Foreshadowing Zoro vs Nusjuro in One Piece before Egghead

Foreshadowing Zoro vs Nusjuro in One Piece before Egghead

The highly anticipated One Piece chapter 1117 is set to be released on June 17, 2024 on Shueisha’s MANGA Plus website and app. Fans can expect an incredible installment, as it will showcase an epic confrontation that has been long awaited in the series. According to leaked spoilers, the Five Elders will launch an attack on the Iron Giant in an attempt to prevent the broadcasting of Dr. Vegapunk’s message to the world.

Despite facing off against one of the Elders, Saint V. Nusjuro, the Straw Hat crew’s Roronoa Zoro manages to stop him and the two engage in an intense battle. Leaks suggest that Zoro and Nusjuro are evenly matched as they both utilize their Haki and unique techniques, constantly countering each other. The sheer force of their clash causes powerful black lightning to erupt in every direction.

The Five Elders are renowned for their formidable strength, rivaling that of the Admirals and possibly even the Yonkos. Among them, V. Nusjuro stands out as the second most powerful member. Challenging Nusjuro would be an ideal way to gauge Zoro’s current strength, especially since Sanji could only last a few seconds against him. Adding to the excitement, the fight between Zoro and Nusjuro was predetermined from the beginning.

Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers from the One Piece manga up to chapter 1117.

Exploring the Hints of Zoro vs Nusjuro Before One Piece Chapter 1117

Specular Roles

The Straw Hat Pirates and the Five Elders (Image via Toei Animation)
The Straw Hat Pirates and the Five Elders (Image via Toei Animation)

Roronoa Zoro is recognized as the second-in-command of the Straw Hat Pirates because of his formidable fighting abilities, intimidating reputation, and commanding demeanor. He holds the position of second strongest member after Monkey D. Luffy and is commonly referred to as the crew’s unofficial but acknowledged first mate.

Ever since the start of the story, Zoro has been Luffy’s faithful right-hand man, with a goal of becoming the world’s strongest swordsman. He can be seen as the modern equivalent of “Dark King”Silvers Rayleigh, who was once the right-hand man of Gol D. Roger.

From his achievements and characterization, it is evident that Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro is portrayed as being among the most powerful of the Five Elders. It is highly probable that he holds the second-highest position in the group, second only to Saint Topman Warcury.

Zoro and Nusjuro are both highly skilled swordsmen and play important roles within their respective groups. It is no surprise that their battle would be seen as inevitable. In the One Piece story, Zoro frequently engages in combat with the second-in-command members of other groups.

Two Versions of the Same Sword

Nusjuro's sword is most probably the Shodai Kitetsu (Image via Toei Animation)
Nusjuro’s sword is most probably the Shodai Kitetsu (Image via Toei Animation)

Zoro is famous for his signature Three Sword Style, in which he wields three swords simultaneously, although he can opt to use just one or two depending on the situation. Among Zoro’s arsenal is the Sandai Kitetsu, a cursed sword crafted by Kozuki Sukiyaki, the father of Kozuki Oden.

Zoro was gifted the Sandai Kitetsu, an exceptionally sharp sword, by Ipponmatsu, the proprietor of a store in Rogue Town. Ipponmatsu was impressed by Zoro’s skill and determination, prompting him to also bestow upon Zoro another sword, the Yubashiri.

Ever since his debut in the One Piece narrative, Nusjuro has been depicted as possessing a sword that bears a strong resemblance to the Sandai Kitetsu. Given that Zoro currently wields the Sandai Kitetsu and the Nidai Kitetsu is located in Wano Country, it can be inferred that Nusjuro’s sword is likely the Shodai Kitetsu, which is considered the most formidable of the Kitetsu blades.

The Shodai Kitetsu, a relative of Zoro’s long-dated weapon, is one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades, making it the ideal weapon for a top-tier-level fighter like Nusjuro. The fact that Nusjuro possesses such a formidable sword creates a narrative connection between him and Zoro, hinting at an inevitable clash between these two exceptional swordsmen.

3) Fascinating Coincidences

Nusjuro showing off his tremendous power (Image via Shueisha)
Nusjuro showing off his tremendous power (Image via Shueisha)

In the same chapter where Zoro demonstrated his immense strength by defeating Rob Lucci, V. Nusjuro’s abilities were also unveiled. While this could be perceived as mere coincidence, it appears that Eiichiro Oda, the author of One Piece, intentionally hinted at a connection between Zoro and Nusjuro, given that Nusjuro’s ominous powers had never been revealed prior to this chapter.

