WARNING: The following contains spoilers for One Piece, Chapter #999 by Eiichiro Oda, Stephen Paul, and Vanessa Satone, available in English now from Viz Media.
Could one of the greatest One Piece villains be... a 'Gyarados?' No, we're not saying Kaido is the actual Water-Flying type from Pokémon, but his story is starting to share unmissable similarities to the lore behind Magikarp’s famous evolution, giving more legitimacy to a theory that's been floating around the series' fandom for a while.
Every dangerous pirate in One Piece has a unique beginning, and Kaido’s story is no exception. Chapter #999 hints that the Devil Fruit Big Mom gave to Kaido many years ago is known as the "Fish-Fish" Devil Fruit. The abilities of the Fish-Fish Devil Fruit are still being discovered, and there have only been subtle hints concerning its importance to Kaido’s rise to power so far.
Even before this, there have been theories circulating among One Piece fans that Kaido’s story could be based on the Japanese legend about a famous carp that turned into a dragon. The legend states that the carp struggles to swim up a treacherous waterfall, and after it finally conquers the task, the Gods reward the creature by turning it into a majestic dragon. Creator Eiichiro Oda is known for pulling inspiration from many different legends, so this resemblance to Kaido is no surprise. Let’s take a closer look at the small details of the legend and see how it could be related to one of the Four Emperors.
Kaido’s Fish-Dragon Transformation
Kaido is able to transform into a Legendary Dragon via the Uo Uo no Mi, which, according to Chapter #999, seems to translate into the Fish-Fish Devil Fruit. For starters, usually, a Devil Fruit is named after the abilities it grants the user, but in this case, Kaido’s transformation does not resemble anything close to an actual fish. That is where the connection to the legend resides because the carp that turned into a dragon, and the user of the Fish-Fish fruit turning into a dragon, is no mere coincidence.
Kaido’s Fish Scale Tattoo
Next, Kaido’s tattoo on his left arm resembles the scales of a fish, and they are even a golden color, matching a carp or koi fish’s color scheme. The orange to blue color contrast is even very similar to the color schemes of Magikarp and Gyarados. The tattoo is not only a call out to the connection to a fish, but when Kaido transforms into his dragon form, he still bears the golden tattoo. The contrast of his tattoo and dragon scales could symbolize his origin as a weaker pirate compared with his current status, which is at the top of the Emperors. Regardless if there is an actual meaning to his scale tattoo, the link to the legend of the carp is compelling.
The Start of Kaido’s Legacy
Another hint at the legend is when Big Mom refers to the day she saved Kaido’s life by giving him the Fish-Fish Devil Fruit. At the time of the Rocks Pirates' existence, Kaido was merely an apprentice, meaning he was one of the weaker crew members alongside Edward Newgate (Whitebeard), Charlotte Linlin (Big Mom), and Rocks D Xebec. Big Mom refers to Kaido as a little brother, as if to say that he was a mere child in those times. Like the carp in the legend, Linlin granted greater power to Kaido, the Fish-Fish Devil Fruit, and that allowed for him to start becoming the beast he is now.
Kaido's Flames Clouds in the Sky
Lastly, Kaido is able to fly and levitate objects using his ability, Flame Clouds. The Flame Clouds could also be a reference to the carp swimming up the waterfall ferociously, which could be represented by the fiery cloud. The orange shine glistening alongside a majestic waterfall paints the picture of what a fiery cloud amongst the water could look like. Admittedly, the connection between Kaido and the legend that inspired Gyarados is still a bit of a stretch, but considering Oda sensei’s imagination, anything is possible.
