From Brook to Zoro: Why each Holy Knight may be tied to a Straw Hat’s past in One Piece

For years, One Piece has been known for its depth in the story. It has been over 25 years since it started serializing, and in all of its time, the creator has introduced many plotlines that are yet to be decoded. The fandom does not waste time coming up with some interesting theories, and while it started as a discussion within the community since a few of them turned out to be true, there has been an upsurge in speculations and theories.

Especially since the story has reached the Final Saga, Eiichiro Oda has been slowly revealing some of the most anticipated mysteries, and the biggest one he has currently revealed is the God Valley Incident. While fans have thoroughly enjoyed this arc, there has been a new theory has come into the spotlight. The theory suggests that every Holy Knight is directly or thematically tied to a specific Straw Hat, shaping or influencing their past in ways we are only now beginning to understand.

The Nami–Sommers connection

Nami, as seen in One Piece (Image credit: Toei Animation)

When we talk about the connection between Nami and Sommers, this theory starts making sense. Sommers in One Piece stands out because of how knowledgeable he is as a Celestial Dragon. In the story, he did not take the time to identify Jaguar D. Saul's identity, and he had survived long before most nobles were aware of it.

This is an important detail because it opens the possibility of a link between him and Nami’s tragic childhood. We know that Nami's backstory is rooted in genocide and marine negligence; now, these are events that someone like Sommoers would have control over to oversee or even plan them.

That is why some fans are speculating that he may even be related to her origins before Bell-mère found her. While not necessarily implying paternal lineage, the possibility of a noble connection fits perfectly within Oda’s narrative patterns in One Piece: Ironic tragedy, political commentary, and a twist that recontextualizes Nami’s suffering on a much larger scale.

Jinbe and Killingham's connection

Still from the anime (Image credit: Toei Animation)

A similar reflection exists between Jinbe and Killingham in One Piece. We know that Killingham's abilities give him the power to manifest monster summons. So chances are they symbolically could align with Jimbe's life experience. For centuries in the world of One Piece, the human race has focused on prejudice against the fishman, by looking at them as some creature to be feared.

The idea that Killingham might have played a direct role in manipulating or weaponizing this fear goes beyond thematic parallel, as it suggests that the oppression of Fishmen was part of an intentional system engineered by the highest authorities.

If Jinbe ultimately confronts Killingham in the Final Saga in this story, it would be a moment of poetic justice, as he would have a chance to fight against someone who was the reason behind the hate that his people have to face.

The Kuina theory

The most interesting part of this One Piece theory is how it connects to Kunia. The way her death is shown in this story is unconvincing, and many fans felt that there is more to it than what Oda has revealed. Interestingly, her lineage as a descendant of Wano’s greatest swordsmen and her ties to cursed blades. Moreover, the dojo’s quiet response and the absence of her body have fueled years of suspicion.

That is when fans noticed that there is an unnamed female Knight who seems to have a similar character design, and are wondering if Oda is going to connect this character with Zoro. If, for any reason, she is part of the Knights, then it would emotionally affect Zoro, and for the first time, he would have to go to an internal war, as chances are the reality he once knew was all a lie.

Do these One Piece theories have any credibility?

Maybe if this theory had come out a few months ago, it would not have gained so much attention. But since Eiichiro Oda has revealed a lot of lore, fans are looking at the pattern and trying to join the dots by themselves.

If this theory is true, the final confrontation won’t just be Luffy versus the World Government; it will be each Straw Hat facing the darkest mirror of their own past, transforming the climax of One Piece into something deeply emotional, personal, and narratively explosive.

Edited by Nisarga Kakade

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