Introduction
In Chapter 1010, Luffy declared that he shall beat Kaido "no matter what it takes."
He further asked Zoro, and Law, to head downstairs and inform the others.
Many interpret this as the end to Zoro's confrontation with Kaido. At first glance it does seem that way. It would be a marked departure from the norm for Zoro to defy Luffy when his resolve is that strong, however, I still find that conclusion hard to accept. There is far too much in the way of unfinished business to end Zoro's confrontation with Kaido now.
Dignity in Failure
Oda devoted ample attention to the Scabbards failing to fell Kaido. Their failure — they were unable to even reopen Oden's scar — was the highlight of its own chapter.
The Scabbards were given closure in their conflict with Kaido.
With emphasis placed on their defeat.
They proceeded to entrust everything to Luffy.
Through Luffy their struggle was vindicated.
The Scabbards are ultimately side characters — the importance of all of them combined do not hold a single candle to Zor, yet their failure was treated with the utmost respect and regard. They were given closure to their conflict with Kaido. In their last effort, they received some form of recognition, acknowledgement, and even vindication.
There was a profound dignity to their failure.
Zoro's Closure
That dignity is completely absent in Zoro's performance in Chapter 1010.
Zoro has an entire character arc in Onigashima about his desire to face Kaido in combat. This character arc culminates in an earth-shattering declaration that he came to cut down Kaido.
(Said declaration teased Zoro's COC, but that is an aside).
In this goal for which he came to Onigashima, Zoro failed.
Even after he gave it his all.
He was unable to even knock Kaido off his feet, let alone cut him down.
Zoro's failure wasn't given that same dignity the Scabbards received. There was no true commendation from Kaido. Kaido did not compliment him or acknowledge the enormity of Zoro's accomplishment, despite challenging the 4 Emperors and Navy countless times, they were never able to leave a scar on him like Zoro has.
He simply said that Zoro should be content with himself with that which he did, with little fanfare for it.
Then wrote him off as a mere annoyance.
Zoro was asked to settle for a bronze medal that falls short of his true goal, and the utmost of his ability was ultimately belittled. This failure of Zoro's, that the limit of his ability could not fell Kaido, is something that he must attend to when he wakes up to be given closure on his character arc with Kaido. Zoro needs that vindication.
Enma's Closure
Enma was introduced as the sword to give Kaido his one scar. Per Kawamatsu, swords inherit the will of their previous wielders. They give strength to their comrades and enable them to destroy their enemies.
The weapons of Wano inherited the will to continue the battle with the Beast Pirates.
Oden's will was to slay Kaido.
This will was left unfulfilled at the time of Oden's death. However, long before then, Oden told us he will find a way to pass on his will.
And that his soul (will) would live on.
Zoro was bestowed Enma, and was able to tame it; a feat that, in Wano's recent history, only Kozuki Oden could perform.
Hitetsu suggested that Zoro might surpass Oden, and forge Enma into a black blade.
The will that Enma bears has been left unfulfilled. Even in Zoro's last attack that scarred Kaido, Enma wasn't given special recognition by either Zoro or Kaido. There was no indication that Zoro could only damage Kaido due to Enma, or that the attack was heavily boosted as a result of Enma. In Zoro's all-out attack, Enma had no special impact.
If this is truly the end of Zoro's battle with Kaido, then Enma's entire existence is pointless. It has not been forged into a black blade, a run on plot point in Wano comparative to Luffy's training to damage Kaido. Both were first alluded to in the same chapter, which was 937.
Luffy has fulfilled the purpose of his subplot.
Zoro has not; his process of creating a black blade tied to Enma, its will to slay Kaido has been left unrealised. For Enma's existence to be justified, Zoro should cut down Kaido with it. For Enma to be worth the panels devoted to it, Zoro must face Kaido again.
Interlude Yasuie's Declaration
At his execution, Yasuie declared that for 20 years no one has been able to fulfil Oden's will of taking Kaido's head.
This declaration was given with focus on Zoro. In as much as proclamations/prophecies go in One Piece, Zoro was the subject of that proclamation. Zoro is the one that shall fulfil Oden's will and finally take Kaido's head.
If Chapter 1010 is to be the end of Zoro's confrontation with Kaido, this scene was pointless.
