Hinokizu’s Identity: Uncovering Clues from Oda’s Hidden Details in One Piece

One of the biggest mysteries in One Piece revolves around the identity of Hinokizu, also known as “The Man Marked by Flames”, according to Blackbeard. While there are numerous theories about who this character could be, a recent theory on Reddit proposes that Kadar, a Marine rear admiral stationed at the G-2 Marine base, may be the individual in question.

Despite being considered a far-fetched theory due to the assumption that Hinokizu is likely a prominent figure in the One Piece universe, there are several hidden details mentioned by author Eiichiro Oda in the manga that support this idea. This also strengthens the belief that this elusive individual is difficult to locate, making the possibility of Kadar being him an intriguing twist.

Please be aware that this article contains spoilers for the series.

Explaining the Identity of Kadar as Hinokizu in One Piece

The Poneglyphs are heavily connected to Hinokizu (Image via Toei Animation).

During the Fishman Island arc, Kadar was first introduced in the Fisher Tiger flashback as a Marine who had battled the Sun Pirates. However, their leader had granted him permission to escape. Shiryu has revealed that Hinokizu is most likely an agent of the World Government, similar to Kadar. Additionally, Laffitte speculated that Hinokizu’s ability to consume enemies with a large user could be attributed to a Devil Fruit power, which aligns with a scene in the flashback where the Marine’s ship was destroyed.

According to the theory, Kadar’s possible identity as the Vice Admiral Hound is supported by his traitorous actions, such as questioning the Buster Call and choosing not to fight during the Egghead incident. It is even speculated that he has been undermining the World Government for some time, including leaking their plot to assassinate Dr. Vegapunk to Morgans. The theory suggests that his motivation for these actions could stem from a desire for revenge, possibly due to being the son of one of Dr. Saturn’s experimental subjects who were given Sapphire Scales.

It is also revealed that Hound may have been responsible for the capture of Ginny, Bonney’s mother, and will ultimately be the one to end Saturn’s life, adding a layer of irony. The Road Poneglyph, which Hinokizu possessed, was located in Fishman Island, indicating that it was taken twenty years prior to the start of the story when Whitebeard did not control the territory. This aligns with the timeline of Fisher Tiger’s battle against Kadar.

The Problems with This Theory

Poneglyphs seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation).

The main concern with this theory is that the “Man Marked by Flames”is probably a commonly seen character in One Piece, who will have a significant impact on the plot going forward due to their possession of a Road Poneglyph. It is hard to imagine someone like Kadar, who is a minor character in the story, being the powerful Hinokizu.

It is therefore challenging to anticipate the outcome, as this theory hinges on several unusual conditions being valid. For instance, it suggests that Kadar is both a member of the Hinokizu and Hound within the Marines, which is difficult to believe given his reputation. This would imply that he was able to establish connections with individuals like Blackbeard and his crew.

Concluding Reflections

Although this Reddit theory presents compelling evidence for Hinokizu being Kadar in One Piece, it may be difficult to fully accept. Nevertheless, author Eiichiro Oda has a track record of surprising readers when necessary.

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