Kuma

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Bartholomew Kuma (Kuma) 25
Alias(es)	Big Bear 8
Species/Race	Buccaneer 43 49
Gender	Male
Affiliation	White Shell crew 38
Occupation/Role	Rescuer; Paw-Paw Fruit user
Devil Fruit	Paw-Paw Fruit
Status	Active 49
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Paw-Paw Fruit acquired	2	Eats the Paw-Paw Fruit during the God Valley escape and immediately understands its basic principle: repelling anything.
First evacuation use	3	Sends Ivankov away from the encirclement and prepares to launch himself to safety.
Mass slave rescue	6	Repeatedly repels enslaved people away from God Valley, prioritizing their escape over his own.
Long-range emergency extraction	13	Uses Pressure: Ejection to send the unconscious Lin Nuo away after Rocks temporarily disrupts Imu’s Haki suppression.
Midair group rescue	35	Uses Compression: Ejection to launch protective air bubbles carrying Lin Nuo, Ivankov, Ginny, and himself safely toward the docks.
Pain extraction	36	Extracts Lin Nuo’s accumulated injuries and suffering into a massive Pain Bubble, intending to absorb the burden himself.
Ship propulsion	41 47	Learns to compress and release air in directed bursts, allowing him to propel the White Shell without wind and boost it up Reverse Mountain.

Background

Kuma was among the enslaved youths forced to flee through God Valley’s jungle during the Celestial Dragons’ Human Hunting Game. A fish-man slave freed his restraints alongside Ivankov’s, after which Kuma joined Ivankov, Ginny, and Lin Nuo in their attempt to escape and steal the competition’s Devil Fruits. 1

During the treasury raid, Kuma opened a chest containing the Paw-Paw Fruit and ate it at Lin Nuo’s urging. His first instinct after gaining the power was to use it to save others, including attempting to send Lin Nuo to safety. 2

Appearance

Kuma is a young, slightly chubby Buccaneer with a notably powerful body. After consuming the Paw-Paw Fruit, pink paw pads appear on his palms. 3 36 43

• Identified as a member of the Buccaneer Tribe. 43 49
• Has pink, paw-shaped pads on both palms. 3
• Possesses exceptional physical strength, including the ability to move heavy food barrels and cargo with ease. 39

Personality

Kuma is consistently compassionate, quiet, and self-sacrificing. Even immediately after gaining his Devil Fruit, he focuses on saving people rather than himself; at God Valley, he remains behind to repel slaves to safety and later volunteers for an extremely dangerous rescue effort against Imu. 2 6 8

He carries an intense sense of responsibility for those he cares about. When Lin Nuo is unconscious, Kuma prepares to take on all of Lin Nuo’s accumulated pain, believing his strong body exists to protect his loved ones. 36

Despite his reserved manner, Kuma is dependable in a crisis. He acts decisively when Lin Nuo falls unconscious during their escape from Tenpan City, saving the entire group before they can crash. 35

Abilities & Skills

Paw-Paw Fruit

Kuma’s Devil Fruit allows him to repel targets and phenomena with the paw pads on his hands. He uses it primarily for evacuation, rescue, defensive repositioning, and transportation. 2 3

• Can repel people over enormous distances, including himself. 3
• Can launch targets with Paw Shock for rapid aerial movement. 8
• Can use Pressure: Ejection to send a target away inside a protective bubble. 13
• Can use Compression: Ejection to save multiple falling people at once. 35
• Can extract pain and injuries into a red Pain Bubble that another person may absorb. 36
• Can compress and release air as a directed shockwave, creating propulsion for the White Shell. 41 47
• Seastone cuffs severely weaken him and suppress his ability. 25
• Imu’s overwhelming Haki can interfere with or temporarily prevent his Devil Fruit from functioning. 9 13

Rescue and Evacuation

Kuma’s greatest strength is the practical, compassionate application of his power under pressure.

• Sends Ivankov out of a Marine and God’s Knights encirclement. 3
• Rescues groups of enslaved people from God Valley. 6
• Joins Lin Nuo’s plan to extract the fighters confronting Imu, despite knowing the danger. 8
• Saves Lin Nuo from God Valley after Rocks creates a brief opening in Imu’s Haki suppression. 13
• Frees his companions from a fatal fall during the Tenpan City escape. 35

Physical Strength

Kuma’s body is exceptionally strong even apart from his Devil Fruit. He describes this strength as something given to him so that he can protect those dear to him. 36

• Carries heavy barrels and sacks during the White Shell crew’s preparations. 39
• Endures the strain of repeated Paw-Paw Fruit use during emergencies. 8 35
• Continues to act despite injuries, exhaustion, and imprisonment. 11 25

Relationships

• Lin Nuo — Kuma’s rescuer, ally, and close companion. Lin Nuo directs him to eat the Paw-Paw Fruit, heals his injuries, and repeatedly trusts him with evacuation plans; Kuma develops profound gratitude and repeatedly risks himself to protect him. 2 3 13 36
• Ivankov — Fellow God Valley escapee and trusted friend. Kuma sends Ivankov away during the encirclement, and the two later endure imprisonment together in Tenpan City. 3 25
• Ginny — Fellow escapee and close companion. Kuma remains concerned for her safety during their separation, while Ginny offers to share Lin Nuo’s Pain Bubble with him. 3 25 36
• Rocks D. Zebek — Temporarily relies on Kuma to evacuate Lin Nuo from God Valley; Rocks creates the opening that lets Kuma overcome Imu’s Haki interference. 13
• Moria — White Shell crewmate. They cooperate to defend and repair the ship during the Calm Belt Sea King attack. 41
• Alice and Teach — White Shell crewmates whom Kuma helps protect during the crew’s voyage. 38 41

Story Role / Major Arcs

God Valley Incident

Kuma escapes the Human Hunting Game with Ivankov and Ginny, obtains the Paw-Paw Fruit, and uses it to save Ivankov and numerous other slaves. He later partners with Lin Nuo in an attempt to rescue the fighters battling Imu, but Imu’s Haki suppresses his ability near the battlefield. 1 2 6 8 9

After Lin Nuo’s Phoenix chains restrain Imu, Kuma succeeds in sending the unconscious Lin Nuo away from God Valley. The immense Haki clash disrupts his intended destinations, scattering Lin Nuo and other survivors across nearby regions instead. 13 34

Tenpan City Captivity and Rescue

Kuma stays behind during an escape attempt so others can flee, but is captured and restrained with Seastone cuffs. He is held with Ivankov and Ginny as a prize for the gang-controlled arena competition. 25 29

Lin Nuo eventually breaks the three out of their cages and frees Kuma’s restraints. During their escape, Kuma explains that he avoided sending the group to his homeland because hidden World Government agents there could have exposed them. 34

White Shell Voyage

Kuma joins the White Shell crew’s journey toward the Grand Line. He contributes to the crew’s travel by using compressed-air bursts to propel the ship, protects it from Sea Kings in the Calm Belt, and assists with emergency repairs. 38 41 47

At Whiskey Peak, a white-suited stranger identifies Kuma as a Buccaneer and begins following him through supernatural doors, placing him in immediate danger from agents interested in his lineage. 43 49

Notable Quotes

“I think... The reason my parents gave me such a strong body was so that I could step forward when the people I cherished were in danger.” 36

“I want to join your plan! I want to save them with you!” 8