#chapter 943

Oh why it is called smile

No Toko

Oh Zoro is mad

The Straw Hats are close friends with the people of Wano and know that Vegapunk is someone who could reasonably create a cure for those who have eaten the failed fruits. Law is a doctor with a past dealing with widespread disease. Then Kidd has a crew member who is inflicted with the effect. Wherever the story is headed, there are some possible reasons for all three crews to seek a cure.

Knowing how the three captains can be competitive with each other, I wouldn't put it past them to have made a bet over who can be first to find Vegapunk, if that is the direction the story is moving in.

The reason for having Vegapunk being a big focus during Egghead isn't completely clear yet, though the Straw Hats all care a lot about the issue with the SMILE fruits. Make what you will of Zoro's expressions in 1062 being reminiscent of his in 943.

Small aside, it's curious that, of all the Scabbards in Wano at the time, Kiku was the only one not in a place to have seen Yasuie's death, being just outside of Udon Prison at the time. Like Kin'emon, Ashura, and Dog were watching via light snails, Raizo and Kawamatsu(in his cell) watched via light snail from Udon, and Denjiro and Kanjuro were in the capital. Though Kiku was the only one who didn't see it? Curious.

In the same chapter, she also wasn't with the group that tried to steal money from Yasu, in that brief flashback. Pair those with her mysterious absences from both the shrine in 1052, and the fight against Ryokugyu in 1054-1055 and Kiku is worthy of being crowned queen of mysterious absences. Where was she then? Where is she now?

If part of the intent of the crew being on Egghead is indeed to have a cure made, it may explain why that wasn't mentioned before the curtains closed on Act 3. It would have been cruel to dangle a potential cure in front of the people of Wano when they don't yet know if it's possible. We now know that the gigantification of the Punk Hazard kids is at least somewhat reversible.

Here Zoro’s obviously mad and he’s confused, he had just watched Yasu get shot to death and is hearing the townspeople laughing about it.

The explanation for the laughter has only fueled his anger more. But with the explanation he’s no longer getting pissed at the townspeople, but at Orochi and Kaido.

Now right here Zoro’s practically outraged. He’s listening to Orochi slander Yasu’s name, so he’s forcing himself to stay put and not cause a scene.

At this point Zoro’s not only heard the full explanation of the Smile fruits but he’s heard a man who brought people who were suffering’s name talked down upon. He hasn’t at all calmed down, in fact this is the point where he’s become livid. Zoro knows damn well that acting out now wouldn’t help anyone at all, so he doesn’t act and instead decides to let the anger fester and grow stronger so he can use it later.

Then this happens. This wasn’t at all an irrational decision on Zoro or Sanji’s part, since they were both equally pissed and weren’t about to let an innocent child die. Zoro is still being rational in his decision making by protecting Toko instead of going after Orochi right off the bat and causing more problems than what he is right now.

We get one final look at Zoro (and Sanji) before the chapter ends and we can see the veins popping on their faces and eyes as they look at one another. They aren’t pissed at each other, that much is clear. They weren’t expecting to see each other. Though Zoro might be a little pissed off at Sanji for the entire Whole Cake Island thing (leaving without formally saying goodbye) so that might be fueling his anger even more.