Oda told fans what Kuzan's goal was long ago in One Piece, and no one noticed

Modified Jul 19, 2024 19:00 GMT

Oda told fans what Kuzan's goal was long ago in One Piece, and no one noticed (Image via Toei Animation)

One Piece chapter 1121 is set to be released on July 22, 2024, but the raw scans for the chapter have already been unveiled. The last page of this chapter showcased former Admiral Kuzan alongside the big guns, re-igniting the fire inside the fandom who want to know why he did such a thing.

The chapter also saw the continuation of the message of Vegapunk about the world's truth. The chapter saw Luffy and Bonney go against Saint Saturn and pulverize him.

The climax of the chapter saw Vegapunk reveal that everything in this world will be controlled by the pirate who finds the One Piece. The images of the Four Emperors, some big shots from the World Government, and some other people were attached to the panel alongside Kuzan. This indicated that Kuzan could be after the grand treasure, and it has been indicated before in a movie.

Disclaimer: This article contains potential spoilers from the One Piece manga series and has the author's opinion.

One Piece: Exploring the goals of Kuzan after he left the Marine Corps

Kuzan as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Kuzan, more commonly referred to as Admiral Aokiji, is one of the first three admirals of the Marine Corps introduced in the series. Known for his cleverness, he was one of the strongest officers working in the Marine Corps. Moreover, he was also the direct disciple of the Marine Hero, Monkey D Garp, and inherited his monstrous strength.

When Sengoku considered retiring from his seat, the Fleet Admiral, Aokiji was the one who was supposed to take his place. Unfortunately, he was opposed by some top officers who wanted Admiral Akainu to become their next leader. So, they decided this through a battle between Akainu and Aokiji.

Kuzan and Akainu as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Their battle lasted for ten days and took place on Punk Hazard. The battle ended with the victory of Admiral Akainu, who was declared the Fleet Admiral of the Marine Corps. Moreover, not only did Aokiji lose, but he also lost one of his legs and even left the Marine Corps.

After leaving the Marine Corps, Kuzan joined the Blackbeard Pirates and was declared one of the Ten Titanic Captains of this crew. He even fought his teacher Garp when the SWORD raided Hachinose Island to save Koby. But why did Kuzan go through such a rapid change all of a sudden? The answer could lie in the movie that aired after Kuzan left the Marine Corps.

One Piece Film Z is a semi-canon movie of the series that aired during the Dressrosa arc. The film showcased the story of Zephyr, a former Admiral who stole the Dyna Stones, a possession of the World Government that was as strong as the Ancient Weapons. The Straw Hat Pirates landed on Firs Island to care for this ex-Marine.

The movie had a brief focus on Aokiji who met the Straw Hat Pirates on this island. As expected, the Straw Hat Pirates were wary of his presence because of what happened at the Long Ring Long Land, but Aokiji revealed that he was no longer a part of the Marine Corps.

Kuzan as seen in the film (Image via Toei Animation)

When the Straw Hat Pirates and Aokiji reached the bay of the island, the ex-Admiral made a very weird statement. He questioned the Straw Hat Pirates: does that final treasure (the One Piece) exist because the pirates (its seekers) exist, or do the pirates exist because there is a grand treasure waiting for them at the end of the Grand Line?

Luffy couldn't answer the question at that time, but this statement showed that, despite being a member of the Marine Corps at one time, Kuzan was interested in the pirates' grand treasure. So, what could his grand goal be? Kuzan could be interested in seeing the worth of this grand treasure for which pirates are willing to give their lives.

He could have joined the Blackbeard Pirates because he saw them as the only pirate crew that had the chance to reach Laugh Tale. So, he could plan to reach the One Piece, see its worth, and then decide whether to side with the pirates or the Marines. This could be the reason why his face appeared in chapter 1121.

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Edited by Gayatri Chivukula