Zoro’s Shocking Link to a Gorosei: What Oda Just Revealed!

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Summary

  • Zoro’s lineage may connect him to St. Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, which would strengthen the chances of their future clash.
  • The theory links Zoro and Nusjuro as distant relatives due to their unique traits, designs, and weapons.
  • Despite being a stretch, the evidence points towards a possible familial tie between Zoro and Nusjuro.

The Straw Hat crew serve as the principal characters in the tale of “One Piece,” being the devoted followers of the man destined to become the Pirate King someday. As a result, they possess rich and significant histories that have molded them into the individuals they are now, while also harboring grand aspirations that initially led them to align with Luffy. They recognize that the fulfillment of his quest will coincide with their own.

Despite being the initial crew member in “One Piece,” Zoro’s past remains somewhat unclear. Though some fans argue that every character doesn’t necessitate a complex backstory, Zoro has consistently seemed different in this regard. A popular theory proposes a link between his background and a Gorosei member. Therefore, let’s delve into this connection to understand why it holds water.

Zoro May Be A Distant Relative Of St. Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro

The Pirate Hunter And The Elder

Zoro’s First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 3, “Introducing Pirate Hunter Zoro”
Nusjuro’s First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 233, “The World’s Greatest Power”

In the initial stages of the series, details about Zoro’s past were disclosed to viewers. He was raised as an orphan in Shimotsuki Village and dedicated his life to mastering swordsmanship. His motivation stems from his dearest friend Kuina, who harbored the same ambition. Sadly, she passed away prematurely, which fueled Zoro’s determination to achieve the title of the World’s Strongest Swordsman as a tribute to her memory.

For quite a while, fans were only given this much information about Zoro’s past, which many found odd given that every other Straw Hat character, including Luffy, had a detailed backstory. Later in the Wano arc, hints were dropped suggesting that Zoro’s lineage could be traced to a legendary land, with the earliest known ancestor being the legendary swordsman Shimotsuki Ryuma. However, this intriguing revelation wasn’t elaborated on any further.

Even so, this theory provides a base for fans. In essence, a band of samurai from Wano departed prior to the series commencement, seeking refuge outside Kaido’s domain, ultimately settling on what became Shimotsuki Village. Later in the story, it was disclosed that Zoro’s grandfather was among these travelers. He wed a woman named Shimotsuki Furiko, who was the elder sister of Wano’s last Daimyo, Shimotsuki Ushimaru from Ringo. This is where the link between Zoro and Ryuma originates.

One striking feature of the Zoro family line is the strong resemblance among many male members to Ryuma and each other, as exemplified by Zoro’s and Ushimaru’s facial similarities. The strongest indication of this link emerged during the Wano arc when it was unveiled that Ryuma was also a one-eyed swordsman, which ties into Zoro’s connection with him. This shared trait can be extended to other aspects as well.

In a remarkable turn of events, Ushimaru, who hails from a lineage tracing back to the Divine Swordsmith, Shimotsuki Ryuma, proved himself worthy. This young man was the one who ultimately reclaimed the sword known as Shusui within the lands of Wano. It seems destiny or some greater force at play… Given that Ryuma was a samurai with a single eye.

From among those who departed from Wano long ago, it was none other than the illustrious Shimotsuki Kouzaburou, inventor of Enma and Wado Ichimonji, who led them. The village was named after him, and his son, Shimotsuki Koushiro, eventually began teaching swordsmanship to island children – a path that brought Zoro and Kuina together. An interesting feature about Koushiro is that he is one of the rare characters in the entire One Piece series who wears glasses.

The heart of this theory rests on this point. Given that several relatives in Zoro’s genealogy bear a strong resemblance to Ryuma, it’s plausible – albeit amusingly so – that poor eyesight could be an inherited trait within the Shimotsuki clan. Although this appears somewhat far-fetched, it’s worth mentioning that not many characters in One Piece wear glasses, yet Koushiro is one of them, a detail carefully planned by Oda to link him with none other than St. Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro.

The idea suggests that the Shimotsuki family lineage includes a predisposition towards needing glasses, and since Nusjuro is an immortal Elder who could have interacted with Ryuma at the same time, it’s possible this trait was inherited from him. Furthermore, Nusjuro is unique among the Gorosei for not wearing a suit but robes, which resemble those worn in Wano. These similarities lead us to speculate that Nusjuro might have originated from Wano.

Furthermore, his surname, Nusjuro, stands out among the Elders due to its Japanese-sounding nature, in contrast to the Western names of the others. It’s long been speculated that Zoro and Nusjuro would face off in the Final War, which would make their potential confrontation all the more anticipated and awe-inspiring. This could potentially provide a deeper understanding of Zoro’s and Ryuma’s unique bond and origin. Additionally, the fact that he yields the Shodai Kitetsu seems to be strong evidence linking him to Wano Country and supporting this theory.

How Likely Is Such A Connection Between These Two?

The Likelihood Of Zoro And Nusjuro Being Related

  • Zoro and Nusjuro may just be related, as seen with a lot of evidence supporting this theory.

In summary, it’s quite plausible that Zoro and Ryuma share a common ancestry through their bloodline. Not only does Nusjuro seem closely tied to Wano and the Shimotsuki clan due to his physical resemblance, attire, and weaponry, but this hypothesis aligns with the lore of One Piece as well. It’s worth noting that following Joyboy’s defeat 800 years ago, the rulers of the 20 allied nations that established the World Government mostly relocated to Marijoa, abandoning their original homes except for the Nefertari family.

It’s possible that Nusjuro served as Wano’s ruler during his time, yet he abandoned his homeland to rise among the Celestial Dragons as one of their leaders. This could have led other members of the Shimotsuki family to assume leadership and guard Wano against outside threats for countless centuries until Kaido arrived himself. While this idea might seem unlikely, it fits together quite neatly if true.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2025-05-23 15:38