ONE PIECE Analysis! – Summary of “Aokiji” Kuzan! Why Is He Currently Allied with Blackbeard? Revolutionary Army? Secret Leader of SWORD? Famous Quotes and Model? First Appearance? - Manga Analysis

In “ONE PIECE,” formidable adversaries such as the “Admirals” stand in the way.

Being part of the government that controls all pirates, the combat power of an Admiral is considered equivalent to the military strength of an entire nation.

This time, we will thoroughly analyze the identity, abilities, and techniques of the former Admiral “Aokiji” Kuzan.

Unlike other Admirals, Aokiji often takes irregular actions. Thus, after resigning as an Admiral, he has allied with the Four Emperors’ Blackbeard, making his true identity and current whereabouts full of mysteries. We also predict how Aokiji might be involved in future developments in ONE PIECE.

Table of contents

The Devil Fruit is the “Ice-Ice Fruit.”
1. Is Aokiji’s Devil Fruit Awakened?
Aokiji Kuzan’s Current Summary
1. Aokiji Kuzan’s Model is Yusaku Matsuda from “Detective Story”
2. Did Akainu Take Aokiji’s Left Leg?
What is Nico Robin’s Relationship? What Happened in Ohara? [First Appearance Scene]
1. Is “Aokiji” Kuzan a Parent Figure to Nico Robin?
Compilation of Cool Quotes from “Aokiji”
[Current] Is “Aokiji” Kuzan joining “Blackbeard”?
Is Aokiji Using Blackbeard to Uncover the Truth of Laugh Tale?
1. It’s Difficult to Uncover the Secrets of the Void Century Under Akainu’s Regime
Did Blackbeard obtain “classified information” from Aokiji?
1. Why did Blackbeard trust Aokiji?
2. Was it “Saul” who mediated between Aokiji and Blackbeard because of the Will of D?
Is the True Identity of Aokiji the Revolutionary Army?
Is the True Identity of Aokiji the Secret Leader of SWORD?
The true identity of Aokiji, is he ultimately an enemy or an ally?

The Devil Fruit is the “Ice-Ice Fruit.”

First, let’s consider the Devil Fruits. How strong is the ability of the former Admiral “Aokiji” Kuzan?

Aokiji Kuzan’s Devil Fruit is the “Ice-Ice Fruit.” It is a Logia-type Devil Fruit that can freeze any liquid. It can even freeze the moisture in the air. Contrary to what is typical for Devil Fruit users, who are usually weak against seawater, Aokiji can freeze it effortlessly. For example, he can ride a bicycle across the frozen sea surface.

One of the Ice-Ice Fruit’s special techniques is the “Ice Saber.” This technique involves freezing ambient moisture and leaves to create a saber (a one-handed sword). It’s practically an instant saber, and its power is on par with Zoro’s. Since liquids can take any form, Aokiji can likely create various other weapons as well.

Another famous technique of the Ice-Ice Fruit is “Ice Age.”

Aokiji once easily froze the massive tsunami generated by Whitebeard (Edward Newgate) in an instant. “Ice Age” translates directly to “glacial period” in Japanese, highlighting that Aokiji possesses techniques powerful enough to cause climate change.

Therefore, contrary to what the term “Ice-Ice” might suggest, Aokiji’s Devil Fruit is extremely formidable. When one hears “Ice-Ice,” they might think of the coolness of an air conditioner, but in reality, it’s more fitting to describe it as “freezing” or “shivering.”

Is Aokiji’s Devil Fruit Awakened?

On the other hand, is Aokiji Kuzan’s Devil Fruit awakened? The ability to freeze a massive tsunami in an instant is extraordinary.

However, it’s unclear whether Aokiji’s Devil Fruit is awakened. So far, only Zoan-type and Paramecia-type Devil Fruits have been confirmed to have awakened forms. It’s uncertain whether the overwhelmingly powerful Logia-types can awaken.

