Eiichiro Oda has been writing One Piece for over twenty-five years, and for most of that time, Admiral Kizaru (Borsalino) was the guy who didn't care. He was the "Unclear Justice" guy. He drifted through the series with a lazy drawl and a permanent smirk. But things changed. When we saw Kizaru yells at Akainu during the climax of the Egghead Island arc, it wasn't just a random outburst. It was the sound of a man who finally reached his breaking point.
Kizaru has always been the most enigmatic of the original three Admirals. Aokiji was the moral one who left. Akainu is the absolute zealot who stayed. Kizaru? He was just the guy who followed orders. But in Chapter 1111, that facade shattered. For the first time in the entire series, we saw Borsalino lose his cool, screaming at Fleet Admiral Akainu to shut up. It’s a moment that fundamentally redefines who Kizaru is as a character.
The Breaking Point: Why Kizaru Yells at Akainu
The context here is everything. To understand why Kizaru yells at Akainu, you have to look at what he was forced to do on Egghead. He wasn't just fighting pirates. He was sent to kill Vegapunk, a man he had known for decades. He was forced to attack Sentomaru, his "nephew" figure. He had to hunt down Bonney and Kuma, people he had danced with around a campfire in flashbacks.
Borsalino is a "cog in the machine." That’s how he describes himself. He thinks that if he just pretends to be a tool, he won't have to feel the weight of his actions. But humans aren't tools.
When Akainu calls him via Den Den Mushi after the battle, he starts lecturing him. He’s questioning Kizaru’s performance. He’s acting like it’s just another Tuesday. That’s when it happens. Kizaru, lying down with his arm over his eyes, visibly trembling and exhausted, snaps. He tells Akainu to shut his mouth. He asks him if he’s ever had to kill his best friend.
It’s raw. It’s ugly. It’s the most human moment we’ve ever seen from an Admiral.
The Psychological Weight of "Unclear Justice"
Most fans focus on the power scaling. They want to know if Kizaru is "Yonko level" or why he didn't just light-speed kick everyone into the ocean. But Oda is writing a tragedy here. The reason Kizaru yells at Akainu is rooted in the failure of his personal philosophy.
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"Unclear Justice" was Kizaru’s shield. By staying neutral and just doing what he was told, he thought he could avoid the moral burden of the World Government’s atrocities. But Egghead proved that neutrality is a lie. When you choose to be a tool, you are responsible for what the hand does.
Akainu represents the "Absolute Justice" that demands total emotional detachment. He killed his own subordinates at Marineford for showing fear. He doesn't understand why Kizaru is grieving. To Akainu, Vegapunk was a traitor. To Kizaru, Vegapunk was a person. The yelling is a rejection of Akainu’s cold, robotic worldview.
A History of Internal Conflict
If you look back, the signs were always there. Think back to Sabaody. Kizaru was "slow" to capture the Supernovas. He toyed with them. Some fans thought he was just lazy, but in hindsight, maybe he just didn't have the heart for it. He’s a man who has spent his entire career trying not to care.
- He purposefully misses shots.
- He uses sarcasm to distance himself from the horror of his job.
- He leans into the "lazy" persona so people don't ask him what he actually thinks.
When the moment came to kill Vegapunk, he did it. He followed the order. But the cost was his soul. The yelling wasn't just about the mission; it was about the realization that he can't go back to being the carefree guy with the striped suit and the shades.
Comparing the Admirals: Fire, Ice, and Light
The dynamic between the Admirals has always been the backbone of the Marine's narrative. Kuzan (Aokiji) was the first to break. He saw the horror of Ohara and eventually walked away after losing a ten-day duel with Akainu. He chose his conscience over his rank.
Akainu is the opposite. He is the magma. He consumes everything in his path for the sake of "order." He has no regrets because he doesn't see people; he sees "evil" and "justice."
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Kizaru is the light. Light can be blinding, but it can also be easily manipulated by mirrors. For years, Kizaru allowed the World Government to be his mirror. He went wherever they pointed him. But the Kizaru yells at Akainu moment shows that the light is finally scattering.
