Yamato’s Cover Story Vol.16: “Ninja Training in Amigasa Village”
This volume shows Otama doing ninja training while Shinobu watches over her. The composition is remarkably similar to Vivi’s princess training.
Luffy said to Vivi, “Bet your life with ours!! Aren’t you our friend?!” — and that was midway through the Alabasta arc. So in the order Luffy recognized them as crewmates: Chopper, then Vivi. That confirms the previous cover was a “Listen up, Chopper” homage after all.
So the theory that “Yamato’s Cover Story is a digest of Luffy’s adventures” remains on track. Hoping for a Robin homage next!
Two-Day Rebound?
The Straw Hats had only been at sea for about two days since leaving Egghead — departing right after Vegapunk’s live broadcast. So this slim version of Shinobu would represent that two-days-prior point in time.
Does that mean she rebounded in just two days? I was already puzzled during the Shanks vs. Bartolomeo arc — are the cover story and main story supposed to share the same timeline?
The New Giant Warrior Pirates
The self-proclaimed Sun God turned out to be Lord, the navigator of the New Giant Warrior Pirates.
The name “Lord” is the English word used in scripture for God (Yahweh) or Christ — perfectly suited to a self-proclaimed Sun God. In Japanese, the character’s name is ロード (Rōdo), which sounds identical to the English word “Lord.” Japanese readers hear the same sound whether it’s the character’s name or the religious title — the pun is hidden in plain sight. In English, the spelling makes the connection immediate.
It seems Lord was already unhappy that the New Giant Warrior Pirates had voluntarily become subordinates of the little-people crew — and when a chance to imprison them fell into his lap, he took it.
Pirates are self-serving by nature, and proud Elbaf warriors don’t easily submit to anyone — so his reasoning is understandable, at least.
When the alliance with Law was formed, part of the Heart Pirates opposed it too. This kind of internal dissent is nothing new.
Shipwright Stansen
The theory that Stansen is the giant from the Human Auction House seems increasingly likely. The scar under his right eye, the spiky beard beneath his mouth, the shape of his brows and nose — they’re all too similar to be a coincidence.
So Stansen owes the Straw Hats a debt, making him likely to be cooperative.
Doctor Gerz
Looking closely at young Gerz, the expression on her face as she watches Hyrdlin is that of someone falling in love — she’s even blushing.
And still being in the same crew as an adult? She’s definitely a candidate for his future wife. That type would have no objections as long as Hyrdlin approves.
Cook Goldberg
Goldberg is probably also one of Hyrdlin’s childhood friends — the nose shape, the food-loving personality, the fact that they seem to have trained in swordsmanship together as kids.
Hyrdlin, Gerz, and Goldberg appear to have been an inseparable trio from childhood, so Goldberg likely has no issue with being under the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. They were all collecting books together back in Ohara too — this crew follows Captain Hyrdlin.
So the only one who seems genuinely resistant within the New Giant Warrior Pirates is Lord.