Yamato Starting to Become Oden
Yamato’s cover story Vol.25: “Arresting the rebellious two!” With Who’s-Who’s reappearance, Onigashima self-homages are multiplying in both the cover story and the main story simultaneously: the new Nika silhouette, the helicopter-spinning neck transformation, and the Nekoka-fe subordinates all trace back to Onigashima. The cover image for the chapter where Who’s-Who first spoke the name “Nika” (vol.101) now holds the answer to what the latest silhouette actually shows.
Will Ulti & Page One Join Yamato?
Oden’s retainer recruitment sequence followed a clear geographic and dramatic structure:
- Kinemon and Denjiro → found in the Flower Capital
- Izou & Kikunojo, Kanjuro, Raizo → encountered on the road
- Ashura Doji → defeated in battle to take Kuri
- Inuarashi & Nekomamushi → rescued from bullies at the shoreline
Now Yamato’s crew is forming with a structurally similar logic. Currently: Otama (ninja-adjacent) and Speed (animal). That maps to Raizo and the Minks respectively. If the pattern continues, the Izou & Kikunojo sibling slot needs a pair — and Ulti & Page One are siblings whose current enemy is Who’s-Who, who is also Yamato’s enemy (he stole Koushirou’s sword). Enemy of my enemy becomes ally.
Yamato’s Potential Crew
Mapping Oden’s retainers to possible Yamato equivalents:
- Right arm (Kinemon) → a Fugetsu Omochi descendant?
- Left arm (Denjiro) → an Amagetsu Tempura descendant?
- Ninja (Raizo) → Otama ✓
- Siblings (Izou & Kikunojo) → Ulti & Page One (pending)
- Traitor (Kanjuro) → ?
- Monster (Ashura Doji) → Sasaki?
- Animals (Inuarashi & Nekomamushi) → Speed ✓
The structure isn’t fully filled yet, but the parallels are too clean to be accidental. Yamato is building her own version of the Nine Red Scabbards, one encounter at a time.
Scopper Gaban Appears
The man in the kasa hat is Scopper Gaban — confirmed. And with that, notice the naming pattern for the Roger Pirates’ top tier:
- Gol D. Roger → Gold (金)
- Silvers Rayleigh → Silver (銀)
- Scopper Gaban → Copper (銅)
Gold, Silver, and Copper — the three precious metals. The captain and his two wings. Oda named them as a set from the beginning.
The Man with the Fire Scar?
Gaban has a scar above his right eye that resembles a “fire scar” — the distinctive burn mark that has been hinted at belonging to a specific mystery figure. Whether or not Gaban turns out to be that person, one thing is clear: Gaban knows where Raftel is. He sailed there with Roger. And critically, he may also know what the 4th Road Poneglyph says — the one location that remains unknown to the current generation.
In the race for One Piece, Gaban is an ultra-significant variable. The chapter ending on him holding a key while the major players are converging on Elbaf feels like a deliberate “this man will determine something crucial” moment. Watching closely.
