is Kuina really dead? The Shimotsuki's clearly follow the tradition of their family, even though they left Wano and travelled to East Blue, but Koshirou didn't place the Wado Ichimonji on her grave, as is the custom to a Shimotsuki who has died. He gave it to Zoro. If she really is dead, then will Zoro return to her grave, and place the Sword into it, once he becomes the World's Strongest Swordsman? Thus fulfilling both of their desires to become the WSS? He travelled the World with her Sword, made it one of the strongest, and then returns to place it upon her grave. That would be extremely poetic if that was the case.
So what do you guys think. Is there a grave and a Sword waiting for Zoro once he makes it to Ringo's grave? Or is he not a Shimotsuki? Or is he a Shimotsuki, but for some strange reason, was never given a birth Sword?