Delving into the narrative landscape of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece, the Wano Country Arc stands as a momentous occasion, marking the end of the Yonko Saga and the closure of the Straw Hat Pirates' voyage alongside Kin'emon and Momonosuke. This arc's climax, a fierce battle to free Wano, not only shifted the balance of power at sea but also set the stage for the Final Saga.
What sets this apart is the pivotal role played by a single individual and her extraordinary Devil Fruit abilities. Kozuki Toki, with the Toki Toki no Mi, significantly contributed to bringing Luffy and his crew to Wano. Let's uncover how Toki's Devil Fruit powers catalyzed Wano's liberation and why it holds immense significance in One Piece's post-time skip narrative.
A Unique Devil Fruit with Limitless Potential
Unlike most Devil Fruits geared for combat, the Toki Toki no Mi lacks such prowess but boasts incredible yet constrained abilities. Primarily, this fruit grants the power of forward time travel, a capability with immense implications in the One Piece universe.
Toki's leap over 800 years into the future from the Void Century era through consecutive jumps underscores the absurd potential of this ability. Regrettably, the fruit restricts users from traveling back in time, making each forward leap a one-way journey.
Moreover, users must pinpoint the temporal destination upon leaping, as the Devil Fruit solely permits time advancement without spatial movement. The longest known jump spanning 20 years proved pivotal in Wano's eventual liberation.
Guiding the Scabbards to Tomorrow
Years preceding this historic temporal voyage, Amatsuki Toki crossed paths with her future spouse, Kozuki Oden, who saved her from marauding pirates. She sailed alongside the Whitebeard and Roger Pirates before settling in Wano with Oden, where they raised Momonosuke and Hiyori.
Tragedy struck as Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido held Wano captive, coercing Oden to comply in exchange for the citizens' lives. Despite witnessing Oden's humiliation in Wano's Flower Capital, Toki unwaveringly trusted him, a faith soon challenged.
Following a failed assault on Kaido, Oden faced a fatal sentence alongside his retainers. While saving his allies, Oden succumbed during the 'Legendary Hour.' Subsequently, Kaido and Orochi razed Oden Castle in Kuri, leaving Toki no escape but to sacrifice herself tearfully, propelling Momonosuke and four Red Scabbards into the future. With this courageous act, Toki entrusted the future to her comrades.
Kin'emon and Momonosuke's Transformative Voyage
Toki's decision to send her son and Oden's retainers into the future, though risky, held the potential to honor her sacrifice. By propelling them forward, Toki sustained the Kozuki lineage's hope, ensuring an heir would one day lead Wano.
Initially, the Scabbards grappled with the somber future. Departing Wano, they faced unforeseen separations. Raizo stranded in Zou, Kanjuro confronting Doflamingo's subordinates, and Kin'emon journeying to Punk Hazard to locate Momonosuke, who inadvertently boarded a ship to the island.
Kin'emon's encounter with Trafalgar Law en route to Punk Hazard led to his dismemberment and scattering across the island by Law's Ope Ope no Mi abilities. Amidst this bleak juncture, they crossed paths with the Straw Hat Pirates, a pivotal alliance in the Kozuki Family's restoration, pledging to return them to Wano.
Teaming with the Straw Hats and Heart Pirates, Kin'emon and Momonosuke reunited with Kanjuro in Dressrosa, toppling Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo to pressure his associate, Kaido. Their journey continued to Zou, where they freed Raizo before returning to Wano.
Igniting rebellion against Orochi's tyrannical regime, they confronted a desolate Wano under Orochi and Kaido's rule, plagued by exploitation and pollution for weapon production. Following numerous failed attempts against Kaido and a prolonged battle, the Straw Hats liberated Wano from the Emperor's grip, appointing Momonosuke as the new shogun.
Unveiling the Savior of Wano
Central to these triumphs stands Monkey D. Luffy, the Gomu Gomu no Mi user — later the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika — and captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. Without Toki's intervention, sending Kin'emon and Momonosuke to the future, Luffy might never have reached Wano, confronted Kaido, or unlocked his Devil Fruit's potential.
As Joy Boy's heir, a legendary figure from the Void Century, Luffy played a pivotal role in Wano's liberation, made possible by Toki's time-traveling Devil Fruit. Without the Toki Toki no Mi, Wano's plight would have remained unknown due to its isolated nature. Thus, Toki's Devil Fruit undeniably paved the way for the individual destined to rescue Wano.
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