Zoro and Wano

[ahill1]

So something interesting that I noticed... this was the first arc in which Zoro had further contact with one of the central figures and protagonists of the arc, instead of Luffy. In Alabasta, Luffy who had a greater overall and meaningful interaction with the character of similar weight, Vivi (princess)... in the fishman's arc too, with Shirahoshi, and also in Dressrosa, with Rebecca. All of them had Luffy as the crew's reference, while in this arc the interaction with the "equivalent" character, Hiyori, came from Zoro... does it mean anything? Maybe it's a clue Zoro will have a similar importance to Luffy in this proceeding event?

 

[SSJ2]

Zoro is related to the Shimotsuki family.

It's funny that his home village is named Shimotsuki Village, and it is said that one of their members fled the country some 20ish years ago. His master was also a member of the family. So Zoro is related to all of that in some way imo.

 

[ahill1]

Damn that's cool. So we get to see Zoro:s origins?

 

[SSJ2]

I think it’s heavily implied at this point. Yasu said he knew things would be ok the moment he spotted Zoro, I think due to his obvious appearance. If you ask me, he’s either the son of Ushimaru or the sword maker who fled.

Hiyori warming up to him so quickly also backs that implication.

Interesting apparently the Sword God Ryuma was also a Shimotsuki, so Zoro could be his descendant.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Zoro's ties to Wano have been pretty obvious as the series has gone on, such as his attire becoming closer to that of Edo Period samurai/ronin, him having previously owned the sword of Wano's hero, etc. Things such as his family descent also seem fairly obvious now, though a bit too coincidental (though coincidental ties that shrink the scale of the world and lineage reveals have been all too common in OP for a long time now ).
Hopefully, this will mean Zoro will be given a lot of shine in Wano beyond his new power up. I'm not holding out too much hope though, given how another fan favourite Straw Hat got wasted in his central arc.