Similar to Zoro’s swift and deadly defeat of Lucci with his sword, Nusjuro revealed his transformation into the Bakotsu – a blazing skeletal horse. By merging with the demonic creature, Nusjuro gained incredible speed and moved at an unstoppable pace.

Within a matter of seconds, he quickly sprinted across Egghead Island, taking down the numerous Mark III Pacifista that were present. What was intriguing was that although Nusjuro sliced through the cyborgs, he made sure not to completely destroy them. His goal was to render the Pacifista inoperable, therefore he used his blade to freeze them using the Bakotsu’s unique power.

Despite possessing demonic abilities, Nusjuro is now known as the “King of Hell”and wields a sword named after Enma, the Buddhist deity of the underworld. Additionally, Zoro has long been compared to a demon in human form and his fighting techniques often involve demonic symbolism. This draws another interesting comparison between Zoro and Nusjuro.

Both are exceptional Haki users

Zoro has now become the "King of Hell" (Image via Toei Animation)
Zoro has now become the “King of Hell” (Image via Toei Animation)

As the series progresses, Zoro has emerged as one of the most formidable Haki users. He possesses the rare ability to wield all three types of Haki, a feat that is rarely seen in the world of One Piece. Zoro’s expertise lies in Observation Haki, and he has also mastered the advanced levels of Armament Haki and Conqueror’s Haki.

Despite not yet having upgraded his powers in Wano, Zoro’s Armament Haki was already formidable enough to inflict serious damage on Kaido and withstand the powerful attacks of the latter. Upon tapping into his innate Conqueror’s Haki, Zoro quickly mastered the technique of imbuing his techniques with it, a rare ability that is only possessed by the strongest characters in the One Piece universe.

After creating the King of Hell Style, Zoro’s power reached an unparalleled level as it combined the advanced forms of Armament and Conqueror’s Haki. While Zoro is an incredibly skilled Haki user, Nusjuro proves to be equally if not more proficient, adding to the intensity of their epic battle.

Nusjuro’s abilities include transforming into a fiendish horse to immobilize or attack his enemies, but his exceptional swordsmanship, boosted by his Haki, is his greatest asset. With a single, effortless strike, he can effortlessly slice through the entire Egghead laboratory. His full power must be immense, as his Conqueror’s and Armament Haki are said to be exceptional, and he can utilize them to enhance his sword.

5) The Connection between Us and Wano

Wano was the "Land of Gold" (Image via Shueisha)
Wano was the “Land of Gold” (Image via Shueisha)

During the initial stages of the series, Nefertari Vivi referred to Zoro as “Mr Bushido.”As the story progressed, it was uncovered that Zoro is a direct descendant of the legendary “Sword God”Ryuma, a renowned and undefeated warrior from Wano who lived centuries before the current events in the One Piece narrative.

Zoro not only embodies the traditional values of a samurai such as integrity and selflessness, but he also hails from Wano, a nation deeply rooted in the feudal era of Japan. His connection to his heritage becomes even more intriguing when he encounters the reanimated body of Ryuma. After defeating the weakened “Sword God”zombie, Zoro is rewarded with the legendary Shusui blade, adding to his reputation as a formidable samurai.

During his stay in Wano, it was mentioned that Zoro’s appearance and combat techniques bear a striking resemblance to those of Ryuma. Eiichiro Oda, the author of One Piece, even created a cover to further highlight the connection between Zoro and his legendary ancestor.

Ryuma single-handedly repelled all the invaders from Wano (Image via Shueisha)
Ryuma single-handedly repelled all the invaders from Wano (Image via Shueisha)

There is speculation among One Piece fans that Nusjuro may have a connection to Wano, as evidenced by his choice of clothing – a keikogi and a pair of geta, both traditional Japanese garments. While this has not been officially confirmed, some believe that Nusjuro may have even fought alongside Ryuma in the past. This theory is not entirely far-fetched, as the Five Elders are known to be immortal or at least age differently than regular people.

According to reports, Ryuma single-handedly defended Wano and its gold from numerous attempts by pirates and nobles to seize it. Given his title of “Warrior God of Finance,”Nusjuro is likely to have a particular interest in gold. In addition, Ryuma is regarded as a hero on par with Joy Boy, who is known to be an archenemy of the Five Elders and Imu-sama.

Despite his undefeated record, Ryuma eventually passed away due to an illness. However, he was known to have a permanent scar on his left eye. It is believed that the great “Sword God”may have defeated Nusjuro, but not without being wounded himself and receiving the scar. While this is still just a theory, it is widely accepted due to strong evidence.

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