He’s stuck in the middle. He’s too loyal to leave like Kuzan, but too human to be like Sakazuki. It’s a miserable place to be. Honestly, it’s one of the most relatable struggles in the series, despite him being a seven-foot-tall man who can turn into lasers. We've all had jobs or situations where we felt forced to do things that didn't sit right with us.
What This Means for the Final Saga
Where does Borsalino go from here? He’s clearly broken. You don't just yell at the Fleet Admiral and go back to work the next morning like nothing happened.
There are a few ways this could play out. Some think Kizaru will eventually defect. Others think he’ll stay a Marine but become a "broken" man who refuses to fight at full strength. But the most interesting theory is that Kizaru will be the one to finally provide the internal rot that brings the Marines down. Not by being a spy, but by simply refusing to be a "cog" anymore.
The Gorosei are the real villains of Egghead, but Akainu is the one who has to manage the fallout. If he loses the respect and cooperation of his most reliable Admiral, the Marine structure collapses.
Key Takeaways from Chapter 1111
- Emotional Trauma: Kizaru isn't a robot. The death of Vegapunk has caused genuine PTSD.
- The End of Neutrality: You can't be "Unclear" forever. Eventually, you have to pick a side.
- Akainu’s Isolation: Sakazuki is losing his grip on his subordinates. Even his "loyal" Admiral is snapping at him.
Navigating the Fallout
If you're following the manga, you need to pay attention to Kizaru's eyes in the upcoming chapters. Notice how Oda often hides them behind his glasses or shadows. When we finally see them, they are usually full of tears or deep regret.
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The fact that Kizaru yells at Akainu is a signal to the readers: the Marines are not a monolith. There is a deep, bubbling resentment within the ranks. From Fujitora’s open rebellion to Kizaru’s emotional collapse, the "Absolute Justice" of the World Government is failing from the inside out.
For those looking to understand the deeper themes of One Piece, this moment is a masterclass in character writing. It proves that even the most powerful beings in the world are susceptible to grief. It shows that words can hurt more than a Magma-fist or a light-speed kick.
To really get the full scope of this, re-read the Sabaody Archipelago and Marineford arcs. Look at how Kizaru interacts with the world then. Then, read Egghead. The contrast is staggering. He went from a man who found everything "scary" as a joke to a man who is actually terrified of his own life choices.
Moving forward, watch for how Kizaru handles his next encounter with the Straw Hats. He might not be the antagonist we expect him to be. The "cog" has finally started to grind, and the whole machine is shaking.
What to Watch for Next
- Keep an eye on the "Sword" members and how they react to the Admiral's tension.
- Look for Kizaru's interactions with Fujitora; they might find common ground in their dissatisfaction.
- Watch Akainu's reaction. He doesn't take disrespect lightly. A formal disciplinary action or a fight between the two could be coming.
Borsalino’s story isn't over. It’s just finally getting real. The shades are off, the "cog" is broken, and for the first time, we're seeing the man behind the light. It's not a pretty sight, but it's a necessary one for the story to move toward its end. The yelling wasn't an ending; it was a beginning. It was the moment Kizaru started being a person again.
Immediate Steps for Readers
If you want to dive deeper into the lore, look up the real-life inspirations for the Admirals. They are based on famous Japanese actors. Kizaru is based on Kunie Tanaka. Knowing the types of roles these actors played often gives a hint into how Oda intends to write their character arcs. Tanaka often played characters with a hidden depth or a troubled conscience, which fits perfectly with what we are seeing now.
Stop viewing the Admirals as just "boss fights" for Luffy. They are tragic figures caught in a system that demands they give up their humanity. Kizaru’s outburst is the first crack in the dam. Once the light stops following orders, the World Government is in serious trouble.
Stay updated on the latest chapter releases every Sunday. The nuance in Oda’s art—the way he draws Kizaru’s trembling hands—is just as important as the dialogue. Don't just skim the bubbles; look at the pain on the page. That’s where the real story is.