Gunpowder

Biodata

Background / History

Leadership of Black Fire

Gunpowder led Black Fire on Cologne Island, collecting protection money and fighting pirates when necessary. The gang owned a tavern, but its use as a gang hangout discouraged ordinary customers. Gunpowder was illiterate and had little aptitude for business or town administration 6.

He sought to capture Nico Robin as a means of joining Bullet, one of the Five Families, at a senior level rather than starting as a low-ranking member. After ten days of searching, he remained determined despite Boren’s suggestion that they abandon the hunt and join Bullet directly 4.

Defeat and Hypnosis

Dill gradually brought Black Fire’s officers under his control before using Brandon to lure Gunpowder and Boren into a warehouse. Gunpowder entered with his body aflame, only for artificial rain to extinguish him and make him vulnerable to his subordinates’ water-coated fists. He initially overpowered Brandon and continued resisting when Geno and the others joined the attack 3 4.

Gunpowder surrendered when Dill threatened to shoot the incapacitated Boren. Dill then submerged him up to his neck in fresh water and spent six hours hypnotizing him. Afterward, Gunpowder accepted Dill as his boss and received orders to train and develop his Devil Fruit 5.

His first actions under Dill were to cancel the hunt for Robin, distribute a month’s pay, grant his men two days off, and replace his title of “boss” with “chief.” He also ordered Pica to fetch a doctor for Boren 5.

Reforms and Bege’s Assassination Attempt

Dill and Robin used Gunpowder’s position to reorganize Black Fire. Collections were standardized, abuse of civilians was forbidden, and Robin’s instructions were issued in Gunpowder’s name while she posed as his secretary. His public reputation improved over the following month 6 7.

Dill initially intended to make Gunpowder mayor, with Karin handling administration. That plan was superseded: a fabricated news report later presented Gunpowder and Boren as missing, named Karin mayor, and announced Black Fire’s conversion into the Public Security Bureau under Geno 6 10.

When Bege infiltrated Black Fire to assassinate him, Gunpowder followed Dill’s plan to appear unsuspecting. He promoted Bege to manage tax collection, treated him as a brother, and eventually tried to throw him into a hot spring to weaken his concealed Devil Fruit powers 7 8.

Bege escaped his grip and transformed into a fortress. Gunpowder joined the coordinated attack, firing a submachine gun at its treads. Once Dill began negotiations, he obeyed orders to withdraw the gang and stand guard. After Bege’s recruitment, Dill entrusted Gunpowder and the others to him 9 10.

Mist Island and Thriller Bark

Gunpowder and Boren subsequently trained inside Bege’s Castle-Castle Fruit space. After Bege became involved with the fugitive prince Wolf Vlad, the pair waited with Vlad on Mist Island until Dill arrived 22 35 36.

They accompanied Dill’s group to Thriller Bark, where Gunpowder helped investigate the cemetery’s ghosts. Later, he restrained Vlad’s uncontrollably transformed arm until Dill and Boren joined him, allowing Vlad time to regain control 37 38 39 42 43.

Dill also assigned Gunpowder and Boren to protect Robin, Hina, and Perona during a shopping trip and pay their expenses. Gunpowder remained with the group through Vlad’s coronation celebrations and the New Year’s Eve gathering on December 31, Sea Circle Calendar 1502 43 47 48.

Appearance

• Build: Short and fat, contrasting with the tall, slender Boren 4.
• Habitual accessory: Frequently smokes a cigar, including while drinking or sitting behind his office desk 4 8.

Personality

Gunpowder enjoys drinking, eating, and leisure, but his ambition exceeds his administrative ability. He recognizes his own shortcomings in management and combat, yet refuses to enter Bullet as an ordinary subordinate when capturing Robin could secure a better position. Before Black Fire’s reforms, bullying civilians was among his accustomed activities 4 6.

He is hot-tempered and vindictive toward enemies, threatening to torture Robin after seeing what he believes are casualties among his trusted men. Nevertheless, his attachment to Boren is strong enough that a threat to his deputy’s life makes him surrender. Following hypnosis, he becomes obedient to Dill, carrying out both organizational orders and personal escort duties 4 5 43.

Abilities & Skills

Gunpowder-Gunpowder Fruit

A Paramecia Devil Fruit that allows Gunpowder to transform his body into gunpowder 3.

• Physical damage avoidance: Bullets can pass through his transformed body. His resistance to cutting also makes Robin consider using him to stall a suspected cutting-based enemy 4 9 39.
• Burning-body attacks: He can ignite himself and charge at opponents while burning 3 4.
• High fire resistance: Setting his clothes and body alight causes him no visible pain 4.
• Rain vulnerability: Water extinguishes his flames and prevents his wet gunpowder from igniting 4.
• Water-coated blunt attacks: Wet fists and blunt weapons can strike him, although small projectiles such as bullets still pass through him in the warehouse’s artificial rain 4.
• Immersion weakness: Being submerged up to his neck in fresh water drains his strength, enabling Dill to hypnotize him safely 5.

Close Combat and Strength

Although Dill initially considers him an unimpressive fighter, Gunpowder performs better than expected during the warehouse ambush 3 4.

• Overpowers Brandon in a fistfight despite losing his usual defensive advantage 4.
• Holds off several attacking gang members simultaneously 4.
• Restrains Vlad’s enlarged, clawed arm temporarily, though Dill and Boren must help secure it fully 42 43.
• Trains alongside Boren inside Bege’s body after Dill orders him to become stronger; no specific new technique or power rank is documented 5 22.

Firearms

• Uses a submachine gun against the treads of Bege’s fortress form 9.
• Can remain within allied gunfire by transforming into gunpowder and allowing bullets to pass through him 9.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Submachine gun — Used during the battle against Bege 9.
• Lighter — Used to ignite his clothing before charging into the warehouse 4.
• Den Den Mushi — Receives Dill’s instructions and coordinates gang operations 8 10.
• Spending money — Carries ten million Beli during the Thriller Bark stay, as does Boren 42.

Relationships

• Kali Dill — His captor and subsequent boss. Dill hypnotizes him, orders his training, and shifts his intended role from town administrator to muscle 5 6.
• Boren — His deputy and near-constant companion. Gunpowder surrenders to save him and later arranges medical treatment for his wounds 3 5.
• Nico Robin — Initially his capture target; later the real administrator behind his public leadership of Black Fire. Her orders are relayed in his name while she poses as his secretary 4 7.
• Capone Bege — Initially an infiltrator seeking his assassination, later an associate who houses Gunpowder and Boren within his body for training 7 8 10 22.
• Wolf Vlad — The fugitive prince entrusted to his and Boren’s care. Gunpowder escorts him with Dill’s group and helps contain his uncontrolled transformation 35 36 37 43.

Notable Quotes

“I'm not starting out as some grunt. The Devil Child is our ticket to the higher-ups.” 4

“Oh, and don't call me boss anymore. Just call me chief.” 5