One Piece: Heroes Who Could Return

Key Takeaways

• One Piece showcases characters returning for later arcs, like Elbaf, which was first hinted at years before.
• Former allies like Vivi, Law, Hancock, Sabo, and Yamato may resurface due to teases and unresolved storylines.
• Vivi, Law, Hancock, Sabo, and Yamato have intricate backstories that hint at possible returns with the Straw Hat Pirates.

One Piece has often allowed for characters who depart to return for later and greater narratives in the story. Sometimes, these returns are foreshadowed years in advance. The most relevant example is Elbaf, the giant Island, which was first discussed in Little Garden. As the story has progressed, the Straw Hats have met giants from the island in other arcs, like Enies Lobby and Dressrosa.

Years later, readers finally get to experience Elbaf for themselves. Many of the giants whom the Straw Hats have met are returning for the arc. This is far from the only time this sort of build-up has happened, and likely will not be the last time former allies resurface. There are plenty of other characters who, even if they’ve been gone for awhile, could still reappear.

5 Nefertari D. Vivi

Runaway Princess of Alabasta

Vivi was a dutiful princess to Alabasta, a country that was being corroded from within. Alongside Igaram, Alabasta’s chief of security, she infiltrated Baroque Works, the organization that was responsible. When they discovered that she was a mole, Vivi was tracked by officer agents and joined up with the Straw Hat Pirates for protection. During their time together, they bonded, and Vivi was sad when she had to leave them behind.

However, her return has been teased to some extent since this departure. The show recently touched on the “X” tattoo, which was a way the crew performed a silent goodbye. What’s more, Vivi is currently on the run from the rulers of the World Government, who killed her father when they realized his clan possessed the “D” initial. Many fans speculate that Vivi may once again join the Straw Hats.

4 Trafalgar D. Water Law

A Captain Without A Crew

Trafalgar D. Water Law was a longtime ally to the Straw Hats, forming a successful alliance to take down Donquixote Doflamingo, and later his boss, Kaido. Law has had his share of tragedy, with his family passing away from Amber Lead Syndrome. He nearly suffered the same fate, but was cured with the timely intervention of Donquixote Rosinante. Unfortunately, Rosinante himself was later assassinated by his brother, Doflamingo, for being a mole for the marines.

After dissolving the alliance with the Straw Hats, Law suffered another bout of tragedy. His entire crew, the Hearts Pirates, appeared to be lost at sea after an encounter with the Blackbeard Pirates. Law seemed to survive, alongside his crewmate, Beppo, but their next actions remain to be seen. If necessary, Law may team up with the Straw Hats once more to avenge his fallen comrades, but there are other paths he could take. Law is a ruthless character when he deems it necessary, allegedly causing the infamous Rocky Port Incident. What version of Law reappears will likely be determined by whether his crew survived or not.

3 Boa Hancock

Captain of the Kuja Pirates

Boa Hancock was a Warlord, but she did not hold the World Government in high esteem. A former slave, Hancock was force-fed her Devil Fruit at a young age for the entertainment of World Nobles. She eventually surfaced on Amazon Lily, an island of only women, where she became the ruler (disguising her past as a slave so she would not be forced to leave.) To ensure the World Government would not attack the island, she became a Warlord, with her powerful Devil Fruit as a major asset.

She met Monkey D. Luffy when he was blasted over to the island by Bartholomew Kuma. At first, she was not pleased with a man being on her island of women, but the pirate later earned her respect and eventually love, thanks to his kind, forthcoming nature. Her love is stronger than reason, as she regularly jeopardized her position to aid Luffy.

With her ties cut in the wake of the Warlord system’s dissolution, Boa’s next moves are unclear. Some speculate that she could become another Straw Hat, but any further event, aside from her teased return itself, has not been made clear. It is notable that she also feuded with Blackbeard, who attempted to steal her Devil Fruit, but this event’s significance to the story is unclear.

2 Sabo

Revolutionary Army Chief of Staff

Sabo is one of Luffy’s sworn elder brothers alongside the late Portgas D. Ace. Thought to be dead after a World Noble shot at his pirate ship, he instead merely lost his memory. After being discovered by Monkey D. Dragon, Luffy’s biological father, Sabo trained from childhood to become a revolutionary. Sabo quickly rose to the rank of Chief of Staff, second-in-command to only Dragon himself.

After recovering his memory, Sabo reunited with Luffy in Dressrosa, where Doflamingo’s weapons were being retrieved to advance revolutionary operations. He took on his late brother’s Devil Fruit, adding to his already impressive abilities. He has since become one of the primary characters focused on in stories involving the army, and has had a few close calls to death since then.

Notably, Sabo infiltrated Mary Geoise alongside other revolutionary officers. This operation involved retrieving Kuma, who was enslaved at the time, but also resulted in stealing the nobles’ food and freeing other slaves. They even received some indirect help from Fujitora, despite him being a Marine Admiral, as he fought Aramaki to ensure their freedom. Sabo will likely fight God’s Knights alongside his fellow revolutionaries, as the two teams were teased to face one another.

1 Yamato

Kozuki Oden Reborn!?

Yamato is the son of Kaido, the captain of the Beasts Pirates. Having been an effective hostage to his father for years, he yearns to travel the world, like his idol Kozuki Oden, one of his father’s worst enemies. For his insolence, his father continually punishes his Yamato, who became something of a problem child, known within the ranks of the Beasts Pirates. During his time in Wano, he became acquainted with reputable figures, such as Portgas D. Ace, who traveled to the country for a time. Yamato made himself known to both the Straw Hat Pirates and Kozuki loyalists during their battle with the Beasts Pirates.

Before his departure to travel the world, Yamato was asked by Kin’emon to perform a surrogate pilgrimage in place of Oden, delivering Shimotsuki Yasuie’s sword to Enma. This has been documented in a cover story featuring Yamato interacting with others in Wano. Once Yamato’s pilgrimage concludes, it is unclear what his next move will be. It is possible he will join the Straw Hats as he said he would before, but the exact shape this journey will take remains to be seen after the Cover Story.