Even so, Logia-types should be able to awaken as well. It doesn’t make sense for only Logia-types not to awaken. Therefore, Aokiji’s Devil Fruit might be awakened. At the very least, Aokiji’s abilities are so powerful that they raise such suspicions.

If Aokiji Kuzan hugs you, it’s over. The technique called “Ice Time,” shown in the image, can freeze a human body instantly. Of course, if the frozen body is destroyed, it would result in “death.”

However, when Aokiji demonstrated a similar technique to the former Seven Warlords of the Sea, Doflamingo, he was easily countered. Luffy, who was frozen, was eventually thawed and saved with hot water, suggesting that freezing the internal body might be challenging.

Of course, Aokiji might have been holding back, but considering that Doflamingo defrosted instantly, it might be possible to partially resist Aokiji Kuzan’s freezing if one uses Armament Haki. Or perhaps, knowing Doflamingo, it could be due to Conqueror’s Haki.

Other techniques of Aokiji Kuzan’s Devil Fruit include “Ice Ball,” “Ice Partisan,” and “Ice Pheasant Beck.”

Aokiji Kuzan’s Current Summary

Next, let’s analyze Aokiji Kuzan’s “history up to the present.”

Aokiji Kuzan is a former Admiral of the Marines. He is 298 cm tall, hails from the South Blue, has the Virgo zodiac sign, and blood type F. His favorite foods are sherry, dairy milk, and coffee.

Aokiji is currently 49 years old. Compared to other Admirals, he is nine years younger than Kizaru and six years younger than Akainu. Despite his appearance, he is relatively old. He is older than Shanks, Marco, and Crocodile.

Kuzan joined the Marines 30 years ago at the age of 19, two years after Akainu and Kizaru. By his late 20s, he had already been promoted to Vice Admiral. The exact timing is unclear, but Aokiji eventually rose to the rank of Admiral. Considering his age compared to Akainu and Kizaru, he is quite the elite.

Aokiji Kuzan’s Model is Yusaku Matsuda from “Detective Story”

Aokiji Kuzan’s model is Shunsaku Kudo, played by Yusaku Matsuda in the drama “Detective Story.” Although he doesn’t wear a hat, Shunsaku Kudo’s facial features and hairstyle are identical to Aokiji’s. Aokiji’s favorite drink, coffee, is also a nod to Shunsaku Kudo. The sunglasses are another trait borrowed from Shunsaku Kudo.

Incidentally, Aokiji has loved sunglasses since childhood, similar to Doflamingo.

After the Marineford War, Aokiji was recommended by then Fleet Admiral Sengoku to succeed him. However, Aokiji fought a fierce battle with Akainu Sakazuki on Punk Hazard Island for the position of Fleet Admiral because he couldn’t align with Akainu’s brutal ideology.

The battle between Aokiji and Akainu lasted ten days, and their clash was so intense that it changed the climate of Punk Hazard Island.

In the end, Aokiji Kuzan was defeated and left the Marines. The severity of the battle with Akainu can be seen from the large scar on Aokiji Kuzan’s right shoulder.

Did Akainu Take Aokiji’s Left Leg?

It appears that Aokiji has lost his left leg and now wears a prosthetic. While this was not explicitly shown in the “ONE PIECE” manga, the movie “FILM Z” depicted Aokiji Kuzan’s injuries along with his mentor Z.

There are various theories online, but it seems reasonable to conclude that Aokiji lost his left leg in the battle with Akainu. Aokiji is a Logia-type, so if he were to lose a body part, it would have to be against another Logia-type opponent.

However, Akainu’s ability is magma. Considering the injury to Aokiji’s right shoulder, it doesn’t seem likely that magma alone would cause his left leg to be completely severed. If it were magma, the leg would likely be melted rather than cleanly cut off. Could a prosthetic leg be fitted in that case?

For instance, if Aokiji’s left leg was “cleanly cut off,” then it could be theorized that Edward Weevil, a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, is the culprit. This would explain why Kizaru is wary of Edward Weevil’s strength.

