The iconic bond between Luffy and Zoro in One Piece is one of the reasons why the Straw Hat Pirates have been able to earn the title of Emperor of the Sea. The two have supported each other every step of the way since the beginning of their journey and will continue to do so until they reach their goals. Both have unwavering trust in each other.
While their friendship and loyalty towards each other continue to grow, this would not have been possible if Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the series, had gone with his original plan. What many One Piece fans don’t know is that originally Oda wanted Zoro to be a part of Buggy’s crew. This would have brought a big change to the entire narrative of the series.
However, if Zoro had not been Luffy’s first recruit, another Straw Hat member would have built the same loyalty that Zoro had with Luffy. This character would have been Usopp, the sniper of the crew.
Zoro Was Supposed to Be Part of Buggy’s Crew
One of the most popular characters in the history of One Piece, Roronoa Zoro, has amassed a huge fan following ever since he made his debut in One Piece in 1997. He was a bounty hunter who hunted pirates for money and also followed the path of becoming the Strongest Swordsman in the world, but in the middle of his journey, he met Luffy.
Luffy persuades him to join his crew and help him become the Pirate King, and ever since then, the two have defeated every enemy they have encountered and are on their way to fulfilling their dreams together. But originally, Zoro was supposed to be a member of the Buggy’s crew, who, according to his status, is a rival of Luffy in the One Piece treasure race.
Eiichiro Oda made it clear in volume 3 that he originally planned for Zoro to be Buggy’s bodyguard along with Mohji and Cabaji. The trio was supposed to be a family, with Zoro being the elder brother of the crew. This would have changed the dynamic of Zoro’s character development in One Piece in a major way.
Usopp Would Have Been Luffy’s First Recruit
If Oda had gone with his original plan of creating Zoro as a member of Buggy Pirates, Luffy would have never found him in Shells Town. Instead, he would moved forward with his journey and recruited someone else in his place. If Oda had still followed the same timeline, then Luffy’s first official recruit, in this case, would have been Usopp.
Although Luffy found Nami first and asked her to join the crew, she did not officially become a member until the Arlong Park arc, where Luffy freed Nami from Arlong’s clutches. Thus, officially, Usopp would have been the first recruit of the Straw Hat Pirates, and the crew would have a different structure altogether.
Fortunately, Oda decided to change his mind about Zoro being a member of Buggy Pirates and Usopp being the first recruit. This helped in creating one of the most brutal and savage characters in One Piece who aims to be the strongest swordsman in the world.
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