One Piece: Oda’s Big Plans For The East Blue 5 in Elbaf, Explained

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One Piece: Oda's Big Plans For The East Blue 5 in Elbaf, Explained

As a die-hard One Piece fan with over two decades of sailing through the Grand Line alongside the Straw Hat Pirates, I must say that the recent developments in the Elbaf arc have truly taken my breath away. Oda’s decision to split up the crew and focus on the East Blue 5 has not only added a fresh perspective but also brought back memories of the early days when our beloved pirate group was just starting out.

This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Elbaf Arc.

Key Takeaways

  • Luffy recruited the core crew members in the East Blue.
  • The East Blue Five are special and have unique dreams.
  • Oda separates the East Blue 5 in the Elbaf arc for special focus.

In the world of “One Piece”, it’s undeniable that the East Blue 5, comprising Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji, are undoubtedly the most beloved crew members among the Strawhat Pirates. The East Blue 5 is a term used to refer to these five characters who originated from the East Blue region. This group includes the captain of the ship, Luffy; his first recruit, Zoro; the navigator, Nami; the sniper, Usopp; and the cook, Sanji. They are the only members who hail from the East Blue, making them the heart of the Straw Hat Pirates as they embarked on their adventure through the Grand Line.

Indeed, the Straw Hat crew was accompanied by numerous fascinating characters such as Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook, and Jinbe among others. Yet, the East Blue Five stand out in various ways, and according to Oda, they may receive more attention compared to the rest. It seems that in the Elbaf Arc, the East Blue Five will become even more significant, and it’s clear that Oda has grand plans for them in the future.

How The East Blue 5 Form The Core Of One Piece

  • Luffy Recruited The Core Of The Crew In The East Blue
  • The East Blue Five Are Special

The group of five characters from the East Blue region play a pivotal role in the “One Piece” series, with Luffy, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates and the main character, being one of them. Luffy initiates the story by consuming the Gomu Gomu no Mi and later embarks on a journey to establish his own pirate crew. Along the way, he encounters Zoro, another member of this group, who is also one of Oda’s favorite characters for advancing the plot. Zoro aspires to become the world’s greatest swordsman, but his ambition to help Luffy become the Pirate King is even stronger. This selfless dedication can be simply put as him putting Luffy’s dream before his own.

Let’s go! To the Grand Line! – The East Blue 5

In this story, we have Nami who aims to sketch a global map, which ties in with Luffy’s goal of acquiring the One Piece. Similarly, Nami aspires to make Luffy the Pirate King, much like her fellow Straw Hat crew members. She stands out among the characters due to her strong and unique role within the series. Usopp is another intriguing character, who, despite not possessing the strength of Luffy or Zoro, embodies ordinary humans, mirroring Nami. Oda frequently explores themes of bravery, loyalty, and quick thinking through Usopp in combat situations. However, it’s Usopp’s dream to become a Brave Warrior of the Sea and conquer his own weaknesses that sets him apart from Luffy and Zoro when it comes to the One Piece. Although Usopp’s personal ambition may not be directly linked to the One Piece, his commitment to making Luffy the Pirate King and his willingness to risk his life for him, despite his cowardice, adds an engaging element that Oda frequently incorporates into the storyline.

One Piece: Oda's Big Plans For The East Blue 5 in Elbaf, Explained

In summary, among the five members of East Blue, Sanji shares the most dream-like connection with Luffy, who seeks the legendary treasure known as the One Piece. Interestingly, Sanji desires to discover the All Blue – an enigmatic ocean where all the world’s oceans merge, and unique sea creatures dwell. The All Blue is shrouded in mystery, making its discovery even more elusive than the pursuit of the One Piece. While finding the One Piece would bring greater notoriety, the All Blue’s enigma surpasses it due to centuries of unsuccessful searches. Consequently, it seems that Sanji’s dream is intertwined with Luffy’s quest for the One Piece.

Simultaneously, Sanji functions both as a cook for the Straw Hat Pirates and significantly, one of the Wings of the Pirate King. He is indispensable to Luffy’s aspirations, as he stated during the Whole Cake Island saga.

Oda’s Decision To Separate The East Blue 5 From The Rest Of The Crew

Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, and Usopp Separated From The Others

In the early stages of the Elbaf storyline, Eiichiro Oda chose to disband the Strawhat Pirate team. This wasn’t unexpected by any fan, as Oda tends to divide his pirate crew for easier management and focus on specific teams without overwhelming the narrative with a large group where certain characters might be overlooked. Managing multiple characters in close proximity can be challenging for any author, hence the strategy of splitting them up and then focusing on each separately at different times is more effective. Oda frequently uses this approach while devising intricate plot developments. Notably, at the start of Elbaf, he separated the East Blue 5 from the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates.

What happened to us? Where is this place? – Nami

In a secret location within a sprawling Lego metropolis, known as Big Stein Castle, the East Blue 5 were discovered. This colossal fortress stood out amidst the city’s landscape. Here, the East Blue 5 engaged in a fierce battle against an enormous cat. United, they transformed into a formidable force, eager to delve deeper into this enigmatic Lego City. They speculated that this metropolis might be Elbaf. As the story unfolded, Oda concentrated on these five characters, hinting at their significant role in this specific arc of the tale, as they were eventually reunited with Chopper.

In fact, in One Piece chapter 1128, it was clear for the fans to see that Oda wanted to highlight the dynamics of the East Blue 5 in interesting ways. For instance, Luffy’s thirst for adventure, Usopp and Nami’s reluctance to let him explore, Sanji and Zoro’s bickering, and the former’s admiration for Nami were all focused on in exciting ways in One Piece chapter 1128. It almost felt like Oda was trying to paint a similar picture to before the Straw Hat Pirates even entered the Grand Line. It is safe to say that Oda succeeded in creating a similar atmosphere, but, later down the line, these individuals broke out of the fake world created by the Sun God and found Chopper, who has now rejoined with them. Regardless, it is clear to see that Oda has interesting plans for the East Blue 5, which he will most definitely elaborate upon later down the line.

In Elbaf, it’s clear that Luffy, being the Sun God revered by the locals, will play a crucial role. Zoro, on the other hand, consistently shines in every storyline he’s involved in. As the combative core members of the Strawhat Pirates, both Luffy and Zoro share a significant bond as they enter the early stages of Elbaf. Sanji and Zoro make up the Wings of the Pirate King, providing Luffy with physical strength and strategic thinking during this arc. It’s expected that they will both showcase their abilities in spectacular ways, reaching new heights of power.

In this upcoming arc, it’s expected that Usopp and Nami, often underestimated members of the Strawhat Pirates, will experience significant growth. Usopp, who holds a special connection to Elbaf, is poised to make strides towards his dream by demonstrating greater courage and strength. As for Nami, whose past remains shrouded in mystery, there’s a strong possibility she’ll uncover links to Elbaf, given her fascination with Scandinavian ideas. Oda, ever attentive to character development, is certain to capitalize on these connections, ensuring an exceptional arc for the East Blue 5. Fans are eagerly anticipating this journey and can hardly wait to see how Oda brings their stories to life in Elang.

You can read One Piece, the popular series, officially and free of charge on the Shonen Jump or Manga Plus app, courtesy of Viz Media. Mark your calendars for October 6, 2024, as that’s when the next chapter, One Piece 1128, is scheduled to be released.

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2024-10-05 01:33