What is Nico Robin’s Relationship? What Happened in Ohara? [First Appearance Scene]

Next, let’s delve into the “relationship with Ohara and Nico Robin.”

First, let’s confirm that the “current personality” of “Aokiji” Kuzan is laid-back and easygoing. As you can see from his first appearance in the image, he was even dozing off while standing. Absolutely zero tension. Although Kuzan boasts overwhelming strength, he always seems somewhat unmotivated.

Thus, Kuzan’s motto is “Lazy Justice.”

However, before that, Kuzan upheld “Burning Justice.” The turning point for this change in motto was the incident in Ohara 22 years ago.

Speaking of Ohara, it is a town where historians who were researching the truth of the Void Century gathered. Nico Robin of the Straw Hat Pirates also grew up in Ohara. However, investigating the Void Century in the world of ONE PIECE is taboo. Eventually, Ohara’s “criminal acts” were exposed, and the Marines launched a Buster Call on them.

Among those who gathered for this Buster Call were “Aokiji,” who was a Marines Vice Admiral at the time, and Akainu. While Aokiji tried to faithfully carry out his mission, seeing Akainu slaughtering even ordinary fleeing citizens made him strongly question “Marines justice.”

It was particularly significant that his close friend, former Marines Vice Admiral Jaguar D. Saul, reprimanded him. Thus, the enmity between Aokiji and Akainu had already begun in Ohara. From that time, Aokiji, who held a deep distrust of Akainu’s methods, thought it was imperative that “he must not let this guy become Fleet Admiral.”

Is “Aokiji” Kuzan a Parent Figure to Nico Robin?

Thus, Aokiji secretly helped Nico Robin, who was close to Saul, escape. However, as indicated by his words, “I’m not your ally,” Aokiji’s position remained with the Marines. It seems more like Kuzan was “escaping from finding his own answer.”

Even so, 22 years after the incident in Ohara, Aokiji and Nico Robin reunited. Right after the battle with CP9, he warmly said, “Show me if Saul’s decision to let you live was right or wrong.” Kuzan appeared almost like a “parent figure” to Robin.

On the other hand, for Kuzan, Nico Robin seems to be an important existence in reaffirming “his own justice.” The incident in Ohara seems to be crucial information for understanding “the current actions of Aokiji.”

Compilation of Cool Quotes from “Aokiji”

Next up is “Famous Quotes and Memorable Scenes.”

Despite his infrequent appearances, Aokiji has quite a few notable quotes, driven by his unique sensibilities and values. Many of his quotes reflect his internal conflicts, both as an individual and as a soldier of the Marines.

For example, “Justice changes its shape depending on one’s stance. Therefore, I won’t blame your sense of justice. But if you stand in our way, we won’t let it slide.” This quote hits right at the truth of the world.

In another instance, Aokiji coldly asserts to Saul, who is desperately trying to protect the people of Ohara, “If it’s for the sake of the world, making an example is necessary. The scholars are breaking the law.” However, right after this, “Akainu” mercilessly destroys an unarmed evacuation ship with a cannon. Aokiji only ever thought about “arresting” them.

Even though the law was broken, there was no need for immediate execution. This scene starkly reveals the differing senses of justice among the Marines. It also highlights the difficulty of achieving true peace.

While Aokiji often seems laid-back, looking back at his past actions, you can sense a determination and fierce resolve in him. These quotes convey a simultaneous sense of foreboding and anticipation for what is to come.

Another notable quote is, “Show me whether Saul was right or wrong in letting you live.” This is also one of his memorable quotes.

[Current] Is “Aokiji” Kuzan joining “Blackbeard”?

Next, let’s consider the “current situation” of “Aokiji” Kuzan.

According to the Five Elders, it seems that “Aokiji” Kuzan has joined forces with “Blackbeard” (Marshall D. Teach). Strictly speaking, he hasn’t officially joined the Blackbeard Pirates, but it appears that Kuzan and Blackbeard have entered into a cooperative relationship with some kind of intention.

