Is Kuzan spying on Blackbeard or loyal? Canon has not given a final answer. What it has shown is that Kuzan works alongside the Blackbeard Pirates and has taken actions that benefit them. Whether that is deep cover, a temporary alliance, or a real change of sides remains the key question.
The best answer right now is: Kuzan looks genuinely aligned with Teach in public, but his ultimate goal is still unconfirmed. Calling him a confirmed spy goes too far. Calling him unquestioningly loyal does too.
> Spoiler note: This discussion includes manga developments involving Kuzan, Blackbeard’s crew, Pudding, and Garp.
Start with the canon: what Kuzan has actually done
Before picking a side, separate story facts from conclusions.
Kuzan left the Marines after losing his battle with Sakazuki for the Fleet Admiral position. He is no longer an active Marine officer. Later, he was shown traveling with the Blackbeard Pirates and was identified as one of Teach’s Titanic Captains.
His connection to the crew is not just a rumor. Kuzan and Van Augur were involved in the capture of Charlotte Pudding, an act that directly serves Blackbeard’s interests. Kuzan also fought Garp at Hachinosu while Garp tried to rescue Koby. Those are meaningful choices, not harmless background appearances.
Still, none of those scenes reveal Kuzan’s private objective. A character can help a crew while hiding a separate plan. The story has not shown Kuzan reporting to the Marines, SWORD, the Revolutionaries, or any other outside group.
For a fuller look at how the Kuzan–Teach connection developed, see our Kuzan and Blackbeard theory breakdown.
Facts versus interpretation
| Canon fact | What it can support | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Kuzan left the Marines | He acts outside the Marine chain of command | He secretly still follows Marine orders |
| Kuzan is associated with Blackbeard’s crew | Teach sees him as useful enough to keep close | Teach fully trusts him, or Kuzan shares every goal |
| Kuzan helped capture Pudding | He has acted in a way that benefits Blackbeard | His long-term allegiance is settled |
| Kuzan fought Garp at Hachinosu | He was willing to oppose a former mentor in a major conflict | He has abandoned every part of his old moral code |
That distinction matters. “Kuzan is working with Blackbeard” is canon. “Kuzan is a Marine spy” is still theory.
Is Kuzan spying on Blackbeard or loyal? The two cases
The strongest reading depends on whether you give more weight to Kuzan’s current actions or to the unanswered question of why he joined Teach at all.
The case for Kuzan as a spy or double agent
The spy theory is appealing because Kuzan has always been hard to place. As Aokiji, he followed his own version of justice rather than blindly obeying the World Government. His history with Nico Robin also shows that he can reject brutal orders when he believes they cross a line.
That makes a secret mission plausible in a broad sense. Kuzan has the patience, strength, and credibility to enter Teach’s orbit. Blackbeard is also one of the most dangerous people to watch from the inside. If anyone wanted information on Teach’s plans, Devil Fruit hunting, or coming targets, Kuzan would be a powerful asset.
Motives that could support infiltration
A hidden agenda could take several forms:
- Gathering intelligence: Kuzan may want to learn who Teach plans to target and what the crew knows.
- Limiting the damage: Staying close could let him delay, redirect, or expose a disaster before it grows.
- Serving personal justice: Kuzan may not trust the Marines, yet still believe Blackbeard is too dangerous to leave unchecked.
- Preparing for a later betrayal: He could be waiting for the one moment when turning on Teach would matter most.
The strongest version of this theory does not need Kuzan to be a loyal Marine. He could be acting alone, guided by his own idea of justice. That fits his character better than a simple return to the old system.
Why Blackbeard would still accept the risk
Teach does not need blind trust to recruit Kuzan. He needs value.
Kuzan gives Blackbeard enormous combat power, knowledge of Marine methods, and an intimidating public symbol. Even if Teach suspects that Kuzan has another motive, keeping him nearby may be safer than leaving him free to oppose the crew.
That is especially true for a captain who builds his crew around dangerous, ambitious people. Teach can benefit from a powerful ally while watching for betrayal at the same time.
Blackbeard’s interest in rare abilities also makes Kuzan’s place in the crew worth watching. Our guide to how the Blackbeard Pirates may steal Devil Fruits offers useful context for the kind of secrets someone inside the crew might seek.
The big weakness in the spy theory
There is one major problem: the story has not shown a handler, mission, or secret report.
Until Kuzan contacts an outside ally, sabotages Teach with clear intent, or reveals a prior agreement, “spy” remains an interpretation built on character history. It may be a strong interpretation, but it is not proof.
The case for Kuzan as a real Blackbeard ally
The loyalty case begins with what Kuzan has already risked. He did not merely share a drink with Teach or trade information. He is publicly tied to the Blackbeard Pirates, participated in the Pudding operation, and fought against Garp during the Hachinosu conflict.
Those actions carry real costs. They damage Kuzan’s standing with former allies and make it harder for readers to treat him as a detached observer.
