Highlights
- Kuma, a former Shichibukai, is revealed to be a member of the persecuted Buccaneer race, making it difficult for him to have a normal childhood.
- Kuma’s close relationship with Ginny, who was kidnapped and later passed away from the Sapphire Scale disease, and how he raised Bonney as his own daughter.
- Kuma’s sacrifices and deal with Vegapunk and the Celestial Dragons in order to save Bonney’s life, including becoming a Shichibukai and having his mind wiped.
Recently, One Piece manga has been focused on the story of the former Shichibukai, Bartholomew Kuma. Eiichiro Oda finally decided to delve into Kuma’s past and reveal everything about him. The first major piece of information that Oda disclosed was about the Shichibukai’s lineage. It was confirmation that Kuma is a Buccaneer.
It was an ancient race that has been prosecuted through the centuries for their transgressions against the World Government. They had been hunted throughout the world, which made it difficult for Kuma to have a normal childhood. Kuma and his parents were eventually captured by the Celestial Dragons. The next big reveal was about how Kuma joined the Revolutionary Army and how he met Bonney.
The Best Father
After escaping from God Valley, Kuma went to the Sorbet Kingdom with Ginny. The two settled there and earned their bread one way or another. They grew up together and naturally became very close. Kuma and Ginny eventually joined the Revolutionary Army. Both were high-ranking officers and respected by everyone. Unfortunately, Ginny was kidnapped by a Celestial Dragon, who wished to marry her. A few years later, she was kicked out because she caught the Sapphire Scale disease. With no other place to go, Ginny made her way to the church in the Sorbet Kingdom. She made one last call to Kuma and the rest of the Revolutionary Army.
Ginny wanted to talk to her friends and also tell Kuma that she loved him. However, Kuma teleported to the Sorbet Kingdom instantly, so he didn’t get a chance to hear it. Bartholomew Kuma met Bonney when she was just a baby. He decided to raise her after Ginny passed away due to the Sapphire Scale disease. Kuma took care of Bonney as if she were her own daughter. He fed her and protected her from any harm. They were happy, but disaster struck when Bonney began to exhibit symptoms of the Sapphire Scale disease. Even then, Kuma cheered her up, which allowed Bonney to stay positive.
To take better care of Bonney, Kuma left the Revolutionary Army. He searched endlessly for a cure while keeping Bonney away from the outside world. Things got worse when he learned that Bonney only had a few years remaining at best. Kuma was devastated, but he couldn’t do anything about it. Fortune finally smiled upon him when Dragon told him about Dr. Vegapunk. Dragon informed him about the lapse in security at Vegapunk’s new laboratory. Without wasting any time, Kuma went to meet the scientist. Vegapunk was willing to cure Bonney but asked Kuma to be a test subject for a while to cover the cost of the surgery. Kuma immediately agreed to his demands, as he wanted nothing more than Bonney’s happiness.
Saturn Steps In
St. Jaygarcia Saturn learned about Kuma’s deal with Vegapunk and decided to intervene. The Celestial Dragon set three conditions that had to be fulfilled in order to let Vegapunk cure Bonney. First, he asked Kuma to become a Shichibukai, as a new spot had opened up after one of them had been defeated by Portgas D. Ace. Kuma accepted the first condition without any hesitation. The next stipulation was that Kuma had to become a human weapon for the Marines. He would have to undergo further modifications, and once again, Kuma did not object. The final condition stated by Saturn was that Kuma’s mind had to be completely wiped.
When Vegapunk heard this demand, he was furious. He tried to talk some sense into Saturn, but the latter was not going to budge. Kuma showed how loving and selfless he was when he burst into tears after St. Jaygarcia Saturn stated the third and final condition. He was overjoyed that he could actually fulfill the terms and save Bonney from impending death. However, Saturn wasn’t done. He piled on further misery on Kuma by forbidding the latter to ever see Bonney again. Saturn stated that they would never see each other after her treatment was over. Kuma agreed on the condition that Bonney would be sent to the Sorbet Kingdom under the care of Conney.
To make doubly sure that there would be no contact between Kuma and Bonney, the World Government sent a CP8 agent to the Sorbet Kingdom. The agent was called Alpha, and she went undercover as a nurse in order to stay close to Bonney without raising any eyebrows.
One Of Best Backstories
Bartholomew Kuma’s backstory is without a doubt among the very best in the series. He went from being an average character to an incredible one. Kuma’s backstory is far from over, and there are still things that are yet to be revealed. Oda doesn’t seem to be in a mood to stop anytime soon, so fans will learn about other aspects of Kuma’s life. It will be interesting to see how the upcoming reveals will affect the overall story.
One Piece is now available on Viz Media.
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