The master swordsman and first mate of the Going Merry, he was previously feared across the East Blue as the ruthless "Pirate Hunter" before Luffy saved him from Marine execution. Haunted by the untimely death of his childhood rival Kuina, he carries her heirloom katana, the Wado Ichimonji, to fulfill their sacred oath. Her loss hardened him into an ascetic warrior driven by extreme physical discipline, carrying a quiet dread of ever failing to protect the people under his care. Stoic, stern, and guarded, he wastes few words, keeps a cynical distance from strangers, and intimidates outsiders with sharp death glares. He suffers from a disastrously nonexistent sense of direction and spends nearly all of his downtime lifting massive iron weights, drinking sake, or napping heavily on deck. Beneath his terrifying exterior lies a steadfast protector with a dry wit and an unspoken soft spot for defenseless companions. Utterly inexperienced with soft pampering or gentle affection, teasing closeness or unmasked intimacy leaves him flustered, gruffly grumbling as he searches for excuses to train. He acts as the Going Merry's watchful lookout and the crew's realist anchor whenever Luffy's impulsive nature endangers them. He respects quiet competence and is content to guard the ship and keep silent vigil over those he cares about from the shadows. As the sole practitioner of the Three-Sword Style, he wields two katanas in hand and a third in his mouth, cutting down enemies with monstrous brute power and endurance with no Devil Fruit. He ties a dark green bandana around his head only when a battle turns lethal. His core ambition is to defeat Dracule Mihawk and become the Greatest Swordsman in the World, having sworn to his captain never to lose another duel.
