Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu

The Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu is a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit that allows the user to transform into a hybrid and full version of an Azure Dragon at will. It was eaten by Kaido.

Etymology

 * Uo (魚) is Japanese for "fish".
 * Seiryū (青龍) is the Japanese name of the Azure Dragon.

Strengths and Weaknesses
This fruit enables the user to transform into a giant, serpentine, blue-scaled dragon or "Azure Dragon", a type of Eastern dragon (龍); in his full Beast Form, Kaido grows to rival a small town in size, making his the largest yet-seen Zoan transformation. Due to the user's massive size, their dragon body is capable of causing severe damage to entire structures just by coming into contact with them; when Kaido flew around Okobore Town in a drunken state, onlookers believed he would very likely destroy it quickly. The scales on the user's transformed body have been stated to be extremely hard, a fact that, in Kaido's case, seems compounded by the naturally immense durability of his human body.



Beside the transformation itself, the fruit grants a multitude of magic-esque abilities, the most out of any Mythical Zoan seen so far. The most prominent of these is the ability to create flame-resembling clouds called Flame Clouds (焔雲), which the user can utilize to travel through the air by using them as footholds, giving the impression of flight. Said clouds can also be used to lift other objects, including entire islands, into the air and move them, for extended periods even and while using their other powers simultaneously. Further, there is no apparent need for the user to transform in order to manifest Flame Clouds.

Moreover, the user gains access to different elemental techniques, most of which are attacks released from their mouth. The most common is a concentrated, scorching blast of fire that can travel many kilometers in the span of seconds and instantly decimate large structures. Aside from flame, the user can generate small lightning bolts while roaring and launch cutting blades of wind while blowing. With these attacks being able to travel great distances quickly, the user can overwhelm opponents in battle by hovering in the air out of their reach and assaulting them with long-ranged attacks.

Due to the massive amount of space the user takes up after transforming, being in an enclosed space greatly hinders their ability to move about and use their abilities effectively, and depending on how much care is given to surroundings, the transformed body's propensity for collateral damage may be a liability for allies. Additionally, the massive body leaves more openings, making the user an easy target for attacks, especially multi-directional assault. Otherwise, the user is affected by the standard Devil Fruit weaknesses.

Usage
Kaido uses this fruit frequently in battle; unlike the majority of Zoan users seen so far, he typically starts out battles in his full transformation and transforms back into human form when he gets serious, with his non-powered form being seemingly more suited for intense one-on-one combat. When engaging opponents in his dragon transformation, Kaido frequently hovers a considerable distance from them and assaults them with his powerful elemental strikes, most frequently his fire breath.

Outside of battle, Kaido can create flame clouds, both for taking flight and allowing him to levitate other objects, as he lifted the entire Onigashima island to proceed with his New Onigashima Project.

Named Techniques



 * Bolo Breath: Kaido's most frequently used attack. Kaido releases a massive fire blast from his mouth towards a target. It travels very quickly and is extremely powerful, being capable of instantly decimating large structures, such as the ruins of Oden Castle, and surrounding terrain, like mountainscapes, are left thoroughly shattered, flattened, and scorched. Despite this move's strength and scope, it can be countered by Kitsunebi-ryu. When Raizo redirected this attack, it was strong enough to damage Kaido's dragon form. Bolo is a term used in Central America and Mexico meaning "drunk". This is called Blast Breath in the Viz Manga.




 * Kaifu (壊風): Kaido blows strongly, thereby creating powerful, crescent wind blades capable of easily cutting through solid stone, flesh, and bone. The attack was first seen used in Kaido's fight against the Nine Red Scabbards on the roof of Onigashima's skull dome, severing Kikunojo's left arm, but was not named until Kaido used it against the Worst Generation members on the roof. Denjiro described the blades of wind as kamaitachi (かまいたち), a Japanese term for cutting whirlwind derived from the yōkai Kamaitachi. In the Viz translation, the attack is called Demolition Gust.


 * Tatsumaki (龍巻): Kaido spins his serpentine body into a coil to summon several tornadoes around him. Because of their strong wind, these tornadoes can pull people away from the ground and within Kaido's range in the air, where he may chomp down on them. It was first used against the Worst Generation members on the roof. It was effective in capturing a defenseless Monkey D. Luffy, but Roronoa Zoro was able to counter it with his own Kokujo O Tatsumaki technique. The name of the attack is the Japanese word for "tornado" (竜巻), with the shinjitai for "dragon" (竜) replaced with the traditional kyūjitai (龍). In the Viz translation, the technique is called Dragon Twister.
 * Tatsumaki Kaifu (龍巻壊風): A technique that combines Tatsumaki and Kaifu. Kaido spins the lower portion of his elongated dragon body at great speeds, simulating a tornado himself. He then blows crescent wind blades towards his own spinning body, making the blades fly in various directions, all the while Kaido also roars lightning. The attack was first seen being used in Kaido's fight against the Worst Generation. In the Viz translation, the attack is called Dragon Twister Demolition Breath.

History
On the day of the God Valley Incident 38 years ago at God Valley, Charlotte Linlin gave this fruit to Kaido, who at the time was her crewmate on the Rocks Pirates. Big Mom considers this to be a life debt that Kaido can never escape from.

