Summary
Kuzan, better known as Aokiji, is a former Navy Admiral. He served the organization for years and rose through the ranks until he became an Admiral. When Sengoku stepped down from his position, Kuzan was selected as one of the two candidates alongside Akainu.
The two sides reached an impasse, so they decided to fight each other on Punk Hazard. The contest lasted for ten days before Akainu emerged victorious. Following the defeat, Kuzan resigned from the Marines andjoined the Blackbeard Pirates.The ex-Admiral remained out of the spotlight untilOne Piecereached the Egghead arc.
Kuzan Fights Monkey D. Garp
The Pupil Faces His Master In An Epic Showdown
When Garp learned about pirates taking his student away, he wasted no time rounding up other Marines who would accompany him to Hachinosu. Garp went to the G-14 base andleft with Prince Grus, Hibari, Tashigi, Helmeppo, and Kujaku. The next stage involved Garp going to Balckbeard’s territory and freeing Koby.
Once Prince Grus and Kujaku had cornered the pirates, Garp used his Galaxy Impact to destroy nearly the entire town. Hibari and Koby were running towards the ship with the pirates out of the way. Just when it seemed everything was going well, Kuzan used his Devil Fruit to freeze Hibari. Garp knew that Kuzan had already made up his mind, and nothing would change that. The Vice Admiral ordered Koby to stay back, and the fight started.
You haven’t changed. You say whatever you wish. —Kuzan
Kuzan used his ice powers to freeze the ground and trap Garp. Normally, this would be game over as all Kuzan needed to do was shatter the structure. However, Garp knew how to free himself. Heused Conqueror’s Haki to break outand then continued to attack Kuzan. The latter kept using Hie Hie no Mi, but it created an opportunity for Garp. The Vice Admiral tricked his former student and used Blue Hole to send him crashing into the ground. As Kuzan opened his eyes, he saw Garp’s expression, and it was one of melancholy.
Kuzan’s Tussle With The Blackbeard Pirates
Blackbeard Offers Kuzan A Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity
In Episode 1115, Kuzan’s reason for joiningthe Blackbeard Pirates was finallyrevealed. But before that, there was a segment where the ex-Admiral was enraged by Laffitte’s conversation with Blackbeard. Kuzan knew that the Blackbeard Pirates were actively hunting notable Devil Fruit users, and he fitted the mold perfectly. In an instant, he froze several members of the crew, and it was obvious that he would do the same to the rest.
Instead of fighting, Blackbeard tried to reason with Kuzan, and surprisingly, the ex-Marine was convinced. If the full fight were to break out, Kuzan would have a massive advantage. Blackbeard could not use the Gura Gura no Mi as his crewmates were frozen and the tremors would shatter all of them, resulting in their deaths.
Kuzan’s Current Power Level
The Former Admiral Is Very Close To The Top
From his involvement in the recent episodes, it is rather apparent that Kuzan is on a different level from the regular Admirals. Not only was he able to push Akainu to the limit, but he managed to hold out for ten days against him. What makes this accomplishment more impressive is that Kuzan was at a disadvantage against Akainu. The latter’s Magu Magu no Mi can easily burn through Kuzan’s ice. The only logical explanation for the fight being so long is that Kuzan’s Haki is extremely potent. Without strong Haki, Akainu would have absolutely rag-dolled his fellow Admiral.
Besides his monstrous Haki, Kuzan’s Devil Fruit is another powerful weapon in his arsenal. As evidenced by the multiple fights, Kuzan can almost instantly freeze his opponents, leaving them defenseless. After that, he is free to do whatever he wants with them. Considering his position and experience as a fighter, Kuzan has likely awakened his Devil Fruit, taking its abilities to a new level. Kuzan can even freeze large bodies of water, so it is easy for him to trap an enemy ship.
Presently, Kuzan is close to the level of the Yonko. If Akainu is the only Marine who is a Yonko-level character, then Kuzan, as his opponent, would be at least close to the same level. The result of Kuzan’s battle with Garp will shed more light on the former’s abilities as a fighter.
Kuzan’s Role In The Future
What Does The Future Hold For Kuzan
Asa member of the Blackbeard Pirates, it is quite obvious that Kuzan will be involved a lot more in the Final Saga. The crew is looking to topple the entire world, and for that, they will need their best fighters. Given their rate of progress, it won’t be long before they clash with their biggest rivals.
If Kuzan has a change of heart and leaves the Marines, it would be a major blow to the Blackbeard Pirates. He is their best fighter after Blackbeard, and losing him could seriously weaken the crew. They will have to recruit someone else to fill the void.
One Piece
Cast
One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga’s popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
