Raizo in One Piece

Forty-one years ago, Raizo lived as a bandit in Udon. He was known for kidnapping women and getting into fights with men. However, when Kozuki Oden and his followers came to Udon, Raizo begged to join the samurai. He was tired of his life in the shadows.

Two years later, Oden and his followers brought order to the lawless region of Kuri. Oden became a daimyo and turned his followers into retainers.

Six years later, Raizo and the other retainers went to Hakumai to steal money from its daimyo, Shimotsuki Yasuie, due to Oden's lack of funds. They were caught but were surprised when Yasuie willingly gave them the money. Yasuie's condition for giving them the money was that they educate themselves to become proper retainers for the future shogun.

They trained for three years and accompanied Oden in a procession to the Flower Capital, where they impressed the citizens with their dignified behavior. In the same year, Oden left Wano to pursue a pirate crew that had landed on the coast. His retainers opposed his decision. Two weeks later, Oden, along with Izou, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi, went missing at the same time the pirates departed.

Four years later, Oden's father Sukiyaki died, and Kurozumi Orochi became the shogun in Oden's absence. Orochi ruled alongside the pirate Kaido. Oden, Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, along with Oden's new wife Toki and their children Momonosuke and Hiyori, returned to Wano.

After Oden announced his plan to head out to sea again, leaving Inuarashi and Nekomamushi behind with his family, the retainers were upset. Six months later, most of them decided to stop Orochi's terrible working conditions in Wano's weapons factories. Inuarashi and Kawamatsu stayed to protect Oden's family. Their campaign was halted when they found out Kaido's forces were going after Momonosuke and injured Toki in the process.

When Oden returned six months later, the retainers informed him about the changes in Wano. They told him about the pirates' attack, which led Oden to go after Orochi, despite Toki's pleas. Oden couldn't remove Orochi from power and started dancing naked in the Flower Capital once a week for five years, without explaining why.

Following those five years, Oden and his retainers discovered the tragedy inflicted on the yakuza boss Hyogoro and his followers by Kaido's orders. In response, Oden gathered his followers to take on Kaido and headed to Onigashima island.

They encountered Kaido and the Beasts Pirates at Udon, leading to a fierce battle. Raizo fought King and sustained a cut to his forehead, but they were eventually defeated and captured after Kaido defeated Oden. Oden and his nine retainers were imprisoned in the Flower Capital and sentenced to execution by boiling.

On the day of their execution, Oden and his followers were brought to a large pot of boiling oil. Oden proposed a deal to Kaido: if any of them could withstand the boiling for one hour, they would be set free. Kaido agreed to this deal. Oden then used a giant plank of wood to create a platform in the pot, and he and his subordinates sat on it to stay out of harm's way.

Oden managed to endure the boiling oil for the entire hour. He declared that he would still die but instructed his subordinates to open Wano's borders in preparation for the arrival of a significant figure that the world had been waiting for over 800 years. Denjiro wanted to die alongside Oden, but Raizo silenced him and agreed to carry out their master's dream.

Once the hour passed and Oden was still alive, Orochi changed the agreement. He ordered the samurai to be executed by a firing squad instead. Oden threw his retainers out of the pot before being shot and killed by Kaido.

The retainers immediately rushed to Kuri to protect Oden's family. However, upon their arrival, they found that Kaido and his crew had already reached Kuri Castle and set it on fire. Inside the castle, Raizo, Kin'emon, Kanjuro, Kikunojo, and Kawamatsu found Toki, along with Momonosuke and Hiyori.

Toki revealed that she had the power to travel into the future but that her journey would end with Oden's death. She transported Raizo, Kin'emon, Kanjuro, Kikunojo, Momonosuke, and herself into the future, and they pledged to fulfill Oden's dream of opening Wano's borders.

After being transported 20 years into the future, the samurai found themselves in the ruins of the burned-down Kuri Castle. They discovered grave markings with their names on them and realized that Wano had become a polluted wasteland under the continued rule of Orochi and Kaido.

Despite the grim situation, the samurai managed to find allies who remained loyal to the Kozuki Family. They immediately began plotting another attack against Kaido. Raizo, Kin'emon, Kanjuro, and Momonosuke set sail to recruit more allies for their cause, with the intention of going to Zou, a land that had been allied with the Kozuki Family for centuries.

