Intro
Ever since the "Shogun of Wano" has been named dropped, Zoro's name has circled this topic. One which began with Zoro fans thunderously championing a matchup, to downright loathing it once we got our formal introduction to the "irreverent" Kurozumi Orochi. However, due to some latest developments, the matchup has developed a supportive contingent believing Zoro vs the Shogun will indeed be, as prophesied ironically by the Zoro fans who now want nothing to do with the Shogun. Today, I bring up cases as to why this matchup isn't meant to be, and hopefully, I can change some minds, or at least give everyone a different perspective on the matter.
Zoro's motivation
Arguably the biggest point in favor of Zoro vs Orochi is Zoro's personal vendetta. Wano has approached Zoro's character much differently from how he's normally written. A passive player usually, Zoro has instead ventured on a solitary, almost intimate little journey around Wano. A journey which had him acquainting "Smooth talker Tonoyasu", who was actually the great daimyo of the Hakumai Region, Shimotsuki Yasuie. It was from this bonding with the man where Zoro's hatred for Orochi stems from, as he had to watch Yasuie shot down by the sniveling Shogun. This inspired Zoro to want to avenge Yasuie, but are his reasons strong enough? After all, Zoro has not known Yasuie for long. He has no idea how deep other's hatred for Orochi runs. Kyoshiro in particular. Zoro was stopped by a man who naturally harbors more intense hatred than Zoro. Observe how quickly Zoro got over his little fit compared to Kyoshiro.
Zoro is yet again in the presence of someone who harbors more hatred for the Shogun. She knows how far Orochi has gone to destroy her family and country. Has Zoro had that storied and deep running connection with Orochi? Or for that matter, Yasuie, who was loved by the members of the royal family which include the two figures, Denjiro/Kyoshiro and Hiyori, whom also had to watch Yasuie get shot down in front of them. Can we reasonably say Yasuie means more to Zoro than them? Yasuie, the main tether to this conflict, his death was born out of necessity for the Alliance. In the end, Orochi capturing and executing him allowed for the Rasestu prisoners to be released by Kyoshiro (who did nothing to stop Yasuie's execution due to the plan), as well lower the morale of his (Orochi's) troops. It trivializes the need to avenge Yasuie over that when there are bigger ramifications that occurred due to Orochi's actions. Ones other characters besides Zoro have had to witness and endure.
Significance of the Alliance/Bigger fish to fry
Despite his possible ties to Wano, Zoro is still an outsider. He's no different from Luffy, Kid, Kaido, etc. He and the rest of his friends have been called with the purpose of helping to defeat Kaido.
Their motives would grow to include a more personal wish of opening the borders to Wano.
However, during that time, a very pertinent exchange occurs between Luffy and Momonosuke.
This convo highlights what the Strawhats represent: Help from the outside. In that respect, they are Momonosuke's and his family's answer to what Kaido represents to Orochi. Zoro is such outside help. Thematically, he and his friends are there to take care of the invaders of the country. And to that end, he's shocked and impressed various Wano locals, some great warriors in their own right, with his outside world experience and training.
Of which will come in aid against Kaido, who is repeatedly reminded as the main opposition, even by Orochi, as well as by the man Zoro "must" avenge.
Momo's Role
Poor old Momonosuke has been ignored in all these heated debates over who would fight Orochi. In fact, Momonosuke's overall part in the arc has been marginalized almost entirely. However, he has been building towards something. Ever since his aforementioned moment with Luffy, Momonosuke has experienced a change in demeanor. Going from unassuming and cowardly, to more driven and disciplined. Throughout Wano thus far, we've caught glimpse to Momo's growth, training almost every panel he's drawn in. Wishing to become a great man like his father.
Coincidentally, Momonosuke has been working towards becoming the next shogun of Wano. A wish even his late father, Kozuki Oden expressed late in his life.
Kozuki Oden had two desires upon returning to Wano: Open the borders to the country and become Shogun. Luffy has already agreed to help open the borders which involves driving Kaido away. However, Orochi is not fit to continue leading the country. That's where the heir in-training takes the stage. Orochi's primary target in all these matters is Momonosuke himself. He's obsessed with wiping out the Kozuki family. Even growing paranoid over the years from the idea.
Momonosuke's arc brings him towards Orochi. He is the man who destroyed his country, tore apart his family, and sullied its name. His ventures have served to steel him, offering to help in the coming battles, and accepting the responsibilities which come of being Shogun, setting a distinct contrast between him and Orochi.
