"Where does a wise man hide a leaf?"
part 3 of ??? Link to the part 1 Link to the part 2 If you read my previous post(part 2), you know the answer. In the forest. But what does he do if there is no forest? He grows a forest to hide it in.
While writing that post, a thought struck me: this is exactly what Oda did in the Wano arc.
Think about it. For years, the fandom anticipated Wano, and so many people believed this would be the exact arc where Oda would finally canonize or heavily confirm Zoro and Robin’s relationship.
So, what does Oda do? He creates a whole forest just to hide a single leaf.
Now, I’m not saying Oda built the entire country of Wano solely to conceal Zoro and Robin. No, of course not. What I am saying is that this arc is packed with "false leads" and illusions. That is why I call Wano the "Arc of Lies." When surrounded by an overwhelming amount of deception, the truth becomes almost impossible to spot.
So, how could Oda write an arc where, as many expected, he would validate ZoRobin? By hiding the leaf in the forest. But how do you keep the audience (and yourself) from getting entirely lost? You leave "anchors".
All those subtle literary tropes, cultural nuances, and hidden details that we (and others) try so hard to notice — the author doesn't just leave them for us. He also leaves them for himself. These are the very "anchors" Oda dropped throughout the entire narrative of Wano to keep the true story grounded.
Before diving into this section, I need to mention a few things that I left out of the previous parts. Specifically, how Oda draws inspiration from various myths, fairy tales, and cultural archetypes, and how he reframes them within his story—particularly in the Arc of Lies Wano. Understanding this will help us analyze how the author has been crafting and continues to build Zoro and Robin's relationship in One Piece.
I want to start with the Tale of Momotaro.
"Momotaro" (The Peach Boy) is one of the most famous and beloved Japanese folktales. It is a story about bravery, loyalty, and the ultimate triumph over evil. I won't recount the entire tale here — if you're curious, you can easily look it up online. Instead, I’ll highlight the key points that matter for our analysis.
Momotaro grew at an incredible, almost supernatural pace: every time he ate a bowl of rice, he instantly became bigger and stronger.
When Momotaro grew up, he learned about a distant island called Onigashima (the Island of Demons), inhabited by wicked oni (monsters/demons) who terrorized and plundered innocent people. The brave youth decided to journey there and defeat the villains. As a parting gift, his mother made him kibi-dango (magical millet dumplings) for the road, which granted immense strength.
On his way to the island, Momotaro encountered three unusual creatures:
A Dog;
A Monkey;
A Pheasant.
Each of them asked where the youth was headed and begged for a treat. Momotaro shared half of a kibi-dango with each animal. Upon eating it, they gained incredible power, swore their loyalty, and agreed to become his faithful companions.
Alright, let’s break it down piece by piece.
Kozuki Momonosuke is Momotaro himself. His name literally translates to "Little Peach," he wears pink (peach-colored) robes, and he can transform into a giant pink dragon.
Kaido is the main antagonist of the arc and the literal embodiment of the Demon Oni.
Onigashima bears the exact same name as the Island of Demons from the legend.
O-Tama and her Kibi-Dango: O-Tama possesses the power of the Kibi Kibi no Mi, which allows her to pinch magical rice dumplings from her cheeks. Just like in the fairy tale, these dumplings instantly tame and win the absolute loyalty of any wild animal or animal-hybrid. On top of that, her personal companions are a dog (Komachiyo) and a monkey (Hihimaru).
Furthermore, during the Battle of Onigashima, the three primary animals from the fairy tale fight right alongside Momonosuke:
The Dog — Yamato (who ate the fruit of the Divine Wolf);
The Monkey — Monkey D. Luffy (his name speaks for itself);
The Pheasant/Bird — Marco the Phoenix.
Oda has been drawing from this tale long before the Wano arc ever began. Just look at the original three Marine Admirals:
Akainu (Sakazuki) — translates to "Red Dog."
