One Piece Characters Who Betrayed Their Teachers

This list contains spoilers up to Egghead Island

Summary

Blackbeard betrayed Whitebeard by killing and stealing a powerful fruit, leading to their final confrontation.
Ace chased Blackbeard after he left Whitebeard’s crew, driven by loyalty to his family, but met his demise.
Aokiji left the Marines and betrayed his teacher, Garp, to join the dangerous Blackbeard Pirates.

In the perilous realm similar to that of One Piece, having a mentor could prove invaluable for a pirate or marine, offering direction on their path. Often, the relationship between teacher and pupil evolves into a deep bond due to the extensive time they spend training together. However, it’s crucial to remember that the allegiances and core beliefs of characters can shift rapidly within this narrative, leading not infrequently to instances of betrayal.

Occasionally, tensions may escalate between teacher and student, leading us to witness a heated debate, but there are instances where their paths diverge permanently. Now, let’s delve into the students from One Piece, who chose to defy their mentors, to gain insights into what compelled them to take such an unconventional route.

5. Blackbeard

Blackbeard Turned His Back On Whitebeard’s Crew As Soon As He Acquired A Powerful Fruit

Teacher: Whitebeard

In the world of One Piece, Blackbeard might appear incredibly powerful today, but that wasn’t always the case. When Captain Whitebeard first encountered young Marshall D. Teach, he was a boy from a poverty-stricken village who had managed to gain Whitebeard’s respect. It was then that Whitebeard would introduce him to his crew.

During his tenure under Whitebeard, Teach (Blackbeard) absorbed crucial lessons about combat and survival at sea. He mastered essential skills for sailing across vast oceans. However, upon discovering the Dark Dark Fruit, one of the most potent Devil Fruits in the series, Blackbeard’s actions took a dark turn. In a ruthless move, he murdered the ship’s cook to claim the fruit and then deserted the crew. The fates of Blackbeard and Whitebeard would cross once more during the Marineford war; however, with the war nearing its end, Whitebeard was too weak to confront the man who indirectly caused his mentor’s demise.

4. Ace

Ace’s Loyalty To His Crew Influenced His Decision To Chase After Blackbeard

Teacher: Whitebeard

Another way to put it: Besides Blackbeard, Ace, another member of Whitebeard’s crew, also chose to part ways with Whitebeard. Unlike Blackbeard who had his own motives, Ace felt a deep bond with the Whitebeard crew as if they were family. He found it hard to believe that Blackbeard would abandon them so easily. Despite Whitebeard having reservations about Blackbeard and his newfound abilities, he instructed Ace not to chase after him. However, Ace defied this order and continued the pursuit anyway, driven by a desire to understand Blackbeard’s actions better.

Ace didn’t act against Whitebeard out of hatred, quite the contrary, as it was Whitebeard who mentored him and helped shape him into the pirate he aspired to be. Instead, Ace found himself compelled to intervene because he couldn’t stand idly by when family loyalty was questioned, even though the outcome was far from what he had hoped for. Unfortunately, when Ace confronted Blackbeard, he had amassed an overwhelming power that proved challenging to overcome.

3. Aokiji

Garp Always Saw Aokiji As The Perfect Marine, Not One Of The Ten Titanic Captains

Teacher: Garp

As a marine cadet, Aokiji was mentored by Garp, who guided him through the basics, with aspirations that he might someday attain the rank of Admiral. In this apprenticeship, Aokiji honed his skills by striking Battle Ship Dummies without employing Devil Fruit powers or Haki, thereby strengthening his physical abilities. This training would prove beneficial in upcoming confrontations.

After Sengoku retired, Aokiji was promoted to Admiral, but he had to face off against Akainu to determine who would succeed as Marine leader. Unfortunately, Aokiji lost this battle and later found himself entangled with the Blackbeard Pirates, causing great concern for Garp. It must have been painful for Garp to witness his protege not only abandoning the Marine code, but also betraying his mentor in the process, given that he had joined one of the most formidable pirate crews ever known.

2. Sentomaru

Sentomaru Confronted Kizaru When He Was Dead-Set On Killing Vegapunk

Teacher: Kizaru

In the Egghead Island arc, Sentomaru, who had previously been depicted in minor roles, became the central character, providing fans with a more comprehensive understanding of his history. It was revealed that Sentomaru was trained by none other than Kizaru to serve as Vegapunk’s bodyguard. This shared past created a strong bond between them during their youth. However, when the Marines ordered an attack on Vegapunk’s life, Sentomaru broke his lifelong allegiance to his mentor.

Rather than allowing her role model to be brutally murdered, Sentomaru courageously confronted Kizaru, fully aware that victory was unlikely. The encounter ended up being a restrained fight where neither seemed eager to inflict harm. However, since Kizaru had ongoing duties, he had no choice but to handle his resolute pupil swiftly.

1. Luffy

Becoming The King Of The Pirates Wasn’t Exactly What Garp Wanted For Luffy

Teacher: Garp

Throughout the story, Luffy has had numerous instructors, yet his grandfather, Garp, was the one who showed him how to survive independently at a young age. Garp subjected Luffy to challenging situations such as dumping him in a dangerous jungle or hurling him into deep valleys, all with the aim of making him strong enough to eventually join the Marines. However, Luffy had different aspirations. Although he openly expressed his desire to be a pirate, Garp would reprimand him every time he mentioned it, hoping to dissuade this fanciful notion from Luffy’s mind.

When Luffy reached an age to embark on voyages, he essentially chose his own ambition over Garp’s dream, aiming to become the Pirate King. This doesn’t imply they harbor animosity towards each other; in fact, Garp seems to admire Luffy more after observing his achievements as a captain. However, it was undeniably hard for him to witness his son defy his desires.

2025-07-22 16:35