WARNING: The following contains spoilers for One Piece Chapter #1019, "Heliceratops," by Eiichiro Oda, available in English via Manga Plus and Viz Media.
While Chapter #1019 of the One Piece manga primarily focuses on the fight between Franky and Sasaki, it also checks in on another important battle taking place in Onigashima. Back on the rooftop of the skull dome, Kaido is facing off against his son, Yamato. But what's most intriguing about the return to this fight is that we learn, like his father, Yamato also possesses a Devil Fruit ability.
As the two trade blows, Kaido comments that he only recognizes Yamato's value as a "weapon." Yamato's anger and disgust speak for themselves. The son holds no love for the father who kept him imprisoned his entire life.
Kaido comments on how he worked hard to acquire "that" Devil Fruit and he never intended for Yamato to eat it. Yamato reveals he didn't realize it was a Devil Fruit when he ate it and he's not too happy about the circumstance either. Having lost the ability to swim because of the Fruit, it's only made things harder for Yamato to achieve his goal of seeing the world.
Yamato is well-aware he lost during their previous fight, but he also knows every failure has made him stronger. While he doesn't know if he can beat Kaido, he refuses to give up without giving it his all. The man who calls himself Oden puts it best: "If I don't fight for the sake of this country, then I can't call myself Oden." The chapter ends on a half-page panel showing Yamato in his Devil Fruit hybrid form with flowing fire-like fur, long ears and fangs.
Chapter #1019 doesn't outright state which Devil Fruit Yamato ate, but we can rightfully assume it was a Zoan type. In fact, given that Kaido went out of his way to seek out this Devil Fruit and possesses a similar type himself, it's likely that Yamato ate a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit just like his father.
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Being based on animals, the Zoan Devil Fruit that Yamato could have is one based on the Japanese Bakeneko. This type of yokai are cats that have obtained supernatural abilities through living a long lifespan. They can summon and manipulate ghost-like fireballs as well as reanimate corpses and control them as if they were puppets. The feline-like facial features of Yamato, as well as the flaming hair, are what point to the Bakeneko theory but we can't be completely certain yet.
The other possible Devil Fruit ability Yamato may have is the Japanese Kirin or Qilin. Kirins are horses or deers with dragon-like features such as scales, horns and the ability to breathe holy fire. Kirins are benevolent and good-natured creatures, even seen as symbols of justice and wisdom, and only appear during times of peace or in kingdoms with benevolent rulers. The fact that Yamato has been imprisoned all his life could therefore support the Kirin theory. Yamato would only be able to face the people of Wano once Kaido is defeated and peace has been achieved for all.
No matter what his Devil Fruit will end up being, it will be exciting to see how the rest of the Yamato vs. Kaido fight plays out in the One Piece manga. Yamato's strong will, sense of justice and admiration for Kozuki Oden are what we love about him. Fans are rooting for the day that he can finally go out to sea just like his hero.