Kizaru (Borsalino) — translates to "Yellow Monkey."
Aokiji (Kuzan) — translates to "Blue Pheasant."
Chapter 937.
Now, I want to circle back to a one moment.
If you’ve read my previous posts and checked out the links I shared, you’re likely familiar with the deep parallels comparing Zoro and Robin to Hades and Persephone.
In the last part, we recalled how Robin moved directly from the Flower Capital and the Shogun's Castle (symbolizing Spring/the upper world) to Ringo — a cold, bleak, and snow-covered region (symbolizing Winter/the underworld). This mirrors Persephone’s forced descent from the sunny world into the realm of the dead.
In a brilliant post by @wolfbart, the author pointed out a fascinating detail regarding Greek mythology. During the mythical battle for the city of Pylos (which translates to "gates," often interpreted as the gates of the underworld), Hades was wounded in the shoulder by an arrow shot by Heracles. Being immortal, Hades couldn’t die, but the pain was agonizing. He had to leave his dark kingdom and ascend to Olympus, where Paeon, the physician of the gods, healed him with a miraculous, pain-relieving ointment.
So, how does this tie back to Zoro?
In Chapter 937, Zoro gets wounded precisely in the shoulder. Right after that, O-Toko treats his wound using Usopp’s "miracle toad oil/ointment."
Now, think back: who was the mentor who trained Usopp during the timeskip? That's right — Heracles. He wore a beetle-like armor. As noted in the linked post, beetles have historically been used in traditional Japanese medicine and serve as symbols of healing. Moreover, there is literally a species called the Herculese(Heracles) beetle. The conclusion here is something I agree with 100%: Oda knows his Greek mythology inside out.
To further ground this Hades (Zoro) and Persephone (Robin) dynamic, here are a few more incredible parallels and analyzed by other authors: 1. by hapifangurl 2. by hapifangurl 3. by wolfbart 4. by wolfbart
If you haven’t read them yet, I highly recommend checking them out — they are absolutely mind-blowing!
Chapter 938. Back in the Flower Capital, everyone is preparing for Komurasaki’s funeral, and we are shown Denjiro, the man who supposedly "killed" her.
Meanwhile, Robin and Zoro have… completely swapped places! Robin is now in Ebisu Village, where Zoro was just a few chapters ago. Conversely, Zoro is in Ringo, the exact winter region where Robin used to be.
But the swap doesn't stop with locations; they also exchange companions:
Zoro runs into O-Toko, who had been traveling with Robin.
Robin (along with the others) meets Yasuie, who had previously been guiding Zoro.
In his blog, Joe compared O-Toko to a narrative "bridge" connecting Zoro and Robin. I completely agree with this take, and as we go further into the arc, we will see even more concrete examples of how this bridge functions. Link 1 Link 2
(Ep 935) Here are the specific details I want to highlight from these scenes:
Zoro’s reaction to Hiyori: Look closely at Zoro's face when Hiyori grabs his wounded arm. He immediately calls her an "idiot" (baka) — a harsh word he has never used toward Robin.
The "Noble" slip-up: Hiyori accidentally mutters that he looks "no-good…", before quickly correcting herself to "a noble man." Zoro dryly fires back, noting that he heard what she originally said. The anime adaptation makes this awkward dynamic even clearer.
In the anime, Zoro literally growls at Hiyori to "Don't touch" him, visibly startling her. However, he allows O-Toko to "touch" him to apply the ointment.
Contrast this with where Zoro tells Robin "not to come any closer." He says it without a shred of real anger, and Robin, unlike Hiyori, isn't intimidated by him at all. She knows his true nature.
The "Oroshi" Pun. Another brilliant detail is Zoro’s line: "Oroshi?" (when hearing about Orochi). Food is a massive, recurring theme in One Piece, and this is a classic Oda wordplay delivered through Zoro.
