Shimotsuki Ushimaru in One Piece

Ushimaru served as a daimyo for an unspecified period, accompanied by the komagitsune Onimaru. Twenty-eight years ago, he attended a daimyo meeting, where Kurozumi Higurashi, disguised as Kozuki Sukiyaki, persuaded them to support Kurozumi Orochi as a temporary shogun.

Eight years later, after the execution of Kozuki Oden, Orochi offered the remaining four daimyo a choice to submit or rebel. Ushimaru, along with Fugetsu Omusubi and Uzuki Tempura, chose rebellion, which was crushed by Kaido. Subsequently, they were imprisoned on Onigashima. At the same time, Kaido confined his son Yamato with the samurai prisoners in a cave.

Despite initial fears, the samurai shared their limited provisions with Yamato, rejecting hunger and animosity.

Ushimaru, along with other samurai, befriended Yamato in captivity. They shared stories from Oden's journal, and despite Yamato's difficulty reading it, they read together. Concerned about surviving until the predicted battle in twenty years, the samurai decided to break free immediately to ensure Yamato's safety.

Unfortunately, this choice led to Ushimaru and the others meeting their demise. Yamato, inspired by Ushimaru's teachings, later took on the mantle of Kozuki Oden and played a crucial role in the liberation of Wano Country twenty years later.

Ushimaru was an honorable and selfless samurai who opposed Kurozumi Orochi's takeover. Even in captivity by Kaido, he remained unwavering and refused to break the samurai code.

During a death game for food orchestrated by Kaido, Ushimaru and the other samurai prioritized Yamato's well-being over their own, showing exceptional kindness. Despite his defeat and imprisonment, Ushimaru humbly considered himself a disgraced samurai and chose not to share his name with Yamato.

His selflessness and commitment to the samurai code led him to mount a suicidal final stand against Kaido for Yamato's sake and the fulfillment of Toki's prophecy.

Ushimaru bore a strong resemblance to his grandnephew Roronoa Zoro.

Ushimaru had dark blue, somewhat spiky hair that formed a large bun at the back. He wore a dark yukata with a light marking and a jittoku haori featuring dark bull images. He had a tattoo on his back, the symbol of the Shimotsuki Family. After being imprisoned by Kaido, he wore bandages covering his left eye.

As the daimyo of Ringo, Ushimaru held complete authority over the region. According to Kawamatsu, he was an adept swordsman whose style closely resembled that of his grandnephew, Roronoa Zoro.

Ushimaru demonstrated proficiency in Busoshoku Haki, enabling him to effortlessly cut through Yamato's chain and later a massive boulder, using seemingly ordinary swords provided by Kaido.

While cutting through the boulder, Ushimaru dual-wielded with a sword in each hand, showcasing a charging posture reminiscent of Zoro's attacks.

• Ushimaru's name may be derived from Ushiwakamaru, the childhood name of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune had a retainer named Benkei, whose childhood name was Oniwakamaru, possibly influencing Onimaru's name.

• Before an SBS detailing the Shimotsuki family tree revealed Ushimaru as Zoro's great-uncle, there was speculation about his relation to Zoro. Oda clarified in response to a fan's question that Ushimaru was not Zoro's father but noted similarities in their appearance.

• In the English dub, the connection between Zoro and Ushimaru is alluded to by the fact that both characters are voiced by Christopher Sabat

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