Disclaimers
I tag a lot of people for my posts, but some of you may not appreciate them. If you were tagged for this post and would rather not be tagged in my future essays, please inform me and I'll remove you from my tag list(s). If you were not tagged for this post and would like to be tagged for my future posts please inform me.
Acknowledgements
Most of the evidence in this post were first identified by others. My only contribution is to collate them into one post and aggressively signal boost it. In particular, I am aware that I've drawn on the work of @Fiji, @KiriNigiri and @Xdrake in writing this post.
@Zenos7 has my eternal gratitude for his assistance sourcing the required panels.
Introduction
Zoro is going to deal the most or second most damage to Kaido in the upcoming fight. If he's overshadowed at all, it would be Pirate Jesus himself.
The above prediction seems obvious to me, but many people seem unconvinced and apparently expect Kidd or Law to outperform him in the fight. In this post, I aim to make the case for why Zoro would pull his weight in the upcoming fight.
Reasons Zoro Will be the MVP (or Runner Up) of the Kaido Fight
Conclusion
Zoro has been setup to slay Kaido. It's not yet clear that Oda would go as far as having Zoro actually kill him. Nevertheless, this suggests that Zoro will play a pivotal role in Kaido's defeat. It's hard to imagine Kidd, Law or Killer topping that.
Put another way, Zoro hasn't been setup to play second fiddle to Luffy in the upcoming fight, he's been setup as the star of the Kaido confrontation. If Luffy's protagonist status precludes that (chapter 1000 was named for him after all), then Zoro would be the runner up to Luffy's untouchable performance. I find it hard to imagine Kidd, Law or Killer superseding someone setup who's been setup to surpass Oden, slay a Dragon (Kaido) and be recognised as the Second Ryuma.
I tag a lot of people for my posts, but some of you may not appreciate them. If you were tagged for this post and would rather not be tagged in my future essays, please inform me and I'll remove you from my tag list(s). If you were not tagged for this post and would like to be tagged for my future posts please inform me.
Acknowledgements
Most of the evidence in this post were first identified by others. My only contribution is to collate them into one post and aggressively signal boost it. In particular, I am aware that I've drawn on the work of @Fiji, @KiriNigiri and @Xdrake in writing this post.
@Zenos7 has my eternal gratitude for his assistance sourcing the required panels.
Introduction
Zoro is going to deal the most or second most damage to Kaido in the upcoming fight. If he's overshadowed at all, it would be Pirate Jesus himself.
The above prediction seems obvious to me, but many people seem unconvinced and apparently expect Kidd or Law to outperform him in the fight. In this post, I aim to make the case for why Zoro would pull his weight in the upcoming fight.
Reasons Zoro Will be the MVP (or Runner Up) of the Kaido Fight
Yasuie
Enma
Oden
Ryuma
Dragon Slaying
Zoro's Desire
Zoro quite clearly bonded with Yasuie:
After his death Zoro swore to avenge him:
This is despite Zoro rarely fighting for revenge:
At Yasuie's execution he mentioned that no one has been able to take Kaido's head. The speech bubbles were placed directly above Zoro's head:
After his death Zoro swore to avenge him:
This is despite Zoro rarely fighting for revenge:
At Yasuie's execution he mentioned that no one has been able to take Kaido's head. The speech bubbles were placed directly above Zoro's head:
Enma
Zoro received one of Oden's swords Enma. Enma is one of only two swords to give Kaido his only (and quite a grievous one at that) scar:
Despite two of Oden's swords being used to scar Kaido, only Enma received the hype of the feat. Furthermore, when Zoro receives Enma, there is an editor's note referencing "inherited will":
Inherited will is one of the major themes of One Piece as exemplified by this quote of Gol D. Roger:
What other will did Zoro inherit that to slay Kaido and open the borders of Wanokuni:
Kawamatsu even mentions that the swords of fallen combatants shall be picked up by their comrades to continue the battle in their stead:
Despite two of Oden's swords being used to scar Kaido, only Enma received the hype of the feat. Furthermore, when Zoro receives Enma, there is an editor's note referencing "inherited will":
Inherited will is one of the major themes of One Piece as exemplified by this quote of Gol D. Roger:
What other will did Zoro inherit that to slay Kaido and open the borders of Wanokuni:
Kawamatsu even mentions that the swords of fallen combatants shall be picked up by their comrades to continue the battle in their stead:
Oden
Synergistically with the Enma point, Oda has drawn many gratuitous parallels between Zoro and Oden:
This collage captures it quite well I think:
Zoro has been setup to surpass Oden by accomplishing what Oden was unable to do in blackening Enma:
He may further surpass Oden by accomplishing what Oden was unable to do in defeating Kaido. The potential for this has been lampshaded in recent chapters.
