One of the most enduring mysteries in One Piece is the identity of “Hinokizu”, also known as “The Man Marked by Flames”.
Blackbeard's crew specifically mentions this mysterious individual, which adds to the suspicion, suggesting that Hinokizu is of significant importance to the ongoing plot.
There have been many theories for a while about who this mysterious character is and fans are desperate for answers.
While many of these theories may be educated guesses or wild conjecture, an interesting new theory emerging on Reddit suggests that the person behind the title may be none other than Kadar, a Marine Corps rear admiral stationed at Marine Corps Base G-2.
In fact, this theory seems a bit far-fetched, especially since fans often expect Hinokizu to be a prominent character in One Piece.
However, there are some subtle details that Eiichiro Oda, the author of One Piece, has scattered throughout the series that add surprising weight to the possibility that Kadar is Hinokizu.
At first, this speculation may seem odd, but upon further investigation, the theory begins to gain acceptance.
Furthermore, if true, this could explain why Hinokizu is such a hard-to-find individual.
If Kadar is indeed Hinokizu, it would be a great plot twist, and exactly the kind of surprise reveal Oda often brings to the One Piece storyline.
Why Kadar Could Be Hinokizu in One Piece
To understand why Kadar might be Hinokizu, we first need to look at Kadar's personality.
He was introduced to the One Piece world in Fisher Tiger's flashback in the Fishman Island arc, which is also an important part of the series as it deals with the themes of discrimination and freedom.
Kadar, a Marine officer, is part of a group that fights against the Sun Pirates, a pirate crew led by the legendary Fisher Tiger.
Interestingly, Kadar's role in this part is not highlighted, but it is important to note that Fisher Tiger let Kadar escape, which could be an important detail in the larger plot of the story.
Why would Fisher Tiger, a man known for his anti-Marine attitudes, let a Marine live? Could this suggest that there is something more to Kadar's character that we have yet to discover?
Additionally, an important connection can be seen between Kadar and the current mystery surrounding Hinokizu.
Shiryu, a member of the Blackbeard Pirates, speculates that Hinokizu may have some connection to the World Government.
This statement fits with the idea that Kadar is Hinokizu, since Kadar is a Marine, and of course, the Marines are a branch of the World Government.
Another member of the Blackbeard crew, Laffitte, claimed that Hinokizu possesses the ability to “swallow enemies with a giant user,” with fans speculating that this could be a result of Hinokizu possessing Devil Fruit powers.
While this is still unconfirmed, it is worth noting that there is a scene in the Fishman Island arc where Kadar's ship is sunk.
Does this event imply that Kadar has a Devil Fruit ability that helps him get out of such a situation?
The Devil Fruit Connection
If Kadar is indeed Hinokizu and possesses Devil Fruit abilities, this would add a whole new layer of complexity to the character.
In the world of One Piece, Devil Fruits grant their users extraordinary strength, but they also have one significant drawback: the inability to swim.
Kadar's ship sinking raises the question of how he was able to survive such an ordeal. If he had Devil Fruit powers, it is possible that his abilities somehow allowed him to escape the sinking ship unharmed.
This fits with the theory that Kadar, or Hinokizu, is extremely difficult to track or defeat.
Laffitte's comment about the ability to “swallow enemies” also opens up some possibilities regarding the Devil Fruit's potential powers.
Could Kadar's powers include the manipulation or control of fire, a reference to his nickname “The Man Marked by Fire”? Or perhaps it includes some other elemental ability that allows him to “devour” or overpower his enemies.
While this is just speculation, it is clear that Kadar's survival of the shipwreck and Laffitte's description of Hinokizu's power may have some connection, suggesting that there may be more to Kadar's story than we initially thought.
Kadar's dual role: Hinokizu and the hunting dog?
Another angle on this theory is the idea that Kadar could also be Vice Admiral Hound, a figure who has proven himself to be something of a rogue within the Marine Corps ranks.
Hound is a character who questions the actions of the World Government, especially regarding the infamous Buster Call, an operation involving mass destruction aimed at eliminating threats.
In this theory, Kadar not only acts as the mysterious Hinokizu, but also operates under the alias Vice Admiral Hound.
This explains why Hound was one of the few members of the Marine Corps who went to Egghead Island but did not participate in any fighting.