Kaido's Closure
Kaido also needs to face Zoro again to get some closure of his own. He's fascinated with the way of the samurai.
However, he bears deep scars on his psyche left behind by Oden.
He despairs that never again shall a monster samurai of Oden's calibre appear before him.
However, in Roronoa Zoro. a promising samurai has stepped up to confront him.
He wields a Katana bearing Oden's presence. From their katana he can sense a strange haki. He then realises that their Katana actually belonged to Oden:
This Samurai goes on to replicate the feat only Oden performed by scarring him.
Yet, Kaido does not comment on this? He only laments that they refused to join up with him?
He does not commend them as truly worthy of the blade they wield? He does not condemn them as unworthy to bear that blade? He does not acknowledge the birth of another Samurai of Oden's calibre? He fundamentally does not recognize the samurai bearing Oden's mantle that stands before him?
Will Kaido's despair never be answered? Will his longing forever be unfulfilled?
Conclusion
As things stand, there's a lack of finality, of closure to Zoro's conflict with Kaido. Both of them have unfinished business with the other. For their sake they need to engage in battle again. If Zoro is to ultimately be defeated in combat vs Kaido, then the very least Oda can do is treat his failure with the same dignity he showed the Scabbards. Anything else would be a disservice to his character.
Yes, Luffy asked Zoro to head downstairs and leave the battle to him, but I feel like Zoro and Kaido's characters need closure to their respective plotlines/character arcs as much as Luffy needs to best Kaido in 1 vs 1 combat.
There would be no unfinished plotlines/unresolved character arcs if Luffy never shatters the legend that Kaido should always be bet on in a 1 vs 1. It would be good for Luffy's character to shatter that legend, but not shattering that legend doesn't actually detract from Luffy's character (there's the issue of Luffy having failed after promising that he will prevail, but it's possible for Oda to handle this by having Luffy "beat" Kaido, but Kaido later recovers (perhaps through his Awakening). However, if Zoro doesn't fight Kaido again, both Zoro and Kaido's characters would be lesser for it. They would be incomplete if those character arcs are never resolved.
In Chapter 1010, Luffy declared that he shall beat Kaido "no matter what it takes."
He further asked Zoro, and Law, to head downstairs and inform the others.
Many interpret this as the end to Zoro's confrontation with Kaido. At first glance it does seem that way. It would be a marked departure from the norm for Zoro to defy Luffy when his resolve is that strong, however, I still find that conclusion hard to accept. There is far too much in the way of unfinished business to end Zoro's confrontation with Kaido now.
Dignity in Failure
Oda devoted ample attention to the Scabbards failing to fell Kaido. Their failure — they were unable to even reopen Oden's scar — was the highlight of its own chapter.
The Scabbards were given closure in their conflict with Kaido.
With emphasis placed on their defeat.
They proceeded to entrust everything to Luffy.
Through Luffy their struggle was vindicated.
The Scabbards are ultimately side characters — the importance of all of them combined do not hold a single candle to Zor, yet their failure was treated with the utmost respect and regard. They were given closure to their conflict with Kaido. In their last effort, they received some form of recognition, acknowledgement, and even vindication.
There was a profound dignity to their failure.
Zoro's Closure
That dignity is completely absent in Zoro's performance in Chapter 1010.
Zoro has an entire character arc in Onigashima about his desire to face Kaido in combat. This character arc culminates in an earth-shattering declaration that he came to cut down Kaido.
(Said declaration teased Zoro's COC, but that is an aside).
In this goal for which he came to Onigashima, Zoro failed.
Even after he gave it his all.
He was unable to even knock Kaido off his feet, let alone cut him down.
Zoro's failure wasn't given that same dignity the Scabbards received. There was no true commendation from Kaido. Kaido did not compliment him or acknowledge the enormity of Zoro's accomplishment, despite challenging the 4 Emperors and Navy countless times, they were never able to leave a scar on him like Zoro has.
He simply said that Zoro should be content with himself with that which he did, with little fanfare for it.
Then wrote him off as a mere annoyance.