In Japan, Oroshi (おろし) is a culinary term referring to grated vegetables, most commonly Daikon Oroshi (grated Japanese radish). It is used as a refreshing condiment, sauce, or side dish for grilled fish, meat (like tonkatsu), or tempura.
The theme of food is incredibly significant not just for Zoro's character, but for the lore of One Piece as a whole. If you want to dive deeper into the overarching significance of Zoro and food, I highly recommend checking out posts by @wolfbart at this links: Link 1 Link 2
Maybe I'm missing something here, but some people genuinely seem to believe that irritation and annoyance are signs of hidden "romantic attraction"?
@hapifangurl and @kathitah shared their thoughts on this matter. As always, I’ll leave the links to their posts right here: Link 1 Link 2 Link 3 Link 4 Link 5 Link 6 Link 7
Also in this chapter, we are introduced to the three wretched, bankrupt men from whom Hiyori stripped every single coin… It’s as if Oda is deliberately highlighting that this girl is, to put it mildly, not exactly the ideal match for Zoro... Meanwhile, Robin seems to be genuinely charmed by Yasuie's character. This is clearly shown through her warm smile and the fond remark she makes right after he leaves.
Furthermore, it is in this exact chapter that we "learn" O-Toko is Yasuie's daughter. Except… even this beautiful truth is, in reality, partly a lie!
As it turns out, Oda revealed a massive secret to a reader in SBS Volume 99: O-Toko is actually Yasuie’s adopted daughter!
This crucial piece of lore is never explicitly stated anywhere within the main pages of the manga, nor is it ever mentioned in the anime. It happens entirely behind the scenes. This serves as yet another definitive proof that Wano is structurally the "Arc of Lies." Oda intentionally leaves a staggering number of truths hidden "off-screen," leaving us to connect the dots and guess what is truly happening.
I also want to bring your attention back to Yasuie’s role. To the people of Ebisu Village, he is essentially a "Holy Figure" or a Saint. As I noted in my previous post, Ebisu is named after the traditional Japanese "smiling" god of luck and fishermen.
Chapter 941.
Next, we're greeted by a beautiful color spread, which I absolutely love!!!
I was sure I'd seen an analysis of this color spread somewhere among ZoRobin fans, but I can't find it… (If you know the link, please send it my way, and I'll add it here!)
Zoro and Robin are sporting matching, paired backpacks — these two are together.
They are framed like a duo of highway bandits, waiting to ambush passing drivers. Look at their positions: Robin acts as the perfect, alluring "bait" to make drivers stop, while Zoro is the muscle waiting in the wings, ready to "slice and dice" anyone who falls for the trap. It’s the ultimate husband-and-wife teamwork! xD
On the signpost right above the "Good Place" sign, there is a small notice that reads "Don't Go." It’s a literal warning for any traveler to stay away from this dangerous duo!
However, the plot thickens when you look at the directions. The "Good Place" sign is deliberately crossed out and pointed backward, while the arrows painted on the road force drivers to go straight forward.
This means our couple is specifically waiting for the drivers who continue down the main road! They are deceiving travelers into believing that a "Good Place" awaits them ahead. But if you look at the master signpost in the background, it reveals exactly what lies at the end of that very road: "HELL."
Are the future King and Queen of Hell literally luring unsuspecting victims directly into their "dark domain"?!
Chapter 941.
Back in the main story, Orochi receives a report that they have finally captured the legendary thief in the Capital… USHIMITSU KOZO.
Remember when I told you in my previous post that we would be coming back to this name?
Well, this is where we transition into what I consider to be an incredibly fascinating sequence of events!
Kyoshiro (who we know is actually Denjiro) reports to Orochi that all the arrangements for Komurasaki’s funeral are complete. Hearing this, Orochi replies:
“Then we shall have Ushimitsu Kozo die along with Komurasaki.”
“The TWO BIGGEST STARS of the city dying together! …”
Keep those exact words in mind!
