Sengoku

Biodata

Appearance

• Glasses and cap: Wears black-framed glasses and a white military cap bearing a seagull ornament symbolizing Marine justice 73.
• Hair: Originally has a thick black afro, which turns completely white overnight following the failed Bali Island Buster Call 91.
• Physique: Retains powerful muscles developed through decades of training despite his advanced age 119.
• Retirement clothing: Relaxes on Bali Island in sunglasses and swim trunks; later wears a casual floral shirt before entering battle 106 119.
• Buddha Form: Becomes an enormous, brilliantly golden Buddha tens of meters tall 75.

Personality

Sengoku initially places institutional justice and the World Government’s authority above personal loyalties. He treats Ace’s execution as a means of suppressing the Great Pirate Era and later insists on executing Luffy despite knowing it could destroy his decades-long friendship with Garp. He also defends the existing order by arguing that peace for the majority requires “necessary sacrifices” 75 79 92.

His strategic thinking is closely tied to the Marines’ public standing. After Pero’s intervention humiliates the organization, he sees Luffy’s powerful family connections as an opportunity to redirect worldwide attention. Under mounting losses, political pressure, and estrangement from his colleagues, however, his determination gives way to exhaustion and a desire to retire 77 82 85.

The World Government’s decision to brand his fleet rebels undermines his lifelong convictions. Although he initially continues defending the old order, his removal from office leads him to stop speaking on its behalf. His attachment to his comrades survives that disillusionment: he later abandons his stated intention to stay out of battle rather than watch Zephyr and Kizaru die 91 92 119.

Abilities & Skills

Mythical Zoan: Buddha Form

Sengoku’s Devil Fruit transforms him into a gigantic golden Buddha capable of powerful physical attacks and shockwaves 75.

• Buddha Shockwave: Releases visible, ring-shaped shockwaves from his palms. Against Pero’s falling boulder, his initial strike produces a slight upward jolt where Kuzan and Kizaru’s attacks had failed to slow it 75.
• Close-range combat: Uses his enormous palms to intercept attacks, including Billy’s Finger Pistol 86.
• Combined attacks: Merges Buddha Shockwave with Kizaru’s Yasakani no Magatama, inflicting deep wounds on Billy before Billy regenerates 85.
• Battlefield relief: Blasts away the CP0 agents surrounding Zephyr and Kizaru during the defense of Bali Island 119.
• Limits: The form cannot withstand Pero’s Heat Vision, which severs both arms despite their Armament Haki coating 87.

Armament Haki

Sengoku coats his fists, arms, or entire Buddha body in black Armament Haki to strengthen attacks and defenses 75 85 120.

• Shatters the boulder above Marineford with a Haki-coated punch after the combined defensive effort slows its descent 75.
• Reinforces his arms against Billy’s kicks, though Billy’s repeated strikes eventually produce cracks across them 85.
• Uses Haki while surrounded by the World Government’s fighters during the battle off Bali Island 120.

Geppo

Sengoku uses Geppo to move and fight in midair 119.

• Kicks against the air to regain his balance after Billy knocks him backward 85.
• Launches from the beach and crosses to the naval battlefield to reinforce his allies 119.

Strategy and Command

Known as the “Resourceful General,” Sengoku organizes major Marine operations and assesses political as well as military consequences 73 77 116.

• Arranges Marineford’s defenses for Ace’s public execution, though Whitebeard bypasses the outer formation by surfacing inside the harbor 73.
• Recognizes Kuma’s compressed-air attacks as useful support against Pero’s falling boulder 75.
• Identifies Luffy as a potential means of diverting attention from the Marines’ defeat 77.
• Warns Billy that the World Government may deploy the Holy Knights after CP0’s failure 116.
• Incorrectly concludes that Pero’s attack on a Celestial Dragon estate is coordinated with Whitebeard to divide Marine forces 82.

Equipment & Items

• Visual Den Den Mushi: Broadcasts Ace’s execution to the world. Its continued operation during Pero’s intervention makes Sengoku acutely aware that the Marines’ humiliation is being witnessed internationally 73 75 76.
• Golden Den Den Mushi: A direct line to the Five Elders kept in the Fleet Admiral’s Office. Sengoku eventually throws it into Marineford’s harbor 82 124.
• Seagull military cap: A symbol of his office and Marine justice; he removes and strokes its ornament while announcing his intention to retire 73 85.

History

Paramount War

Sengoku presides over Ace’s execution at Marineford and publicly reveals that Ace is Gol D. Roger’s son. He intends the execution to strike against the Pirate King’s legacy and discourage piracy. Whitebeard’s arrival inside the harbor immediately disrupts his defensive plan 73 75.

When Pero returns Akainu’s frozen attack toward the execution platform, Sengoku joins the effort to stop it. With Kuma’s support, he slows and shatters the boulder, but its fragments devastate Marineford and injure numerous Marines. Pero then demands Ace’s release and kills Akainu when the Admiral attacks again 74 75.

Sengoku makes a final attempt to salvage the execution by raising his Buddha hand against Ace. Garp silently places himself between them. Faced with his old friend, Pero’s overwhelming power, and the soldiers below, Sengoku orders Ace released. He tells Kizaru that he will resign to take responsibility for the defeat 76.