Even though he lost to “Akainu” Sakazuki, Kuzan still boasts overwhelming combat power. If this Kuzan teams up with Blackbeard, who holds top-level strength among the Four Emperors, it would be a threat to the world. It’s understandable that the Five Elders, who reign at the top of the World Government, are highly concerned about Kuzan’s movements.

“Akainu,” who had an intense battle with Kuzan, also dismissively commented, “That fool is no longer a Marine! He’s none of our concern!” showing his irritation.

By the way, there was a prediction that “the winner would leave the Marines and chase Blackbeard, while the loser would remain and become the Fleet Admiral,” which suggests that “in reality, Kuzan might have won.”

However, the fact that Blackbeard and Kuzan are currently connected is undeniable. Considering “Akainu”‘s inflexible nature, it’s hard to believe he would agree to such a condition, so this theory seems a bit far-fetched.

Is Aokiji Using Blackbeard to Uncover the Truth of Laugh Tale?

So, why would Aokiji ally with Blackbeard? Even though he lost to “Akainu” Sakazuki, does he really need to join forces with an enemy pirate? This is the ultimate betrayal of the Marines. Especially if it involves the Four Emperors, who have a high chance of reaching Laugh Tale.

But perhaps that’s exactly why Aokiji allies with Blackbeard. In other words, Aokiji Kuzan seems to have his sights set on Laugh Tale. Aokiji must still harbor strong doubts about the “justice of the Marines” since the attack on Ohara. The root of the Marines’ excessive justice lies in Laugh Tale and the mystery of the Void Century.

Aokiji Kuzan was a close friend of Jaguar D. Saul, a member of the Family of D. He let Nico Robin escape to carry on “Saul’s Will.” In other words, Aokiji indirectly inherits the Will of D. Nico Robin’s life itself is intertwined with the Poneglyphs.

In essence, Aokiji might be trying to uncover the mystery of the Poneglyphs or have Blackbeard solve the mystery of Laugh Tale to get closer to the truth of the Void Century.

Aokiji’s statement, “There are things you can see only when you aren’t with the Marines,” seems to reflect his attempt to uncover the truth hidden in Laugh Tale. The reason he aimed to become Fleet Admiral of the Marines, despite his clearly unsuitable personality, might have been to use the authority of the Marines to get closer to Laugh Tale.

Aokiji’s model, as previously mentioned, is Yusaku Matsuda from ‘Detective Story.’ The way Aokiji Kuzan seeks the truth overlaps with the model detective Yusaku Kudo. Given that Aokiji isn’t the type to act out of personal grudge, it’s unlikely he allied with Blackbeard out of a desire for revenge against Akainu.

It’s Difficult to Uncover the Secrets of the Void Century Under Akainu’s Regime

As long as Akainu’s regime continues, the world’s truths will remain undiscovered. It would be challenging for Aokiji to achieve his goals by staying in the Marines. Thus, it seems natural that he might have teamed up with Blackbeard as a means to learn the secrets of the Void Century.

The only people who have reached Laugh Tale are the Roger Pirates, led by the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. While the Roger Pirates were former Four Emperors, the quickest way to get close to Laugh Tale is to align with the strongest pirates.

In fact, Aokiji witnessed the power of Blackbeard‘s “two Devil Fruits” firsthand during the Marineford War. Just as the president of the World Economy News Paper, Morgans, revealed the ability of the Bird-Bird Fruit, Aokiji likely saw Blackbeard as the next Pirate King.

Thus, Aokiji must be trying to get closer to “the truth of Laugh Tale, where the true history is hidden,” by allying with Blackbeard. Indeed, it takes a thief to catch a thief.

Did Blackbeard obtain “classified information” from Aokiji?

On the other hand, what benefits does Blackbeard gain from allying with Aokiji? For any cooperative relationship to be established, there must be “mutual benefits or profits” for both parties. In fact, some members of the Blackbeard Pirates are still wary of Aokiji. It is possible that Aokiji is merely pretending to have resigned.