This chapter is heavily remembered by the fandom for one specific sequence.
And this is where I want to circle back to the question from the very beginning: Where does a wise man hide a leaf?
In my view, Oda grew an entire "forest" out of Hiyori. Let me explain, but first, look at this detail.
Brook finds Zoro and Hiyori. This exact moment was actually foreshadowed right on the cover of Chapter 937 — Brook is looking through a telescope, and both he and Zoro are facing the exact same direction. (And sorry, Robin’s behind ended up in the shot by accident, but hey, I’m not complaining, so I decided to keep it in! xD)
Now, let's look at the blocking in the cabin. In the previous chapter, we clearly see O-Toko sleeping on Zoro's RIGHT side. Yet, in this chapter, O-Toko is suddenly on Zoro's LEFT side.
Hiyori literally moved a sleeping child out of the way just so she could lie down on Zoro's right side — and right on top of his wounded arm, no less! Isn't that just absurd? This is definitely not an author's mistake or a drawing error. If it were, it would have been corrected in the anime adaptation, but the anime animated it exactly the same way(ep 938).
Just picture Hiyori actually going through all these motions in real-time… Oda deliberately directed this scene as an absurd, comedic farce, not as some kind of "romance."
Zoro’s reaction speaks for itself. Personally, I don't see even a single hint of romantic feelings toward her on his part.
But moving on. Brook arrives and delivers the news: the Capital is preparing for Komurasaki’s funeral, and they have captured Ushimitsu Kozo.
Pay close attention to Hiyori’s reaction here! Why is she suddenly so terrified and shaken? Because she knows exactly who the real Ushimitsu Kozo is!
As I mentioned earlier, Hiyori knows exactly who the real Ushimitsu Kozo is. And it is not Yasuie. This is precisely why Oda chose not to show her reaction when Brook reveals that Yasuie was captured under that name. On the other hand, Zoro and O-Toko’s shocked reactions are shown in full detail — because they didn’t know the truth. Zoro calls Hiyori an "idiot". Again.
Interestingly, Robin didn't know the truth either, despite the fact that she had briefly passed herself off as Ushimitsu Kozo earlier! Meanwhile, Usopp recalls that in the previous chapter, the villagers were calling Yasuie a "Saint."
From this point on, both the Straw Hat crew and the readers are finally told who Yasuie truly is.
And just like Orochi said, there is a dark, tragic irony in his words: the "Treasure of Wano" (Komurasaki) and the "Legendary Thief" (Ushimitsu Kozo) will "die together."
Now, to make sense of this entire puzzle, I have to take a massive but absolutely necessary detour. I need to jump ahead for a moment, and then circle back.
Komurasaki and Ushimitsu Kozo.
As @toomuchpineapples brilliantly pointed out (she is not only incredibly observant but also draws the most amazing art!!! 👀) — Robin and Hiyori share striking parallels: their respective roles as an Oiran and a Geisha, the fact that both lost their parents/mothers, and how both spent 20 years on the run, hiding in plain sight. They are simultaneously identical yet completely different in terms of personality.
By the way, Hiyori is currently 26 years old. In one of my posts, I mentioned that Shakky was exactly 26 years old during the events of God Valley. Furthermore, as we all know in the fandom, the number 26 is a literal numerical pun (Goroawase) for Nico Robin (2=Ni, 6=Ro).
In another previous post, I also suggested that Oda draws heavy inspiration from classic Japanese literature — specifically, The Tale of Genji. The main heroine of that story is named Murasaki (the prefix "Ko-" means "little", so Ko-Murasaki literally translates to "Little Murasaki"). There I argued that the "Genji" figure in One piece is actually Denjiro: much like Genji, Denjiro essentially "raised" Komurasaki/Hiyori to fit his grand scheme.
