The manga and anime series One Piece continues to be widely popular and viewed around the world after over 25 years. Creator Eiichiro Oda deserves much credit for this sustained success due to his consistent, high-quality storytelling and regular release of new manga chapters with few breaks since the series premiered in 1997.
In recent years, Oda has produced some of the most spectacular and acclaimed narrative arcs ever seen in shōnen manga, such as the emotionally impactful Marineford saga focusing on Luffy’s brother Ace or the epic Wano Country arc portraying the struggle to liberate an isolated nation.
One Piece remains in a golden period, with Oda at the height of his writing powers, still finding ways to surprise readers with innovative characters and conflicts. The passion of the fan community suggests One Piece will continue to sail strongly for the foreseeable future.
Creator Eiichiro Oda has begun crafting what is likely the final saga for One Piece, presumably centering on protagonist Luffy finally achieving his long-stated dream of becoming the King of Pirates.
Major antagonists have emerged that Luffy may have to overcome, most notably the mysterious Lord Imu, who wields great influence, as well as fellow ‘Yonko’ pirate Marshall D. Teach, better known as Blackbeard.
Defeating Lord Imu poses a monumental challenge even for Luffy and his capable crew. However, toppling Blackbeard’s crew also looms as an extremely difficult task, as they have added formidable pirates to their ranks, including shockingly former Marine Admiral Aokiji as a new ‘Titanic Captain.’
Aokiji’s past with the Marines and sudden allegiance to Blackbeard raises many unanswered questions. But Luffy has defeated many tough adversaries before, and this final saga could see him gather the remaining allies he needs to overcome these threats.
Yet Oda is a master of surprises, so the path for Luffy to become Pirate King is sure to contain unexpected twists that will captivate One Piece fans.
How Aokiji Ended Up After The Marineford Incident
The Marineford battle arc stands as one of the most pivotal and impactful events thus far in the One Piece story. It featured some of the saddest character deaths ever seen in anime while also marking the first time fans witnessed an infamous Yonko pirate meet defeat.
However, what transpired in the aftermath of Marineford proved even more significant in shaping One Piece’s narrative going forward. With the battle concluded, longtime Marine leader Fleet Admiral Sengoku stepped down into retirement.
This set the stage for a fierce confrontation between two Marine Admirals – Aokiji and Akainu – to determine Sengoku’s successor as Fleet Admiral.
This fight pushed both combatants to their absolute limits, literally to the death. Though both were extremely powerful and accomplished Marines, only one could attain the top rank.
The series had built towards this confrontation for some time, with the showdown setting into motion ripples still being felt in the One Piece world today. Much changed for the Marines and pirates alike based on its shocking outcome.
Aokiji vs. Akainu for Fleet Admiral
The confrontation between Admirals Aokiji and Akainu was a battle of epic proportions between two of the most powerful fighters in the One Piece universe, so intense it destroyed an entire island.
While neither emerged dead, both sustained massive bodily damage before Akainu finally prevailed to become Fleet Admiral.
However, Aokiji fundamentally disagreed with Akainu’s extreme, iron-fisted brand of justice and questionable morality.
Where Aokiji still tried adhering to the Marine’s ideals of justice, Akainu ruled more through fear, intimidation, and absolute power, willing to go to ruthless lengths to enforce his version of justice.
With Akainu now in charge and shaping the Marines’ future direction, Aokiji refused to stand behind what he saw as a tyrant-in-the-making, one that would undermine the legitimate justice the Marines should represent.
Having lost the succession fight, Aokiji resigned from the Marines rather than enable Akainu’s tyrannical leadership.
This clash of ideals highlighted the ethical complexity in One Piece between good and evil, justice and injustice. With his departure, Aokiji took a new, unpredictable path that could have major implications.
Why Did Aokiji Join Blackbeard?
After resigning from the Marines, Aokiji wandered aimlessly for a time, drinking sake and visiting various islands to explore and reflect.
By chance, he crossed paths with Blackbeard and his crew at a bar. Aokiji regaled them with the tale of his fierce duel with Akainu that cost him his left leg but freed him from Akainu’s version of justice.
Over drinks and jokes, Aokiji bonded with Blackbeard’s crew before the conversation shifted to the crucial Road Poneglpyhs needed to reach Laugh Tale Island and the legendary One Piece treasure.
