One Piece author Eiichiro Oda highlighted the formidable power of fleet admiral Akainu, who has not appeared since the Summit War. Although he has not been seen in some time, Akainu is often considered the most feared of the Admirals, the largest force of the Marine Corps.
An old interview with Oda clears up a common misunderstanding among fans: the idea that Akainu could find the One Piece treasure in just one year if he were the main character. This concept arose from an inaccurate translation and was taken out of context.
Oda commented in 2012 in Sound & Recording magazine that creating a main character that was too strong could end the series quickly. “When you create a main character in a manga, making him too strong is not a good idea. For example, if Akainu becomes the main character, he will be so strong that ONE PIECE will ends within one year.”, Oda said.
Using Akainu as an example, the author explains that if Akainu is the center of the story, One Piece will end in one year due to the great power of the red dog gentleman. So Oda's point is not about Akainu's ability to find the One Piece quickly, but about the imbalance that an extremely powerful character would bring to the story.
From then on, Akainu assumed the role of Fleet Admiral, which paradoxically confined him to bureaucratic duties, limiting his direct action against the pirates. However, Akainu's presence and potential are still intimidating, as evidenced by the fear he instilled in fans during the events at Marineford, where he nearly finished off Luffy.
Now, with Luffy much stronger, especially after unlocking Gear 5 and defeating Kaido, the stage is set for future confrontations. Oda's comments show that the series is approaching its climax, with only a few opponents remaining who can match Luffy. This suggests that the final phase of Laugh Tale may be shorter than expected, setting the stage for Akainu's anticipated return in One Piece's Final Saga.