Unveiling the Epic Quest: Can Vegapunk Restore Kuma's Lost Memories in One Piece?

Highlights

Despite his past affiliation with the Revolutionary Army and status as a Warlord of the Sea, Bartholomew Kuma consistently exhibited unpredictable conduct and defied multiple directives issued by the World Government.

After Kuma underwent his transformation into a cyborg, he tragically forfeited his free will, memories, and personality, transforming into an empty servant for the World Nobles.

It is speculated that through Vegapunk's expertise, there exists a potential avenue to restore Kuma's personality by extracting the memories stored within a bubble and subduing his former companion's consciousness. Alternatively, Jewelry Bonney's unique ability to manipulate age may offer another solution in reviving Kuma's true self.

Bartholomew Kuma's introduction in One Piece showcased his complex nature. Initially a member of the Revolutionary Army who later became a Warlord of the Sea serving the World Government, Kuma's ties with the Marines, particularly Dr. Vegapunk, led to the creation of the Pacifista project. These cyborg weapons, resembling Kuma, were stripped of their own will and forced to carry out the World Government's commands. In this process, Kuma himself underwent the transformation into a cyborg, effectively putting an end to his own existence.

However, Kuma's actions have exhibited surprising deviations from his allegiance to the World Government. During the Thriller Bark incident, he allowed the Straw Hat Pirates to escape after testing Zoro's determination, and further showcased erratic behavior in the Sabaody Archipelago Arc. It's worth noting that these occurrences took place even before the World Government erased his personality. With Vegapunk forming an alliance with the Straw Hat Pirates and Kuma's daughter, Jewelry Bonney, intriguing questions arise regarding Kuma's role in the Final Saga of One Piece. Given Vegapunk's technological expertise, is there a possibility that he could restore Kuma's personality and reunite him with his daughter?

Who Was Bartholomew Kuma?

Kuma's mysterious past has sparked much speculation. Known as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, he instilled fear in the hearts of any pirate unfortunate enough to cross his path. As a child, Kuma and his family endured capture and enslavement by the World Nobles. Tragically, his parents met untimely deaths - his mother falling victim to constant abuse and his father being fatally shot by one of the Nobles.

Despite these hardships, Kuma rose to become the ruler of the Sorbet Kingdom, acquiring immense power along the way. His incredible natural strength, inherited from his lineage in the Buccaneers tribe, and his formidable Devil Fruit ability, the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi, played crucial roles in his ascent. Eventually, he joined the Revolutionary Army and became a Warlord of the Sea, further increasing his power and reputation.

While this unconventional path may seem puzzling, it was driven by Vegapunk's interest in Kuma. This led to a deal with the World Government, granting Kuma pardon for his crimes in exchange for his cooperation in developing the Pacifista.

Even after affiliating with the World Government, Kuma exhibited erratic behavior by openly defying orders or engaging in actions that contradicted his duty as a Warlord. It was Kuma who dispatched the members of the Straw Hat Pirates to their respective destinations during the period of time when they underwent rigorous training and obtained the necessary strength to confront the pirates of the New World. Additionally, he even safeguarded the Thousand Sunny while it was docked at Sabaody during the time skip, having requested Vegapunk to program him to fulfill this responsibility as part of his ultimate Pacifista modification.

The Effects Of His Mental Demise

During his time as a Warlord, Kuma underwent a gradual transformation into a cyborg through experiments conducted by Vegapunk. This was part of the Pacifista development program, which aimed to create cybernetic clones of Kuma to serve as the World Government's enforcers. As a result, Kuma himself became a Pacifista, effectively losing his free will, memories, and individuality. The motive behind his choice to forsake his humanity and sense of self remains undisclosed, but it had significant ramifications for numerous characters.

Despite his deep hatred for the World Nobles, Kuma found himself compelled to serve them as their protector. As a consequence of his involvement in assisting Luffy, he was punished during the Levely by being transformed into a rentable slave, enduring humiliation at the hands of Saint Rosward. Shockingly, Rosward would ride atop Kuma during the Levely, subjecting him to constant physical abuse. Kuma's daughter, Jewelry Bonney, witnessed this deplorable treatment and was appalled by the World Nobles' cruelty towards her father's deteriorating state.

Since then, Kuma has displayed even more perplexing behavior. After being rescued by the Revolutionary Army from the Levely, he escaped from their base on Momoiro Island and made his way back to Mary Geoise by scaling the Red Line. Within the domain of the Celestial Dragons, Kuma unleashed chaos and confronted Fleet Admiral Sakazuki. Despite sustaining significant damage, Kuma used his repulsive ability to escape the battle, leaving Sakazuki irritated and uncertain of his whereabouts.

How Could Vegapunk Rectify His Greatest Mistake?

Given that Vegapunk left a bubble of Kuma's memories on Egghead Island, there is a slim chance that the genius scientist found a way to extract and use the contents to revive his old friend. With the vast knowledge stored in Punk Records, Vegapunk had a practical way to store the information from the bubble. It's also possible that Vegapunk suppressed Kuma's personality instead of erasing it completely, as ordered by the Five Elders. Since Kuma referred to Monkey D. Dragon as his "master" after being rescued from the Levely, this possibility remains.

Alternatively, Jewelry Bonney's ability to manipulate someone's age could be another way to revive Kuma's consciousness. The true extent of her Devil Fruit power has not been explained yet. So far, her targets retain their mental faculties and only experience physical aging, leaving open the question of whether she can bring her father back using this method. Whether he is a spy for the Revolutionaries or a servant of the World Government, Kuma remains a significant figure in the Final Saga of One Piece, especially after his involvement in the God Valley Incident was revealed.

One Piece is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

One Piece Manga - Anime One Piece is an incredible adventure-filled series that has captivated its fans for over two decades. It follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the King of the Pirates. With its compelling storyline, diverse and lovable characters, epic battles, and themes of friendship and determination, One Piece has created a vast and immersive world that keeps fans eagerly anticipating each new chapter or episode. It is a timeless masterpiece that continues to redefine the boundaries of the shonen genre, making it a must-watch or read for any anime or manga enthusiast.