Could he be playing a dual role, both as a Marine and secretly sabotaging the World Government's efforts from within?
Furthermore, this theory suggests that Kadar, as Hinokizu, has been undermining the World Government for quite some time.
One potential act of sabotage could be to reveal sensitive information, such as a plan to assassinate Dr. Vegapunk, to Morgans, the head of the World Economic Review.
This fits with the idea that Kadar, or Hinokizu, is motivated by revenge, possibly due to a personal grudge against the World Government.
This theory posits that Kadar may be the son of one of Saturn's test subjects, who were experimented on and given the mysterious “Sapphire Scales.”
If true, this would give Kadar a powerful reason to hate the World Government and seek revenge by sabotaging their operations from within.
Ginny, Bonney's Mother and Saturn's Fate
This theory goes in a different direction, suggesting that Kadar, as Vice Admiral Hound, was also responsible for capturing Jewelry Bonney's mother, Ginny.
Bonney, a key character in the current storyline, is searching for information about her mother, who has been missing for some time.
If Kadar was indeed the one who captured Ginny, this would directly tie him into the larger story involving Bonney, the World Government, and the mysterious experiments conducted by Saturn and the other Gorosei.
This adds another layer of intrigue to Kadar's character, making him the central figure in one of the most emotional and tense storylines in the current One Piece arc.
This theory even goes so far as to suggest that Kadar, as Hinokizu and the Hound, will eventually play a role in Saturn's downfall.
It is ironic that the man whose experiments caused Kadar to seek revenge could end up being killed by the very person he wronged.
This is a classic example of poetic justice, a common theme in One Piece, where characters often face the consequences of their actions in unexpected ways.
Road Poneglyph and the Role of Fisher Tiger
One of the most important pieces of evidence linking Kadar to Hinokizu's identity is the location of the Road Poneglyph.
Hinokizu theoretically possesses the Road Poneglyph that was once located on Fish-Man Island.
This Poneglyph was likely taken from the island about twenty years before the story begins, which fits the timeline of Fisher Tiger's attack on Mariejois and his subsequent battles with the Marines, including Kadar.
If Kadar is indeed involved in the events surrounding Fisher Tiger and the Road Poneglyph, this would explain why he has remained such an elusive character throughout the series.
Being knowledgeable about the Poneglyphs and their importance in the One Piece world, Kadar would have an interest in keeping his identity a secret, especially from people like Blackbeard and the other Yonko who are searching for the Poneglyphs to attain the legendary One Piece treasure.
Challenges to the theory
While this theory is certainly compelling, there are a number of challenges and contradictions that make it difficult to fully accept.
One of the biggest hurdles is that Hinokizu, or “The Man Marked by Fire,” is arguably a much more prominent character in the One Piece world than Kadar, who has so far played a relatively minor role in the story.
If Hinokizu really does possess one of the Road Poneglyphs, then it's hard to imagine a character like Kadar, who has been largely forgotten by the audience and other characters, holding such important information.
Furthermore, this theory is based on several coincidences and assumptions, such as Kadar being both Hinokizu and Vice Admiral Hound.
While a character can play multiple roles in the story, it would take a lot of explanation to make this theory believable.
For example, how would Kadar, as Hound, manage to operate within the Marine ranks without arousing suspicion?
And how did he come into contact with characters like Blackbeard and his crew, who seem to know more about Hinokizu than most other characters in the series?
Oda's ability to surprise
Despite these challenges, it's important to remember that Eiichiro Oda, the author of One Piece, is known for delivering twists and revelations that leave fans stunned.
Many plot points that initially seemed far-fetched or impossible later became true, thanks to Oda's masterful storytelling and ability to weave complex narratives.
If Kadar is indeed Hinokizu, this would be one of the most surprising plot twists in the series, but it's not out of the ordinary for Oda to reveal this.
While the theory that Kadar is Hinokizu offers some interesting insights into the character and the One Piece story in general, it is still just speculation.
There are still many unanswered questions and many contradictions that need to be resolved before this theory is fully accepted.
However, like many other aspects of One Piece, only time will tell if this theory is correct or if Oda has something more surprising in store for fans.
Regardless of the outcome, the mystery of Hinokizu will definitely play a major role in how the story continues, and fans are looking forward to seeing how things will unfold.