Kuzan joining the Blackbeard Pirates has caught One Piece fans off guard. However, he may have done that to take down the World Government.
Given that One Piece‘s world is in constant warfare, characters changing affiliations is not really uncommon. But one allegiance that has caught fans off guard is former admiral Aokiji, also known as Kuzan, joining the Blackbeard Pirates. The admiral is well-loved by the fandom due to being one of the few proper Marine officers, so his decision has been met with reasonable skepticism. What exactly is his reason for joining the accursed Blackbeard Pirates?
The Paramount War was one of the most epic fights in One Piece and represented a big turning point in the series. It marked the beginning of the timeskip and also brought numerous changes in the pirate world. Fleet Admiral Sengoku stepped down from his position, so Akainu and Aokiji duked it out for the right to take over the role. Unfortunately, the Ice-man lost and also quit the Marines. The next time Kuzan is seen is after he has already joined Blackbeard’s crew — and Chapter 1081 reveals how the devious Emperor managed to woo him.
Blackbeard and Kuzan’s Goals in One Piece Supposedly Line Up
Chapter 1081 provides a flashback to when Kuzan was met by the Blackbeard Pirates shortly after losing his clash. He shares a few drinks with them and talks about how the fight unfolded, even showing them the leg he made using his Devil Fruit’s ice ability. But while they are enjoying themselves sharing intel, a cunning ploy pops up in Lafitte’s head. The Blackbeard Pirates’ navigator urges Teech to steal Kuzan’s Devil Fruit ability and use it to strengthen their crew.
His plan, of course, reaches Kuzan’s ears. Just as the former admiral is about to take action, Blackbeard himself steps in and extends an invitation to Kuzan. The devious Emperor wants the former admiral to join his crew. Kuzan naturally turns him down at first, but Blackbeard is quite persuasive. He simply tells the former admiral that their interests align, and that Kuzan is now a free man who can do whatever he wants — and the rest is history.
Kuzan May Be Aiming to Destroy the World Government
Despite losing his position, Kuzan likely still wants to enforce justice in his own way. However, this desire may not align with the Marines’ current leadership, particularly Akainu. It’s possible that Kuzan wants to bring down the World Government in order to restructure the Marines and create a more just system. After all, he has seen firsthand how the law skews to benefit the rulers.
While enforcing justice may not align with the Blackbeard Pirates’ overall goals in One Piece, bringing down the government does — especially since the Marines are forever a pain in every pirate’s neck. That being said, Kuzan’s ultimate goal may be to restructure the Marines in a way that aligns with his own vision. Given that joining the Blackbeard Pirates also provides some sort of protection for him, it makes him a more viable option for accomplishing his goal here.
Src: cbr.com
