One Piece: Is Akainu The Leader Of Sword?

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Summary

  • Akainu became Fleet Admiral after the Marineford War, signaling a change in power within the Navy.
  • Fans speculate that Akainu leads Sword, a covert Navy group, based on clues like his sword tattoo.
  • While mostly speculation, the theory of Akainu leading Sword presents an intriguing possibility in the One Piece universe.

Since Akainu made a partial appearance during Robin’s Ohara Incident flashback in the Enies Lobby arc, it was clear to everyone that he would become one of the scariest villains in One Piece. This was confirmed during the Marineford War when he demonstrated his immense strength, even managing to confront and seriously injure the legendary Whitebeard.

Ever since the war and his brutal slaying of Ace, One Piece enthusiasts have consistently portrayed Akainu as a cold-hearted antagonist. Yet, despite his unyielding stance on justice, there are those who suspect he secretly heads the Sword; an elite naval unit that doesn’t officially collaborate with the World Government. As this group functions independently from the Navy, let’s explore the reasons why some fans believe Akainu is its leader.

Why Some Believe Akainu Leads Sword

Reasons For Being The Leader

First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 397, “In Hopes of Reaching the Future”
Debut Date January 30, 2006
Story Arc Enies Lobby

Following the Marineford War, Sengoku relinquished his post as Fleet Admiral, creating a power vacuum that multiple potential successors could claim. Both Akainu and Aokiji expressed interest in filling this void, resulting in their confrontation on Punk Hazard. The victor of this intense 10-day battle among the Marine’s elite would ascend to the position of Fleet Admiral. In the end, after a grueling fight between the Marines’ strongest members, Akainu emerged triumphant and assumed the highest position within the entire Navy.

Starting from that point, the occasional glimpses provided to the character have been short, as per the usual style in “One Piece”. However, Chapter 592 of the manga sparked a prolonged discussion among fans about Akainu’s allegiances and hidden agendas. This is because the cover story depicted him without a shirt, tending to a Bonsai tree. Although it appears to be another insignificant cover story, fans have noticed an unusual tattoo of a sword on his right shoulder.

If whom you fear for is truly your family, then do not disgrace them.

The speculation about Akainu’s role as the covert leader of the rogue special operations unit Sword started here, as numerous fans thought that Oda was subtly suggesting this through the tattoo. There are several points supporting this theory. Initially, once someone reaches the rank of Admiral (and beyond), they come under the immediate authority of the World Nobles, which is why Garp never assumed that position.

Despite his greater naval power, Akainu is often influenced by the Celestial Dragons’ whims and wishes due to his position as Fleet Admiral. In Chapter 793, after Doflamingo seemingly left the Warlords, Akainu was seen challenging the Five Elders, who hold the highest authority in the world, within their chambers of power.

This indicates that he is remarkably determined and, despite holding a prominent role in the World Government, he doesn’t completely align with their strategies. This makes him an ideal candidate for leading Sword, as he has a particular vision for events that the World Government disfavors. By establishing a clandestine operations team, he could dispatch them on undercover missions.

One significant aspect is the detailed account of Aokiji’s travels, which has led many fans to speculate about his actions after his defeat at the hands of Akainu on Punk Hazard. They suggest that Aokiji chose to part ways with the Navy as he didn’t wish to serve under Akainu, opting instead to join the Blackbeard Pirates. However, a more intriguing hypothesis suggests that Aokiji was assigned a covert operation by the new Fleet Admiral. His supposed allegiance to the Blackbeard Pirates as their powerful captain might be nothing more than a cover for his true identity: a high-ranking official within the Sword organization.

I really like how straightforward you are… so I’m living the way I want to now!

There’s much speculation among people that Aokiji might not truly be loyal to Blackbeard, as they suspect he’s merely pretending. If his loyalty was genuine, it’s unlikely he wouldn’t have killed Garp like the other Captain-level pirates did on the Titanic, yet he chose to keep him alive instead. This potential revelation would be astonishing if it occurred, given that many fans anticipate this twist in the story.

How Likely Is This To Happen?

Is Akainu The Leader of Sword?

Regarding how plausible this theory might be, it should be noted that it leans heavily on speculation and optimistic assumptions. Although the suggested reasons could indeed hold water, given Akainu’s strong adherence to Absolute Justice – a philosophy emphasizing strict and unyielding justice – aligning himself with an organization unconnected to the World Government and populated by characters who embody his opposites seems extremely improbable.

It seems plausible that Akainu’s sword tattoo might simply be a coincidence, with fans interpreting it too deeply. Yet, given Eiichiro Oda’s skill in character development and backstories, there’s a chance that Akainu being the Sword’s true leader could indeed be accurate. It’s an intriguing theory to ponder either way.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2025-01-11 21:49