However, their departure was noticed by scouts from the Beasts Pirates, and they were pursued. A storm at sea separated Raizo from the rest of the group.

Raizo eventually reached Zou, where he reunited with Inuarashi and Nekomamushi. He also met the Mink Tribe living in the Mokomo Dukedom. Unfortunately, Jack and his Beasts Pirates invaded Zou in search of Raizo, forcing the minks to hide the ninja inside a cave to protect him.

Zou Arc

Seventeen days after Jack's invasion of Zou, Raizo remained hidden in a cave and was deeply saddened by the injuries suffered by the minks who brought him food. He pleaded with them not to sacrifice their lives for him and to surrender him to the enemy. However, Kin'emon, Kanjuro, Momonosuke, Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, the Straw Hat Pirates, and Trafalgar Law arrived at the cave, reuniting with Raizo.

After introducing Raizo to the Straw Hat Pirates and Law, they asked him to demonstrate his ninja techniques. Raizo initially refused but relented after seeing the others' disappointment. He showcased various ninjutsu moves. Raizo then left the cave with Kin'emon and Kanjuro, witnessing the destruction caused by Jack's attack. They returned to the cave where the Straw Hats learned about the Road Poneglyph from Inuarashi and Nekomamushi.

When questioned about their knowledge of the Poneglyphs, the samurai revealed the history of the Kozuki Family's connection to the stones and the mission to defeat Kaido and open Wano's borders. They asked the Straw Hats and Law for assistance in their quest, and the alliance was formed, with Momonosuke taking charge of the agreement. This marked the beginning of the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance.

The alliance left the cave and made their way to the city, where the minks joyfully welcomed Raizo and threw a celebration to mark his safety. Overwhelmed with emotion, Raizo expressed his love for all of them.

Suddenly, Zou started shaking, but Momonosuke, guided by a mysterious voice in his head, learned that this was due to Jack's return and attack on Zunesha, the massive elephant that carried Zou on its back. Momonosuke commanded Zunesha to repel Jack, and the shaking stopped as Zunesha submerged Jack's fleet.

After the event, Momonosuke decided to stay on Zou a bit longer to communicate further with Zunesha while the others continued their journey to Wano. They bid farewell to Monkey D. Luffy and his team as they set out for Whole Cake Island to rescue their crewmate Sanji.

Wano Country Arc

The samurai, along with the Straw Hats who didn't accompany Luffy, and the Heart Pirates, traveled to Wano aboard the Polar Tang, a submarine. Kin'emon instructed them to blend in with the locals as they started their plan to gather allies for the upcoming battle.

Sometime later, Luffy's group arrived in Wano, but Luffy was defeated and captured by Kaido. Raizo infiltrated the Prisoner Mine in Udon, where Luffy was held, and located the key to the Seastone handcuffs restraining him. He informed Luffy about the key but revealed that it was stored in a Seastone chest heavily guarded, which would take some time to obtain. After several days, Raizo managed to steal the key and watched Luffy confront the Beasts Pirates' All-Star Queen.

While hiding, Raizo was approached by his old comrade, Kawamatsu, who was locked in a nearby cell. However, they were spotted by the Beasts Pirates, forcing Raizo to use a smoke bomb to escape. He continued to observe as Queen released Luffy from his handcuffs, leaving him puzzled about whose cuffs he had retrieved the key for.

Later that day, Raizo realized he held the key for a pirate named Caribou's handcuffs and freed him. Caribou, with his Numa Numa no Mi powers, hid Raizo inside his body. Under the cover of darkness, they headed to the ring where Luffy and Hyogoro were held for the "Sumo Inferno" game orchestrated by Queen. Raizo met with Luffy and Hyogoro and discussed the plan for the upcoming war. Hyogoro revealed that many prisoners in the jail were rebels against Orochi, and they could become valuable allies for their cause.

Before returning to hiding, Raizo and Caribou provided Luffy and Hyogoro with Queen's oshiruko stash. Later, Raizo watched a broadcast where Orochi and his men executed Yasuie, who used his final words to support their alliance. Raizo expressed his gratitude for Yasuie's sacrifice.

Caribou came up with a plan to disrupt communication from the prison to the rest of the country using his swamp powers. This chaos allowed Raizo to re-enter the Officer's Tower, steal all the keys, and free Kawamatsu. Afterward, he encountered Kikunojo, who had come to rescue Luffy. Following Hyogoro's advice, they revealed their true identities to the prisoners to fulfill the prophecy of their return.