Luffy’s Capture and the Bali Island Buster Call

Luffy’s arrival gives Sengoku a new opportunity to shift attention away from the defeat. After Luffy is captured, Sengoku decides to execute him despite Garp’s furious objections. He refuses to release Luffy even after learning that Whitebeard’s fleet is returning 77 79 82.

Before the confrontation can develop, the Five Elders order a Buster Call against Bali Island after Pero kills a Celestial Dragon and destroys an estate there. Sengoku obeys and leads the depleted fleet with Kizaru. Kuzan refuses to participate, while Garp remains at Marineford. News that both Whitebeard and the Revolutionary Army are approaching headquarters leaves Sengoku convinced that Marineford cannot hold 82.

Billy intercepts the fleet and asks Sengoku and Kizaru to overthrow the Celestial Dragons with him. They refuse and fight him, eventually receiving support from Kaku. Billy’s regeneration defeats their attempts to incapacitate him, and Pero intervenes after the three begin gaining the advantage 85 86.

After Kaku’s death, Sengoku offers to hold Pero off so Kizaru can escape. Instead, Kizaru accepts Pero’s invitation to accompany him. Sengoku angrily objects to Pero’s plan to destroy both the World Government and the pirates; Pero severs his arms, spares his life, and leaves him to deliver a warning. Sengoku then loses consciousness 87.

Abandonment by the World Government

Sengoku awakens on Bali Island, where Billy has sheltered the defeated Marines and reattached his arms. Gion informs him that the World Government has branded the Buster Call forces rebels and appointed Kuzan acting Fleet Admiral. Sengoku says he no longer wants the position 91.

Walking through the survivors’ camp, he encounters wounded and demoralized Marines. When a young soldier asks whether they can return, Sengoku cannot answer. Billy subsequently challenges him over whether his justice protects civilians or the Celestial Dragons 91 92.

A newspaper confirms Sengoku’s dismissal for command failures resulting in an Admiral’s death and the escape of criminals. He tells Billy that he will no longer speak for the World Government or obstruct his vengeance. The experience also makes him reconsider his judgment of Zephyr, whose faith in the Marines had similarly collapsed 92.

Defense of Bali Island

Sengoku remains on Bali Island with the former Marines. When Pero requests a route to Elbaf, he identifies an Eternal Pose kept at Marineford. He later appears in Billy’s broadcast declaring war on the Celestial Dragons 106 114.

Billy defeats Sengoku and Kizaru in a spar, demonstrating how far his strength has grown. Sengoku acknowledges the victory and warns that the Holy Knights may be the next force sent against them 116.

During the World Government’s assault, Sengoku initially stays ashore. Seeing Zephyr and Kizaru being overwhelmed, he enters the battle in Buddha Form and drives their attackers back. Holy Knight reinforcements subsequently force all three veterans onto the defensive, until Whitebeard, Dragon, Kuzan, and finally Pero arrive 119 120 121.

Campaign Against the Celestial Dragons

Following the Neo Marines’ formal founding with the Kuja Pirates and Giants, Sengoku is assigned alongside Kuzan and Kizaru to support the three fleets commanded by Billy, Hancock, and Loki. Their campaign aims to drive the Celestial Dragons back to Mary Geoise while prohibiting indiscriminate killing, burning, and plundering 123.

During the campaign, Sengoku returns to the Fleet Admiral’s Office at Marineford and throws the Golden Den Den Mushi into the harbor, rejecting his former ties to the Five Elders 124.

Relationships

• Garp — Friend and colleague of several decades. Ace’s execution strains their bond, while Sengoku’s decision to execute Luffy creates an explicit rift. Garp physically blocks Sengoku’s attempt to kill Ace 76 79 82.
• Kizaru / Borsalino — Fellow senior Marine and frequent combat partner. Sengoku offers to cover his escape from Pero; they later fight together for the Neo Marines 85 87 119.
• Kuzan — Former subordinate who refuses the Bali Island Buster Call. Sengoku accepts him as the better choice to lead the Marines after his own defeat, and the two later relax together on Bali Island 82 91 106.
• Old Billy — Initially an opponent who condemns Sengoku’s justice; later his rescuer, host, and ally. Billy restores his severed arms and eventually leads the Neo Marines’ campaign 85 91 92 123.
• Pero — Overwhelming enemy who forces Ace’s release and later severs Sengoku’s arms. Sengoku subsequently cooperates with the forces Pero supports and provides information about the route to Elbaf 76 87 106.
• Zephyr — Old friend whose disillusionment Sengoku comes to understand after his own abandonment. Sengoku later intervenes to save him and Kizaru in battle 92 119.
• Gion — Vice Admiral who attends Sengoku after he awakens and explains the survivors’ circumstances 91.
• Five Elders — Former superiors whose orders he follows despite the Marines’ depleted strength. Their government brands his fleet rebels and removes him from office; he ultimately discards their direct communication line 82 91 92 124.

Notable Quotes

“Don’t blame me, Garp... For the sake of justice, I have to do this.” 79

“I’m no longer Fleet Admiral. From now on, I have neither the right nor the standing to say another word on the World Government’s behalf. I won’t stand in the way of your vengeance anymore.” 92

“If I didn’t, you lot would die here.” 119