One Piece - Chapter 996 [manga]

[The Small One]

Originally Posted by marvelB

Pretty dang certain Kaidou's a Zoan. It's a pretty logical assumption considering that most of his crew are comprised of Zoans (both legit and SMILE users alike), so why wouldn't the leader follow suit?

From a reader's perspective, this definately makes sense. However I don't think this is enough of a reason to be a proof.

However, your assumption about Kaidou actually does remind me of a theory I've seen floating around about him originally being a dragon who ate a humanoid-type Zoan fruit.

Why would he need a fruit in the first place?
In modern Literature, one of the skills, every dragon posesses is the ability to transform into a human form. So if Kaido is indeed a born dragon, he doesn't need a DF to transform. In OP-world we have giant water creatures, we've seen flying ships and dinosaurs. I don't think it's too farfetched to asume that dragons exist as well.

However, during the story, there were several people who called Kaido "world's strongest human", which strongly indicates, that he is indeed a man with a DF power. Because if dragons really exist in this world, they wouldn't call him human, but everybody would know about him beeing really a dragon. So even though I would like it better for him to be a dragon, the hints strongly indicate, that he is only a DF user.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by The Small One

However, during the story, there were several people who called Kaido "world's strongest human", which strongly indicates, that he is indeed a man with a DF power. Because if dragons really exist in this world, they wouldn't call him human, but everybody would know about him beeing really a dragon. So even though I would like it better for him to be a dragon, the hints strongly indicate, that he is only a DF user.

I think he's usually referred as the world's strongest "creature", actually, but I haven't checked the original Japanese.

[grey_1960]

Originally Posted by Ramero

You know that WG always keeps them in check. Blackbeard possibly also heading to Wano to interfere while Shanks probably got some Black Ops mission from Gorosei. I mean, every time big shots make their move, the Marines are always assembled to intercept. The only thing they caught off-guard is where Straw Hats was able to cripple Big Mom Pirates.

Originally Posted by marvelB

Uh, two of the most powerful pirates in the world teaming up and conspiring to use the Ancient Weapons to wage war against the whole world isn't enough to ring alarm bells for you?

Chapter 957
Page 2 and parts of 3 Fleet Admiral Akainu is not happy with the alliance between Big Mama and Kaidou. He mentions they are already busy with other affairs. Last two pages "We're leaving Wano alone!! We don't have the resources to divert there, Senoku-san!!"~Admiral Fleet Akainu

[Ramero]

Originally Posted by grey_1960

Chapter 957
Page 2 and parts of 3 Fleet Admiral Akainu is not happy with the alliance between Big Mama and Kaidou. He mentions they are already busy with other affairs. Last two pages "We're leaving Wano alone!! We don't have the resources to divert there, Senoku-san!!"~Admiral Fleet Akainu

I don't think Sakazuki will just leave it alone in actual like that. If Coby's intel did reach Sakazuki, he may change his mind.

Should he heard Blackbeard is also heading there, he definitely changed his mind considering there will be Three Yonkos clashing at Wano and CP-0 is not going to be sufficient to hinder it.

Coby haven't report this to the higher-ups, isn't it? If doesn't then Sakazuki may not know the actual situation in there.

[grey_1960]

^That’s a lot of what if
The fact is the Marines Are occupied with capturing former Shichibukai Pirates. They can no longer rely on a bunch of bad dealing pirates. The SSG program has to be implemented still. They could barely take on White Beard at Marineford and they only had 4 Shichibukai that actually kept there word. Don’t forget escorting all the Royals to the Reverie, guarding them and escorting them back. What about the assault Sabo and his Revolutionary pals? The Marines are occupied with a lot of other events. When Shanks(Younkou) arrived at marineford they called a truce and backed off. We are talking about two Younkous( Kaidou & Big Mama) on there home turf. If we went with your what if scenario that would be three Yonkous (Black Beard, Kaidou, & Big Mama).

The Marines aren’t invincible They can’t win every battle
Just because you wanna be there doesn’t mean you should be there. This is what it mean to have limited resources. More importantly picking your battles and staying focused on the goal which winning the war.

[Ramero]

Originally Posted by grey_1960

^That’s a lot of what if
The fact is the Marines Are occupied with capturing former Shichibukai Pirates. They can no longer rely on a bunch of bad dealing pirates. The SSG program has to be implemented still. They could barely take on White Beard at Marineford and they only had 4 Shichibukai that actually kept there word. Don’t forget escorting all the Royals to the Reverie, guarding them and escorting them back. What about the assault Sabo and his Revolutionary pals? The Marines are occupied with a lot of other events. When Shanks(Younkou) arrived at marineford they called a truce and backed off. We are talking about two Younkous( Kaidou & Big Mama) on there home turf. If we went with your what if scenario that would be three Yonkous (Black Beard, Kaidou, & Big Mama).

The Marines aren’t invincible They can’t win every battle
Just because you wanna be there doesn’t mean you should be there. This is what it mean to have limited resources. More importantly picking your battles and staying focused on the goal which winning the war.

SSG will be a waste if they didn't go straight into the Red Zone (Which currently serves as the battlefield at Onigashima).

Considering SSG takes over a Shichibukai system, I would prefer Sakazuki to deploys it on the Yonkos. Considering he doesn't want to deploy Marines there, I doubt SSG will be also deployed there.

Shanks case is he was summoned by Gorosei, so Marines and WG can't do anything about it. If he was not under Gorosei's command to be summoned, he will be certainly be hunted down for sure.

Also, you can ask how did Coby can be deployed straight into the front lines while he's just complete the mission escorting Prodence and Dressrosa? Not to mention we haven't heard of Smoker and G-5 ever since Punk Hazard.