Raizo, Kikunojo, and Kawamatsu, along with Luffy, Chopper, and the other prisoners, prepared to fight for control of the prison. They successfully overpowered the Beasts Pirates, and Raizo played a crucial role by providing keys to free Eustass Kid. However, when the prisoners were infected with Queen's Mummy virus and turned against them, Luffy managed to convince them to fight for their freedom. With the prisoners now on their side, they defeated the Beasts Pirates and took control of the Prisoner Mine.

After the battle at the Prisoner Mine, Raizo and Kawamatsu faced scrutiny from the prisoners due to Luffy being a pirate and doubts about Raizo's time travel claims. However, Momonosuke revealed himself to the crowd, confirming the truth of the prophecy. With these issues settled, Kawamatsu left with the promise to reunite with the other Scabbards for the final battle in 8 days.

The next day, Raizo witnessed Tama using her Devil Fruit power to tame the Gifters, tricking the Beasts Pirates into thinking everything was normal in Udon. Raizo contacted Kin'emon to share this significant development and expressed concern about the lack of weapons for their new allies.

Two days later, Raizo met up with all the Scabbards except for Nekomamushi and Denjiro, along with members of the Straw Hats, for a strategy meeting. Kawamatsu revealed that Oden's daughter Hiyori was alive, bringing joy to the Scabbards. They planned to meet at Tokage Port, the new destination revealed by Yasuie's modified secret message, instead of the original location, Habu Port. The day before the raid, the Scabbards, Shinobu, and Momonosuke went to Tokage Port to prepare for the arrival of the rest of the alliance.

The next day, when the Scabbards arrived at Tokage Port, they discovered no one there, and the ships had been destroyed in what appeared to be an attack. Inuarashi found a small boat that remained intact, leaving them no choice but to set sail immediately, intending to avenge Oden. Momonosuke stayed behind with Shinobu.

As they navigated stormy waters, Kin'emon began to suspect that someone among them might be leaking information to the enemy. Kanjuro then confessed that he was the traitor and revealed his allegiance to the Kurozumi Family. The Scabbards confronted three Beasts Pirates battleships, and Kin'emon beheaded Kanjuro. However, it turned out that the Kanjuro they killed was just one of his drawings. The real Kanjuro appeared on the shore and captured Momonosuke.

Luckily, the Straw Hat, Heart, and Kid Pirates arrived to rescue the Scabbards from the Beasts Pirates. The Heart Pirates surfaced the Polar Tang beneath the Scabbards' boat. While their pirate allies battled the Beasts Pirates, the Kyoshiro yakuza family pledged their support to the Kozuki Family, with their leader Kyoshiro revealing himself as Denjiro.

Denjiro had freed a thousand imprisoned samurai loyal to the Kozuki Family from the Flower Capital. The rest of the alliance's forces were also approaching, as Yasuie's altered message had instructed them to go to the Habu Port wharfs instead of Tokage Port as originally thought by Kin'emon.

Kanjuro used his drawing powers to create a bird that carried him and Momonosuke into the air, allowing them to escape from the alliance by attacking them with ink bullets. The remaining Beasts Pirates ship initially appeared to retreat but then began bombarding the alliance's ships with long-range cannons. However, their ship was suddenly destroyed by Jinbe, a fish-man who had joined the Straw Hats.

As they approached Onigashima, the Scabbards and pirates discussed their plan, which involved splitting their forces into three groups. The Straw Hat and Kid Pirates would lead a direct assault on the front entrance of Kaido's fortress. Kin'emon and Denjiro would lead the samurai forces around the Skull Dome to the secret rear entrance. The rest of the Scabbards would travel to the rear of the island on the Polar Tang with Law, who would teleport them directly to the rear entrance.

While finalizing their plan, the Scabbards were surprised to see the Straw Hats quickly defeating the Torii Guards as they made their way to Onigashima. The alliance forces then moved onto the island, with the Scabbards and Heart Pirates submerging underwater to approach the rear. Inuarashi received a call from Nekomamushi, who had just arrived with the Guardians to join the raid.

Once they reached the back of the island, Law successfully teleported the Scabbards onto the land. They reunited with Nekomamushi and were pleasantly surprised to see Izou as well, further strengthening their forces for the upcoming battle.

