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Zoro and Sanji are fan-favorite characters and often fight each other. However, do Zoro and Sanji hate each other in One Piece?
Along with Luffy, the main fighters in the Straw Pirates are the swordsman Zoro and their chef, Sanji. Despite being important crewmates who fought for similar goals, they often clashed heads with each other. So, do Zoro and Sanji hate each other in One Piece?
Zoro and Sanji do not actually hate each other in One Piece. Their relationship is more of a rivalry and bond created out of their unique positions in the crew.
Zoro and Sanji’s First Meeting
Nami, Zoro, and Usopp were the initial members of Luffy’s Straw Hat Pirates. When the crew was stuck at sea, they happened upon a restaurant ship known as the Baratie.
This was where Zoro and Sanji first met, with Sanji having beaten up a customer for wasting his food. Additionally, this was also where the Straw Hats first heard of the Grand Line. Excited about the adventures awaiting them, they set eyes on their targets.
At this point, Sanji still couldn’t fully grasp their desire to enter such a dangerous place and expressed his feelings. Since Zoro wished to become the greatest swordsman in the world and defeat Mihawk, he showed displeasure towards Sanji’s comments.
After the events of the arc, Sanji rediscovered his passion for finding the All Blue and decided to join the Straw Hats as their chef.
Why Do Zoro and Sanji Always Fight in One Piece?
So why do Zoro and Sanji always fight? The answer to this lies in each of their respective backgrounds and philosophies.
Zoro was raised in a dojo and was constantly surrounded by those stronger than him. Among them was also a woman named Kuina, a friend of Zoro’s who was a better fighter than him. After she met an unfortunate end, Zoro decided to pursue his dream of becoming the greatest swordsman in the world for both their sakes.
Generally carefree and unconcerned with boundaries between people, Zoro viewed all genders as equals. Because of this, he had no issues fighting or even hitting women, seeing them as equal to his own gender.
Sanji, on the other hand, was abused by his family as a child and eventually adopted by Zeff. As his father figure, Zeff played a huge part in shaping Sanji’s personality in the future. The main teaching of his was that men should never hit women.
This was a trait of chivalry that Zeff believed in and passed down to Sanji. Even if he was on the brink of death and facing a woman stronger than him, Sanji would never raise his hand against her.
The first fight between the duo also occurred due to these clashing philosophies. Zoro was trying to battle Nami, but Sanji stepped in and admonished his actions. Ever since then, the two of them have constantly butted heads with each other. Their fights have also gone past just their beliefs, of course, as they playfully taunt each other and clash over higher bounties.
How Do Zoro and Sanji Work Together?
Their personalities might be at opposite ends of the spectrum, but Zoro and Sanji always pulled together when it mattered.
Despite their disagreements, Zoro and Sanji still shared the common goal of making Luffy the Pirate King. Additionally, they also made up the main fighters of the Straw Hats and often had the heavy burden of taking out the enemy’s generals.
Sensing the high stakes, their maturity towards a dire situation and loyalty towards the crew took precedence over everything else.
Additionally, while they might not have always shown it, Zoro and Sanji still recognized each other’s fighting ability and trusted the other during battle. During an intense fight, one looked after the other’s back, and they were able to confidently face the enemy.
This is best described by the third movie of One Piece – Chopper Kingdom of Strange Animal Island. Both Zoro and Sanji were facing antagonists who used swords and kicks similar to them. When taunted that their companion would lose, both of them respond by praising the other’s strength and technique. Though the movie may be non-canon, it vividly demonstrates how flawlessly Zoro and Sanji manage to work together.
Zoro and Sanji as Luffy’s Wings in One Piece
Coined by Nico Robin, Zoro and Sanji are referred to as Luffy’s Wings in One Piece. As the strongest members of the crew after their captain, both members are immensely faithful towards Luffy.
When threatened by Kuma in Thriller Bark, there was no hesitation from either of them to take on Luffy’s pain to save him. Zoro and Sanji also often had the task of fighting the most powerful forces of any opponent faced by the Straw Hats. This was so that Luffy could directly go for their leader.
As Luffy’s representatives who leapt into battles for him and consistently showed loyalty, they are figuratively called his Wings.
Do Zoro and Sanji Hate Each Other?
Some fans do believe that Zoro and Sanji’s feelings for each other can be classified as “hate,” considering their constant bickering and annoyance with each other. Since their fights and insults can also turn serious rather than remain comedic, it is a fair assessment to believe that they don’t like each other.
However, the majority often take the opposite stance on this. Hate is too strong and reductive a term to represent the bond between Zoro and Sanji. While they might not share similar ideologies, they always show up during critical moments. Their rivalry is not a sense of hatred but more so of their camaraderie. This feeling was built on respect for the other’s strength and potential.
Moments When Zoro and Sanji Trusted Each Other
For instance, while fighting Queen in the Wano Arc, Sanji called Zoro and asked the swordsman to kill him. If his family’s genes ever took over, Sanji would lose his personality and become a merciless individual. Knowing Zoro to be the only one capable of killing him and also trusting him to keep his word, Sanji tasked him with this burden. To this, Zoro replied, saying he had something to look forward to and Sanji could not die until then.
Indicating that the chef could not lose against the enemy in front of him, Zoro also displayed his affection for him in his own way. During the Davy Back Fight, where the Straw Hats were in danger of losing their companions, Zoro and Sanji also worked together to defeat the Foxy Pirates in a game of Groggy Ring and prevent any harm to their crew.
One of the most important scenes that reflected Zoro and Sanji’s feelings for each other was Zoro’s reaction to Sanji leaving for Whole Cake Island. While the Straw Hats feared they would never see their chef again, Zoro was the only one who trusted that he would return. Even though Sanji was heading into Big Mom’s territory, where there was immense danger, Zoro never once doubted him. The letter Sanji left promised that he would return, and for Zoro, that was more than enough to believe in him.
While there are convincing arguments from both sides, it is safe to say that Zoro and Sanji’s relationship is complex. Their banter, fights, and trust cannot be placed into one specific emotion, such as “hate,” and runs much deeper than that.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Zoro and Sanji may always fight in One Piece, but their bond is far from simple animosity. They represent the balance of power and resilience of the Straw Hat Crew, as well as its trust in their captain.
Their rivalry fuels some of the best moments in the series, but their loyalty to Luffy and maturity to defeat evil always take higher importance than any of their unresolved feelings.
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