Bartholomew Kuma/History

Early Life


Bartholomew Kuma was born 47 years ago in the Sorbet Kingdom located in the South Blue, to his father Clapp and an unnamed human mother, making him part of the Buccaneer race on his father's side. Four years after his birth, government agents tracked and captured Kuma's family, enslaving them to the World Nobles. As Kuma grew up, he and his family were severely abused to the point that his mother died and he wished for death as well, but his father begged for him to endure. To cheer Kuma up, Clapp told Kuma about the warrior of liberation: Nika, that would one day rescue them from their imprisonment. Clapp sung Nika's rhythm for Kuma before he was shot and killed by a noble.

During the Native Hunting Competition on God Valley 38 years ago, Kuma tried escaping, but the other slaves of his group caught up to him. Kuma started crying and begging for help as the slaves started beating him up with bats, dragging his unconscious body back to the hunting grounds. Eventually, as he was being dragged around, he met a pair of child slaves, Emporio Ivankov and Ginny, who had previously heard about him.



Ivankov would go on to explain his plan for all of them to escape, which involved stealing two powerful Devil Fruits intended as prizes for the participants: the Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu, and the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi. While the rest of the slaves were silent about whom would carry out this plan, Kuma fearlessly raised his hand and offered himself up, citing that his larger body would help him survive. Due to the arrival of the Rocks Pirates, the Roger Pirates, and Marine reinforcements, the entire island was thrown into chaos, allowing Kuma and Ivankov a chance to get both fruits. Charlotte Linlin appeared, and prevented Ivankov from eating his fruit, but allowing Kuma the chance to consume his own. Seconds after consuming the fruit, however, Jaygarcia Saturn appeared and incapacitated Kuma using his own abilities. Saturn informed Kuma that Buccaneers were born to be slaves, and that life held nothing else for him. Kuma responded by proudly stating that he was going to save as many people as he could, just like Nika, much to Saturn's ire.



Kuma would go on to save over 500 people on God Valley, before himself escaping with Ginny and Ivankov back to his home kingdom of Sorbet. Kuma decided to make a church his home, electing to live with Ginny while Ivankov set out to sea to enjoy his newfound freedom. Kuma and Ginny went on to sell logs in order to make money for food. This was not without trouble, however, as a few of the local children refused to believe the large Kuma was only 9 years old, to Ginny's anger. Ginny would attack the children herself, but Kuma used his newfound Devil Fruit to remove the pain, scoring himself a few new friends in the process. That night, Ginny and Kuma would both cry happily after eating a large meal, enjoying the fact that they had successfully gained their freedom.



30 years ago, at 17 years old, Kuma became a priest, spending his Sundays helping the elderly population of a nearby village by literally taking in their chronic pain every weekend through his Devil Fruit abilities, with Ginny taking care of him every time he did so. Five years later, Ginny proposed marriage between her and Kuma, but the latter refused and kept dodging the issue out of fear that the former would suffer a similar fate to his mother, who similarly had a buccaneer husband and was enslaved as a result. It was during this time too that Kuma became aware of Monkey D. Dragon and his Freedom Fighters.

Kuma the Revolutionary and Father of Bonney
22 years ago, after King Bekori instilled a new, segregatory policy that reduced the Sorbet Kingdom to just its northern province and turned the south into a lawless land, Kuma went to Sorbet's Castle Town in order to protest the enslavement of some of the elders he cared for. This eventually escalated into a fight between Kuma and the kingdom's royal army, which ended with the former being imprisoned for treason. Ginny and some of Kuma's friends (who had started riots in protest to Kuma's imprisonment) were later sent to the same jail cell.



As Kuma and Ginny lamented about the kind of hateful nation Sorbet was about to become with its new policies, Dragon and Ivankov invaded the country and eventually took it over, overthrowing Bekori in the process. Kuma and Ginny, recognizing their friend Ivankov, were both freed from prison and then decided to join the rebel group, which would later evolve into the infamous Revolutionary Army, where Kuma was considered a third pillar among its most prominent members. Even with his new role and duties as a revolutionary commander, however, Kuma would still return to Sorbet every now and then to watch over its elderly population, having grown attached to their plea and well-being.

