Zoro is a swordsman who uses the distinctive three-swords method, therefore he is very meticulous about the quality of his weapons. He only makes use of fine swords that have seen their share of bloody conflicts because of this. The Shusui is one of the swords he possessed and used regularly until the Wano Country Arc.
One of the most sought-after katana in the world is the Shusui. After all, it is one of the rare “Black Blade” swords in addition to being one of the “21 Great Grade Swords.” Nevertheless, the exploits of Shusui’s former owner, the renowned warrior Ryuma, are what gave it its fame.
Regretfully, not many people are aware of Ryuma’s true identity. So let’s take this opportunity to discuss the life of Shimotsuki Ryuma, the renowned samurai and the first person to wield the magnificent Shusui.
The Samurai’s Birth
A little child named Shimotsuki Ryuma was born in Ringo, the northernmost province of Wano Country, centuries before the events of One Piece. Although the story never mentions the boy’s parents, we can infer that he was a member of the Shimotsuki Clan, a lengthy line of Daimyo from Ringo, because he goes by the name “Shimotsuki.” This indicates that Ryuma was a true noble.
In contrast to other regions of the nation, Ringo experiences year-round snowfall. This is most likely one of the causes of Ringo residents’ reputation as some of Wano’s roughest residents. For them, being a warrior was essentially a way of life.
Actually, every youngster in Ringo is required to get a katana according to tradition. Throughout their lives, they will wield this katana, and it will be used as their burial mark after they die.
The Legend’s Rise
One of the early short stories written by Eiichiro Oda, the author of One Piece, Monsters, which is included in the Wanted collection of short stories, portrayed the life of the young Ryuma. In the story, Ryuma is probably in his late teens or early twenties based on his appearance.
The youthful Ryuma made the decision to leave Wano and explore the outside world. Ryuma continued to utilize a standard katana at this period, suggesting that he would eventually come into Shusui on his travels.
When someone was in need, he was always there to help. In one swipe, he even severed the throat of a huge dragon to protect a tiny village from its furious onslaught. Because of this, word of his skill as a swordsman spread gradually but steadily throughout the world.
Before long, the people he rescued began referring to him as “The Great Swordsman King.” The man, however, didn’t even understand that he was regarded as one of the world’s greatest swordsmen because he didn’t really care about fame.
With the magnificent Shusui in his palm, Ryuma eventually made his way back to his native Wano Country years later. Wano was supposed to have had very bad times throughout those periods.
Wano was constantly under attack from numerous foreign invaders who wanted to take over the nation. And once more, it was Shimotsuki Ryuma who stepped up to the plate, daring to oppose these invaders, and inspired the Wano people to defend the nation as a whole.
According to legend, Ryuma and his beloved Shusu even slew a dragon that soars over the capital. He became known as the God of the Blade and the Hero of Wano for his heroic deed.
Regretfully, Ryuma was unable to live a long life. He died of an unidentified illness at the age of 47. His remains were interred in the shrine constructed in Ringo’s Northern Cemetery, his hometown.
Additionally, his cherished sword, Shusui, was used to mark his gravesite, exactly like the other Ringo residents. Ryuma and his sword were named the “National Treasure of Wano” in honor of the powerful hero and Wano’s savior.
Life After Death
The Eternal Grave is a distinctive custom in Ringo. The bodies of those buried in Ringo will be totally frozen due to the frigid climate. This implies that the bodies buried in Ringo will remain largely undamaged even after centuries have gone.
For this reason, the pirate Gecko Moria took Ryuma’s body and his blade, Shusui, some 23 years prior to the current One Piece plot. He intended to use zombies created from the remains of well-known heroes and fighters to bolster his crew. Moria took Brook’s shadow and inserted it into Ryuma’s body in order to bring her corpse back to life.
It’s obvious that the new Ryuma lacks his former strength. He was only a zombie, after all, and could only employ Brook’s sword skills. Nevertheless, Brooke’s skill can still be taken to a new level by the might of Ryuma’s body and sword.
Zorro has the opportunity to confront the zombie Ryuma in a lethal battle during the Thriller Bark Arc. Zorro wins the duel after gaining the upper hand. He gave Zorro his favorite blade, Shusui, as a sign of respect between the two swordsmen.
Since then, Zorro has always used Shusui in his battles. That is, until the Wano Country Arc, where Hiyori ordered him to return Shusui to Wano. It remains Wano’s national treasure, after all.
In return for Zorro’s agreement, Hiyori gave him another legendary sword, Enma, which was used by her father, Kozuki Oden, who she loved. As a result, Ryuma’s sword eventually returns to its proper location, even if his body was incinerated in Thriller Bark.
Read the legendary story of Shimotsuki Ryuma and his recognizable sword, Shusui, in greater detail! Learn more about the characters and the intriguing world of One Piece. For the most recent information on your favorite shows, character profiles, and in-depth analyses, visit Editorials24. Don’t pass this up!