According to a One Piece theory going around on the internet, one of the first dead characters from the series is evidently making their return.

SUMMARY

The arrival of the mysterious female character in Elbaph has created a lot of chatter on the internet.
A theory is going around which claims that this character is none other than Kuina, Zoro’s childhood friend.
However, if Eiichiro Oda brings Kuina back it will hurt Zoro’s character development.

One of the biggest expectations that One Piece fans had with the finale saga was that it would make some big revelations that would clear the mysteries embedded within the story. However, Eiichiro Oda has evidently made the series even more confusing by introducing characters and events that still pose a mystery for One Piece fans.

The Two Mysterious Invaders in Elbaph | Credit: Viz Media

The most recent ones among them are the mysterious characters who have entered the Elbaph castle. While one of them has been confirmed to be the evil Twin Shanks, another one is a female character who cannot be identified at all. This is because her face is covered with bandages, and the One Piece narrative doesn’t give much detail about her character.

While fans await the upcoming chapters to disclose her identity, some of them have decided to take matters into their own hands and figure out who she really is. One such fan has come up with the theory that the mysterious female character is actually Kuina, Zoro’s childhood friend. But if the theory turns out to be true, it will completely decimate Zoro’s development in One Piece’s future.

One Piece theory hints that Kuina is back

According to a theory posted by @BlacktyonteXavi on X, the mysterious female character introduced in the Elbaph arc along with Twin Shanks is definitely Kuina. The theory comes from the fact that Kuina’s name translates to sewing in Hawaiian, which connects to the adhesive bandages that are seen on the female character’s face and on Zoro multiple times within the One Piece storyline.

Aside from this, the biggest hint comes from the cover page of One Piece chapter 1094, which portrays a color spread of Zoro and his lineage. In the color spread, the lightning and fire from Zoro’s swords look exactly like the ones that were produced when Twin Shanks and the mysterious female entered Elbaph, hinting at a connection between the two.

Kuina and Zoro | Credit: Toei Animation

Plus, Kuina is probably the first character who had a twin or a clone in the form of Tashigi. While these are not solid pieces of evidence, they do make up a valid argument that Eiichiro Oda is planning to bring back Kuina within the One Piece narrative.

Kuina’s return would hurt Zoro

If the above-mentioned One Piece theory holds any grounds, Kuina’s return could be a big problem for Zoro’s character in One Piece. This is because Zoro’s character development in the entire narrative is based on the central theme of Kuina and the promise that he made to her before she died by falling from the stairs.

The Mysterious Female in One Piece | Credit: Viz Media

If Kuina does make a comeback, Zoro’s dream of becoming the Strongest Swordsman in the world to honor his oldest friend would have no meaning or significance in the narrative. It would disrupt every achievement that Zoro has made over the years, and that would affect the One Piece narrative in a major way.

Thus, it is safe to say that the mysterious female character who is looking for Loki in Elbaph might not be Kuina after all. One Piece fans will have to wait for the release of the next chapter to find out more about her identity and how she connects to the central narrative of Elbaph.

One Piece is available to watch on Crunchyroll.