Fourteen years ago, the Revolutionaries then received news that Ginny had been captured in order to become the wife of a World Noble, an event that changed Kuma into a more daring, ruthless soldier. Two years later, Kuma was part of an operation with Monkey D. Dragon and Emporio Ivankov in the East Blue. He witnessed the immolation of the Gray Terminal, assisting the survivors into boarding the Revolutionaries' ship. Within the same year and shortly after this mission, Kuma heard a report requesting reinforcements at Tumi and quickly travelled there from the East Blue with his Nikyu Nikyu no Mi, managing to ensure the success of Tumi's uprising by himself.



Later at Baltigo, Ginny, now released, managed to contact and inform the army that she was about to die due to a disease she had contracted at Mary Geoise, and told Kuma she still loved him even after all this time. Kuma, figuring out her location, hurried back to the Sorbet Kingdom and found Ginny dead from her illness at the church they once lived together. Kuma then noticed that she had brought her daughter Jewelry Bonney there safely. After building Ginny's grave and mourning her death, Kuma swore he would adopt Bonney as his daughter and take care of her from now on in order to honor Ginny's memory.

Kuma would spend the next few years learning to be a father, while going out on revolutionary missions every now and then, including training a young Sabo. When Kuma noticed that Bonney had started to develop the same stones Ginny had on her body, he closed off the windows of his church and asked Sorbet's doctors on what to do, but they had no answer. He informed the Revolutionary Army about this and decided to resign so he could look after his daughter's health, with Dragon promising that his organization would search for any doctors that could figure out Bonney's condition.

Seven years ago, in an attempt to keep Bonney's spirits up after a bullying attempt from other Sorbet children, Kuma spoke to her about places she would like to visit later in life. One day, however, a doctor revealed to Kuma that Bonney's disease was incurable and that she would die in five years at most. Kuma was horrified about this, and refrained from telling her the truth when Bonney confronted him about it, lying instead that she would get better once she was 10.

Kuma the "Tyrant"


Six years ago in Sorbet, Kuma was informed by the elders that Bekori had returned and was going to proceed with his original goal of eradicating the "deadweight" citizens by burning their homes. Angered by Bekori's new antics, Kuma rushed to Sorbet's royal palace by his sole self and destroyed it, along with Bekori and his forces. This event went down in history as Sorbet's Solo Revolution.

With Sorbet freed from Bekori's tyranny once more, the citizens called for Kuma to become their new King. Kuma accepted the duty, but since he had no real desire to rule, he left all political matters to his advisor and Bekori's predecessor, Bulldog, as he remained in his southern church treating the elderly.



One day, Bonney showed up as a fully grown adult in the church, which shocked Kuma and all other bystanders. While this was ongoing, Bulldog came to the church with his mother Conney and alerted Kuma about Bekori's possible second return, as well as the smear campaigns that he was organizing with the World Government's support in order to taint Kuma's image into that of a vicious despot. Knowing he could not let Bekori come back to Sorbet, Kuma chose to resign from the throne and leave the kingdom and Bonney in Bulldog's care. As he sailed to the sea on his own, Kuma was confronted by a Marine fleet commanded by Bekori, but the former had no trouble sinking the whole armada. It was this event that led to Kuma becoming a wanted pirate.

Kuma would then travel around the world as a single-person pirate crew, visiting several locations in the hopes of finding someone who could treat Bonney's disease (such as the Torino Kingdom, Weatheria, the Boin Archipelago, among others) while attracting the attention of Bounty Hunters everywhere, such as Abdullah and Jeet. At some point 4 years ago, he eventually reunited with the Revolutionary Army aboard the Wind Granma. There, he gave permission for Belo Betty to become the new commander of the East Army (Ginny's former position) and talked with Dragon about everything he had gone through since he left the organization. Remembering the promise that he gave Kuma to contact someone who could treat Bonney's Sapphire Scales, Dragon tipped Kuma off about Dr. Vegapunk, the genius scientist, and his current whereabouts after an incident at Punk Hazard, believing that the moment was favorable for Kuma to meet him due to a lack of security.