But there is another historical layer that I mentioned before, and it fits perfectly here:
"One of the most famous women to bear this name lived in the 17th century. She was the heroine of a tragic love story involving a samurai named Shirai Gonpachi. When Gonpachi was executed for his crimes, Komurasaki tragically committed suicide at his grave."
Chapter 973.
We finally learn the truth about who the real Ushimitsu Kozo is. It’s Denjiro!!
So, how does Denjiro connect back to Zoro and Robin?
Robin initially "worked" under Kyoshiro (Denjiro), believing him to be nothing more than the Shogun's loyal lapdog.
Zoro crossed blades with Kyoshiro (Denjiro), similarly viewing him as the Shogun's lapdog.
Denjiro stole money from the wealthy to distribute it among the impoverished citizens of Ebisu. He was, quite literally, a ROBIN Hood figure.
Furthermore, as I mentioned in my previous post about the historical tragedy of Shirai Gonpachi and Komurasaki — Gonpachi was a thief too! When Gonpachi was caught and sentenced to death, Komurasaki took her own life at his grave out of despair.
This is exactly why in Chapter 941, Orochi believes he is orchestrating the perfect poetic ending by "burying" both Komurasaki and Ushimitsu Kozo at the same time. He thinks he is reenacting that classic tragic tale!
This also creates a direct link to Yasuie and Toko, who are just as deeply connected to both Zoro and Robin!
Zoro is the first one (from the reader's perspective) to hear about Ushimitsu Kozo.
Robin uses the name "Ushimitsu Kozo" as a bluff/cover story inside the Shogun's Castle.
Yasuie falsely claims to be Ushimitsu Kozo to save the alliance, paying for that lie with his life.
O-Toko is Yasuie's daughter.
Robin protects O-Toko from Orochi's wrath.
Zoro protects O-Toko from Orochi's wrath.
Chapters 974-975. Throughout the entire Wano saga, Denjiro played one of the most pivotal roles.
He helped the impoverished citizens of Ebisu survive.
He raised, shielded, and protected Hiyori.
He masterminded and faked her death inside the Shogun's Castle.
He gathered an entire army and a fleet of ships for the raid on Onigashima.
And ultimately, he was the one who saved Hiyori and delivered the final blow to Orochi.
Denjiro is 47 years old (like 47 Ronin!), and his birthday is October 26th. Hiyori is currently 26 years old. Denjiro is powerful — he was able to block an attack from Zoro (even if Zoro was wounded at the time).
Furthermore, look at their color schemes. Denjiro's signature color is a light lilac/pale purple, while Hiyori’s is emerald green. Their colors are quite literally the "soft" versions of Zoro and Robin’s iconic color palettes! And just like Zoro and Robin's green and purple, Denjiro and Hiyori's colors complement each other perfectly.
Personally, I believe that if Hiyori is ever paired with anyone in the future, it will be Denjiro. Yes, Denjiro is older than Hiyori, but honestly, when has an age gap ever stopped Oda?
Some might scream, "But Hiyori is clearly in love with Zoro!!1!" To that, I say: and what? Gloriosa was in love with Gol D. Roger, and what? Roger was in love with Shakky, and what? Sanji falls head over heels for every beautiful woman he sees — and what? Also, I think that by the end of Wano, Hiyori is no longer in love with Zoro. But more on that later.
Wano is a country of masks. Denjiro and Hiyori are the two individuals who forced themselves to wear the heaviest, most suffocating masks for 20 long years. He became the enemy's "loyal hound" (Kyoshiro), and she became a courtesan (Komurasaki). They shared this agonizing, terrifying secret between just the two of them, and his raw grief and anger literally altered his facial features. Once the masks are finally shed, no one in the world will ever comprehend Hiyori's pain and trauma the way Denjiro does. And vice versa. We shouldn't underestimate this potential dynamic! Some people think that Zoro will end up with Hiyori because he's "like Oden." But that's not so.
Looking ahead, Denjiro has a "literary" connection with Oden.