Alignment is not the same as friendship
Kuzan does not need to admire Blackbeard to work with him sincerely. In One Piece, alliances often form around power, freedom, survival, or a shared enemy rather than trust.
Kuzan may believe the Marines and World Government cannot be fixed from within. If so, joining Teach could be a cold, cynical decision: gain room to move, gain access to the coming conflict, and stop pretending that the lawful side is morally clean.
That would make him aligned with Blackbeard’s crew without making him emotionally devoted to Teach.
Why the Garp conflict matters
Garp is one of Kuzan’s most important links to his Marine past. Fighting him is therefore stronger evidence than a vague line of dialogue or an ominous reaction shot.
It does not automatically prove that Kuzan wants Garp dead. The scene still leaves room for restraint, divided feelings, or a deeper plan. But it proves Kuzan was prepared to stand on the Blackbeard side when the stakes became personal.
That is why the “he is only pretending” argument needs more than Kuzan looking conflicted. A double agent can fake loyalty, but the story has already made that cover expensive.
Kuzan’s break from Marine authority is central to this debate. For more background on the role and image of the Admirals, read who the Admirals in One Piece are based on.
The big weakness in the loyalty theory
The main gap is motive. Kuzan has not clearly explained why Teach is the person he chose to stand beside.
If future chapters show Kuzan helping Blackbeard pursue a goal that violates Kuzan’s old moral limits, the loyalty case becomes much stronger. Until then, his actions show cooperation, but not the full reason behind it.
Spy vs. ally: which reading explains more?
Here is the cleanest way to compare the two theories without treating either as settled fact.
| Question | Spy or double-agent reading | Genuine ally reading |
|---|---|---|
| Does it fit Kuzan’s independent sense of justice? | Yes. He could oppose Teach without returning to Marine control. | Yes. He may have rejected the whole system, not just its orders. |
| Does it explain his access to Blackbeard’s crew? | Yes. Access is the point of infiltration. | Yes. Teach gains a powerful captain and insider knowledge. |
| Does it explain the Pudding operation and Hachinosu? | Only if those acts serve a later objective or protect his cover. | Directly. He is helping the crew achieve its goals. |
| What evidence is missing? | A revealed mission, contact, or deliberate sabotage. | A clear statement or choice that shows he shares Teach’s endgame. |
At the moment, the ally reading has the stronger on-page evidence because Kuzan’s actions have helped Blackbeard. The spy reading has the stronger character-based argument because Kuzan’s past makes a hidden purpose easy to imagine.
That is not a final verdict. It is a reminder to weight actions more heavily than fan expectations.
What would confirm Kuzan’s true allegiance?
Future scenes can move this debate quickly. The most useful clues will be direct and costly, not vague.
Signs that would confirm Kuzan is infiltrating Blackbeard
Look for evidence that is hard to explain away:
- A private message or meeting with the Marines, SWORD, Revolutionaries, or another confirmed partner.
- A flashback showing Kuzan accepted a specific mission before meeting Teach.
- Deliberate sabotage of a Blackbeard operation, with Kuzan’s intent made clear to the reader.
- Kuzan leaking vital information or rescuing a target that Teach needs, even though it blows his cover.
- A direct betrayal at a decisive moment, especially if Kuzan gains nothing for himself.
Signs that would confirm Kuzan is truly loyal or fully aligned
The loyal reading needs a similarly clear commitment:
- Kuzan explains his own reason for choosing Teach when there is no one around to deceive.
- He protects Teach or a crewmate at serious personal cost when escape would be easier.
- He takes part in a major Blackbeard plan that cannot be undone with a later “I was undercover” reveal.
- Teach shares a core endgame goal with Kuzan, and Kuzan helps carry it out willingly.
- Kuzan rejects a real chance to return to his former allies because he has chosen Blackbeard’s side.
Clues fans should treat carefully
Some common arguments are fun, but weak on their own:
- A serious expression does not prove secret guilt.
- Refusing to kill someone does not prove Kuzan is a hero or a spy.
- Teach keeping Kuzan close does not prove trust; it may only prove usefulness.
- A character’s old morality does not guarantee that they have not changed.
The best habit is simple: ask who benefited, what Kuzan risked, and whether the scene reveals his private intent.
Verdict: Kuzan is aligned with Teach, but his endgame is open
Kuzan is currently acting as part of Blackbeard’s world. That is the firmest conclusion canon supports. He has helped the crew and opposed people from his own past, so the idea that he is merely hanging around with no commitment no longer fits the evidence.
But the story has not confirmed that he is loyal to Teach personally, nor has it confirmed that he is spying for anyone. The most defensible position is that Kuzan is a real, active Blackbeard ally whose final agenda remains unknown.
That uncertainty is what makes the theory worth following. If a new chapter gives Kuzan a private conversation, a clear sacrifice, or a decisive betrayal, revisit the evidence—not just the hype. Which action do you think tells us the most about where Kuzan truly stands?