What’s under Zoro’s Left Eye? | One Piece

Updated February 4, 2023 by Ernie

After sending Zoro on a two-year sword boot camp, our homegrown Mosshead came back with a gaping scar, a closed eye, and a tornado of question marks! So, Oda-sensei! Please stop your teasing already!

Tons of theories are up, however, amongst the endless number of mysteries, there is one thing I can say for sure…what’s under Zoro’s left eye…IS NOT THE SHARINGAN! 

Other theories could be that our swordsman could be cursed. Or maybe that scar was self-inflicted. Zoro’s not a masochist, we know there is a deeper meaning here. I think he could also be suffering from Ocular Dominance. Sounds like some cool ability, but it’s really not. Or!!! What if I told You that there’s actually a DEMON residing underneath? Yeah, that’s right, a demon, under his eye. And that demon is called ASURA!

Let us dig more into it, shall we???

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!!!

WHAT HAPPENED TO ZORO’S LEFT EYE?

First Theory

Zoro got cursed

Remember when Zoro threw a sword in the air and was ready to slice his own arm, just to check if the curse of the katana was stronger than his luck? That happened back in chapter 97. (Wow, such a long time ago!)

Well, even if he actually won his bet, it doesn’t change the fact that the sword is bewitched and a price will eventually have to be paid.

(After using cursed swords, Zoro might now be possessed)

Zoro might have gone and gotten himself possessed and not by just any demon, but by the all-mighty demon Asura. A demon made of pure malice and violence, a crazed deity with three heads and six arms, just terrifying.

Now that should remind you of something…the nine-sword style…remember? Zoro’s most devastating technique…ASURA!

(Chapter 417).
I mean you can literally see the Demon’s aura behind him. If that’s not possessed then what is?

As Zoro’s strength and power increased so might the demons. So in order to keep it in check he could be keeping him sealed under his left eye, or Mihawk ordered him to do so when he was training him.

That might also explain why Zoro’s left eye starts glowing every time he gets serious.

Second Theory

Self Inflicted Scar

Thing is, that theory explains the closed eye, but not the scar. Power, as extraordinary as that, I’m sure Zoro is planning to tap into it sooner or later. It’s not like Zoro’s the type to be scared of some big-shot demon, so shutting it for good is probably out of the question.

OR what if Zoro’s scar was actually self-inflicted? Did you know that in Japanese culture it was customary to offer a token of appreciation to the Masters that are willing to pass on their knowledge and experience? (THIS IS GREAT!!!! You need some proof here from Japanese culture)

Nothing extravagant, you know. It might be a finger, a toe, a hand, or sometimes, in Zoro’s case he could’ve gifted Mihawk his left eye as proof of his determination and unwavering dedication.

I mean even today, there is a 600-year-old Dojo in Japan that still requires a blood oath to become one of their students.

Or the Overpowered MIHAWK just slashed it by mistake when he was training with him. Though that would just be plain boring, not Oda’s style at all.

In fact, ODA was planning on making Zoro a one-eyed swordsman from the beginning of the series, he said so himself in an interview, so I’m positive there is a badass story in line for us.

I’m extra eager to know the full story now, how about you? On that note, I’ll be moving on to the last possibility.

Last theory

 Ocular Dominance?

What if Zoro is suffering from Ocular Dominance?

Let me explain what that means for the people who don’t know. Anime freaks who believe every cool name is an ability, like me…might’ve thought it was a cool skill or something like that, well… it’s not.

Ocular Dominance is actually when one of your eyes has greater ocular ability than the other. In Zoro’s case, he or Mihawk could have realized during training that his right eye was inferior to the left.

In order to bring them to the same level, drastic measures were taken. To empower the right eye, the left was shut by force. Of course, when the right eye training is done, the left will make its come back giving Zoro yet another extra advantage in battle. WE WANT MORE POWER!

Fun Fact: Did you know that pirates didn’t wear eye patches for fashion? That shocked me. They actually wore them to let one of their eyes get accustomed to the dark and adjust their Ocular Dominance.

Yup yup, there have been hundreds of articles on the matter. You can go check out pages like ‘Grunge’ or ‘Facts and History’ if you don’t believe me.

So in short you can consider the scar on Zoro’s eye his customized pirate eye patch.

To be honest, I personally think we might have nailed it with the Asura theory.

Hopefully, Oda won’t feel like changing the story if we get this theory right. I mean there was a debate going on on Reddit, where the fans are trying to figure out if Oda would actually change One Piece if one of the fans figures out what it is.

Conclusion

Anyway, with the opening of Zoro’s left eye, there could be a great power-up and even greater enemies. 

He first used the Asura against Kaku (that Girafe CP9 agent) and now he’s back, he made a nice comeback in chapter 1069.

Will he be the one to make Zoro unleash yet another stunning technique? WITH BOTH EYES OPENED.

Wait, since Oda wanted a one-eyed swordsman from the beginning, doesn’t it make more sense that it won’t open again? Oh noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ? Should we kiss our new power-up goodbye?

To make my heart feel better, I’ll be following up on this and make sure to update you guys as soon as I can get my hands on some juicy info.

But guys, before letting you go, I’ve got something CRAZY for you!

If an eye that has been slashed in half can come back to life, then how about half a torso?

There have been rumors running around lately. Haven’t you heard?  There is a tini-tiny possibility that we haven’t seen the end of ACE just yet!!!!!