Category: Manga

What an emotional roller coaster! Been a while since a character died in One Piece I was genuinely sad about. And, it happened in the present. With NO ambiguity! Bravo, Oda.

Tonoyasu AKA Daimyo Yasuie Shimotsuki has truly kicked off the beginning of the end for Shogun Orochi. Safe to say he let himself get captured all so he could fix the Alliance’s plan and cause massive damage Orochi. Off the top of my head, this is what Tonoyasu did:

-Made Orochi look like a paranoid idiot.

-Guaranteed the Wano alliance recruits will be released.

-Gave them a new gathering spot.

-Reminded all of Wano what a piece of garbage Orochi is, bringing most or all on the Alliance’s side.

-Shutenmaru is closer to fighting alongside to Alliance.

-Died in front of his daughter.

I feel a lot has happened, but at the same time, it didn’t.

Let’s talk about the biggest revelation this chapter, Tonoyasu is Lord Yasuie, an old ally of Oden Kozuki. So, he’s not Denjiro. Hm. Where the hell is Denjiro? Anyway, Tonoyasu is also Ushimitsu Kozo AKA the Robin Hood of Wano so now the citizens are double upset over his capture and Komurasaki’s death. Things aren’t looking too good for Tonoyasu. Is he really dying? Sure, it’s possible. If Oda wants to make him a martyr, then yeah. On the other hand, Zoro and Brook are heading to the Flower Capital and Law’s already there so whether Tonoyasu’s saved or not, there’s a fight a-brewing.

Shutenmaru’s on his own journey to Bakura Town to payback Holdem for setting fire to his territory. Another potential battle hotspot is cooking. Especially, if Kin’emon and Dogstorm are headed there to try recruiting him again.

I need more. No, not more Brad Pitt. More information on the Meta Liberation Army.

For example, how “free” do they want people to be able to use their quirks? Are we talking using quirks in public in everyday life or are we talking no limit shoot blast kaboom chaos? It’s not clear what restrictions, if any, the Liberation Army wants. As I said in past reviews, most folks these days would probably support legal quirk use in public as long as it doesn’t infringe on anyone else. So, why revive the cause as an army again? My guess is blind faith in the original Destro’s ideals.

Think about it, generations ago, mysterious quirks are popping up all around the world out of nowhere, the number of people with them growing more every day. I think the Japanese government wanted civil order and they wanted it immediately. That’s where the no quirks in public law came from, in my opinion. But, thinking about it from that perspective makes that law obsolete today. Civil order has long since been reestablished. We now have heroes and quirk usage is normal in today’s society. Japan can handle more relaxed quirk laws. That’s what’s so frustrating about the Liberation Army. If they’d just abandon Destro’s militant ways and forge ahead using public opinion, propaganda, and lobbying as their weapons they could change the laws legally! Their extremist ideas are killing their cause and all because Destro’s descendant wants to do things the old fashioned way. It’s a shame, and I hope there’s someone in the organization who realizes this method of violence won’t get them anywhere.

So, everyone just let Law go to save his crew alone. Jerks.

Oda gave us one of the most real moments in One Piece history: forgetting an old acquaintance. Solid. So, who is Tonoyasu? My guess he’s the last samurai the Alliance is looking for, Denjiro. He’s basically hiding in plain sight. Maybe he used a ninja art to hide his true appearance or used his devil fruit power if he has one. This also explains why Komurasaki and Toko are so close, seeing as their fathers were friends.

Ah, yes. Oda continues cleaning up Komurasaki’s shitty old behavior by making the guys who lost everything total sleezebags. I’m fine with it. We already knew one of them sold their family for money so it makes sense.

Oh, Caribou. Stick that quarter up your butt now because you’re playing yourself. And, nice twist on the labor camps being full of those hating Orochi and Kaidou’s guts. Yep. Instead of escaping, Luffy and friends (plus Chopper’s team) are going turn Udon into a battlefield. Guess this is where we’re getting our big fights and where we’ll close out Wano Part Two. Whether it’s Luffy or Big Mom or Kawamatsu, Queen is getting his ass handed to him before the prison arc ends.

Ah! So that’s why Luffy wants to learn that haki hand attack. No, he doesn’t want to beat Kaidou, he wants to sell out stadiums.

Okay. Okay. I admit Komurasaki’s reasons for taking a risk in telling Zoro her secret made sense. The Kozuki prophecy is coming and Zoro, being a foreigner, could mean he’s there as an ally. If not, then he’d be one of Kaidou’s goons, right? So, yeah. You get props Komurasaki. Good call.

Who the heck is Kikunojo? Could it be Tonoyasu in disguise? I wouldn’t be surprised. Well, at least Zoro’s getting healed so he’ll go into his next fight at 100%, maybe.

Fukurokuju and Kaidou’s forces are rounding up more and more Kozuki allies. Yep, they’re all being kept in one place together along with Bepo and the rest of the captured Heart Pirates. Would be pretty cool if Law and a Strawhat member or two freed them all. But, I’m sure there’s no way that’s happening. *goes on Law/Franky/Usopp team up watch*