The scabbards were able to damage Kaido with "Oden's ryuo":
However, Kaido mocked them as being too weak to even open his old scar, lamenting that they lacked the strength to give him the death he craved:
When the Scabbards attacked Kaido, he saw the visage of Oden, and felt like he could have let them kill him. Sadly, they were ultimately too weak to compare to Oden. Kaido boldly proclaimed that we shall never again see "a monster samurai" of the likes of Kozuki Oden.
Zoro is the Samurai that shall pick up the mantle of Oden. He's the monster samurai Kaido has been looking for. But he will not merely match Oden. Zoro is being setup to surpass him, and he would do so by doing that which Oden could not do (turning Enma black and defeating Kaido).
- Toki and Hiyori
- Oden met the 26 years old Toki.
- Zoro met the 26 years old Hiyori.
- Oden rescued Toki and fainted.
- Zoro rescued Hiyori and fainted.
- Toki nursed Oden back to health.
- Hiyori nursed Zoro back to health.
- Toki cried in Oden's arm.
- Hiyori cried in Zoro's arm.
- Oden met the 26 years old Toki.
- Orochi
- Both of them were furious at Orochi.
- Orochi was frightened by them.
- Both of them used Nitoryu in an attempt to kill Orochi.
- Oden got stopped by the Bari Bari no Mi user.
- Zoro got stopped by Denjiro.
- Enma
- Both of them are the only ones to successfully tame Enma.
- Self sacrifice
- Oden boiled for his men.
- Zoro took Luffy's damage.
- Naivete
- Oden trusts a clearly evil guy Orochi with a ridiculous demand.
- Zoro trusts a clearly evil guy Helmeppo with a ridiculous demand.
- Kinemon
- Oden rescued Kinemon from the Mountain God.
- Zoro rescued Kinemon from the Punk Hazard Dragon.
- The Boar cutting scene is constructed similarly to the Punk Hazard scene down to even Kin'emon being stuck to the boar with only his legs dangling off of it.
- Oden rescued Kinemon from the Mountain God.
This collage captures it quite well I think:
Zoro has been setup to surpass Oden by accomplishing what Oden was unable to do in blackening Enma:
He may further surpass Oden by accomplishing what Oden was unable to do in defeating Kaido. The potential for this has been lampshaded in recent chapters.
The scabbards were able to damage Kaido with "Oden's ryuo":
However, Kaido mocked them as being too weak to even open his old scar, lamenting that they lacked the strength to give him the death he craved:
When the Scabbards attacked Kaido, he saw the visage of Oden, and felt like he could have let them kill him. Sadly, they were ultimately too weak to compare to Oden. Kaido boldly proclaimed that we shall never again see "a monster samurai" of the likes of Kozuki Oden.
Zoro is the Samurai that shall pick up the mantle of Oden. He's the monster samurai Kaido has been looking for. But he will not merely match Oden. Zoro is being setup to surpass him, and he would do so by doing that which Oden could not do (turning Enma black and defeating Kaido).