From Admiral to Titanic Captain
While Blackbeard’s subordinates suggested seizing Aokiji’s powerful ice Devil Fruit ability, Blackbeard himself extended a hand in friendship to the wandering ex-Admiral. Seeing a strong ally against growing Marine overreach, Blackbeard audaciously offered Aokiji the chance to become one of his secretive Titanic Captains.
Having left the Marines over ethical disagreements, Aokiji must now weigh becoming a notorious pirate, even if they share some aligning ideals.
This unexpected alliance demonstrates the ever-shifting nature of justice, morality, and friendship in the One Piece world.
With Aokiji’s power added to their ranks, Blackbeard’s crew may be poised to tip the balance of power on the high seas.
In a twist that shocked the One Piece world, former Admiral Aokiji agreed to become the 10th Titanic Captain under Blackbeard despite his Marine history.
Freedom, Friendship, and Autonomy
While such an alliance seems absurd on the surface, Aokiji’s unique perspective provided some understandable motives.
When trying to convince him, Blackbeard had emphasized that his crew were essentially friends bound together by adventure on the high seas, not necessarily your stereotypical ruthless pirates.
This view of freedom and camaraderie likely appealed to Aokiji’s disenchantment with the Marines’ justice-at-any-cost approach under Akainu.
Additionally, Blackbeard helped rekindle Aokiji’s spirit by reminding him that he was fully liberated to follow whatever path he chose for himself after his Marine resignation.
Between these two factors – the chance to sail with compatible allies and reclaim his autonomy – Aokiji took the momentous step of joining Blackbeard’s squad.
This stunned the One Piece world as a former defender of justice embraced piracy, suggesting an intricate interplay between personal liberty, friendship, justice, and morality across these groups.
With the former Admiral’s formidable powers now added to their arsenal, the threat posed by Blackbeard’s crew intensified dramatically.
Aokiji’s Motivations and the Unpredictable Future
Aokiji’s unexpected alignment with the Blackbeard Pirates likely stems from a fundamental shift in his views toward pirates in general.
Where he previously saw them as unlawful enemies of justice, Blackbeard’s pitch may have presented them to Aokiji as adventurers bound by friendship rather than cruelty.
This romanticized pirate life aligned more with Aokiji’s newfound desire for freedom after leaving the Marines. Additionally, working under Akainu’s absolute vision of justice drained Aokiji of much fulfillment.
In contrast, the Blackbeard crew’s looser ideology regained Aokiji’s passion for sailing the seas while upholding his personal code of justice.
Of course, Oda loves plot twists, so Aokiji could also be a double agent planted to spy on the formidable pirates. Perhaps his blend of morality and independence makes Aokiji the perfect secret weapon to ingratiate amongst the crew.
Only he knows his true motives for this treasonous alliance. As the final One Piece saga unfolds, Oda is sure to reveal shocking truths about Aokiji and Blackbeard that reframe fan perspective once again.
For now, Aokiji’s presence makes the Blackbeard Pirates an even more destabilizing variable in the ultimate race to Laugh Tale.
More About Admiral Aokiji
Once known by the moniker Aokiji, the frigid renegade Kuzan has led a storied life in the world of One Piece. As a former high-ranking Marine Admiral turned turncoat, he is a man of contradictions.
Though taught by the heroic Monkey D. Garp himself, Kuzan later chose to abandon the valiant Marines who had raised him to prominence.
After vying fiercely with colleague Sakazuki for the position of Fleet Admiral and facing defeat, Kuzan left behind Marine command in an icy fury.
However, his formidable powers would soon find a new home amongst Blackbeard’s marauding ranks as captain of the Tenth Titanic Ship.
Now bound to the criminal cause of this increasingly mighty pillager of the high seas, the chill-wielding Kuzan remains a thorn in the side of lawful forces everywhere.
Once an antihero whom readers loved despite his lazy temperament, Kuzan’s switch to Blackbeard’s cutthroat crew confirms his new status as a major foe in the epic final saga.
Though the full scope of his power is yet unknown, few doubt the havoc he could wreak when fully unleashed.
Between his mastery over frost and insider knowledge of World Government secrets, this turncoat Admiral plots a cold-hearted course alongside Blackbeard’s burgeoning empire.
