One Piece: Heroes Who Could Return

Important takeaways

• One Piece showcases characters returning for later arcs, such as Elbaf, who was first hinted at years earlier.
• Former allies such as Vivi, Law, Hancock, Sabo, and Yamato may reappear due to teases and unresolved storylines.
• Vivi, Law, Hancock, Sabo, and Yamato have convoluted backstories that hint at possible returns with the Straw Hat Pirates.

One Piece have often allowed departing characters to return for later and larger stories in the story. Sometimes these returns are heralded years in advance. The most relevant example is Elbaf, the giant island, first discussed in Little Garden. As the story has progressed, the Straw Hats have met giants from the island in other arcs, such as Enies Lobby and Dressrosa.

Several years later, readers finally get to experience Elbaf for themselves. Many of the giants the Straw Hats have met return for the arc. This is far from the only time this kind of build-up has happened, and likely won't be the last time former allies resurface. There are tons of other characters that, even if they've been gone for a while, can still pop up again.

5 Nefertari D. Vivi

Runaway Princess of Alabasta

Vivi was a dutiful princess of Alabasta, a country that was being corroded from within. Along with Igaram, Alabasta's head of security, she infiltrated Baroque Works, the organization responsible. When they discovered she was a mole, Vivi was tracked down by officer agents and teamed up with the Straw Hat Pirates for protection. During their time together, they bonded, and Vivi was sad when she had to leave them behind.

However, her return has been somewhat teased since this departure. The show recently touched on the “X” tattoo, which was a way for the crew to say a silent goodbye. Also, Vivi is currently on the run from the rulers of the World Government, who killed her father when they realized his clan had the “D” initial. Many fans are speculating that Vivi may once again join the Straw Hats.

4 Trafalgar D. Water Act

A captain without a crew

Trafalgar D. Water Law was a longtime ally of the Straw Hats, forming a successful alliance to take down Donquixote Doflamingo, and later his boss, Kaido. Law has had his share of tragedy, with his family passing away from Amber Lead Syndrome. He almost suffered the same fate, but was cured with the timely intervention of Donquixote Rosinante. Unfortunately, Rosinante himself was later murdered by his brother, Doflamingo, for being a mole for the Marines.

After dissolving the alliance with the Straw Hats, Law suffered another tragedy. His entire crew, the Hearts Pirates, appeared to be lost at sea after an encounter with the Blackbeard Pirates. Law appeared to survive, along with his crewmate, Beppo, but their next actions remain to be seen. If necessary, Law can team up with the Straw Hats once more to avenge his fallen comrades, but there are other paths he can take. Law is a ruthless character when he deems it necessary, which allegedly caused the infamous Rocky Port Incident. Which version of Law reappears will likely be determined by whether or not his crew survived.

3 Boa Hancock

Captain of the Kuja Pirates

Boa Hancock was a warlord, but she didn't hold world government in high regard. Hancock, a former slave, was force-fed his Devil Fruit at a young age for the entertainment of the World Nobles. She eventually appeared on Amazon Lily, an all-female island, where she became ruler (disguising her past as a slave so she wouldn't be forced to leave.) To ensure the World Government wouldn't attack the island, she became a warlord, with his powerful Devil Fruit as a major asset.

She met Monkey D. Luffy when he was blasted over to the island by Bartholomew Kuma. At first she was not happy that a man was on her island of women, but the pirate later gained her respect and eventually love, thanks to his friendly, forthcoming nature. Her love is stronger than reason, as she regularly compromised her position to help Luffy.

With her ties severed in the wake of the Warlord system's dissolution, Boa's next move is unclear. Some speculate that she could become another Straw Hat, but no further events, other than her teased return, have been made clear. It is notable that she also quarreled with Blackbeard, who tried to steal her Devil Fruit, but the significance of this event to the story is unclear.

2 Sabo

Revolutionary Army Chief of Staff

Sabo is one of Luffy's sworn older brothers along with the late Portgas D. Ace. He was thought to be dead after a World Noble shot at his pirate ship, but he instead just lost his memory. After being discovered by Monkey D. Dragon, Luffy's biological father, Sabo trained from childhood to become a revolutionary. Sabo quickly rose to Chief of Staff, second only to Dragon himself.

After regaining his memory, Sabo reunited with Luffy in Dressrosa, where Doflamingo's weapon was retrieved to further revolutionary operations. He took on his late brother's Devil Fruit, expanding his already impressive abilities. He has since become one of the primary characters focused on in stories involving the army, and has had a few close calls to death since then.

Notably, Sabo infiltrated Mary Geoise along with other revolutionary officers. This operation involved retrieving Kuma, who was enslaved at the time, but also resulted in stealing the nobles' food and freeing other slaves. They even received some indirect help from Fujitora, despite being a Navy Admiral, as he fought against Aramaki to ensure their freedom. Sabo will likely fight the God Knights alongside his revolutionaries, as the two teams were teased to face each other.

1 Yamato

Kozuki Odin Reborn!?

Yamato is the son of Kaido, the captain of the Beasts Pirates. After being his father's effective hostage for years, he yearns to travel the world, like his idol Kozuki Oden, one of his father's worst enemies. For his rudeness, his father constantly punishes his Yamato, who became something of a problem child, known within the ranks of the Beasts Pirates. During his time in Wano, he became acquainted with reputable people, such as Portgas D. Ace, who traveled to the country for a time. Yamato made himself known to both the Straw Hat Pirates and the Kozuki loyalists during their battle with the Beasts Pirates.

Before leaving to travel the world, Yamato was asked by Kin'emon to perform a surrogate pilgrimage in place of Oden, delivering Shimotsuki Yasuie's sword to Enma. This has been documented in a cover story where Yamato interacts with others in Wano. With Yamato's pilgrimage over, it is unclear what his next move will be. It is possible that he will join the Straw Hats as he said he would before, but the exact form this journey will take remains to be seen after the Cover Story.