It was developed by Usopp during the two year timeskip. It is first clearly seen and named when Usopp fights against the guards of Ryugu Palace.[1] Besides being more easily portable compared to the previous Kabuto (just slightly larger than his old slingshot, the Ginga Pachinko, in its default state), it retains the same design and functions, at least in its standard form. He uses it primarily in conjunction with his Pop Greens and other new attacks, but is also capable of using attacks from his old arsenal.[2]
The Kuro Kabuto can turn into a stronger form called Grow Up Kuro Kabuto (成長（グローアップ）黒カブト,Gurōappu Kuro Kabuto?)[3] upon contact with water due to a Bakun So (バクン草,Bakun Sō?, literally meaning "Chomping Grass") living inside Kuro Kabuto. In this form, the slingshot extends and the actual sling, while getting bigger, also takes on the appearance of the aforementioned carnivorous plant life form,[4] allowing it to consume large amounts of rubble around it. In the process, it grows to a large size and can use the rubble as ammunition to attack its opponents.
Attacks
Grow Up (成長（グローアップ）,Gurōappu?): After feeding Kuro Kabuto some water by connecting a pole filled with water to the base of the handle, Usopp gives it the command "Grow Up" to transform it into its "Grow Up" Kuro Kabuto form. This was first used against some attackers on Punk Hazard.[3]
Totsugeki Ryuseigun (突撃流星群,Totsugeki Ryūseigun?, literally meaning "Charging Meteor Shower"): Used in Bakun So form, the slingshot begins to feed on the debris and rocks around itself before Usopp launches the masses of rubble at his target. It was first used to defeat Buffalo and capture Caesar Clown by including some seastone handcuffs in the attack.[4] In the FUNimation simulcast subs, this is called Charging Shooting Star.
Super Grow Up (大成長（スーパーグローアップ）,Sūpā Gurōappu?): A larger version of "Grow Up", that causes Usopp's Kuro Kabuto to become Great Kuro Kabuto (グレート黒カブト,Gurēto Kuro Kabuto?). It was first seen when Usopp sniped Sugar from the old royal plateau.[5]
Bagworm (蓑虫星（バグワーム）,Baguwāmu?, literally meaning "Bagworm Star"): An extremely long ranged technique designed to incapacitate an opponent. Usopp launched it with a 3-in-1 bullet: the first is a Kayaku Boshi, used as a booster to gain some height; the second is another booster to shoot the bullet in a different direction and/or make adjustments to compensate for outside influences and to set up the final booster which delivers the intended payload. When it was first used the bullet was developed with some help from Kanjuro's Devil Fruit, and was reminiscent of Usopp's Hissatsu Ganmen Bikkuri Bako. It was used to knock out Sugar.[5]
After two years of training with Heracles, Usopp has gained mastery of a new type of powerful weapon: the Pop Green. They are seeds of hostile plants that can grow at incredible speed. According to Heracles, these seeds have various uses, especially in combat. Usopp uses these seeds as ammunition for his new slingshot. However, not all these Pop Greens are used for battle purposes, and some can be used for utility functions.
In SBS Volume 68 and the movie Z, it was revealed that Usopp has a garden on the Thousand Sunny, where he grows new Pop Greens, so they never run out.
The following is a list of techniques that utilize Pop Greens. So far, they have all been called Midori Boshi (緑星,Midori Boshi?, literally "Green Star"), Green Star in the FUNimation sub, followed by a specific name.
Midori Boshi: Devil (緑星・デビル,Midori Boshi: Debiru?, literally meaning "Green Star: Devil"): Shooting a Pop Green, Usopp creates a large Venus Flytrap which attacks his enemies. In addition to being able to eat enemies with its large mouth, it can ensnare those nearby with its vines. This was first seen used against Demaro Black, Turco, Chocolat and Mounblutain for harassing the real Nami.[6] In the Viz Manga and FUNimation simulcast subs, this is called Green Star: Devil.
Midori Boshi: Sargasso (緑星・サルガッソ,Midori Boshi: Sarugasso?, literally meaning "Green Star: Sargasso"): Usopp fires a Pop Green at his target, which then explodes into an array of resilient seaweed, strong enough to delay an avalanche of rock and earth.[7]This was first used in order to protect the Thousand Sunny from an avalanche of rock and earth. The name is similar to the Sargasso Sea, a region of the North Atlantic Ocean where ships often become tangled in weeds. In the FUNimation simulcast subs, this is called Green Star: Sargasso.
Midori Boshi: Rafflesia (緑星・ラフレシア,Midori Boshi: Rafureshia?, literally meaning "Green Star: Rafflesia"): Usopp fires a Pop Green at his enemy, not aiming for them specifically but a place near them. The pop green reveals a rather large Rafflesia flower. The flower then excretes a foul smelling odor, disabling the enemy's senses with its stench. This was first used against Hody Jones and his men.[8] In the FUNimation simulcast subs, this is called Green Star: Rafflesia. In One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 it appears as Usopp's unique action, however in the game the flower poisons nearby enemies (likely used as a replacement for its foul odor) and produce a massive explode if hit any of Usopp's fire-based attacks such as Flaming Star or Fire Bird Star (basically serving the same function as his Pre-timeskip unique actions, Special Oil Star and Breath Dial as they also explode when hit with Usopp's fire-based attacks).
