Summary
The Straw Hats are the main characters of theOne Piecestory as the loyal crew of the man who is going to become the Pirate King in the future. Because of this, they tend to have very intricate and important backstories that have shaped them into the people they are today, as well as lofty ambitions that have made them ally themselves with Luffy in the first place, realizing that the completion of his journey will complete theirs as well.
However, Zoro is one character who, despite being the first official member of the crew, still has a vague backstory. While manyOne Piecefans are convinced that not everyone needs to have a layered origin,Zoro has always stood out as an exception, with a very prevalent theory connecting his background with that of a member of the Gorosei. So, let’s take a look at this connection and see why this theory makes sense.
Nusjuro’s First Appearance
One Piece, Chapter 233, “The World’s Greatest Power”
Zoro’s backstory was revealed to fans very early on in the series. Here, it is explained that he was an orphan who grew up in Shimotsuki Village andtrained to be a master swordsman his entire life, inspired by his best friend Kuina, who shared the same dream. However, she died very early on, creating the resolve within Zoro to become the World’s Strongest Swordsman to honor her.
For the longest time, this was all that fans got, which many even commented on as being strange, considering all other Straw Hats, including Luffy, had gotten a fleshed-out origin story. Eventually, something more was alluded to in the Wano arc, where it was revealed that Zoro can trace his lineage back to this mythical land, starting with none other than the greatest swordsman in history; Shimotsuki Ryuma. However, despite this incredible reveal, it wasn’t further expanded upon.
Still, it gives fans a foundation for this specific theory. Essentially, way before the start of the series, a group of samurai left Wano to search for a new homeoutside the rule of Kaido, eventually landing on what would later be known as Shimotsuki Village. It was revealed that among these pilgrims was Zoro’s grandfather, who would eventually settle on the island. He married a woman called Shimotsuki Furiko, who was the older sister of the last Daimyo of Ringo in Wano, named Shimotsuki Ushimaru. Right here is the connection between Zoro and Ryuma.
Something that is quite unique about Zoro’s family line is the resemblance that many of the male members have to Ryuma and one another, as seen with Zoro and Ushimaru’s likeness. The best evidence of this was when Zoro’s connection to Ryuma was first revealed in the Wano arc, where the revelation of Ryuma also being a one-eyed swordsman was made. Because of this, a similar connection can be made for other aspects.
Ushimaru was a great master swordsman, a direct descendant of the God of the Blade, Shimotsuki Ryuma! And this young man was the one to finally return Shusui to Wano! It must be fate or something… After all, Ryuma was a one-eyed samurai!
Among the group of people who left Wano many decades ago, the chief of them was none other than the legendary Shimotsuki Kouzaburou,the creator of Enma and Wado Ichimonji. It was him who the village was named after, and his son, Shimotsuki Koushiro, eventually began to teach swordsmanship to children on the island, which is how Zoro and Kuina met. One notable trait about Koushiro is the fact that he is one of the few characters in the entireOne Pieceseries who wears glasses.
The crux of this theory lies here. Since many members of Zoro’s family tree have a striking resemblance to Ryuma, there could be a chance for another trait to be passed down the Shimotsuki line to other members, which is, hilariously enough, bad eyesight. While this does seem like a stretch, it should be noted that very few characters inOne Piecewear glasses, but Koushiro being one of them seems to be a very deliberate choice by Oda to connect him to none other than St. Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro.
The theory states that the other facet that’s passed down the Shimotsuki line is the need to wear glasses, which may just have been passed from Nusjuro, since he is an immortal Elder who could have been active at the same time as Ryuma. More than this,Nusjuro is the only one of the Goroseiwho doesn’t wear a suit, instead opting for robes which, as many had already guessed, are the same as those worn in Wano. Due to both of these aspects, it’s not difficult to assume that Nusjuro may have originally been from Wano.
Moreover, his last name, Nusjuro, is the only one within the ranks of the Elders that sounds Japanese, as compared to the Western names of the others. It has always been believed that Zoro and Nusjuro would fight in the Final War, so such a connection would make their eventual clash even more likely and impressive to behold, where Nusjuro may finally give far more insight into Zoro’s and Ryuma’s special connection and origin. Plus, the fact that he wields the Shodai Kitetsu is perhaps the most damning evidence connecting him to Wano and everything else about this theory.
How Likely Is Such A Connection Between These Two?
The Likelihood Of Zoro And Nusjuro Being Related
All in all, there is a high possibility for Zoro and Nusjuro to be related through their bloodline. Aside from the clear connections that Nusjuro has to Wano and the Shimotsuki line due to his appearance, clothes, and weapon, this theory links up with the world ofOne Pieceas well. It was revealed that,after Joyboy was defeated 800 years ago, the leaders of the 20 allied nations that formed the World Government eventually all moved to Marijoa, leaving their homes behind in the process, except for the Nefertari family.
So, it may be that Nusjuro was the leader of Wano during this time but left his home behind to become one of the leaders of the Celestial Dragons. In doing so, the remaining members of the Shimotsuki line may have taken his place and protected Wano from all external forces for centuries until Kaido went there himself. This may be a far-fetched theory, but ultimately, all the connections do seem to make a lot of sense.
