In Chapter 1004 we see that Bao Huang informs King that she has located the Nine Red Scabbards in the Treasure Repository. Bao Huang warns Black Maria to be careful because she detects a mysterious person in the room trying to help the group.
In Chapter 1007, the Nine Red Scabbards recover but are confused as to who tended to them. Kawamatsu has an idea but dismisses it as a dream as Kin’emon tells his men to get up and continue fighting. Suddenly, Kozuki Oden appears before the samurai, leaving all of them stunned.
It’s pretty hard to convince me that this isn’t Onimaru and Hiyori at this point. Onimaru is a kitsune, a mythical creature that can – in theory – shapeshift. According to the mythos, turning into Oden would not be outside of the realm of possibilities.
I can give a quick rundown of how events might’ve played out:
- Stranded alone in Ringo, Hiyori and Onimaru lament the fact that they aren’t able to help anyone during this raid.
- Impatient, they set out for Onigashima with Hiyori promising him that she won’t show herself to the Scabbards (because of her promise) and Onimaru entrusts himself with that duty.
- Being a shapeshifter, Onimaru conveniently sneaks Hiyori up to the treasure room. Both decide that they won’t distract the Scabbards till they’ve fought their battle.
- After Law teleports them below, Hiyori uncontrollably goes to their aid and bandages/heals them up. Onimaru waits outside (hence why Bao Huang couldn’t detect him).
- While it might seem messed up to us, we cannot project our opinion that impersonating as Oden would be disrespectful to the Scabbards. It might play out like a playful thing meant for increasing the Scabbards’ morale or act as another cool intro for Onimaru.
- We’ll soon get to see Hiyori meet up with them too.
- This will seamlessly play out with the fact that Orochi is probably coming back to the fray, Fukurokuju slyly leaving the arena was a huge cue for that possibility. That will also act as a Chekhov’s gun for Hiyori’s plot of taking revenge on him.
- We have to understand that Oda is still stirring the pot when it comes to all the matchups. Having a huge reveal like Oden coming back/ it being Devon won’t fit the current tone of how things are moving below and above the roof.
- Not only is the most simplest and logical answer, it also incorporates two of the major characters from this arc who were missing during the raid.
As underwhelming as it sounds, it makes for the strongest case when all these points are considered. Really interested to know everyone’s thoughts on this.
*Thery by gyrozepp95
