Fans did not really expect for Yamato to choose to stay in Wano instead of joining the Straw Hats and becoming their next main member, as many of them had been requesting.
Naturally, they were really confused about that decision so the explanation that came in the chapter that followed was welcome, although not all of them agreed with it.
In this chapter, Yamato reveals the reason why they decided to remain in Wano even though the storyline seemed to suggest they would become the next main member of the Straw Hats crew, especially since the third act of the Wano Country arc introduced Yamato as Kaido’s son.
Not to mention how much the fighter wanted to go out to the sea and follow in Kozuki Oden’s footsteps.
It would only make sense, right? Well, apparently not.
Towards the end of the Wano Country arc and at the beginning of the final saga of the series, Luffy and the others are shown heading to another island.
That is when the series takes a step back and shares more of the time when Yamato told Luffy and the others in the crew that they would be staying behind in Wano.
As it turns out, the reason why this unexpected decision was made has to do with Admiral Ryokugyu’s attack.
Apparently, when it happened, Yamato was inspired to stay behind on the island in order to help defend it from any other terrible attacks just like it.
In chapter 1059, it was made clear that Luffy and the others really wished to have Yamato come along on the next adventure but the latter was very determined to stay.
Pointing out that Ryokugyu was eventually pushed back by another’s Haki, Tamato had the realization that more powerful fighters, such as Kaido, would use this opportunity to attack.
Sure enough, this is also why Luffy placed Wano under his protection when he first became Emperor so it makes sense Yamato wants to be there for whatever happens in the future.
Basically, Yamato could not turn their back on Wano knowing that Wano’s safety would also be weighing on Luffy’s mind, stopping him from going on proper adventures with the rest of the crew.
So instead of joining them, Yamato chose to stay and help defend the country. Simple as that!
That’s not to say they don’t still really want to be part of the crew and is, in fact, still an honorary member regardless.
But for the time being, however, it appears that the series is preparing for something even bigger to come in both the Straw Hats and Yamato’s ways.
And who knows? Maybe Yamato will still end up properly joining the crew as the series approaches its ending, depending on how things turn out in the storyline.