It seems likely that Blackbeard‘s aim is to acquire “internal information from the Marines.” Knowing “all sorts of information” is the shortcut to becoming the next Pirate King. Currently, it’s hard to imagine any other benefits.

In reality, he knew classified information about the Revolutionary Army’s rebellion at the Holy Land Mary Geoise. But where did he get this classified information? Could it have been through Aokiji?

Blackbeard might be receiving information about new Admirals like Ryokugyu, the Marines’ latest weapons, and the alliance between Kaidou and Big Mum from Aokiji.

Meanwhile, Aokiji has left the Marines. Therefore, there must be collaborators within the Marines. In fact, many Marines, including Captain Koby, are likely dissatisfied with the current Akainu regime. Ultimately, will Aokiji turn against the Five Elders or Im?

Why did Blackbeard trust Aokiji?

But there must be other strong pirates besides Blackbeard. Kaidou and Big Mum of the same Four Emperors could have been options. For example, “Red-Haired” Shanks might have gotten along with Aokiji.

However, it is pointed out that “Red-Haired” Shanks has connections with the Five Elders. There is a high possibility that through Shanks, the Five Elders would become aware of Aokiji’s current activities. This makes Shanks unsuitable as Aokiji’s partner.

While the theory that Shanks is a traitor might be intriguing, Kaidou and Big Mum also have complex personalities. They might not necessarily cooperate with Aokiji. The “cooperative relationship between the Marines and pirates” cannot be established solely by Aokiji’s will.

Of course, the same applies to Blackbeard. Although Aokiji lost to Akainu, he is still a former Admiral. He has been a fierce adversary to pirates. It is natural to consider that Aokiji might be setting a trap. It makes sense for Burgess to be worried about being backstabbed by Aokiji.

Therefore, understanding “why Blackbeard trusted Aokiji” is also important.

Was it “Saul” who mediated between Aokiji and Blackbeard because of the Will of D?

The key here is the existence of “Jaguar D. Saul.” Saul was a former Vice Admiral of the Marines and a giant who protected Nico Robin during the Buster Call on Ohara 20 years ago. He is also a member of the Family of D like Blackbeard.

Could Saul have known Blackbeard beforehand? It is possible that Saul told Aokiji about Blackbeard during his time as a Vice Admiral. After all, both Saul and Blackbeard are from the Family of D. It wouldn’t be surprising if Saul knew about the rookie pirate Blackbeard with the same middle name “D.”

In this light, it makes sense that the distinctly different Blackbeard and Saul were both from the Family of D. If it was said to be the “will of a Marines member from the Family of D,” it’s plausible that Blackbeard might have been persuaded by Aokiji, even if other members of the Blackbeard Pirates opposed it.

Thus, it can be said that the “foreshadowing of Aokiji betraying the Marines” was already depicted in the mid-phase of ONE PIECE.

Is the True Identity of Aokiji the Revolutionary Army?

Next, let’s delve into the mystery of the “Revolutionary Army Theory.”

It seems that some parts of the internet believe that Aokiji’s true identity is a member of the Revolutionary Army. Indeed, Nico Robin, often called the “Light of the Revolution,” has deep connections with the Revolutionary Army.

However, we can argue that Aokiji Kuzan’s true identity is not a member of the Revolutionary Army.

The answer is simple. The goal of the Revolutionary Army is the “destruction of the Marines and the World Government.” As previously mentioned, Aokiji Kuzan’s stance remains aligned with the Marines. Pirates like Blackbeard are criminal groups but are not directly acting to overthrow the government.

Thus, there is no reason for Kuzan to collaborate with the Revolutionary Army. If Kuzan were secretly allied with the Revolutionary Army, the collapse of the World Government would seem more imminent. Rumors of Sabo’s death are already spreading, and if there were a cooperative relationship between the two, the blunder at the Holy Land Mary Geoise wouldn’t have occurred.