Ryuma
Shimotsuki Ryuma was known as the Sword God of Wano and valiantly defended the country against outsiders:
Zoro appears to be a Shimotsuki himself, from SBS Volume 96:
The previous Volume 92 SBS suggests that one of the descendants of the Shimotsuki settlers is someone we're all intimately familiar with. It seems likely that person is Zoro:
He bears quite the resemblance to Ryuma:
Both Zoro and Ryuma expressed the desire to become the World's Strongest Swordsman:
Both were blamed for crimes they did not commit. Zoro was blamed for a street murder and stealing Shusui:
Ryuma was blamed for summoning a dragon and called a murderer:
Ryuma is quite famous for slaying a Western Dragon:
Oda might be setting Zoro up as the second Ryuma. One Piece Magazine Volume 6 outright says: "It's been several hundreds of years since Ryuma's death. Perhaps a strong samurai who people can call the 'second Ryuma' has already been born.":
Given that Ryuma's most iconic legend is slaying a dragon over the capital, in order for Oda to credibly depict Zoro as the second Ryuma, Zoro would have to play a huge role in the defeat of the dragon tyrant terrorising the country. This is very synergistic with the One Piece Magazine Volume 5 mentioning that a new legend of slaying an Eastern Dragon will be born. Just as Ryuma had his own legend of slaying a Western Dragon:
So also might Zoro forge his own legend by slaying an Eastern Dragon and saving the country. Zoro will likely leave Wano recognised as the "Second Ryuma".
Zoro appears to be a Shimotsuki himself, from SBS Volume 96:
The previous Volume 92 SBS suggests that one of the descendants of the Shimotsuki settlers is someone we're all intimately familiar with. It seems likely that person is Zoro:
He bears quite the resemblance to Ryuma:
Both Zoro and Ryuma expressed the desire to become the World's Strongest Swordsman:
Both were blamed for crimes they did not commit. Zoro was blamed for a street murder and stealing Shusui:
Ryuma was blamed for summoning a dragon and called a murderer:
Ryuma is quite famous for slaying a Western Dragon:
Oda might be setting Zoro up as the second Ryuma. One Piece Magazine Volume 6 outright says: "It's been several hundreds of years since Ryuma's death. Perhaps a strong samurai who people can call the 'second Ryuma' has already been born.":
Given that Ryuma's most iconic legend is slaying a dragon over the capital, in order for Oda to credibly depict Zoro as the second Ryuma, Zoro would have to play a huge role in the defeat of the dragon tyrant terrorising the country. This is very synergistic with the One Piece Magazine Volume 5 mentioning that a new legend of slaying an Eastern Dragon will be born. Just as Ryuma had his own legend of slaying a Western Dragon:
So also might Zoro forge his own legend by slaying an Eastern Dragon and saving the country. Zoro will likely leave Wano recognised as the "Second Ryuma".
Dragon Slaying
Zoro seems to be set up to slay a dragon in Wano. While it is possible that Zoro wouldn't slay any dragon at all, if he's going to slay a dragon β if anything comes out of that plot line β then the dragon he would slay will be Kaido.
Zoro has been set up to slay an Eastern Dragon. The most important piece of evidence for this is an article on dragons, from One Piece Magazine Volume 5:
Here is the relevant quote:
The article further provides a description of Eastern Dragons with a picture of Kaido:
Kaido certainly fits the depiction of an Eastern Dragon:
Zoro has been set up to slay an Eastern Dragon. The most important piece of evidence for this is an article on dragons, from One Piece Magazine Volume 5:
Here is the relevant quote:
The article further provides a description of Eastern Dragons with a picture of Kaido:
Kaido certainly fits the depiction of an Eastern Dragon:
Zoro's Desire
Last but not least, Zoro has also on numerous occasions expressed his desire to fell Kaido.