Kuma the Warlord and Pacifista


Using the information Dragon had given him, Kuma returned to Sorbet and picked up the now 8-year-old Bonney to bring her to Vegapunk's new laboratory at Egghead. There, Kuma met with Vegapunk, who confirmed he could treat Bonney's condition with a stem cell treatment. Vegapunk, who was interested in studying Kuma's physique, learned about the man's heritage through a blood test and spoke about his desire to make clone soldiers, using Kuma's body as a template. Vegapunk offered to treat Bonney in exchange for enough blood samples to make his goal a reality, which Kuma accepted as he simply wanted Bonney to be saved. It was then that the Pacifista project, which was named after the way Kuma referred to himself (a "pacifist"), began.



Unbeknown to both Kuma and Vegapunk, Jaygarcia Saturn of the Five Elders was secretly eavesdropping on their conversation and sent Kizaru to Egghead to intervene. While Saturn did have interest in having Kuma in the World Government's side due to his reputation, he could not abide to Bonney's treatment without Kuma accepting three aditional terms: becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, turning himself into a cyborg and, finally, having his personality and free will completely erased. Also, Kuma would not be allowed to meet Bonney under any circumstance post her recovery to prevent a possible betrayal, meaning she would be kept under the watch of the World Government until Kuma's mind was completely gone. Despite Vegapunk's protests, Kuma accepted those conditions, being just glad that he was being given an opportunity to save his daughter and only requesting for her to be sent back to Sorbet after her surgery was done. For the next six months, Kuma would spend time with Bonney at Egghead under the premise that he too had an illness of his own and was required to stay for exams. During this time, he also befriended Sentomaru and Kizaru along with his daughter.

With Bonney's stem cell treatment finished, Kuma accompanied his daughter back home, leaving her under the care of Queen Conney and Alpha, the latter a CP8 member in charge of Bonney's survival. Being threateningly reminded by Alpha about the terms he had agreed with the government, Kuma left the country under cheers, but not before bidding a clueless Bonney farewell, thanking her for being born in the world and promising to write several letters to her.

Kuma later became a Warlord of the Sea as part of the agreement he had with the World Government, having allowed Dr. Vegapunk to begin his cloning and cyborg modifications of his body. During one experiment, Kuma repulsed his own memories at Vegapunk's request, although he did so with much reluctance. Said repulsed memories were then kept confined within a high-security room in Vegapunk's laboratory.



As a Warlord, Kuma would visit many islands and write about them in letters to Bonney, although he was unaware that all his correspondence was being intercepted and ripped apart by Alpha. During one of his excursions, Kuma approached the Goa Kingdom as new orders from the World Government were about to be transmitted to him. There, Kuma would observe Luffy using his Gomu Gomu no Mi at Mt. Colubo, having seemingly figured out that he was Dragon's child by that point. As the World Government tried to contact him again, Kuma left the island before Luffy noticed him and went on to assist a nearby merchant ship that had been previously attacked and looted by pirates.



Later, back at Egghead, Kuma began the last phases of his cyborg modification process. Being told by Vegapunk and Stussy that he would lose his entire free will in about a year, Kuma used the opportunity to write another letter for Bonney, knowing his time was now limited. Kuma's modification into a cyborg was a slow affair, with each of his body parts being modified one by one, and his head being preserved for last. While this procedure was ongoing, Kuma would resume his Warlord duties but also provide aid to the Revolutionary Army in secret from the government, although he would quickly leave and not interact in any form with his former comrades during those occasions.

Jaya Arc


In Mary Geoise, Kuma, alongside Donquixote Doflamingo and later on Dracule Mihawk, attended the government summit following Crocodile's defeat in Arabasta. He only spoke briefly. Just then, they were interrupted by Laffitte, a former policeman who was renowned for his violent ways and exiled from West Blue. Kuma listened as Laffitte stated that he wished to put forward his captain's name for the nomination of Warlord of the Sea.

