Kurozumi Family

Kurozumi Family
Statistics
Japanese Name:	黒炭家
Romanized Name:	Kurozumi-ke
Official English Name:	Kurozumi Clan
First Appearance:	Chapter 700; Episode 629
Affiliation:	Wano Country (Former)‡ Beasts Pirates (Former)‡ Kyoshiro Family (Former)‡ (undercover)*
Leader(s):	Kurozumi Orochi (Former)‡
Status:	Extant

The Kurozumi Family is the family of Kurozumi Orochi, the former shogun of Wano Country.

More than 81 years ago, they were one of the six ruling families in Wano, but lost their power after a failed attempt to seize the shogunate. However, they successfully conspired another coup on the shogunate two decades ago with the help of Kaidou, resulting in Orochi becoming shogun. Since then, Orochi ruled the Wano Country with an iron fist until Kaidou decided to betray him in favor of his New Onigashima Project, causing the family to fall from power again.

After the Raid on Onigashima, the Kurozumi bloodline was all but wiped out. Currently, the only known survivor is Kurozumi Tama, though her peers appear unaware of her bloodline and she assisted the opposition to Kurozumi Orochi and Kaidou.

Crest

The Kurozumi Family crest consists of a downward-pointing pentagon surrounded by five three-pronged shapes on each side.

During the family's rule over Wano Country, the crest was displayed on various buildings, vehicles, and events associated with the shogunate.

Members

See also the associated category: Kurozumi Family.

[v · e · ?] Kurozumi Family
Kurozumi Tama	Kurozumi Kanjuro (Deceased)†	Kurozumi Orochi (Deceased)†	Kurozumi Higurashi (Deceased)†	Kurozumi Semimaru (Deceased)†
Orochi's Grandfather (Deceased)†	????? (Deceased)†	????? (Deceased)†
Subordinates
Fukurokuju (Unknown status)?	Kyoshiro Family (Former: Defected)‡	Orochi Oniwabanshu (Unknown status)?	Mimawarigumi (Former)‡	Kamazo (Unknown status)? (Former: Defected)‡
Fude Fude no Mi Creations (Deceased)†
Kazenbo	Nuke Suzume	Ryunosuke	Nekozaemon	Torasaburo
?????	?????
Allies and Affiliates (Former)‡
Beasts Pirates	CP0

[Click here to see the legend of the symbols used][Hide the legend]

•  ^{(Deceased)†}: the character is deceased.
•  ^{(Unknown status)?}: the character's status is unknown.
•  ^{(Non-Canon)≠}: the character is non-canon.
•  ^(Former)‡: the character is no longer part of this group. Hovering the symbol may give further details.
•  ^(Note)*: other relevant information. Hovering the symbol gives further details.

As the family of Wano's former shogun, the Kurozumi Family had numerous allies and retainers. In addition to the Orochi Oniwabanshu and Mimawarigumi, the Kurozumi Family was closely allied with both Kaidou's Beasts Pirates and the Flower Capital's leading yakuza organization, the Kyoshiro Family. Kyoshiro himself worked as a money changer for the Kurozumi shogunate, though his respect for Orochi appears to be questionable at best until he completely defected along with his family during the Fire Festival. The Kurozumi Family lost all connection and support when Kaidou betrayed and beheaded the shogun, and took all of his forces through an ultimatum.

History

Past

— Orochi described his family persecution to Oden.

The Kurozumi Family attacked by lynch mobs.

More than 81 years ago, the Kurozumi Family was one of the six most prominent families in Wano, with their leaders serving the Kozuki Family by ruling as daimyo over an unknown region. When the current shogun had not fathered an heir, the five daimyo became the top candidates for the position. The head of the Kurozumi Family proceeded to work toward gaining the shogunate by poisoning the other daimyo. However, his plans were foiled when the shogun suddenly fathered an heir, Kozuki Sukiyaki. At some point afterwards, the Kurozumi Family's plot was then brought to light, and they lost all of their power and possessions as their leader was sentenced to commit seppuku.

