Gyukimaru
Profile
A warrior-monk bandit who haunts Bandit’s Bridge in Ringo, Wano, robbing passers-by of their blades for his hoard. He took the black blade Shusui — Ryuma’s grave-sword and a Wano National Treasure — and reveres it, refusing to surrender it to Zoro. First appears Ch. 937.
Arc-by-arc updates
Wano Country — Ringo (Ch. 953) — “Gyukimaru” revealed as the fox Onimaru
- The present-day “Gyukimaru of Bandit’s Bridge” who took Shusui and whom Zoro pursued is revealed to be Gyukimaru, a shapeshifting koma-fox, in disguise — it reverts to fox form (“POOF” / どろん) on p. 17. (The Gyukimaru name/identity is borrowed; the deception is recorded — the two notes are kept distinct: Gyukimaru is the entity, Gyukimaru the assumed identity.)
- Hiyori asks for Shusui’s return to Wano and offers Zoro Enma in exchange (p. 17). See Enma Odens Sword The Only Blade To Have Wounded Kaido Offered To Zoro.
Wano Country — Bandit’s Bridge, Ringo (Ch. 952)
- Still fighting Zoro over Shusui; insists its theft began Wano’s downfall — “Its removal from our land was the start of all of our misfortune!! …until the country itself fell under enemy control!!” and “incurred the wrath of the god of the blade” (pp. 2–3).
- The fish-man Kawamatsu leaps in to stop the fight (“Cease this fight!!!”). Later a band of armed men arrives “here for revenge, Gyukimaru!!” with magnums “for wild beasts”; after Zoro cuts them down, Gyukimaru runs away again (pp. 4, 16–17).
Wano Country (Ch. 938)
Wano Country — Bandit’s Bridge, Ringo (Ch. 937) — first appearance
- A weapon-collecting warrior-monk bandit of Bandit’s Bridge who robs travelers of their blades; he holds the famed Shusui and reveres it — “You cannot possibly understand the value of the great Shusui!!!” — refusing to hand it to Zoro (pp. 6–8).
- Recounts Ryuma’s full legend on-page (Wano as “the Land of Gold,” the dragon-slaying, the “God of the Blade,” the National Treasure) and the black-blade-forging lore — Shusui blackened through Ryuma’s lifetime of battle (pp. 6–8). See Worlds Greatest Swordsman, Wano Was Once The Land Of Gold.
- Wields a bladed polearm with fast serpentine strikes and exploits openings — “I strike only when opportunity presents itself.” Zoro finds him tough; when the assassin Killer interrupts hunting the child Toko, Zoro improvises a third blade and lands Three Sword Style: Purgatory Oni Giri on both Kamazo and Gyukimaru (pp. 13–17).
- (
first_mentioned/first_appearance/last_appearanceSET 0937.)
Notes
- Etymology done : 牛鬼丸 = 牛鬼 gyūki/ushi-oni (ox-demon yokai) + 丸 maru suffix; epithet おいはぎ橋 oihagi = “highwayman.” See frontmatter
etymology.