Zoro's Role in the Overall Narrative
From his conception, Zoro is a character defined by his strength. And he has spent the entire story growing as a swordsman and fighter. Wano is arguably the biggest arc the series has witnessed, with lots of payoffs to be expect. Ongoing plotlines that have gone on for over a decade are finally being resolved in this arc. And Zoro's part this arc will mark a substantial growth for him. We've been told time and time again how One Piece is approaching its climax. Therefore, it stands to reason Zoro will approach his dream of becoming the World's Strongest Swordsman. He can't do that if he isn't pushed towards it. Orochi is not a viable combatant, no matter how much one tries to claim otherwise. This is due to his overall portrayal in the arc not inspiring fear like a strong character would. This includes his subordinates, who find his presence more unbearable than threatening.
Even Zoro had to be prevented from killing him. This is not the first time Orochi has been protected by various parties, such as when Oden planned to strike him down, but was saved by his relative. He even shields himself behind the threat of Kaido.
Somebody like this is not fulfilling Zoro's primary purpose in the story. Now, the counter argument to this would be the New World opponents Zoro has had since the timeskip. The counterpoint to that is the Wano arc itself. It has been the arc where all the storylines started at the beginning of the timeskip converge and unravel. It represents a series milestone that hasn't been witnessed since arguably the timeskip itself. Luffy won't just receive a paltry bounty increase like post Dressrosa, or how in Punk Hazard he didn't get one at all. He'll experience a massive jump. Going from pseudo emperor, to potentially a bonafide one. His crew should naturally reflect that. And to that end, we've experienced the first real growths for strawhats in the form of power ups, ranging from Nami's Zeus, Sanji's raid suit, and most recently Zoro's new sword Enma. To add on, previous arcs like Fishmen Island, Punk Hazard, as well as Dressrosa lacked on the same level of threats present in Wano. Someone like Pica might've been nothing to Zoro, but he was the best opposition offered there that wasn't Doflamingo. However, there's a laundry list of combatants more competent and dangerous than Orochi in the Wano arc.
There is no necessity for Zoro to diverge from his intended role of fighter who grows stronger through the story. The only exceptions are extraneous circumstances which develop him in other meaningful ways, such as his stand against Kuma which emphasized his loyalty, or his lost to Mihawk which humbled and spurred him on. However, the Orochi/Zoro plotline isn't meritable enough to disrupt the path laid out for Zoro. Zoro's just angry at somebody lots of people are already angry towards.
Enma
Zoro's acquiesce of Enma shakes expectations for him moving forward. Enma's name derives from the Buddhist deity of the underworld. Enma, the blade itself, is noted as the sword which "slices through hell itself." Though the biggest fact about Enma was how it was introduced as the blade to leave a permanent wound on Kaido. Now, it wasn't the only blade to do so, as Ame No Habakiri performed that feat as well, demonstrated here.
But Enma was the one noted to do so. But then why even bring it up? What relevance does bringing up Enma leaving a permanent scar on Kaido have if Zoro's destined fight is with someone else this arc? Distinguishing it as a blade wielded by Oden would've been enough to give it clout. Or handing the Ame No Habakiri to Zoro. As mentioned, the Ame No Habakiri is the sword tied to the myth associated with the creature that loosely inspired Orochi. If the expectations were for Zoro to confront Orochi, he would've been given the Ame No Habakiri. Instead, he receives the sword not linked to Orochi but the one said to have injured Kaido. Though the topic of scarring Kaido is another matter onto itself. However, it drives home how little Zoro vs Orochi has going for it, thematically.
Orochi's Story
We've learned a lot of Orochi during the Oden story. As it stands, his plotline dates back very deeply to the politics of Wano. With the persistent persecution of the Kurozumi, Orochi's a more personal enemy of to the country, namely the Kozuki who are fighting to reclaim it. It's inappropriate for him to meet his end vs an outsider with very little to do with what motivates him and led him to his single desire of seeing Wano burn to the ground.
He represents everything a leader should not be. Cowardly, callous, lazy, and uninspiring. His men don't respect him, he lies to the populace, he let's the country to go to waste. However, he is the result of the country's prejudice against the Kurozumi. He's Wano's ugly past manifest, and the resolution to his story will greatly involve and juxtapose the future of how the country should be govern. The ones who will take back this country are the Kozuki family. Of which Zoro is not a part of.
Conclusion
Zoro vs Orochi lacks strong enough grounds and motivation between the two participants, as it's predicated on the death of a man who's actions proved overall beneficial towards the greater purpose of defeating Kaido. Other candidates like Momonosuke and the rest of the Kozuki family have stronger emotional and narrative ties to Orochi than Zoro, and Orochi does nothing to fulfill Zoro's main role in the story, while not providing ample enough alternatives for why it should happen. The battles are about to begin, and there are opponents and tasks that demand Zoro's attention more than a trivial feud with a villain who is but a hollow figurehead in all these matters.
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