Thriller Bark Arc


With orders from the World Government to notify Gecko Moria of Crocodile's replacement, Kuma came to Thriller Bark. Arriving there, he asked some of Perona's zombie minions, who were loading treasure onto the Thousand Sunny, where their master would be. However, he was met with some resistance and was forced to deal with them. His actions were not unnoticed as the zombies reported his actions to Perona. She recognized Kuma and shook in fear at the sight of him.

Despite Kuma's reputation, however, Perona got annoyed with him and attempted to engage the Warlord for his shadow. After asking her where she would like to go and removing a glove, he made her vanish by sending her flying to Kuraigana Island. The zombies seeing this tried to attack him but were frightened off by his mere presence. Kuma then spotted Nami and asked her if Luffy had an older brother. After receiving her answer, he then teleported away and continued his search for Moria.



Kuma then found Moria in the dance hall in the Mast Mansion of Thriller Bark. After some formalities, he told Moria of Crocodile's replacement, Blackbeard. Though the gap in the Seven Warlords ranks had been filled up, he told Moria that he felt somewhat uneasy of the situation. Kuma then told Moria that since the Straw Hat Pirates were most likely to head toward Moria's vicinity, he should do something about them. He explained this to Moria since the World Government had grown greatly alert of the pirates since the assault on Enies Lobby. When Kuma told Moria that the World Government was afraid that the latter would be defeated, Moria became enraged. Though he was not given a specific order, Kuma offered to help Moria in dealing with the Straw Hats. Moria angrily declined Kuma's help and told him to instead sit back and watch as he himself defeated the Straw Hats. However, despite Moria's boasting, Kuma witnessed Moria get defeated by Luffy.



After the battle, Kuma then reported this to the World Government. Fearful that the rumors of Moria's defeat would cause another global uproar like with Crocodile, they ordered Kuma to kill all witnesses on Thriller Bark, including the Straw Hats. Accepting the order, he launched an attack on some of the members of the Thriller Bark Victim's Association before shifting his attention to Zoro. Kuma dueled Zoro and used his Devil Fruit ability to take down Franky, and Sanji got hurt attacking him. Knowing how unfair it was to eliminate them after they fought Moria, he created a bomb from a ball of air. He then gave them an ultimatum: let him take Luffy, and he would let them live. When they refused his offer, Kuma launched and set off the bomb, engulfing a portion of the island (in the anime, the entire island was affected).



Though this did not succeed in killing the Straw Hats, it knocked all of them out. Just when he was about to take an unconscious Luffy, Zoro, in a desperate move, struck him with Shishi Sonson in an effort to stop him. However, he was only able to damage him. The wound on Kuma's shoulder revealed that he is a Pacifista, an incomplete human weapon created by the World Government and Dr. Vegapunk. Zoro offered to trade his life for Luffy's. Kuma agreed and at that moment, Sanji decided to give his life up. Zoro promptly knocked him out, feeling it necessary to sacrifice his own life rather than Sanji's. Kuma stated that he would not harm Luffy, as his "honor would be at stake". In exchange for Zoro experiencing the pain Luffy endured throughout his fight against Moria, Kuma would leave. Kuma proceeded to extract Luffy's pain and directed it at Zoro, which almost killed him. Kuma then teleported to the entrance to the ship. Before leaving, Kuma mused about Dragon having a good son with a loyal crew.

Kuma traveled to Mary Geoise and reported to Sengoku and Monkey D. Garp about what transpired on Thriller Bark. The Fleet Admiral scolded the Warlord for letting the Straw Hats escape instead of eliminating them as ordered.

