Whitebeard's Untold Connection: Unraveling the Mystery Behind Kuma and the Buccaneers in One Piece Chapter 1096
Discover the truth behind Whitebeard's connection to the enigmatic Buccaneer Race in One Piece chapter 1096 Unleash Saint Jaygarcia Saturn's terrifying power as he crushes Jewelry Bonney, Sanji, Franky, and Dr Read now on Shueisha's MANGA Plus!
One Piece chapter 1095, now available on Shueisha's MANGA Plus, showcases Saint Jaygarcia Saturn's formidable display of power against Jewelry Bonney, Sanji, Franky, and Dr. Vegapunk. Furthermore, the chapter delves into the intriguing details surrounding the enigmatic race to which Bonney's father, Bartholomew Kuma, belonged. Through Saturn's words and Bonney's recollection of Kuma's memories, readers are introduced to the Buccaneers, a formidable tribe with a troubled history similar to the god-like Lunarians, and their contentious relationship with the World Government. Characterized by their immense stature and extraordinary physical prowess, the Buccaneers trace their lineage back to the Giants, imbuing them with impressive physical capabilities.
Kuma is currently the sole survivor of the Buccaneer Race, as stated by Saturn. However, there is speculation that notable figures from recent events in the One Piece storyline, such as "Whitebeard" Edward Newgate, renowned as one of the most formidable pirates, may have had connections to this tribe. Please note that this article contains significant spoilers from the One Piece manga up to chapter 1096.
One Piece theory suggests Edward Newgate "Whitebeard" as part of Kuma's Buccaneer Race
Who is Whitebeard in One Piece?
Edward Newgate, often referred to as "Whitebeard", is widely recognized as one of the most prominent and formidable characters in Eiichiro Oda's One Piece. Once a member of the fearsome crew led by Rocks D. Xebec, he later established his own powerful group known as the Whitebeard Pirates.
Despite his immense strength, Newgate was a compassionate individual who prioritized the value of family above all else. Far more than wealth or authority, he longed for a sense of belonging and was fortunate enough to find it within the close-knit community of the Whitebeard Pirates. In fact, Newgate viewed his subordinates as his own sons, and reciprocally, they regarded him as a kindhearted father figure.
Whitebeard possesses the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, allowing him to create devastating shockwaves and tremors. During his prime, he was capable of simultaneously utilizing this fearsome Devil Fruit, known to have the potential to obliterate the world, along with the immensely powerful Advanced Conqueror's Haki, the most formidable form of Haki. With these extraordinary abilities and his tremendous physical strength, Whitebeard was able to engage in battles with Gol D. Roger, who eventually rose to become the renowned Pirate King. As a result of his incredible powers and remarkable accomplishments, Whitebeard gained the esteemed reputation of being the strongest individual in the world.
After the passing of Roger, Whitebeard rose to prominence as one of the Four Emperors, the most renowned pirate captains in the New World. Out of this elite group, he was widely regarded as the "Closest Man to the One Piece," implying his unrivaled control over the seas and potential to claim the title of Pirate King, had he desired it.
Despite his weakened state due to age and illness, Newgate made the decision to confront the Navy, who were on the verge of publicly executing Portgas D. Ace, one of his trusted subordinates. Ace, the son of Roger, had been sold to the Navy by Marshall D. Teach, also known as "Blackbeard," a former Whitebeard Pirate who had betrayed the crew by murdering a fellow member in order to seize the Dark-Dark Fruit that the latter had discovered.
The Whitebeard Pirates suffered a devastating defeat in the Paramount War, also known as the Marineford battle. Despite receiving assistance from various allies, the crew was overwhelmed by the overwhelming force of the Navy, resulting in the tragic deaths of both Newgate and Ace on the battlefield.
What links Edward Newgate with the Buccaneer Race?
The latest chapter of One Piece has revealed that Buccaneers are noticeably larger than typical humans, although not quite as enormous as Giants. They possess a bulky upper body, with thick arms and square-shaped heads. Along with their distinct physical features, they exhibit an extraordinary level of physical strength.