While it’s possible that the Revolutionary Army’s Monkey D. Dragon already knows the “secret of the world (Void Century),” their goals do not align with Aokiji’s. From the Revolutionary Army’s perspective, it would be more beneficial to keep Aokiji within the Marines.

There’s also a theory that Aokiji infiltrated the Marines from the start as part of the Revolutionary Army, but Aokiji joined the Marines 30 years ago. Dragon formed the Revolutionary Army around 20 years ago. Dragon gained attention at the Levely about eight years ago. The timelines don’t match up.

Considering that Dragon has already mobilized the entire Revolutionary Army while Aokiji continues to act independently, there’s actually little circumstantial evidence to support the “Aokiji = Revolutionary Army” theory.

Is the True Identity of Aokiji the Secret Leader of SWORD?

Meanwhile, a new theory about Aokiji is making waves.

This is the “Aokiji as the Secret Leader of SWORD” theory.

SWORD is a covert special unit of the Marines. It’s a mysterious unit where Koby is also enlisted. The command structure is unclear, but even Fleet Admiral of the Marines Akainu Sakazuki seems unaware of it. It could be an organization established by Sengoku or Garp, who are at odds with Akainu.

The leader of SWORD is X Drake. Like Luffy, he is one of the Worst Generation. He was previously considered a former Marines officer but turned out to still be active Marines. Similarly, Aokiji, who supposedly resigned from the Marines, might still be part of SWORD.

However, Drake was completely defeated by Queen of the Beast Pirates, showing less prowess than expected for the leader of the Marines’ special unit. His actions seem haphazard. But what if Drake is merely a nominal leader?

This could mean that Aokiji is actually the “secret leader of SWORD” holding the reins of command. Aokiji might appear to be acting independently while using some parts of the Marines’ organization. This makes the connection between Aokiji and Koby, a member of SWORD, more plausible.

Therefore, it’s possible that Aokiji is pretending to cooperate with Blackbeard to spy on the “internal affairs of Blackbeard.” Blackbeard is indeed the closest to becoming the next Pirate King among the Worst Generation. Aokiji might be working to prevent Blackbeard from reaching Laugh Tale.

Thus, Aokiji might be a double agent.

The true identity of Aokiji, is he ultimately an enemy or an ally?

Well, is Aokiji ultimately an enemy or an ally?

To be honest, it’s hard to say for sure at this point, but Aokiji’s true identity seems to lean towards the “Marines.” Indeed, while Aokiji has faced criticism from the Five Elders for cooperating with Blackbeard, he still upholds the “justice of the Marines” at heart. The disagreement between him and Akainu seems to be more about their “methodology.”

He hasn’t taken actions directly detrimental to the Marines, like aiding Vice Admiral Smoker. In fact, during Punk Hazard, he advised Smoker to convey a message to Admiral Akainu, and later, Admiral Fujitora arrived at Dressrosa.

The possibility of Aokiji joining as the Straw Hats’ tenth member is low. So, considering him as “primarily an enemy” seems natural.

As indicated by his statement during the Ohara incident, “I’m not an ally… I’m the enemy who’ll come to capture you first,” Aokiji’s stance consistently aligns with the Marines. Even considering foreshadowing through his scar, the likelihood of Aokiji, with a scar on his right eye, becoming an ally is low.

Considering the foreshadowing with the Twelve Zodiacs, Aokiji is positioned on the enemy side along with Akainu and Kizaru. While it might just back up his long-standing service in the Marines, there seems to be a higher chance for Admiral Fujitora or Admiral Ryokugyu to side with the Straw Hats.

Therefore, while he questions the current structure of the Marines, Aokiji doesn’t seem to contemplate overthrowing the World Government. That’s a significant difference from the Revolutionary Army. Aokiji’s aim appears to be revealing the truth of the world, including Raftel, and purifying the internals of the Marines and the World Government.