Trivia

 * This fruit's name is currently the only Devil Fruit name with both its double-syllables as vowel sounds with no consonant: "Uo" (ウオ). Thus, it is (minus the "Model" designation) one of the shortest romanized Devil Fruit names.
 * The fruit's name is also reflected in Kaido's signature laugh: "Worororo" or Uorororo" (ウォロロロ/ウオロロロ). This quirk is shared with other characters: Whitebeard with the Gura Gura no Mi, Perona with the Horo Horo no Mi, and Streusen with the Kuku Kuku no Mi. Kaido's case is still unique in that only the first part of his laughter references his Devil Fruit's name.
 * Ironically, despite a line of Zoan models being named after dragons (the Ryu Ryu no Mi) and this being the only known Devil Fruit ability to actually enable transformation into a dragon (the fruits of the Ryu Ryu no Mi series granting dinosaur transformations), this fruit is not named after dragons but fish, possibly to distinguish said two Devil Fruit series.
 * While this fruit is classed as Mythical Zoan, with dragons explicitly stated as having mythical status in the One Piece world, dragons have also been real existences. Namely:
 * The dragon killed by Shimotsuki Ryuma in Monsters (confirmed in the Thriller Bark Arc and later the Wano Country Arc to have canonically occurred). Still, said dragon's origins are not known, and it more so (per its depiction in Monsters) resembled a Western-style dragon as opposed to the East Asian-style dragon form of Kaido.
 * The dragons on Punk Hazard, artificial lifeforms created by Vegapunk, which are also more Western-like dragons.
 * This fruit's ability greatly resembles that of the "failed" Artificial Devil Fruit created by Vegapunk, which Kozuki Momonosuke has consumed and lets him become an Eastern dragon, with both powers entailing the ability to produce "Flame Clouds". Whether the artificial fruit is related to the Uo Uo no Mi has yet to be revealed (though compared to Kaido's blue dragon form, Momonosuke's is pink).
 * Kaido's dragon powers were first hinted at in the Punk Hazard Arc, as Kin'emon expressed deep resentment against one of Vegapunk's artificial dragons while fighting it, and when Brook commented that the samurai's hatred was reminiscent of someone trying to avenge their dead parents, Kin'emon replied that it was "nothing less", referring to Kaido being responsible for his master Oden's death.
 * According to Oda, if every Straw Hat had a Devil Fruit of their own, Roronoa Zoro would have this one, albeit "consumed" by one of his swords.
 * In the video game One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, Kaido as a playable character has shown the ability to unleash ice attacks. If Kaido can do the same in the canon story remains to be seen.
 * When Kaido first appeared in his dragon form, he did so by emerging through dark, swirling clouds in the sky. This may be a nod to Shenron, a magical, wish-granting, Eastern dragon god from the Dragon Ball franchise, as Shenron's arrival is similarly accompanied by dark clouds covering the sky.
 * In Chinese culture, the Azure Dragon (also "Blue Dragon", "Green Dragon" or "Blue-Green Dragon") is a Dragon God who, as one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations (next to the Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise) represents the East and spring season. In Japan, the Azure Dragon (Seiryū) is one of the four guardian spirits of cities, said to protect the city of Kyoto on the east (and in eastern Kyoto is represented in the Kiyomizu Temple).
 * Corresponding to this may be the fact that Kaido lives on Onigashima, which is to the east of the Wano mainland.
 * The appearance of Kaido's dragon form, and of the clouds he creates, may be inspired by Utagawa Kuniyoshi's paintings.
 * The fruit's power, given its "fish" classification, may draw inspiration from the Chinese myth of the Dragon's Gate, in which koi carp transform into dragons after 100 years of swimming upstream a great waterfall to its top. Coincidentally, Wano, where Kaido resides, is located atop a waterfall that giant carp swim up.
 * Further in relation to Asian/Chinese dragons or lóng:
 * Just as Kaido is said to be the world's "Strongest Creature", Eastern dragons are seen as symbolizing power and so are extremely powerful, especially Dragon Gods.
 * Eastern dragons were traditionally believed to be able to adopt human form, just like Kaido can shift between human and dragon form as a Zoan user.
 * Asian dragons are commonly depicted with hair: a flowing mane, long, tendril-like whiskers appended to the sides of their snout, and a beard. This matches Kaido's wild mane, long and thin mustache, and beard that he retains in dragon form.
 * Kaido's dragon form has four claws/toes: four-clawed dragons are customarily depicted in Mongolia and Korea (as opposed to the three claws common for Japanese dragons). In China during the imperial dynastic era, four-toed dragons symbolized imperial aristocracy (e.g., princess), denoting imperial ranking just below the emperor himself (who is symbolized by five-toed dragons); normally, the appropriate dragon motifs were displayed on the robes.
 * Eastern dragons that breathe fire are minor in lore. Those who do were said to be rather violent individuals, or were sent from the heavens to earth as punishment. Kaido's ability to breathe a fire blast (contrary to the Eastern dragon's prevalent water association) is likely inspired by European conceptions of fire-breathing dragons or "firedrakes".

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