In the following years, the remaining family members were hunted and lynched by a majority of Wano's extrajudicial citizens out of self-righteousness and revenge for the deaths of the daimyo Kurozumi's leader had poisoned. For many years, everyone with the name Kurozumi was targeted, regardless of having any involvement in the crime, and were brutally beaten and killed. Kanjuro's parents were also killed as a result of this persecution. In turn, this bias persecution gave many originally innocent Kurozumi clan members such as Orochi and Kanjuro a legitimate reason to resent and hate Wano Country, having their childhood ruined and destroyed by self righteous citizens.

The three Kurozumi Family members as the shogunate.

Almost 40 years later, the grandson of the treasonous leader, Kurozumi Orochi, was approached by Kurozumi Higurashi, a fellow member of the family, who offered to help him become shogun, desiring power and wealth from his poverty along with a murderous obsession to take revenge on the Wano citizens, Orochi agreed. In the next 15 years, Orochi gathered up money and recruited Kanjuro to infiltrate the Kozuki Family and spy for the Kurozumi Family. Higurashi used her Devil Fruit ability to pose as Sukiyaki and declare that Orochi would temporarily succeed him. Orochi succeeded Sukiyaki after his death, and he would use his position as shogun to carry out his vengeance on Wano's citizens with Kaidou's support. In the following years, Orochi had weapon factories constructed throughout Wano. After Oden returned from his voyage, he tried to kill Orochi, only to be stopped by Kurozumi Semimaru. Orochi and Kaidou then made a deal with Oden, who followed their terms for five years to spare the citizens. Once a week, Oden danced naked in the streets of the Flower Capital, enduring humiliation and scorning from the citizens. On the fifth year, Orochi captured Hyogoro and killed his wife. While Oden battled Kaidou 20 years before the present day, Higurashi distracted Oden by disguising as Momonosuke, causing Oden to be defeated. Sometime later, Kaidou killed Higurashi for her interference. After Oden's execution, Toki sent her son Kozuki Momonosuke forward in time, leaving Momonosuke as a rival to the Kurozumi Family for the shogunate.

Sometime after Oden's death, Orochi accepted Kyoshiro into his services.

20 years later, Orochi was made aware of Momonosuke's return thanks to a letter from Kanjuro.

Wano Country Saga

Wano Country Arc

Orochi enjoys his power.

After CP0 tried to negotiate a deal with him, Orochi held a banquet. While warning his guests about the return of the Nine Red Scabbards, Orochi became enraged at Toko for laughing at him and then at Komurasaki for defending her, causing chaos at the banquet that led to Komurasaki's "death" and Orochi wanting Toko dead.

Thanks to information provided by Kanjuro, Orochi had all the Kozuki supporters in the Flower Capital arrested. After Yasuie got himself captured to cover for the Scabbards, Orochi saw to Yasuie's execution personally.

Kanjuro reveals himself as the spy.

Kanjuro informed Orochi of Yasuie's ruse and all rebel activity. On the night before the Fire Festival, Orochi ordered the bombings of bridges to prevent the rebels from gathering at their meeting place. On the day of the Fire Festival, Orochi departed to Onigashima and Kanjuro revealed his allegiance to Orochi before taking Momonosuke hostage.

Despite Kanjuro's efforts to warn Orochi, the rebels still gathered at the wharf of Habu, due to a mistake of Kin'emon saying to rendezvous at Tokage Port. Seeing the odds stacked against him but resolving to take the young lord, Kanjuro then drew a crane on the ground and after easily evading attempts by Kawamatsu to stand in his way, Kanjuro conjured the crane and escaped on its back. As he fled, Kanjuro claimed that he would find Hiyori and dispose of her. As the Straw Hats tried to hinder him, he used his Ukiyo Yudachi Ezu technique in order to cause disarray among the alliance. He then mocked Oden and Toki's legacy as well as Momonosuke's cowardice before flying away to Onigashima.

Orochi is beheaded by Kaidou.