Sabaody Archipelago Arc
Having exhausted themselves by defeating a Pacifista on the Sabaody Archipelago, the Straw Hats were immediately confronted by Kizaru and Sentomaru, as well as another Pacifista, PX-1. However, the battle was interrupted by the real Bartholomew Kuma, whom Zoro recognized as the genuine article. He was surprised to find Zoro still alive, who sardonically replied that it was due to Kuma's mercy. Seemingly impressed, Kuma made Zoro vanish to the same place that he sent Perona using the same move that he used on her at Thriller Bark.



Sentomaru revealed that Kuma has the ability to make people fly through the sky to faraway places, as the destination would only be known by Kuma. An outraged Sanji got ready to battle Kuma, while PX-1 tried to attack Usopp from behind, using a beam attack. Kuma then used his Devil Fruit ability to send PX-1 away, which enraged Sentomaru. As Sanji, Usopp, and Brook tried to escape, Kuma descended on them, prepared to attack. Brook sacrificed himself and made a joke as he disappeared. Sanji told Usopp to run and landed a kick on Kuma, only to be deflected into a pile of rubble. Usopp attempted to hold Kuma back, only to be sent away as well. An enraged Sanji ran towards Kuma but was also sent away as well. Kuma then approached Rayleigh and whispered to him quietly, revealing himself to be an officer of the Revolutionary Army, and he wished to help Luffy and his crew escape.



Rayleigh questioned Kuma's motives, who responded by saying that he could choose whether to believe him or not. When Kizaru asked what Kuma said to Rayleigh, Kuma simply replied with that he would not answer Kizaru's questions. Luffy activated Gear 2 but Kuma teleported to where Franky and Nami were. Franky tried to attack Kuma by using "Strong Right" but had no effect. An enraged Luffy tried a "Jet Pistol", only to be blocked by Kuma's paws. Kuma descended on Franky and also sent him away using his Devil Fruit powers. He then approached Nami and sent her away as well.



With only Robin and a Monster Chopper left, Luffy desperately lunged at Kuma. However, Kuma simply teleported again to Robin and Chopper. Luffy started begging Kuma to stop sending his friends away, but Kuma still sent Chopper away. Robin attempted to run, but she also gets sent away by Kuma. Luffy, filled with despair and rage, fell to the ground, angry and cried that he could not even save a single friend. Kuma simply responded by saying that he would not be seeing Luffy again and ultimately sent Luffy flying, making the loss of the crew complete.

Before returning to Marineford, he visited Rayleigh to tell him something and adding that he did not have much time left. This was the last-known action made freely by Kuma before Dr. Vegapunk completed the Pacifista modifications.

Amazon Lily Arc
Kuma answered the call for the Seven Warlords to battle the Whitebeard Pirates and was later shown dining with the other Warlords, except for Jinbe and Boa Hancock.

Marineford Arc
He then appeared at Marineford alongside Mihawk, Doflamingo, Moria, and Hancock, ready for the battle ahead. When Fleet Admiral Sengoku announced the truth about Ace's heritage, Kuma showed no response to the situation, calmly waiting for the Whitebeard Pirates to appear.



When Little Oars Jr. arrived and began leaving destruction in his wake, Kuma hit him with an Ursus Shock, an attack that badly wounded Little Oars Jr. and swept both Marines and pirates alike aside. Kuma took on a solemn appearance after seeing Luffy on the battlefield. Kuma went on the offensive and fired off a beam at Ivankov, who was furious at Kuma's actions. While Luffy recognized Kuma, he did not react to seeing Ivankov up close. Doflamingo chimed in after Ivankov attempted to talk to him, informing him Kuma was dead. When Sengoku revealed that Dragon is Luffy's father, Kuma was the only Warlord not to voice his thoughts.

Doflamingo spoke on Kuma's behalf, saying that while Ivankov and Luffy seemed to know Kuma, the man standing before them was not Kuma, as Vegapunk had finished his modifications on the former Bartholomew Kuma. Doflamingo then explained to Ivankov the process Kuma volunteered to undergo, as his body was converted into a "Pacifista", with bits and pieces of him being modified at a time. While Doflamingo admitted that he did not know what kind of deal Kuma and the World Government made, he went on to say that he had retained his personality a few days ago, but became a walking corpse with no human memory, following the World Government's every command: PX-0.