The Scabbards, although initially happy to be reunited, were confronted by Kanjuro and several samurai who were accompanying him. Kikunojo engaged in a battle with Kanjuro and managed to defeat him before Kin'emon and Denjiro arrived. Raizo was deeply saddened by Kanjuro's defeat.

The Scabbards, along with Izou, then entered Kaido's fortress and made their way to the Live Stage. There, they launched a fierce attack on Kaido, driving their weapons into his body with the intention of killing him. Their strikes, powered by their strong Ryuo, managed to pierce Kaido's tough skin, causing him to bleed, but he remained quite healthy.

Kaido transformed into his dragon form and flew up to the roof of the Skull Dome to create more space for the battle. The Scabbards grabbed onto him to follow. Jack led a group of Beasts Pirates to the roof to support Kaido, while the minks activated their powerful Sulong transformation under the full moon. The minks and Jack's forces engaged in a fierce battle, leading to mutual destruction. When Inuarashi and Nekomamushi used their own Sulong forms to defeat Jack, Kaido confronted the Scabbards directly.

Once again, the Scabbards used their Ryuo to cut Kaido, and Raizo used his Maki Maki no Jutsu to intercept and redirect Kaido's fire breath attack, causing further damage to Kaido. However, Kaido retaliated by using blades of wind, and in his human form, he easily overwhelmed the Scabbards with his kanabo. They were left bloodied and unconscious.

Shortly after, Luffy, Zoro, Law, Kid, and Killer arrived on the roof to face Kaido and Big Mom. Law teleported the Scabbards to the Treasure Repository inside the castle to tend to their injuries. In the repository, they were cared for by an unknown person, who disappeared before they woke up. They appeared to recognize this person but were astonished by their identity.

They were about to resume their battle, but then they were greeted by a seemingly alive and well Kozuki Oden. "Oden" claimed to have time-traveled to the future thanks to Toki's powers, and most of the Scabbards believed him. However, Raizo and Ashura Doji raised doubts about "Oden," reminding the others that Toki's ability could only send people into the future and not the past. Their skepticism was confirmed when an attack by Ashura revealed that "Oden" was actually a drawing created by Kanjuro.

Kanjuro spoke through the drawing, revealing his intent to find and kill Momonosuke before he succumbed to his wounds. The drawing of Oden then ignited a large amount of dynamite with the intention to blow up the Scabbards. Ashura tackled the drawing out of the room, sacrificing himself in the process to protect his comrades. This horrific act left the Scabbards filled with anger and determination to find and stop Kanjuro from harming Momonosuke.

However, they were suddenly confronted by Jack. Inuarashi chose to stay behind to battle the All-Star, allowing the rest of the Scabbards to continue their mission. After their encounter with Jack, the Scabbards faced Orochi, who transformed into the Yamata no Orochi. In a swift combined attack, the Scabbards managed to decapitate all of Orochi's heads. As the other Scabbards continued their mission, Raizo stayed behind to confront Fukurokuju, the leader of the Orochi Oniwabanshu.

Raizo questioned why Fukurokuju would serve a man as wretched as Orochi, but Fukurokuju insisted it was his duty to serve the shogun. He also belittled Raizo and his comrades, referring to them as nothing more than ghosts. Raizo used his Bunshin no Jutsu to create multiple copies of himself, but Fukurokuju was able to identify his real body and attacked it using his earlobes.

Fukurokuju criticized Raizo's emotional attachment, believing it hindered his effectiveness as a ninja, but Raizo disagreed with this perspective. Both Raizo and Fukurokuju ended up in each other's paralysis jutsu, preventing them from moving further and demanding that one of them releases it first.

While the jutsu was in effect, Raizo's nio-dasuki caught fire, and Fukurokuju mocked him for surviving the flames, implying his immunity due to his connection to Oden. However, Raizo remained determined to prove his resilience and endured the flames longer than Fukurokuju. Eventually, they both collapsed, but Raizo remained conscious.

After Jinbe found Raizo, the ninja explained that his preparations were already in place. He unleashed a large volume of water from one of his scrolls, which he had obtained while on Zou. Jinbe used his techniques to quickly spread the water throughout Onigashima, successfully extinguishing the raging fires.