Midori Boshi: Take Jave-rin (緑星・竹ジャベ林,Midori Boshi: Take Jaberin?, literally meaning "Green Star: Bamboo Javelin-Grove"): Usopp shoots a Pop Green and stalks of bamboo shoots up from the ground, stabbing and impaling anyone it crosses paths with. The name is a pun and portmanteau of "javelin" and "rin" (林,grove?). It was first used against some of the New Fishman Pirates. This is called Green Star: Bamboo Javelin in the FUNimation sub. [9]
Skull Exploding Grass blowing Daruma out of the ground.
Midori Boshi: Dokuro Bakuhatsu So (緑星・ドクロ爆発草,Midori Boshi: Dokuro Bakuhatsu Sō?, literally meaning "Green Star: Skull Exploding Grass"): Usopp shoots a Pop Green that explodes upon impact. It releases a large red explosion in the shape of a skull. It was first used to get Daruma out of the ground by literally blowing him out of the tunnel system he dug. This is called Green Star:Skull Bombgrass in the FUNimation sub. [10]
Midori Boshi: Humandrake (緑星・ヒューマンドレーク,Midori Boshi: Hyūmandorēku?, literally meaning "Green Star: Humandrake"): Usopp shoots a Pop Green on the ground that only triggers to attack opponents once they step on it, with its living roots it leaps off to the opponent causing them to get off balance. It is first used against Daruma to lure him in the "Trampolia". This is a pun to "human" and "mandrake".[11]
Midori Boshi: Trampolia (緑星・トランポリア,Midori Boshi: Toranporia?, literally meaning "Green Star: Trampolia"): Usopp shoots a Pop Green on the ground that launches anyone who gets close to it up into the air. It is shaped like a big flower with a bubble at the center. It was first used in conjunction with "Humandrake" against Daruma.[11] In the Viz Manga, this is called Green Star: Trampolia.
Usopp uses Midori Boshi: Impact Wolf to finish off Daruma.
Midori Boshi: Impact Wolf (緑星・衝撃狼草（インパクトウルフ）,Midori Boshi: Inpakuto Urufu?, literally meaning "Green Star: Impact Wolf Grass"): Usopp shoots a Pop Green into the air which then sprouts into grass that takes the shape of a wolf. The bulb where it came from that shaped like a wolf's nose can release a stunningly powerful shockwave that is three meters in diameter, which can shock an opponent. It is first used in coordination with the combination of "Humandrake" and "Trampolia" for an accurate hit against Daruma.[11]
Midori Boshi: Boaty Banana (緑星・ボーティーバナナ,Midori Boshi: Bōtī Banana?, literally meaning "Green Star: Boaty Banana"): Usopp shoots a Pop Green on to the water that turns into a banana shaped like a boat. It was first used in Punk Hazard Island to cross the lake. The boat is shown to be quite durable, withstanding the boiling water of a lake found on Punk Hazard. The name is possibly a pun on "Banana boat".[12]
Midori Boshi: Uchiwa So (緑星・団扇草,Midori Boshi: Uchiwa Sō?, literally meaning "Green Star: Fan Grass"): Usopp shoots a Pop Green which sprouts tall grass that looks like uchiwa fans on one end of it. An "uchiwa" is a non-bending hand-held fan primarily used for cooling oneself in hot weather. It was first seen in Punk Hazard Island to use as oars in conjunction with the "Boaty Banana" to cross the lake.[12]
Midori Boshi: Platanus Shuriken (緑星・プラタナス手裏剣,Midori Boshi: Puratanasu Shuriken?, literally meaning "Green Star: Platanus Shuriken") Usopp fires a Pop Green that sprouts into several star shaped plants that cut at the opponent. This was first used against Trebol.[13]Platanus is a genus of trees that have jagged star-shaped leaves.
Other Ammunition
Bakusui Boshi (爆睡星,Bakusui Boshi?, literally meaning "Burst Sleep Star"): Usopp shoots a pellet which releases a powerful sleeping gas. It was first used to sedate the berserk children on Punk Hazard.[14] However, its effectiveness weakens when it is used repeatedly on the target. In the FUNimation simulast subs it is called Sleep Star.
Fire Bird Star (火の鳥星（ファイアバードスター）,Faia Bādo Sutā?): Usopp can still use his Fire Bird Star even with his Kuro Kabuto. The color of the fire bird seems to be changed. Despite not being dressed as Sogeking, Usopp said the name of the attack in English when using Kuro Kabuto to perform it. After the timeskip this was first seen being used against Caesar Clown in a failed attempt to ignite the man's gases.[2]
Seastone Handcuffs: Used against opponents with Devil Fruit abilities, the handcuffs both neutralize the opponents power, as well as strangle them with the chain. Usopp found these handcuffs after searching Caesar's lab on Punk Hazard. It was first used against Caesar when he tried to run away from them.[4]
References
↑One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 62Chapter 613 and Episode 532, Usopp using the Kuro Kabuto against the guards of Ryugu Kingdom.
↑ 2.02.1One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 68Chapter 674 and Episode 600, Usopp uses Kuro Kabuto to perform his Fire Bird Star technique against Caesar.