Zoro was asked to settle for a bronze medal that falls short of his true goal, and the utmost of his ability was ultimately belittled. This failure of Zoro's, that the limit of his ability could not fell Kaido, is something that he must attend to when he wakes up to be given closure on his character arc with Kaido. Zoro needs that vindication.
Enma's Closure
Enma was introduced as the sword to give Kaido his one scar. Per Kawamatsu, swords inherit the will of their previous wielders. They give strength to their comrades and enable them to destroy their enemies.
The weapons of Wano inherited the will to continue the battle with the Beast Pirates.
Oden's will was to slay Kaido.
This will was left unfulfilled at the time of Oden's death. However, long before then, Oden told us he will find a way to pass on his will.
And that his soul (will) would live on.
Zoro was bestowed Enma, and was able to tame it; a feat that, in Wano's recent history, only Kozuki Oden could perform.
Hitetsu suggested that Zoro might surpass Oden, and forge Enma into a black blade.
The will that Enma bears has been left unfulfilled. Even in Zoro's last attack that scarred Kaido, Enma wasn't given special recognition by either Zoro or Kaido. There was no indication that Zoro could only damage Kaido due to Enma, or that the attack was heavily boosted as a result of Enma. In Zoro's all-out attack, Enma had no special impact.
If this is truly the end of Zoro's battle with Kaido, then Enma's entire existence is pointless. It has not been forged into a black blade, a run on plot point in Wano comparative to Luffy's training to damage Kaido. Both were first alluded to in the same chapter, which was 937.
Luffy has fulfilled the purpose of his subplot.
Zoro has not; his process of creating a black blade tied to Enma, its will to slay Kaido has been left unrealised. For Enma's existence to be justified, Zoro should cut down Kaido with it. For Enma to be worth the panels devoted to it, Zoro must face Kaido again.
Interlude Yasuie's Declaration
At his execution, Yasuie declared that for 20 years no one has been able to fulfil Oden's will of taking Kaido's head.
This declaration was given with focus on Zoro. In as much as proclamations/prophecies go in One Piece, Zoro was the subject of that proclamation. Zoro is the one that shall fulfil Oden's will and finally take Kaido's head.
If Chapter 1010 is to be the end of Zoro's confrontation with Kaido, this scene was pointless.
Kaido's Closure
Kaido also needs to face Zoro again to get some closure of his own. He's fascinated with the way of the samurai.
However, he bears deep scars on his psyche left behind by Oden.
He despairs that never again shall a monster samurai of Oden's calibre appear before him.
However, in Roronoa Zoro. a promising samurai has stepped up to confront him.
He wields a Katana bearing Oden's presence. From their katana he can sense a strange haki. He then realises that their Katana actually belonged to Oden:
This Samurai goes on to replicate the feat only Oden performed by scarring him.
Yet, Kaido does not comment on this? He only laments that they refused to join up with him?
He does not commend them as truly worthy of the blade they wield? He does not condemn them as unworthy to bear that blade? He does not acknowledge the birth of another Samurai of Oden's calibre? He fundamentally does not recognize the samurai bearing Oden's mantle that stands before him?
Will Kaido's despair never be answered? Will his longing forever be unfulfilled?
Conclusion
As things stand, there's a lack of finality, of closure to Zoro's conflict with Kaido. Both of them have unfinished business with the other. For their sake they need to engage in battle again. If Zoro is to ultimately be defeated in combat vs Kaido, then the very least Oda can do is treat his failure with the same dignity he showed the Scabbards. Anything else would be a disservice to his character.
Yes, Luffy asked Zoro to head downstairs and leave the battle to him, but I feel like Zoro and Kaido's characters need closure to their respective plotlines/character arcs as much as Luffy needs to best Kaido in 1 vs 1 combat.
There would be no unfinished plotlines/unresolved character arcs if Luffy never shatters the legend that Kaido should always be bet on in a 1 vs 1. It would be good for Luffy's character to shatter that legend, but not shattering that legend doesn't actually detract from Luffy's character (there's the issue of Luffy having failed after promising that he will prevail, but it's possible for Oda to handle this by having Luffy "beat" Kaido, but Kaido later recovers (perhaps through his Awakening). However, if Zoro doesn't fight Kaido again, both Zoro and Kaido's characters would be lesser for it. They would be incomplete if those character arcs are never resolved.