Kuma then fired a laser blast from his mouth, sending Luffy and Ivankov flying aside. Kuma suddenly appeared in the middle of Ivankov's Newkama army and launched a pressure cannon through a line of Okamas. Refusing to take any more of Kuma's actions, Ivankov spun his head around with Face Spectrum to make a mirage of dozens of faces and launched Death Wink from all of them with Galaxy Wink. Ivankov then kicked Kuma and sent him flying, shouting that he would not let Kuma get away with hurting his followers.

Kuma later went to the plaza with the other Warlords when Sengoku began the final stages of his plan. After the arrival of Shanks, Kuma was seen standing down along with everyone else.

Post-War Arc


Kuma appeared again at the Sabaody Archipelago in front of the Rosy Life Riders, holding his trademark bible. Shakky was not afraid of him, stating that he was an ally. Kuma then joined them in protecting the Thousand Sunny. His reason to do so remains unclear, but Kuma had Vegapunk input a special mission into his body before losing his personality. The mission was to protect the ship, even if it costs him his life, until a Straw Hat member returns.

During the Timeskip
One year after the separation of the Straw Hat crew, the Marines discovered and tried to destroy the Thousand Sunny, but Kuma, as well as Hatchan and Duval, fought against them. Kuma continued protecting the ship after Duval and Hatchan retired, having received many injuries in that battle.

Fish-Man Island Arc


When Franky returned to the Thousand Sunny, he found Kuma heavily damaged near the ship. Upon seeing Franky, Kuma slowly walked away, having completed his mission.

Levely Arc
Sometime later, Kuma became a slave-to-rent at Mary Geoise as punishment for aiding Luffy. Rosward rented him sometime prior to the Levely.

During the Levely, Rosward had rented Kuma again, so when he heard his son had been attacked, Rosward rode on Kuma's back through the Domain of the Gods and met Charlos at the Celestial Dragon Gate. The mindless Kuma obeyed without objection, even when Rosward repeatedly stabbed and struck him.

Wano Country Arc


On the fourth day of the Levely, Kuma, while still carrying Rosward, followed Charlos, who intended to once again attempt to enslave Princess Shirahoshi. When they arrived at Pangea Castle's Socialization Plaza, Charlos had Kuma chain the mermaid. When the princess's brothers tried to rescue her from him, Charlos ordered Kuma to stop them, so he fired a laser at the princes, who dodged the attack. Seeing that they wanted to continue, Charlos furiously ordered Kuma not to hesitate to kill them. But suddenly, Donquixote Mjosgard intervened, so Charlos ordered him to kill him too, to which Kuma prepared another laser. However, Sai and Leo intervened by attacking Charlos. Kuma was then about to shoot the pirates with his laser, but Morley appeared from the ground and grabbed Kuma while begging him to stop. The giant then took her comrade and fled from their pursuers, and the two managed to escape from Mary Geoise with the other revolutionaries.

Egghead Arc


When the revolutionaries reached Momoiro Island, Dragon asked Kuma what he saw in Mary Geoise, to which Kuma complied, referring to Dragon as "Master".

Later, while the revolutionaries were in the middle of repairing him, Kuma stood up and began running, stumbling along the way and ignoring his allies' cries. Upon reaching the coast, Kuma used his Devil Fruit power to propel himself off the island. He slammed into the Red Line and fell down to Red Port. Marines were dispatched to apprehend him, while the citizens were ordered to evacuate. Despite the damage to his body and the Marines' assault, Kuma stood back up and kept climbing.



Kuma eventually did make it to the top of the Red Line, about a day before the Egghead Incident. The resident soldiers quickly attempted to restrain him but were unsuccessful. Sakazuki then appeared and confronted him, while questioning Kuma's motives and possible destination. Under orders by the World Nobles, Sakazuki managed to severely injure Kuma, burning off half of his face, as well as one of his legs. Before further damage could be done, Kuma used his Devil Fruit to escape.