The most recent arc of the One Piece manga may be setting up that Usopp will die in order to achieve his greatest ambition. In the world of One Piece, every pirate has their own dream. There are those who desire money, fame, and power, but not every pirate falls under this umbrella, including the Straw Hat Pirate Usopp. Usopp’s dream has always been to become a brave warrior of the sea, and his growth as a person throughout the series has reflected that, but this may be the path that eventually leads to his death.
Ever since Usopp’s introduction in the Syrup Village arc, it has been madeclear that despite being a coward and a liar, his dream is in fact to follow in the footsteps of his father and become a brave warrior of the sea. Throughout the subsequent sagas of One Piece, Usopp’s determination to fulfill this dream has consistently been put to the test. In most story threads thereafter, Usopp’s cowardice is made into one of his most defining characteristics…that is until he inevitably overcomes his fears in the arc’s climax.
In the Alabasta arc, Usopp is constantly telling Chopper how it’s okay to simply “do what you can.” He mentions that if they were to come across an enemy that’s too strong, they would have to run. In chapter 186, Usopp clarifies this stance by stating that there comes a time when a man cannot run from an enemy even if he is completely overwhelmed, and that’s when his friends’ dreams are being laughed at. This cowardice to bravery pattern continues in other storylines like the Enies Lobby arc, where Usopp struggles to come to terms with his place in the crew. Despite his initial reluctance, Usopp eventually learns to take on responsibility with the introduction of his Sogeking persona. In the Wano arc, Usopp’s fear of being tortured and killed for information has been played up constantly. He may eventually have to overcome this level of cowardice by facing death itself.
Usopp’s pattern of growth has always followed the same general trend. First he openly displays an embarrassing level of cowardice towards the beginning of the arc. Usually, he will double down on this level of cowardice. In the Wano arc in particular, Usopp outright states that if he were caught and tortured he would practically snitch on everyone in order to save his own life. He is also the most shocked when the Straw Hats learn the Minks protected Raizo despite having their limbs severed during torture. Usopp’s continued admission of his fear of torture, and by extension death, led many fans to believe he would eventually be captured and tortured in Wano. With the Wano arc drawing to an end, this fear may actually manifest itself in Usopp’s death as a heroic sacrifice towards the end of the series.
Usopp’s dream to be a brave warrior of the sea is clearly juxtaposed against his cowardly desires to lie and cheat his way out of tough situations. While he may put on the facade of being a tough pirate warlord from time to time, this trickster is anything but. With the way his character is consistently pushed to overcome his fears, One Piece may have been setting Usopp’s death up from the very beginning.