Following these events, Nekomamushi announced that Luffy had defeated Kaido, and Momonosuke safely landed on the island. A volcano erupted where Onigashima had been situated, and Momonosuke, along with his sister and retainers, flew into the Flower Capital to calm the panicking citizens. Denjiro then announced Momonosuke as the new Shogun of Wano Country, and they broadcasted a speech to the entire country. Momonosuke, along with his retainers, entered the shogun's castle.

A week later, Raizo enjoyed the ongoing festivities, and when Luffy woke up, he raised a toast to celebrate the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance and the citizens of Wano.

The Kozuki Retainers noticed the approach of Admiral Ryokugyu, and several of them, including Raizo, went out to stop him from entering the Flower Capital. Ryokugyu used his Devil Fruit powers to attack the samurai and expressed his intention to go after Luffy. Yamato and Momonosuke joined the retainers, and they became distressed as Ryokugyu restrained Momonosuke.

Raizo attempted to save Momonosuke from Ryokugyu's grip with his Ninpo: Maki Maki no Jutsu: Katon technique but was taunted by Ryokugyu for exploiting such an obvious weakness. Raizo was then stabbed by one of Ryokugyu's branches and had his nutrients sucked out, leaving him as a hollow husk, much to the horror of his comrades.

However, he later recovered back to his full strength and rejoined his fellow comrades alongside Yamato when Momonosuke took his position as the new Shogun of Wano.

Raizo is a serious, honorable, and kind-hearted man who deeply cares about his comrades and the people he serves. He's willing to work tirelessly and even risk his life to help achieve the group's goals. However, he strongly dislikes the idea of others risking their lives to protect him. For example, when the Mokomo Dukedom residents were injured protecting him from an enemy, he was devastated and preferred they turn him in instead of facing danger.

Raizo is known to become very emotional, whether it's expressing deep gratitude or being overwhelmed by strong feelings. He doesn't hold back in showing how much he cares about or appreciates others. He values the samurai code of loyalty and respects those who remain loyal to their leaders, even if he disagrees with their goals.

In his role as a ninja, Raizo is diligent and well-prepared. He's effective at planning and executing strategies, such as increasing their alliance's numbers. He pays attention to important details, like making sure their allies have enough weapons. He's not impulsive and waits for the right moment to put his plans into action, even if it means waiting for several days.

The only time Raizo was shown to be less careful was when he reunited with his old comrade Kawamatsu in the Prisoner Mine. This lapse in attentiveness resulted in him being spotted by the enemy when the cart he was hiding behind moved.

Raizo is known for his sound judgment even during emotional moments. For example, when Oden seemingly appeared in the present day, he was one of the few Scabbards who doubted its authenticity. Despite wishing that Oden was still alive, Raizo used logic to explain his doubt.

He is a dedicated ninja who takes his profession seriously and doesn't like to showcase his skills just for show. However, he did relent when he saw the Straw Hat Pirates feeling down after his initial refusal. When he gets caught up in thrilling ninja duties, he has been known to use the stereotypical ninja verbal tic "nin-nin." He also humorously refers to simple actions like hugs as ninjutsu techniques.

Raizo has a desire for a romantic relationship with a kunoichi, and he's quite self-conscious and upset about his inability to attract women. When he was younger, a rejection by a kunoichi led him to leave the service of the Kozuki Oniwabanshu and live as a vagabond in Udon for some time. Over a decade later, he still lamented the fact that his master, Oden, found a wife while he had not been as lucky in love.

Raizo is a remarkably large man, standing at a towering 311 centimeters (approximately 10 feet) tall. His head is almost as wide as the rest of his body, giving him a unique and striking look. His face features pronounced cheekbones, a long, square jaw, and rounded teeth. There's a crescent moon-shaped scar on his forehead, a memento from an encounter with King.

Raizo's distinctive hairstyle includes short black hair with a small spike at the top of his head. He also has six hair tendrils on the sides, which are shaped like antennae. He typically wears a light blue kimono with orange stripes featuring dark blue polka dots along the inner edges.

He sports a green obi tied like a bowtie around his waist, along with a dark yellow-scaled undershirt and pants under his kimono. Raizo also carries a purple nio-dasuki on his back, and his footwear consists of sandals. Additionally, he has two diamond-shaped devices on his back with alternating light and dark blue colors, which serve a functional purpose, acting like a kite.

