Tsuru

Vice-Admiral Tsuru (つる中将), the "Great Tactician" (大参謀), is one of Sengoku's direct subordinates at the base in the Holy Land Mariejois.

Appearance
Tsuru is a thin and elderly woman (similar in appearance to Dr. Kureha, but older-looking, yet probably younger) with gray hair tied in a bun. Her attire appears to be less formal than the ones worn by other high-ranking officers, consisting of a shirt left hanging out, with the sleeves rolled up and a tie around her neck, and calves-long pants, which somehow make her resemble the animal of her name, the crane. She sports earrings made of beads, and on her right wrist she has two bracelets.

Twenty-seven years ago, she had blonde hair and sported a similar attire; however, she was still wrinkled, suggesting that she is very old.

Personality
You're a million years too early to defeat me. A veteran marine who is not without wisdom for her age. She seems extremely knowledgeable; she knew who set the Marines to fight each other in the Marine and Shichibukai meeting when all others thought the two were simply messing around, and knew who Laffitte was on sight. She is not above telling off the younger marines that show concern for her well being when she steps up to fight the incoming pirates at Marine HQ. She then justifies her being on the front line with the other Vice Admirals by stating there is no longer a safe place left in the world for her to run to anyway. According to Garp, she is a kind-hearted woman which it doesn't show very often in the manga or the anime.

Abilities and Powers
Tsuru is a Marine who is well skilled in tactics, being able to formulate the next step right on the spot, earning her the nickname "Great Tactician".

Haki
It was stated that all Vice Admirals possess Haki, so Tsuru can also use the ability. However, she has not yet been shown using it.

Devil Fruit


Tsuru ate the Woshu Woshu no Mi, a Paramecia-class Devil Fruit that allows her to literally "wash and hang out to dry" people and objects as if they were clothes, turning them into flat and malleable like clothes. This disables the opponents by rendering them unable to move. This can also "clean" a limited amount of evil off of the victims, which is considered a dangerous ability against pirates.

Before Great Pirate Era
27 years ago, Tsuru is seen walking with fellow Vice Admirals Monkey D. Garp, Jaguar D. Saul, Kuzan and Sakazuki. Garp asks her to borrow a ship, but she refuses because the latter always breaks ships.

Jaya Arc
Tsuru is seen present for the gathering of the Shichibukai to choose a replacement for Crocodile.

Marineford Arc
Tsuru is next seen at Marineford, saying comforting words to Garp concerning the upcoming execution of Portgas D. Ace. Upon Whitebeard's arrival, she comments on the illogicality of his position and joins the other Vice Admirals when his division commanders begin their attack. Although Vice Admiral Yamakaji expresses concern for her safety during the attack, Tsuru stays on the front lines, stating that she is as safe there as anywhere else.

She is next seen observing that Little Oars Jr. was bigger than any giant. She is then seen receiving Sengoku's order to prepare for the next part of the Marine's plan after having dealt with several pirates using her powers.

She later goes to the plaza when Sengoku starts to execute the final stage of his plan. After Shanks' arrival and call for a ceasefire, she is seen standing down along with the other marines.

Anime and Manga Differences
In her first appearance in the anime, she doesn't say anything. In the manga, she talks to Donquixote Doflamingo, ordering him to be a good boy and calm down.

Trivia

 * Eiichiro Oda has stated that he tends to name female characters after birds. The tradition continues with Tsuru, whose name means "Crane". Her name can also be translated as "to hang" depicting her ability.
 * Tsuru is introduced as Marineford's second-in-command despite being a Vice Admiral. Whether she holds more power than a normal Vice Admiral is unknown.
 * She might be based on the japanese myth of the Datsue-ba as both are old women who have powers involving clothes and who judge the sinful (in tsuru's case, she is a marine who punishes criminals - in the monster's case, it strips and punishes criminals after death).