Among the potential descendants of the Buccaneers, Edward Newgate "Whitebeard", also known as the World's Strongest Man, is highly anticipated. Similar to Kuma, who stands at a towering 689 cm, Newgate measures an impressive 666 cm, surpassing the average height of a human yet not reaching the proportions of a Giant.
One Piece's peculiar tendency to depict characters of varying sizes within the franchise undoubtedly complicates the matter. Numerous individuals in the series, including the Admirals, Doflamingo, Katakuri, King, and others, exhibit extraordinary height despite not belonging to the Giant Race.
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Eiichiro Oda, the author of One Piece, seems to purposefully give certain characters an imposing height to highlight their power. It is interesting to note that this is mostly reserved for the antagonists, as their towering stature adds an extra layer of intimidation. On the other hand, the protagonists are portrayed as the brave underdogs who fearlessly confront their formidable opponents.
The striking physical similarity between Newgate and Kuma during their childhood is another intriguing clue. Oda provided a glimpse of Kuma as a child in the SBS column of volume 73, as well as in the recent chapter 1095 of the manga through a flashback. On the other hand, the appearance of a teenage Newgate was revealed in the SBS of volume 70.
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When comparing the drawings side by side, the similarities between the two are easily noticeable. Their face shape, particularly the pronounced chin, is the most obvious resemblance, even as they grew older. It must be acknowledged that in terms of appearance, the young Kuma and Newgate bear a striking resemblance to each other.
When it comes to the Buccaneers' distinctive trait of extraordinary physical strength, Newgate fulfills all the requirements. Fans of One Piece can vividly recall the remarkable feats he demonstrated during the Marineford battle, which are even more remarkable considering his age and ill health.
For example, Vice Admiral John Giant, a Giant in both stature and reputation, attempted a powerful two-handed downward sword swing, only to have it effortlessly blocked by the protagonist with their naginata held with just one hand. Another display of their incredible strength was effortlessly halting the advance of an immense paddle ship using just a single hand.
Whitebeard's health deteriorated rapidly after he made the decision to discontinue life support and medication. Surprisingly, despite enduring numerous life-threatening injuries inflicted by highly skilled opponents, he demonstrated extraordinary pain tolerance by persistently engaging in combat.
Amidst the battle, Admiral Kizaru targeted Whitebeard's chest with a laser, while Admiral Akainu burned through his torso and even caused a portion of his head to be obliterated. Additionally, Whitebeard endured countless other injuries from stabs, gunshots, and cannonballs. Nonetheless, he valiantly fought on, ultimately defeating Blackbeard, who had dared to challenge him to a one-on-one duel.
Despite enduring extensive damage, Whitebeard, already weakened by old age and sickness, eventually succumbed only when confronted by the entire Blackbeard crew. Remarkably, he met his demise standing, displaying a remarkable level of tenacity that left everyone astounded.
Many characters in One Piece, like Garp, Rayleigh, Shanks, Mihawk, Oden, Zoro, Kid, and more, are normal humans who demonstrate exceptional physical abilities without relying on Haki. This suggests that their impressive skills may be attributed to rigorous training. However, in the case of Whitebeard, it remains uncertain whether his extraordinary strength and endurance result from genetics, training methods, or a combination of both. One plausible explanation could be Whitebeard's affiliation with the Buccaneer Race.
All things considered, it's challenging, if not unattainable, to differentiate Buccaneers from individuals who are exceptionally tall and large without conducting a formal blood test. In fact, the World Government implements blood tests as the primary means to monitor and identify members belonging to the Buccaneer Race.
Awaiting the forthcoming One Piece chapters for further revelations about the Buccaneers, which may include additional members of the tribe besides the already revealed Bartholomew Kuma, the idea that Newgate belonged to this ethnic group remains speculative, albeit with reasonable foundations.
Notably, Edward Newgate, similar to Kuma, experienced orphanhood. It is plausible that the World Government targeted Newgate's family on the grounds of their affiliation with the Buccaneers, and the subsequent loss of his parents may have motivated him to establish his own family by uniting outcasts from various backgrounds.
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