One Piece episode 1081, titled The World Will Burn! The Onslaught of a Navy Admiral!, was aired on October 29, 2023, revealing Admiral Ryokugyu and his remarkable talents as he engaged in a battle with the samurai of Wano. Ryokugyu demonstrated more of his Woods-Woods Fruit skills and how damaging they can be. Even though they were backed up by Momonosuke and Yamato, the Admiral overwhelmed them.
Ryokugyu intended to capture Luffy and deliver him over to Akainu. Ryokugyu had easily killed off Kaido’s former crewmates in the previous episode, demonstrating his immense powers. But there is one thing that makes fans question if the abilities of Admiral Ryokugyu are copied from Naruto’s First Hokage – Hashirama Senju. They share quite a lot of similarities which feels like Eiichiro Oda took inspiration from Naruto for Ryokugyu.
Admiral Ryokugyu’s Abilities
Aramaki, also known by the name Ryokugyu, is a Marine admiral. During the two-year time gap, he was conscripted through a World Military Draught and appointed to his rank to replace the two admiral openings left by Kuzan’s resignation and Sakazuki’s promotion. Ryokugyu consumed the Mori Mori no Mi, a Logia-type Devil Fruit that grants him the ability to generate, control, and transform his body into plant life. The plants he develops may grow quickly and move around freely, seemingly without the stiffness that some plants, such as trees, generally have.
Ryokugyu can also execute incredibly unusual feats with the plants he creates, such as growing a massive flower on his back or converting himself into a massive tree. Although not completely, his powers match quite a lot to Hashirama Senju’s wood release, a chakra mix of earth and water, producing wood and plants from the earth. This leads to the belief that maybe Oda took inspiration from Hashirama Senju, the first Hokage from Naruto.
Similarities Between Admiral Ryokugyu and Hashirama Senju’s abilities
Hashirama possessed the ability to perform all five fundamental nature transformations, as well as the Yin and Yang Release. He was well known for his usage of Wood Release, which allowed him to create wood and plants of various sizes and forms from the earth or his being, which he then controlled to his liking. Hashirama’s creations have the potential to completely alter the landscape. He could create blossoming trees whose pollen knocked opponents asleep, as well as protective constructions that could withstand Tailed Beast Balls. He could summon wood dragons to encircle and absorb the chakra of any target.
All of these techniques have been used by Ryokugyu in one way or the other. Just like Hashirama, he could change the landscape and control it. He also can transform into a big tree to withstand huge attacks. And just like Hashirama could absorb chakra from his opponents, Ryokugyu could absorb the life force out of his opponents. These similarities point out that maybe Oda san adapted one of the most important characters of Naruto into his own story.
