One Piece: The Heroes Who Could Return

Key conclusions

• One Piece features returning characters in subsequent arcs, such as Elbaf, who was first hinted at years ago.
• Former allies like Vivi, Law, Hancock, Sabo, and Yamato may reappear due to teasers and unresolved storylines.
• Vivi, Law, Hancock, Sabo, and Yamato have a convoluted backstory that hints at a possible return with the Straw Hat Pirates.

One Piece often allowed departing characters to return for later narration in the story. Sometimes these returns are predicted years in advance. The most relevant example is Elbaf, the giant island first mentioned in the Little Garden. Over the course of the story, the Straw Hats have met giants from the island in other arcs, such as Ennis Lobby and Dress Rosa.

Years later, readers were finally able to experience Elbaf with their own eyes. Many of the giants the Straw Hats have encountered return for the arc. This is far from the only time such a buildup has occurred, and it likely won't be the last time former allies reconnect. There are a lot of other characters who, even if they've been gone for a while, could still make an appearance again.

5 Nefertari D. Vivi

Runaway Princess Alabaster

Vivi was an obedient princess for Alabasta, a country that was being eaten away from the inside. Along with Igoram, Alabasta's head of security, she infiltrated Baroque Works, the organization that was responsible. When they discovered she was a mole, Vivi was tracked down by the officers and joined the Straw Hat Pirates for protection. They grew close during their time together and Vivi was sad when she had to leave them.

However, after that departure, her return was somewhat teased. Recently, the show touched on the “X” tattoo, with which the film crew quietly said goodbye. Moreover, Vivi is currently on the run from the World Government leaders who killed her father when they realized his clan possessed the initial “D”. Many fans speculate that Vivi may rejoin the Straw Hats.

4 Trafalgar D. Water Law

Captain without a crew

Trafalgar D. Water Law was a long-time ally of the Straw Hats, forming a successful alliance to take down Don Quixote Doflamingo and later his boss Kaido. Law has experienced his share of tragedy when his family died of Amber Lied Syndrome. He almost suffered the same fate, but was cured thanks to the timely intervention of Donquixote Rosinante. Unfortunately, Rosinant himself was later killed by his brother, Doflamingo, for being a mole for the marines.

After the dissolution of the alliance with the Straw Hats, Law experienced another tragedy. His entire crew, the Pirates of Hearts, seemed lost at sea after their encounter with the Blackbeard Pirates. Law appeared to survive with his teammate Bepp, but their next steps remain to be seen. If need be, Law can reunite with the Straw Hats to avenge his fallen comrades, but there are other paths he can take. Law is a ruthless character when he sees fit, allegedly the reason behind the infamous Rocky Port incident. Which version of Law reappears will likely be determined by whether or not his crew survives.

3 Boa Hancock

Captain of the Kuja Pirates

Boah Hancock was a warlord, but she didn't hold the World Government in high regard. A former slave, Hancock was force-fed her devilish fetus at a young age for the entertainment of the world's elite. She eventually ended up on Amazon Lily, a women-only island where she became the ruler (disguising her past as a slave so she wouldn't be forced to leave). To ensure that the World Government does not attack the island, she became a warlord. , with her powerful Devil Fruit as her main asset.

She met Monkey D. Luffy when Bartholomew Kuma transported him to the island. At first, she was not happy about having a man on her island of women, but later the pirate earned her respect and eventually love due to his kind, compassionate nature. Her love is stronger than reason, as she regularly jeopardized her position to help Luffy.

With her ties severed after the collapse of the Warlord system, Boa's next steps are unclear. Some have speculated that she may become another Straw Hat, but further developments beyond her most teased return have not been made clear. Notably, she also feuded with Blackbeard, who tried to steal her Devil Fruit, but the significance of this event to the story is unclear.

2 Sabo

Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army

Sabo is one of Luffy's older sworn brothers, along with the late Portgas D. Ace. Presumed dead after a world noble shot a pirate ship at him, he simply lost his memory. After being discovered by Monkey D. Dragon, Luffy's biological father, Sabo trained since childhood to become a revolutionary. Sabo quickly rose to the rank of Chief of Staff, second only to the Dragon himself.

After regaining his memory, Sabo reunited with Luffy in Dressrose, where Doflamingo's weapons were being obtained to advance revolutionary operations. He took his dead brother's Devil Fruit, adding to his already impressive powers. He has since become one of the main characters in army related stories and has had several close calls to death since then.

Significantly, Szabo infiltrated Mary Joise along with other revolutionary officers. This operation involved the return of Kuma, who was enslaved at the time, but also led to the theft of food from the nobles and the freeing of other slaves. They even got some indirect help from Fujitori, despite him being a marine admiral, when he fought Aramaki to secure their freedom. Sabo will likely fight the God Knights alongside his fellow revolutionaries as the two teams have been teased to face each other.

1 Yamato

Kozuki Oden Reborn!?

Yamato is the son of Kaido, the captain of the Beast Pirates. After years of being a de facto hostage to his father, he longs to travel the world, just like his idol Kozuki Oden, one of his father's worst enemies. For his arrogance, his father constantly chastises his Yamato, who has become something of a problem child, known among the ranks of the Beast Pirates. During his stay in Vano, he became acquainted with influential persons such as Portgas D. Ace, who traveled to the country for some time. Yamato revealed himself to be both a Straw Hat Pirate and loyal to Kazuki during their battle with the Beast Pirates.

Before leaving for his round-the-world journey, Yamato asked Kin'emon to make a surrogate pilgrimage in Oden's place, delivering Shimatsuki's sword to Yasuie Enme. This was documented in a cover where Yamato interacts with other people in Wano. Once Yamato's pilgrimage is complete, it's unclear what his next move will be. It's entirely possible he'll join the Straw Hats, as he's said before, but the exact form that journey will take remains to be seen after the cover story.