Chopper will have a major role early in One Piece's Elbaf arc, and chapter 1127 shows how

Modified Sep 22, 2024 18:00 GMT

Chopper will have a major role early in One Piece's Elbaf arc, and chapter 1127 shows how. (Image via Toei Animation)

In One Piece chapter 1127, fans finally saw the highly anticipated Elbaf arc begin, something the series has very arguably been setting up since its second major saga. Now, as the series progresses through its final stage, it’s finally time for Luffy and his crew to head to Elbaf in pursuit of the series’ titular treasure.

However, recent developments in the One Piece story have instead seen the crew separated. Nico Robin, Franky, Brook, and Jinbe are still with the Giant Warrior Pirates, while Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, and Usopp have inexplicably been transported to Elbaf. Moreover, the latter group has already gotten into major trouble, attacking local wildlife and even eating what seems to be a local deity in the form of a giant rabbit called the Ear God.

Tony Tony Chopper, the crew’s resident human-reindeer hybrid, is also coincidentally absent as all of these events have unfolded. However, it may not be so coincidental after all when considering Chopper’s ability to converse with any form of wildlife. With this in mind, Chopper may just be the MVP of the early stages of One Piece’s Elbaf arc following the Monster Trio’s chaotic actions.

One Piece’s Elbaf arc sets up Luffy getting into trouble that only Chopper will be able to save him from

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To clarify, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji found themselves getting into some major antics prior to Nami awakening in the Big Stein Castle. With what One Piece fans currently know, they’re responsible for attacking some local honeybees, as well as seemingly starting a forest fire after killing and roasting the aforementioned Ear God.

At a minimum, this will almost certainly result in Luffy and Co becoming the prime target of Elbaf’s wildlife, potentially also explaining Nami and Usopp’s recent foes. At worst, this could create such a rage among the Giants of Elbaf regarding the disruption of their forest’s ecosystem that they get off on the wrong foot with the local populace.

Enter Tony Tony Chopper, who has been shown able to communicate with virtually any wildlife throughout One Piece’s story thus far. In either scenario, he can almost certainly negotiate and quell any rages, either directly via the local surviving wildlife or by reassuring the Giants that the creatures of the forest have forgiven them.

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This would also explain why Chopper may be absent from the crew, having woken up as the Monster Trio caused a commotion and simply passing by them in the forest. Whereas the Monster Trio returned to the Big Stein Castle, Chopper stayed behind to try and help how he could (as a doctor) and also mend those fences.

It would also give Chopper an opportunity to have a significant role in the Elbaf arc regardless of whatever else happens. Considering Chopper is far from the crew’s strongest fighter, there’s a very real chance that such a moment would be one of his only chances to shine. Given this, it seems incredibly likely that this is the direction mangaka Eiichiro Oda is headed in for the Elbaf arc’s first steps.

However, this is speculative as of this article’s writing, with no evidence existing whatsoever for where Chopper’s whereabouts are. It’s just as likely that he simply wasn’t drawn on the Giant Warrior Pirates’ ship in chapter 1126, and isn’t in Elbaf at all. It’s equally possible that he is in Elbaf, but is so removed from the crew that any of the above can’t play out. Fans can expect to get some of these answers when the series returns in October from its one-week break.