Raizo is known for being so unattractive that no woman is attracted to him. The prisoners in Udon even believed he had just aged rather than time-traveled, as they found it easy to think that he had simply aged 20 years since they last saw him.

Raizo, despite his massive size, can easily carry normal-sized humans on his head and shoulders. He's exceptionally fast, capable of leaping off walls rapidly, and can hide effectively using smoke balls even in crowded spaces. He possesses impressive endurance, as seen when he recovered quickly after battling Kaido and outlasted Fukurokuju when both were set on fire.

As a skilled ninja, Raizo is well-versed in the art of ninjutsu. Even in his youth, he was considered a "genius" ninja, and he rivaled Fukurokuju, the former captain of the Oniwabanshu. His massive size doesn't hinder his stealth abilities, as he infiltrated the heavily guarded Prisoner Mine without detection.

Raizo also employs a kite-like apparatus on his back, allowing him to glide. His primary weapon are shuriken, which he can throw with remarkable precision and speed. He can create intricate patterns with these shurikens, like forming kanji characters.

Two notable shuriken techniques Raizo uses include "Hana Shuriken," where he uses large quantities of shuriken with expert precision, and "Kaminari Shuriken" (Lightning Shuriken), which involves throwing multiple shuriken quickly.

In addition to his ninja skills, Raizo has mastered Busoshoku Haki (known as Ryuo in Wano), an advanced form that enables him to harden his weapons, as seen when he cuts through Kaido's tough skin. This makes him a formidable presence in battle.

Devil Fruit

Raizo possesses the Maki Maki no Mi, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that grants him the ability to create and manipulate scrolls. He can make these scrolls grow to enormous sizes and unroll them as much as he wants. These scrolls serve various functions, including sealing and storing objects inside them for later release.

Raizo can use the scrolls as protective shields to absorb and store attacks from his enemies. Then, he has the ability to unleash these stored attacks back at his adversaries, causing damage using their own offensive power. Additionally, he can take this technique further by wrapping the scroll around an opponent's body and releasing the sealed attack from all around them.

Raizo, like many Wano residents, refers to this power as "Maki Maki no Jutsu," as they are unaware of Devil Fruits.

Allies

Kozuki Oden

Raizo deeply admired and respected Kozuki Oden, and he wished to follow Oden 41 years ago. Oden, despite his initial reluctance to have followers, welcomed Raizo and treated him hospitably. Raizo wholeheartedly served Oden, doing everything he could to support his master. He was one of Oden's loyal retainers who dedicated years to studying to uphold Oden's reputation.

Although Raizo initially opposed Oden's illegal journey out to sea and felt distant when Oden returned, he remained loyal to his master. When Oden saved him and his fellow retainers from execution during the Legendary Hour event and expressed his dying wish for the Scabbards to open Wano's borders, Raizo was devastated but resolved to fulfill Oden's dream.

Kozuki Momonosuke

Raizo held a similar level of affection for Kozuki Momonosuke, Oden's son. He saw Momonosuke as the rightful ruler of Wano and worked tirelessly to protect and support him, accompanying Momonosuke to the future and ensuring his safety while searching for allies.

Raizo had unwavering faith in Momonosuke's potential as the future shogun of Wano, just as he had faith in Oden, and he was determined to serve and protect Momonosuke to help him achieve his father's goals and save Wano.

Nine Red Scabbards

Raizo shares a strong bond with his fellow retainers, known as the Nine Red Scabbards, who became even closer after the Legendary Hour event. When he was separated from Kin'emon, Kanjuro, and Momonosuke during their journey out of Wano, Raizo was overjoyed when they reunited a few weeks later.

They worked together closely while planning the Fire Festival raid on Wano, and Raizo provided important communication to Kin'emon about developments in Udon. He also saw through Kin'emon's bluff when he made a mistake regarding the secret message.

Mokomo Dukedom

Raizo has good relations with the Mink Tribe members who reside in the Mokomo Dukedom on Zou. He first met Inuarashi and Nekomamushi when they came to Wano and served alongside them under Kozuki Oden. During Jack's invasion of Zou in search of Raizo, the loyal Minks hid him, even though it led to their brutal injuries.

Raizo was initially against their actions and preferred they turn him in to avoid further harm, but the Minks remained steadfast in their loyalty. When Raizo was finally freed after the Beasts Pirates retreated, he expressed deep gratitude and shared a heartfelt moment with the Minks, who were pleased to have kept him safe.