In chapter 981, Zoro specifically mentioned that he was conserving his strength to fight Kaido:
Later on, Zoro states that fighting Apoo is only wasting his time and that he needs to hurry to support the scabbards:
Of Kaido, Zoro tells Queen that he's "come to slice him into pieces":
In chapter 981, Zoro specifically mentioned that he was conserving his strength to fight Kaido:
Later on, Zoro states that fighting Apoo is only wasting his time and that he needs to hurry to support the scabbards:
Of Kaido, Zoro tells Queen that he's "come to slice him into pieces":
Conclusion
Zoro has been setup to slay Kaido. It's not yet clear that Oda would go as far as having Zoro actually kill him. Nevertheless, this suggests that Zoro will play a pivotal role in Kaido's defeat. It's hard to imagine Kidd, Law or Killer topping that.
Put another way, Zoro hasn't been setup to play second fiddle to Luffy in the upcoming fight, he's been setup as the star of the Kaido confrontation. If Luffy's protagonist status precludes that (chapter 1000 was named for him after all), then Zoro would be the runner up to Luffy's untouchable performance. I find it hard to imagine Kidd, Law or Killer superseding someone setup who's been setup to surpass Oden, slay a Dragon (Kaido) and be recognised as the Second Ryuma.
@Queen
@Zoro
@Van
@playa4321
@Grumpy Zoro
@Ice devil slayer
@KiriNigiri
@Veljko2000
@rednose
@Winsmoke Sanji
@Monet
@Veku
@HexBozoline
@Crooc
@Reborn
@BossYimz
@Robin swan
@yj
@Fenaker
@PuckTheGreat
@RayanOO
@ShishioIsBack
@Orojackson Refugee
@Greenbeard
@Dragomir
@Sword God Ryuma
@Sentinel
@IceWitch
@Himura
@DarkWitch
@stormylife
@Mr. Anderson
@yunzabit heights
@Monster trio
@Vonal
@Don DaSlayer
@Xione
@Master OF Haki
@Topi Jerami
@Yukihime
@bennbeckman
@Thabeast
@SaintBellkin
@SinOfGreed
@Zenos7
@Lucas
@JioFreed
@pedxi
@Zowo
@Luslec
@style
@Luffy is the mc
@Guymieux
@Mikail
@KINGKONGGUN15
@RyumaZoro
@worst pirate
@ZenZu
@LuffyMazino
@Im_not_Osama_bin_laden
@HAJIKATA
@Jackteo
@Tamerani
@Marimo_420
@Garp the Fist
@Kejon
@Fukki
@Flower
@Sunita
@RZ.119
@Sade
@Skiddo
@KageyamaShoyo
@Den_Den_Mushi
@Elcadar
@Finalbeta
@Bullet
@Dark Hound
@Patryipe
@Light D Lamperouge
@Enma
@Owl Ki
@ZoroIsOverrated
@ShinmenTakezo
@Jack
@Admiral Lee Hung
@Bogard
@Starbound Beast D. Draig
@Shiroyru
@Camie
@ShadyOjiro
@Benn beck
@Seth
@MarimoHeado
@Foxy Bunny
@Bittersteel
@comrade
@Cyrus the Cactus
@OmegaPsyche
@SHIHI
@Zoro D Goat
@critical mindset
@kurwa
@WillOfMyD
@Jo_Ndule
@Reddot4
@Tobi
@nik87
@Sakura no Hiluluk
@Usopp Haoshoku Haki
@Gambit
@Monkey D Theories
@Luthon
@Haoshoku
@Geo
@Yo Tan Wa
@Gonβs Missing Arm
