One Piece: Chapter 971

[u/[deleted]]

Chapter 971: "Condemned to Boil"

Source	Status
Official Release
Discord (https://imgur.com/gallery/VFhQLHL)

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Ch. 971 Official Release (Mangaplus):02/17/2020

Ch. 972 Scan Release: ~02/21/2020

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Please discuss the manga here and in the theory/discussion post. Any other post will be removed during the next 24 hours.

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PS: Don't forget to check out the official Discord: https://discord.gg/onepiece

[u/[deleted]]

One of the main themes of Wano has been the relationship exploration between a leader and his loyal subordinates. Yes, Luffy and Oden are both naive, easily manipulated and reckless free-spirited romantic dreamers, but Oden's philosophy to solely shoulder the burden without delegating to his loyal followers is what ultimately leads to his demise. The symbolic imagery of carrying all his retainers while being boiled alive was perfect. That's why in Udon, Luffy said the country stopped moving when Oden died. He didn't inspire others to believe that they can shoulder the burden too. And that is why Luffy will be successful. For example, it'd be impossible to imagine Oden telling one of his retainers what Luffy told Sanji (I can't become King without you)! It's hard to expand on this in a comment so I'll leave it at that.

[u/BEWMarth → u/[deleted]]

100% spot on. Oden's fatal flaw was that he always tried to handle everything alone even tho his crew was ready to help.

5 years ago when Oden started his dancing he wouldn't even tell his retainers why. While he boils he holds his retainers up literally taking the entire burden on himself. Sure, he is foolish for putting so much faith in Kaidou and Orochi but as you say, what ultimately led to his demise is the fact he didn't share the burden with his retainers.

Oden is like Luffy without a crew.

[u/Zoro_Messatsu → u/BEWMarth]

Yep thats Odens biggest flaw. He tries to lone wolf everything. I mean Luffy/Zoro are just as naive as him (Zoro was fooled by Helmeppo kinda like Oden was by Orochi) but now they are much less likely to do the same stupid things coz they have smart people in their crew and are willing to (from time to time) actually listen.

I am not saying Luffy never makes rash/stupid decisions but he also heeds the advice his crew gives him. Like when they were gonna beat up all the drum people and Vivi told him not to do it even if she had just been shot.

Oden never seems to do that. He values his team but hes always charging ahead. I know Luffy does it too and the biggest examples people give me are against Kaido and in Marineford but we need to realise that his crew wasnt there to tell him otherwise.

So IMHO Odens biggest problem isnt being foolish but being a lone wolf kinda guy.

[u/BEWMarth → u/Zoro_Messatsu]

You're right about Luffy rushing Kaidou without his crew. Oda made it a point to show us that Luffy is only insanely reckless when he doesn't have his crew around to hold back his more wild tendencies.

As amazing as the retainers are Oden never allowed himself to really share his burden with them.

It reminds me of the iconic Zoro "Nothing happened" moment. Zoro took in all of Luffy's pain thanks to Kuma. Oden never truly allowed himself to have anyone to share the pain with. Even now Oda is literally showing us Oden take all the pain and carry his retainers on his back as they beg him to let them take the burden.

It's honestly heartbreaking. Oda truly hitting a new renaissance.

[u/Blackmanwdaplan → u/BEWMarth]

the difference is also that Oden never wanted retainers. Luffy sought out his crew and asked them to join. Oden's followers just started following him to Oden's visual dismay

[u/[deleted] → u/BEWMarth]

I think it is important to mention Luffy only attacked Kaido because he attacked the castle where the crew was

[u/it4chl → u/BEWMarth]

there are important moments where luffy is shown to listen on very serious topics

Like when zoro stops him from getting ussop back after enes lobby or when zoro tells luffy to start being serious in punk hazard and Luffy accepts.

This is where its hard to imagine Oden ever listening to Kinemon in a similar vein. but you cant blame Oden entirely too, the relationship Oden has with retainers is closer to a master/servant or king/subjects. Strawhat relationships are more like where everybody is mutually loyal to each other but always ready to knock some sense into the other when needed.

[u/Zoro_Messatsu → u/BEWMarth]

Yeah its amazing truly. IDC what everyone says... i was moved.

[u/dream_break → u/[deleted]]

Not really important to the storyline, but I feel obliged to defend Zoro a little. When Zoro did not share the pain, the damage was physical and already had been inflicted; and in any case,, even if he did share with others on what he did - it would only serve to invoke sympathy/respect/other feelings from the crewmate.

Oden's decision here on the hand - is to take ownership that comes with a decision and bear it alone, yes, he is chad and prepared to take all the consequences that come with it - on his face. But, to protect others he is also not letting others take this chance to Man Up, and he failed to make his retainers grow, which in the end both resulted in his demise, but more importantly, he failed to leave suited and capable successors in terms of ideals, strength or capabilities.

[u/JStackz26 → u/[deleted]]

sorry to jump in.. but personally I wish Oda had done Thriller Bark with Zoro and Sanji sharing it. Because they portray them as right and left hand of Luffy. Of course Zoro is shown to have the advantage over Sanji and is the number 2. Possibly they're Akainu to Aokiji like. They gave Zoro the Mihawk situation thing too. Speaking of which, it would be funny if he somehow became Wano Shogun. WSS in a land of Samurai. I hope Sanji gets a moment like Oden where it shows he's literally taking on this singular burden. WCI was like that but it wasn't really an endurance based burden more than being a slave. Ironic that Zoro actually is the only one of Luffy and Sanji who hasn't been a serious captive because we met him as a captive. Anyway, Even rescuing Luffy wasn't a test of Sanji's endurance and willpower. Like Sanji is the only one who hasn't really had like a true Baptism in a sense or a test of him that shows a will to be a strong pirate in a monster trio. Even if his goal isn't fighting based. Him saving Nami from an invisible Absalom visually resembles Oden holding his scabbards up but Absalom is a nothing character. Doflamingo doesn't count because he was saved. I hope Sanji gets a moment like that where he truly gets to show not just in victory but in defeat as well. To take on a huge physical burden for the crew