Kanjuro later delivered Momonosuke to Orochi and Kaidou. With the boy in his clutches, Orochi put Momonosuke on display by tying him to a crucifix. When some of the Scabbards arrived at Onigashima's back entrance, Kanjuro confronted them and Kikunojo clashed with him. As Kaidou was announcing his New Onigashima Project, he decapitated Orochi, ending his alliance with the shogun. Kanjuro was defeated by his former allies. Both were later confirmed to have survived. Kanjuro, although grievously wounded, managed to crucially torment his former comrades with a fake Oden he drew from afar, remoting the drawing, calling this trick the perfect finale for his "performance" while looking for Momonosuke.

Meanwhile, Orochi, supported by Fukurokuju, survived his decapitation by Kaidou thanks to his Devil Fruit and started setting the castle on fire as revenge for Kaidou betraying him earlier. While they were both spreading the fire, they engaged the Nine Red Scabbards (minus Ashura and Inuarashi), with Orochi in shock about his fear from the Scabbards coming true. He then came on to taunt the Scabbards about the fact that Kanjuro was spying on them all these years, with them never noticing or suspecting while he admitted though he was surprised to see Denjiro revealed as his former subordinate, Kyoshiro. When Fukurokuju advised Orochi to stay back (as the Scabbards were unaware he had been decapitated already) Orochi boasted about them being too weakened to pose a real threat to him, transforming into his Beast Form. However, he did not expect them to engage him directly, as they cut off six of his heads from his Beast Form, seemingly killing him, with Kin'emon telling him he will be judged in hell.

Kanjuro eventually found Momonosuke, and tried to use his Oden disguise again, but Kin'emon and Kiku arrived before him and were able to protect Momonosuke before he fell for the ruse. As the samurai attacked, Kiku was severely wounded and Kin'emon delivered the final vengeful blow to the traitor. However, Kanjuro was able to deliver one final task cast upon him by Orochi by releasing Kazenbo onto the castle, as Orochi called it his final act.

Meanwhile, Orochi who also survived, secretly witness Inuarashi defeat Jack. He was then reunited with Komurasaki, laying down next to her and waiting for Fukurokuju so both could escape, asking Komurasaki to play a song. They then felt Onigashima shook from the defeat of Big Mom. Orochi began to panic, lashing out at Komurasaki's playing, and was cought by falling debris. As he discovered he is unable to transform, Komurasaki reveals that she used a Seastone nail to embolize him, and her true identity as Kozuki Hiyori, much to his horror.

Orochi then tried to excuse his actions, but Hiyori kept countering with his lack of morality and honor. At the same time, a weaken Kazenbo came back to Orochi, who tried to use him to attack Hiyori, but was burned by the spirit instead, but managed to lose the seastone nail and while still aflame, transformed and charged at Hiyori, however Denjiro came to save her beheading the tyrant again.

Still alive as a burning head, Orochi used his last breath to state that the Kurozumi will forever curse the Wano Country for generations to come. In response, Hiyori boldly stated these words:

— Kozuki Hiyori mirrors Oden's last words.

With the death of Orochi, the defeat of Kaidou, and the alliance's successful raid, the warriors of Wano declared Kozuki Momonosuke as the new shogun of Wano Country, officially ending the rule of the Kurozumi Family. With the new administration, the Kurozumi agenda was removed from the education system, and the tale of Orochi's downfall was dramatized and presented to the masses.

Trivia

• Kurozumi literally means "black charcoal" in Japanese.
  • It is the only one of the six major family names (Kozuki, Shimotsuki, Uzuki, Amatsuki, and Fugetsu) to not contain the kanji for "moon" (月, tsuki/getsu^?).
• The Kurozumi Family is the second family in which all known named members are Devil Fruits users, the first being the Gorgon Sisters.
  • Interestingly, both families have at least one member with a model of a fruit from the Hebi Hebi no Mi series, and all members having only Paramecia and/or Zoan type abilities.
    • The main difference between the Kurozumi Family and the Gorgon Sisters is that the Kurozumi Family are mostly Paramecia users with only one Hebi Hebi no Mi fruit user, whereas the Gorgon Sisters are mostly Hebi Hebi no Mi users with only one Paramecia user.
• Tama's connection with the Kurozumi was first hinted in Chapter 1051, as the characters for "Kurozumi" could be discerned on her parents' gravestones. Oda later confirmed this connection in SBS Volume 105.