@Albino π
@MasterD
@SmokedOut
@HeroesNZ
@Cinera
@Murilo
@Dark Knight Sanji
@Afroking
@Rosella.Fiamingo
@Chaves
@Rivaille
@Nidai_Kitetsu
@MonsterZoro
@Gol D. Roger
@Soleus
@Aknolagon
@Emperor
@Constantine
@Gensui Sazid
@K!NG HARA$H!MA
@Hanzo hattori
@Buggy D Clown
@silverfire
@yorosenpai
@Tenshi No Konan
@Guan Yu
@Artorias
@Kiwipom
@zorojurou
@Chrono
@HA001
@Sadistic Senpai
@bblue
@MarineHQ62
@KenshiraSonata
@Erkan12
@Buusatan94
@Celestial D. Dragon
@Gauntlet
@Trafalgar_D_Law
@rerere
@Midnight Delight
@Xlaw
@Garps tekkai
@Pantheos
@Parker
@ReggieZoldyck21
@Luffy bin Dragon
@Blother
@T.D.A
@BidaPowersTV
@Fn Lucci
@Sanji D Cook
@Zoro
@Van
@playa4321
@Grumpy Zoro
@Ice devil slayer
@KiriNigiri
@Veljko2000
@rednose
@Winsmoke Sanji
@Monet
@Veku
@HexBozoline
@Crooc
@Reborn
@BossYimz
@Robin swan
@yj
@Fenaker
@PuckTheGreat
@RayanOO
@ShishioIsBack
@Orojackson Refugee
@Greenbeard
@Dragomir
@Sword God Ryuma
@Sentinel
@IceWitch
@Himura
@DarkWitch
@stormylife
@Mr. Anderson
@yunzabit heights
@Monster trio
@Vonal
@Don DaSlayer
@Xione
@Master OF Haki
@Topi Jerami
@Yukihime
@bennbeckman
@Thabeast
@SaintBellkin
@SinOfGreed
@Zenos7
@Lucas
@JioFreed
@pedxi
@Zowo
@Luslec
@style
@Luffy is the mc
@Guymieux
@Mikail
@KINGKONGGUN15
@RyumaZoro
@worst pirate
@ZenZu
@LuffyMazino
@Im_not_Osama_bin_laden
@HAJIKATA
@Jackteo
@Tamerani
@Marimo_420
@Garp the Fist
@Kejon
@Fukki
@Flower
@Sunita
@RZ.119
@Sade
@Skiddo
@KageyamaShoyo
@Den_Den_Mushi
@Elcadar
@Finalbeta
@Bullet
@Dark Hound
@Patryipe
@Light D Lamperouge
@Enma
@Owl Ki
@ZoroIsOverrated
@ShinmenTakezo
@Jack
@Admiral Lee Hung
@Bogard
@Starbound Beast D. Draig
@Shiroyru
@Camie
@ShadyOjiro
@Benn beck
@Seth
@MarimoHeado
@Foxy Bunny
@Bittersteel
@comrade
@Cyrus the Cactus
@OmegaPsyche
@SHIHI
@Zoro D Goat
@critical mindset
@kurwa
@WillOfMyD
@Jo_Ndule
@Reddot4
@Tobi
@nik87
@Sakura no Hiluluk
@Usopp Haoshoku Haki
@Gambit
@Monkey D Theories
@Luthon
@Haoshoku
@Geo
@Yo Tan Wa
@Gonβs Missing Arm
@Albino π
@MasterD
@SmokedOut
@HeroesNZ
@Cinera
@Murilo
@Dark Knight Sanji
@Afroking
@Rosella.Fiamingo
@Chaves
@Rivaille
@Nidai_Kitetsu
@MonsterZoro
@Gol D. Roger
@Soleus
@Aknolagon
@Emperor
@Constantine
@Gensui Sazid
@K!NG HARA$H!MA
@Hanzo hattori
@Buggy D Clown
@silverfire
@yorosenpai
@Tenshi No Konan
@Guan Yu
@Artorias
@Kiwipom
@zorojurou
@Chrono
@HA001
@Sadistic Senpai
@bblue
@MarineHQ62
@KenshiraSonata
@Erkan12
@Buusatan94
@Celestial D. Dragon
@Gauntlet
@Trafalgar_D_Law
@rerere
@Midnight Delight
@Xlaw
@Garps tekkai
@Pantheos
@Parker
@ReggieZoldyck21
@Luffy bin Dragon
@Blother
@T.D.A
@BidaPowersTV
@Fn Lucci
@Sanji D Cook
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