Oda, the legendary writer of One Piece, has artfully created a captivating world that has deeply resonated with millions of fans. His storytelling prowess is the defining element of One Piece, evident from the very first chapter. Oda's skills as a writer are truly remarkable.
Within One Piece, intricate plotlines emerge, some of which Oda spontaneously develops, while others are meticulously planned over the course of years before seamlessly weaving into the story arcs.
8 The SMILE Fruit Plot
The SMILE Fruits played a vital role in the overall storyline of the Four Emperors Saga, particularly in the Wano arc where their true nature was unveiled. These fruits, known as the Devin Fruits, were artificially created and granted special abilities to one out of every ten fruit users. However, the remaining nine individuals experienced the undesirable side effects of the Devil Fruit, as well as a loss of the ability to express any emotion other than smiling and laughter.
Interestingly, the concept of the SMILE Fruits was introduced long before the timeskip. They were initially mentioned on Sabaody during a conversation between Doflamingo and Disco.
7 Sanji As A Prince
Sanji, a key character in the series, serves as the cook of the Straw Hat Pirates. As a member of the core East Blue 5, Sanji receives extra focus from Oda. Surprising fans, it was revealed in Whole Cake Island that Sanji is actually a Prince from the Germa Kingdom. Although this revelation came as a shock to many, Oda had planned it years in advance. In fact, subtle hints about Sanji's origins were dropped as early as the Arabasta Arc, with additional clues appearing during the Sky Island Saga, suggesting that he hails from the North Blue.
6 The Vinsmoke Siblings
In addition to Sanji's royal lineage, Oda also introduced the Vinsmoke Siblings in the Whole Cake Island arc. This was another significant element that he had pre-planned well in advance.
At first, Oda was uncertain about the number of siblings he would assign to Sanji. However, inspired by his daughter's love for Osomatsu-san, he decided to incorporate the concept of quadruplets into Sanji's backstory, resulting in the creation of the Vinsmoke siblings.
5 Time Travel
Oda had planned time travel in One Piece years in advance, which was revealed during the Wano arc. Kin'emon disclosed that he, along with Momonosuke, Kanjuro, Kikunojo, and Raizo, had come from the future. Despite initial dismissal by fans, hints were given during the Zou arc when Momonosuke mentioned meeting Roger at the age of 8, which later turned out to be significant.
4 The Concept Of Haki
The fans were properly introduced to the concept of Haki shortly before the timeskip in One Piece. However, this idea was actually introduced to the story from the very beginning. Shanks used Haki to intimidate the Coastal King when he saved Luffy, and as the story progressed, various forms of Haki were showcased.
During the Jaya arc, Blackbeard openly mentioned the word Haki for the first time while assessing Luffy's strength. On Skypiea, the ability known as Mantra was introduced, and different forms of Haki were gradually integrated into various story arcs before finally being explained to the fans after the Paramount War.
3 The Introduction Of Sabo
Sabo, a character introduced in Luffy's flashback, was believed to have died. However, in Dressrosa, it was revealed that Sabo was actually alive, surprising many fans.
While some fans consider Sabo a last-minute addition, his character was actually carefully planned years ahead. This is evident from Ace's tattoo, which had a crossed-out tribute to Sabo right from the beginning.
2 Kuma Breaking Up The Straw Hats
Kuma first made his debut in 2002, and at that time, Oda had meticulously crafted a detailed vision for the character. Oda confided in his editor that Kuma would eventually play a pivotal role in the division of the Straw Hat Pirates.
This prediction by Oda materialized into reality in 2008, precisely six years later, when the crew members were forcefully scattered across the Sabaody Archipelago due to the implementation of Bartholomew Kuma's Devil Fruit power.
1 Nika
Nika, the Sun God, made a recent appearance in One Piece during the climax of the Wano arc. However, Oda had actually planned the concept of Nika long ago, as evidenced by its mention in the Skypiea arc. The winged races were revealed to have a connection to Nika. Additionally, the discriminated Fishmen formed the Sun Pirates under Fisher Tiger, and the Celestial Dragon's hoof was disguised with the sun mark. Otohime also frequently compared life under the sun to freedom. It is evident that Oda had strategically woven the storyline of the Sun God Nika into the overarching narrative of Wano, demonstrating his long-term planning and incorporation of this plot element.