ShiestyyCeero2 :
Only like 30 seconds in, but Regardless of whether this is the strongest-willed Kuzan we’ve ever seen, I don’t see how that leads to the conclusion that he’s weaker than Garp unless you’re implying he wasn’t holding back against Garp. In every interaction where Kuzan comes up short against Garp, out of Garp’s own mouth it’s directly correlated to Kuzan being tender-hearted towards him, wavering, and letting his guard down. The narrative isn’t portraying a Kuzan who’s going all out and simply getting overpowered it’s portraying a Kuzan whose feelings toward his former mentor are compromising his performance. Physically, Kuzan is fully capable of matching Garp. They clash head-on, trade blows, and neither is presented as being in a completely different tier of strength. And when everything is over, it’s Kuzan who’s standing while Garp is left defeated. Did Kuzan have assistance? Yes. (Aside from Shiryu they attributed almost nothing anyways). But that’s a completely different argument from whether he was individually strong enough. Garp arrived on Pirate Island with the intention of causing as much destruction as possible and rescuing Koby at any cost. Kuzan, meanwhile, was defending the island and trying to contain the situation. Those are fundamentally different objectives. So if Kuzan is already fighting with emotional restraint, trying to minimize damage, and still ends the encounter standing over Garp I just don’t get the narrative of garp being over Kuzan. Maybe in his prime days.
2026-06-17 06:33:49