Denjiro — Oden — Ishikawa Goemon.
Ishikawa Goemon (1558 – October 8, 1594) was a legendary Japanese outlaw and folk hero from the Azuchi-Momoyama period, frequently dubbed the "Japanese Robin Hood"(again!). According to legend, he and his bandit crew plundered wealthy daimyos (feudal lords) and merchants, distributing the gold and riches to impoverished peasants. Goemon’s fatal mistake came when he attempted to assassinate the ruler of Japan at the time, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He was captured and sentenced to death.
On October 8, 1594, Goemon and his young son were condemned to be publicly boiled alive in a large iron cauldron filled with boiling oil (or water) outside the gates of the Nanzen-ji temple in Kyoto. The legend vividly states that Goemon held his son high above his head on his outstretched arms, keeping him out of the boiling liquid until his strength completely failed him.
Oda recreated this heartbreaking historical legend almost word for word:
Just like the real Goemon, Kozuki Oden was sentenced to a public boiling alive by the orders of Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido. The execution lasted for exactly one hour.
Goemon held his little son above his head in the cauldron. Oden lifted a massive wooden platform above his head, with all his loyal vassals — the Nine Red Scabbards.
Look at one of Oda's foreshadowing at the very start of the flashback: Oden is heavily criticized for cooking oden soup over a cremation fire.
The name “Oden” is actually a popular Japanese winter dish — a savory soup where various ingredients are simmered together in a deep pot. Before his tragic execution, Oden delivers his most iconic, historical final words: “Oden was born to boil!”. Like soup(oden) is boil.
However, the connection between Denjiro and Oden runs even deeper, as they both share the mythological archetype of Susanoo (the Shinto god of storms and the sea). While I might unpack this massive legend in much greater detail in future posts, for now, I want to highlight the most crucial pieces of the myth:
Upon arriving at the Hi River, Susanoo encountered a pair of weeping elderly earthly spirits. They revealed that a monstrous, eight-headed serpent known as Yamata no Orochi had been devouring one of their daughters each year. Now, it was time for their last remaining daughter, Kushinada-hime, to be sacrificed.
Having instantly fallen in love with the young maiden, Susanoo transformed Kushinada-hime into a fine-toothed comb and hid her safely within his own hair.
To defeat the monster, he ordered a fence with eight gates to be built, placing a platform at each gate with a large vat filled with eight-fold refined sake.
The colossal serpent arrived, drank greedily from every single vat, and promptly fell into a deep, drunken stupor. Seizing the moment, Susanoo drew his sacred sword, Totsuka no Tsurugi, and hacked the monstrous beast into pieces.
Chapter 1048.
Hiyori is Kushinada-hime. In the myth, Kushinada is the last surviving maiden hunted by the eight-headed serpent Orochi. Hiyori is the last surviving princess of the Kozuki clan, relentlessly hunted by Kurozumi Orochi.
Denjiro is Susanoo, hiding her in his hair. In the legend, Susanoo transforms the maiden into a fine comb and hides her within his own hair so the serpent cannot find her. What does Denjiro do? He takes a young, vulnerable Hiyori under his wing, renames her Komurasaki, and hides her in plain sight as an Oiran, right under Orochi's nose!
And to bring this entire mythological puzzle to a perfect close: it is Denjiro who ultimately slays Orochi, whose Devil Fruit is literally the Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: Yamata no Orochi.
So, this is already my third post about Wano, and who knows how many more are on the way… But trust me, we’ve barely scratched the surface!
For those of you who managed to push through all three of these posts, I suggest leaving a comment: how many of these literary and cultural references did you actually know before reading this?
Honestly, I knew almost none of them myself… Writing these has been a huge journey of discovery and learning for me as well.
Also, if you noticed any mistakes, inaccuracies, want to add your own pieces to the puzzle, or just feel like sharing your thoughts and observations — please, don't be shy!~
