The Wano Arc, the longest arc in One Piece to date, centers on the fight to liberate the land of Wano from the tyrannical rule of Kaido and Orochi. Many years prior to the present events, Kozuki Oden and his wife Toki made the ultimate sacrifice by sending their sons and allies into the future in order to gather support for Wano’s cause.
This eventually resulted in a massive alliance being formed, consisting of not only the Straw Hat Pirates, but also various other prominent groups and individuals. Together, they initiated an assault on Kaido’s stronghold, the island of Onigashima, leading to an epic battle and ultimately leading to his downfall.
Interestingly, One Piece had already foreshadowed Kaido’s Devil Fruit abilities and oppressive rule over Wano in the earlier Punk Hazard Arc, well before the arc that shares its name. Author Eiichiro Oda included subtle hints that, in retrospect, can be seen as clear indications of what fans would eventually witness in Wano.
The Secret of Kaido’s Dragon-Themed Devil Fruit Revealed in Punk Hazard Arc
A subtle piece of foreshadowing
Upon reaching Punk Hazard, the Straw Hat Pirates encountered Kozuki Momonosuke and Kinemon, who were respectively Oden’s son and one of his devoted followers. The two were soon welcomed into the Straw Hats’ group, setting the groundwork for the formation of the powerful alliance that would ultimately dethrone Kaido’s reign in Wano.
Kinemon joined forces with Brook of the Straw Hat crew in One Piece chapter 682 to take down a small dragon created by Dr. Vegapunk. While Nami, Usopp, and Nico Robin initially launched an attack on the creature, Kinemon and Brook ultimately delivered the final blow together.
Kinemon employed his Foxfire Style: Blaze Slice technique to slice through the dragon’s fiery blast. Following this, he utilized Fire-Willow Flash to strike the beast, while Brook delivered a blow with Gavotte Bond En Avant. It is worth mentioning that Kinemon specifically referred to dragons as his nemeses before engaging in the attack.
“I have a score to settle with dragonkind! If he must be dealt with, let it be by my hand!”
Even after the dragon had been beaten senseless, Kinemon continued to strike it angrily, unleashing his rage on its body. Brook observed that the samurai’s animosity towards dragons was as if they were responsible for the death of his parents, to which Kinemon replied:
“As a matter of fact… you’re practically correct” .
At the time, One Piece fans struggled to decipher the significance of Kinemon’s words. However, with hindsight, it is clear that Eiichiro Oda skillfully foreshadowed two crucial elements of the Wano Arc. Firstly, Kinemon’s deep resentment towards dragons was a result of Kaido’s draconic abilities, as he was the tyrant who had enslaved Wano with his brutal rule.
Before his defeat by Luffy, Kaido was widely known as the “World’s Strongest Creature”and was one of the Four Emperors. This was due to his ability to transform into a giant, blue-scaled dragon as well as a human-dragon hybrid, which he gained from consuming the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon. This Mythical Zoan Fruit greatly enhanced Kaido’s durability and physical power, as well as granting him incredible size and extraordinary abilities such as flight and fire-breathing.
Kinemon’s additional remarks regarding dragons “taking the lives of his parents”are a direct allusion to Kaido, who bears a striking resemblance to a dragon, slaying Kozuki Oden, his beloved master and leader. Kinemon held Oden in high regard, considering him as a member of his own family, and harbored deep resentment towards Kaido for mercilessly ending his life.
Oda teases the story that he will tell several arcs later
With great courage and strength, Oden directly confronted Kaido in a bid to banish him from Wano. In the intense clash that followed, the two adversaries were evenly matched, and Oden managed to deal a significant blow to Kaido, leaving the durable Yonko with a permanent scar on his body.
Despite his efforts, Oden ultimately fell in the battle when Kaido took advantage of Kurozumi Higurashi’s assistance to deal a fatal blow to the samurai. Condemned to be boiled alive, Oden struck a bargain with Kaido. With a giant cauldron of scalding oil ready for his execution, Oden requested that Kaido set a time limit, allowing any survivors to leave unharmed.
Kaido issued a challenge to Oden and the Red Scabbards, daring them to endure for an hour. Without hesitation, Oden seized a plank and instructed his comrades to remain on it as he braced it in the scalding oil. With incredible acts of bravery and strength, Oden withstood the intense heat for more than an hour, all the while supporting Kinemon and the rest of his companions on his back.
Despite Kaido’s promise, he had no intention of honoring it. Despite Oden’s victory in the challenge, Kaido ended up killing him with a gunshot to the head. However, before his death, Oden made sure to protect his retainers by throwing them away from the execution site. He entrusted them with the task of opening Wano’s borders to the world and passed away with a smile on his face.
With tears streaming down their faces, Kinemon and his companions hurriedly escaped. When they encountered Kozuki Toki, she fulfilled Oden’s final request by sending Kinemon and Momonosuke to the future before succumbing to her fate at the hands of the Beasts Pirates.
It is noteworthy to mention that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda had also hinted at the events of the Wano Arc in other scenes on Punk Hazard. In chapter 682 of One Piece, Kinemon referred to Nami as a kunoichi, Nico Robin as a courtesan, and Brook as a corpse, foreshadowing their roles when the Straw Hat Pirates attempted to blend in with the local people of Wano during their infiltration.
In One Piece chapter 696, Kinemon and Momonosuke are seen struggling to eat the food that Sanji had prepared for the final feast on Punk Hazard. Despite their excitement for the warm soup, they couldn’t help but feel conflicted as the large pot used by Sanji reminded them of Oden’s tragic death.
After encouraging Momonosuke to eat, Kinemon reminded him that they must continue to live on and have faith in the people who had assisted them. As everyone indulged in the feast, the foundation for the alliance to seek revenge for Oden and free Wano had been laid.
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