Luffy to Gain Powerful Allies from Villain’s Crew

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Cover stories in One Piece are frequently underestimated, yet they tend to play significant roles in the main narrative or influence it unexpectedly. These stories not only provide additional content for the anime but also allow fans to delve deeper into secondary characters and locations, enriching the world of One Piece without distracting too much from the primary storyline. Frequently, these seemingly ordinary cover stories reveal their importance at a later stage, and it appears that the recent Yamato cover story might have given Luffy two highly influential allies.

In Chapter 1145, Yamato’s journey through Wano Country unfolds as she overpowers Who’s Who, rescues Minatomo the carpenter and a group of abducted women, and liberates Ulti and Page One, who were previously held captive by Who’s Who. The recent chapter’s cover story confirms that both Ulti and Page One are alive and in good health; Ulti is shown shedding tears of joy while embracing her brother. Given that Kaido has presumably been defeated and killed, it’s plausible that One Piece might witness the two ex-Tobi Roppo members joining forces with the Straw Hats under Yamato out of appreciation for their rescue from Who’s Who, potentially even assuming roles as Yamato’s vassals.

One Piece Teases Ulti and Page One Could Switch Sides

Apart from clarifying why Yamato remained in Wano instead of joining the Straw Hats, the recent cover story of One Piece has also served to tie up the lingering plot points from the Wano Saga. One of the major queries among fans after Wano was the fate of the Tobi Roppo and other Beast Pirates following their captain’s departure, and Yamato’s cover story provides an answer by disclosing that Who’s Who set up a base in Udon and has been abducting the missing women that Yamato had heard about.

It’s surprising that Ulti and Page One, who were once held captive by Who’s Who for cruel amusement, appeared in the picture, especially since fans thought they were loyal to Kaido. However, recent insights into their past and how they ended up with the Beast Pirates hint that their allegiance might not have been as strong as it seemed. This opens up the possibility that Ulti and Page One could potentially switch sides and serve under Yamato instead. In fact, it appears they may not have had much of a choice when joining Kaido’s crew in the first place.

According to information from SBS Volume 111, it’s revealed that the once powerful sea warlord, Hanafuda, who was defeated by Ace, is actually the father of Ulti and Page One. In the SBS, Oda shares that Hanafuda and Kaido were former rivals but eventually formed an alliance. After their alliance, Hanafuda handed over his two children to Kaido for safekeeping. Unfortunately, after his defeat at Ace’s hands, Hanafuda was killed on his way back to Ulti and Page One, leading them to be raised by the Beast Pirates.

Although Kaido may have appeared to adopt them, as demonstrated with Yamato, Kaido was far from a nurturing parent figure for his own daughter. In fact, it’s likely that Ulti and Page One had to fend for themselves. The SBS of Volume 100 reveals that Ulti and Page One stole their Devil Fruits from Kaido to help them thrive within the crew and ultimately rise through the ranks, eventually earning positions in the Tobi Roppo. Similar to their past struggles, they now find themselves in a situation where joining Yamato, and by extension Luffy, could potentially be their best means of survival.

Ulti and Page One Might Become Yamato’s Retainers

Observing closely, it seems that Ulti and Page One – who have occasionally shown a hint of frustration towards Yamato in the past – could have grown up together, which may play a significant role in their choice to accompany him. What’s more intriguing is that Yamato’s journey across Wano mirrors Oden’s original tale. If this is indeed the case, much like Oden, Yamato might accumulate loyal followers during his pilgrimage, and Ulti and Page One could be among the very first of these new retainers.

Although Ulti and Page One played adversarial roles during the Wano Arc, they haven’t been depicted as perpetrators of grave or irredeemable acts, suggesting that their characters could be given a second chance. This isn’t unprecedented in One Piece, as the series has frequently transformed former enemies into allies, such as Hachi, Helmeppo, St. Mjosgard, Nico Robin, and Franky. It’s worth noting that many of Oden’s retainers were outlaws or misfits who found refuge in each other, much like Ulti and Page One. This makes them potential candidates to join Yamato’s side. If this happens, Wano could gain two trustworthy guards, and Luffy might secure two immensely powerful allies via Yamato, which could be a significant factor in the Final Saga of One Piece.

One Piece is available on Manga Plus and Viz Media.

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2025-04-07 20:41