Straw Hat Pirates

Raizo first encountered the Straw Hat Pirates when they visited Zou. While the male members of the crew were excited to meet a ninja, they were initially taken aback by Raizo's appearance.

Despite this, they were curious to see his ninja skills and, after some reluctance, Raizo agreed to demonstrate his abilities. The Straw Hat Pirates were impressed by his skills and held him in high regard.

Raizo has great respect and admiration for Luffy, not only for his incredible strength but also for his kind and noble heart.

After the raid, he was extremely grateful to the Straw Hat Pirates for their role in saving Wano from Kaido to the point of being willing to confront someone as powerful as Admiral Ryokugyu to protect them.

Caribou

Raizo met the pirate Caribou in the Prisoner Mine, where he discovered that Caribou had stolen the keys to his Seastone handcuffs instead of Luffy's. Grateful for Caribou's help, Raizo and Caribou worked together to execute their plans.

Caribou, in turn, aided Raizo by concealing him in his swamp body and contributing his own strategies, such as disrupting communications from Udon. Raizo thought highly of Caribou for his assistance and was intrigued by his Devil Fruit powers, which he referred to as "sorcery."

Enemies

Kurozumi Kanjuro

Raizo and Kurozumi Kanjuro were close companions for the past 21 years while serving as retainers to Kozuki Oden. Raizo had no inkling of Kanjuro's true affiliation with the Kurozumi Family, and they got along well, just like with the other retainers. However, their relationship took a sour turn when Raizo was separated from Kanjuro, Kin'emon, and Momonosuke on their way to the island of Zou.

Kanjuro, in an act of treachery, provided information to the Beasts Pirates about Raizo's presence on Zou. Despite his initial happiness at reuniting with Kanjuro on Zou, Raizo was shocked and devastated when Kanjuro's true allegiance was revealed during their journey to Onigashima. Their friendship was irreparably damaged, and they became enemies.

Although Raizo wept for Kanjuro when Kikunojo defeated him on Onigashima, showing lingering affection, his feelings turned to intense hatred when Kanjuro cruelly mocked them by creating a painted clone of Oden, resulting in Ashura's severe injuries.

Kurozumi Orochi

Raizo possesses a strong enmity toward Kurozumi Orochi. Orochi was appointed as the shogun in Oden's absence, and under his rule, the citizens of Wano suffered terrible working conditions, with some being executed for not working enough. Raizo and the other Scabbards attempted to remove Orochi from power, as they believed him to be a tyrant.

Their efforts, however, were unsuccessful due to Orochi's backing by the powerful pirate Kaido. Raizo's determination to free Wano from Orochi's rule and avenge the suffering of its people fuels his resolve to stand against Orochi.

Kaido

Raizo also has a deep enmity towards Kaido, the fearsome pirate who supports Orochi's rule in Wano. Kaido's alliance with Orochi made their attempts to remove the shogun all the more challenging. Raizo, along with Oden and the other Scabbards, went to war against Kaido in an effort to eliminate him and weaken Orochi's grip on Wano.

Despite their best efforts, they ultimately lost the battle. Kaido's role in Oden's death and his oppressive presence in Wano solidify Raizo's determination to seek revenge against the pirate.

Fukurokuju

Fukurokuju and Raizo are considered rivals due to their high-level ninja skills. Their first interaction occurred on Onigashima. Despite being on opposing sides because of Fukurokuju's loyalty to Orochi, Raizo respected Fukurokuju for his unwavering allegiance to Orochi, even after Orochi's apparent death. This respect likely stems from their shared ninja background and dedication to their respective duties.

In addition to the manga and its anime adaptation, Raizo also appears in One Piece Treasure Cruise, and One Piece Bounty Rush as a playable character.

Did You Know?

• Raizo appears to be a homage to the depiction of ninja in various media, including that of the Naruto manga series by Masashi Kishimoto.

• Both of his voice actors had voiced a Naruto character. His Japanese voice actor voiced Might Guy, while his English voice actor voiced Maroi.

• When the Straw Hats first met him, they asked him about various jutsu, which are referred from the Naruto series like shadow clone jutsu and summoning jutsu.

• Raizo's favorite food is fishcake stuffed with burdock root. Fittingly enough, fishcake is one of the main ingredients in oden, just as Raizo was one of Kozuki Oden's main retainers.