The Straw Hats have already met their next crew member, and now fans have to wait for the person to return.

SUMMARY

The Straw Hats need a new member to strengthen them and they are in need of a Conqueror’s Haki user.

Yamato, who is extremely skilled in all three types of Haki is the best candidate for the role.
She had expressed her interest and was also accepted by Luffy, so she might return once her role in Wano is over.

One of the hottest topics for discussion regarding One Piece is whether the Straw Hats will receive another member. There have been multiple options and fans are still debating between them. Eiichiro Oda is still keeping everyone in the dark about whether the Straw Hat Pirates are completed or not, but that won’t stop fans from theorizing.

Some of the top contenders for the spot have been Vivi, Jewelry Bonney, and Yamato. And it looks like one of them will be returning to the crew at the right time.

The Straw Hats Need Another Conqueror’s Haki User in the Ranks

Straw Hat Pirates (Credit: Toei Animation)
Conqueror Haki is one of the rarest Haki in One Piece and it seems to be present in every dominating Pirate Crew. In fact, it is the number of Conqueror Haki users that seems to determine whether a crew is a legendary one or just a regular Yonko crew.

Among the Roger Pirates, Rayleigh, Oden, and Shanks were the confirmed Conqueror Haki users. In the Xebec Crew, it was Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido. Even under Whitebeard’s reign, Oden and Ace could use this rare Haki. A fan theory compares it with the Straw Hats who have not reached this level of competence yet. Among the Straw Hats, only Luffy and Zoro have the ability.

Gear 5 Luffy in One Piece | Toei
If Luffy wants to become the Pirate King, then it will become essential for him to gain more crew members with Conqueror’s Haki. In fact, he might need multiple Haki users. Now you might suggest Sanji, but he has not yet achieved Conqueror’s Haki yet. He might not have nearly the amount of authority as Luffy and Zoro in the long run. So the last option is someone who fans have been anticipating for a long time.

Why Eiichiro Oda Might Include Yamato in the Straw Hat Crew

Yamato | One Piece | Toei
Luffy might be in need of an immensely powerful person who will enhance the crew and what better option is there other than Yamato? Yamato can use all three types of Haki and is in fact extremely skilled in all of them. Most of all, their Conqueror’s Haki ability was awakened more than 20 years ago. They have also exhibited “infusion” a skill that even lesser people have. Their advanced Haoshoku was enough to hurt even Admiral Ryokugyu.

Yamato had expressed their desire to join the Straw Hats long before during the Wano Arc, and their request was also accepted by Luffy. The only reason they didn’t join the crew was because they felt Wano needed them more and they had to protect it from future threats. If a bigger cause comes up, Yamato might return to help the Straw Hats once again.

Had Yamato joined the crew during after the Wano arc, the team would have become too overpowered. There needs to be a bigger threat to lure them out, which Luffy will be facing soon with Emu.