Kuzan. You probably know him better as Aokiji, the man who can freeze a tsunami with a flick of his wrist. He was the first Admiral the Straw Hats ever faced, and honestly? He could have ended the story right there on Long Ring Long Land. He didn’t, though. He took a nap instead.
That’s basically the "Ice Admiral One Piece" experience in a nutshell. He’s a guy who wields the power of the Hie Hie no Mi (Ice-Ice Fruit), making him a living glacier, yet he operates under what he calls "Lazy Justice." But don't let the eye mask and the bicycle fool you. Underneath that chill exterior is a character who has undergone more moral turmoil than almost anyone else in Eiichiro Oda’s epic.
The Man Who Walked Away
Most Marines in One Piece fall into two camps. You have the "Absolute Justice" zealots like Akainu, who would burn a boat full of civilians just to make sure one "bad guy" doesn't escape. Then you have the heroes like Garp or Coby. Kuzan is different. He’s the guy who saw the system from the top and decided it was broken.
The turning point for him wasn't just one thing; it was a slow burn—ironic for an ice man. It started at Ohara. Seeing his friend Jaguar D. Saul die and watching Akainu slaughter refugees changed him. He let Nico Robin go, not because he was lazy, but because he was questioning if the "Justice" he served was actually just.
That Brutal 10-Day Duel
We have to talk about Punk Hazard. After the war at Marineford, Sengoku stepped down and wanted Kuzan to take over as Fleet Admiral. The World Government, being the World Government, wanted Akainu.
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They fought for ten days straight.
Ten days of pure ice versus magma. It was so intense it literally changed the island's climate forever—one half is a frozen wasteland, the other a fiery hellscape. Kuzan lost. He walked away with massive burn scars and a missing leg, which he now replaces with a limb made of ice. Think about that level of commitment. He’d rather lose a leg and his high-ranking job than serve under a version of justice he didn't believe in.
Is He Actually a Villain Now?
This is the question that keeps the One Piece community up at night. Kuzan is currently affiliated with the Blackbeard Pirates. Yes, the most chaotic, "evil" crew in the sea.
Some fans are convinced he’s a spy for SWORD, the secret Marine unit. It makes sense on paper. He’s the one who explained what SWORD is to the readers! But Oda rarely does the predictable thing. When Kuzan fought Garp on Hachinosu, it didn't feel like a "wink-wink, I'm just pretending" fight. It was heavy. It was tragic.
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Kuzan told Blackbeard that "being a pirate is about being free," and for a man who spent decades shackled by the bureaucracy of the World Government, that might be the truth. He might not be a "good guy" anymore. He might just be a guy who is tired of being told what to do.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Powers
People see the "Ice Admiral One Piece" label and think he’s just a freezer. He’s a Logia user, but his fruit is unique. Unlike Ace or Akainu, whose elements are fluid, Kuzan is a solid. He can be shattered, and he just reforms.
- Ice Age: He can freeze the ocean for miles. He does this just to help people cross between islands.
- Ice Saber: He doesn't need a sword; he just picks up some grass or wind and freezes it into a blade.
- Partisan: He creates multiple spears of ice and hurls them with enough force to pin down legendary pirates.
The scary part isn't just the ice; it's the Haki. You don't become an Admiral on Devil Fruit alone. He has shown incredible Observation and Armament Haki, even during the chaos of the Paramount War.
Why He Still Matters in the Final Saga
We are in the endgame now. Kuzan is the bridge between the Marines, the Yonko, and the secrets of the past (like his connection to Robin and Saul). He knows where the bodies are buried.
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If you’re trying to track where his story goes next, keep an eye on his interactions with the Blackbeard crew. He’s a "Titanic Captain" now, but nobody—not even Blackbeard—really trusts him. He’s the ultimate wild card. Whether he’s a double agent or just a disillusioned man looking for a purpose, his next move will likely decide the fate of the world.
What to Watch For Next
If you want to understand Kuzan's current headspace, go back and re-read the Egghead Arc and the flashbacks to Hachinosu. Pay attention to his eyes. Oda often draws him with his eyes obscured or in shadow when he’s doing something he hates.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Punk Hazard arc again to see the aftermath of his fight with Akainu.
- Keep an eye on the official One Piece manga chapters; Kuzan’s role in Blackbeard’s hunt for the Poneglyphs is becoming central.
- Look into the SWORD theories, but take them with a grain of salt—Kuzan is too complex to be a simple undercover cop.