Kuja Pirates

Kuja Pirates
Statistics
Japanese Name:	九蛇海賊団
Romanized Name:	Kuja Kaizokudan
Official English Name:	Kuja Pirates
First Appearance:	Chapter 516; Episode 415
Captain:	Boa Hancock (current) Tritoma (former) Shakuyaku (former, two generations ago) Gloriosa (former, three generations ago)
Main Ship:	Perfume Yuda
Total Bounty:	At least 1,739,000,000 At least 160,000,000

The Kuja Pirates (literally meaning "Nine Snakes Pirates") is a crew of female pirates from Amazon Lily. All of the crew members are women chosen from the Kuja tribe of their homeland. Their captain is the Empress of the Kuja tribe, as well as the former member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Boa Hancock. Second in command are Hancock's younger sisters, Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold.

Though only the elite warriors of the tribe were selected to be members of the Kuja Pirates crew, every member of the Kuja tribe has been classified as a pirate by the World Government whether they are an islander or an actual pirate.

Jolly Roger

The Kuja's Jolly Roger has a small skull with no jawbone, and no crossbones. Instead it has nine snakes appearing from behind the skull, curving to the right.

Crew Members

See also the associated category: Kuja Pirates.

Crew Strength

— The narrator describing the Kuja Pirates.

The Kuja Pirates are a very powerful pirate crew that has maintained a great deal of fame and popularity throughout its known history, even during the time of the Rocks Pirates. Unlike most pirate crews, the members change over the generations, but the crew has always been chosen from the strongest women in the tribe and has been led by the Empress of the time. The crew's impressive history and notorious reputation played a part in Boa Hancock being made a Warlord of the Sea after her first campaign as captain.

The Kuja Pirates are currently led by the famous "Gorgon Sisters" of the Kuja tribe: Empress of the tribe and former Warlord of the Sea, Boa Hancock, and her younger sisters, Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold. After the Seven Warlords of the Sea was disbanded, Hancock's bounty was increased to 1,659,000,000.

All the Kuja tribe members are capable of using Haki, making them formidable opponents, even against Devil Fruit users. They usually combine their Haki with their Snake Weapons to launch powerful strikes. Considering the members of the crew are elites, their mastery must be higher than the islanders. Hancock, in particular, possesses the Supreme King Haki. In addition, while in the Battle Arena for Luffy's execution, most of the members of the crew were able to resist the effects of his Supreme King Haki while most of the islanders were knocked out, a further testament to their strength.

Aside from Haki, the Gorgon Sisters all possess Devil Fruits, a "gift" from the World Nobles who enslaved them many years ago. Hancock wields the Mero Mero no Mi, while Sandersonia and Marigold both wield the Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: Anaconda and King Cobra, respectively. These powers make them even more formidable than the rest of the tribe and crew. Hancock can easily defeat whole crews by turning them to stone, regardless of strength or numbers, so long as they feel attracted to her. Even Blackbeard, an Emperor of the Sea with a bad habit of underestimating his opponents, didn't dare to challenge Hancock head-on and defeat her by sneak attack. The younger sisters are strong enough to hold the advantage against Monkey D. Luffy, a Super Rookie with a 300,000,000 bounty; thus, he quickly overpowered them once he started using Gear 2. To deceive the rest of the Kuja members from their shameful past of slavery, the Gorgon Sisters created a lie, saying their powers are a curse for killing a Gorgon monster.

It is said that all ships attacked by the Kuja Pirates have no life on them but instead drift on the sea with a collection of mysterious stone statues. This is done by Hancock's Mero Mero Mellow technique. For this reason, their reputation is so great that pirates and merchants often flee out of fear the moment they even witness the Kuja flag.

Another one of the Kuja Pirates' strengths is their beauty, which makes it hard for most men to properly fight them or resist being plundered by them, whether they are citizens, pirates, or Marines. In fact, many men are happy to be defeated by them because they were so enchanted by their beauty.

Ship

Perfume Yuda

The Perfume Yuda is a basic galleon with a pink mansion structure in the middle. Paddle-wheels are installed on the stern in exchange for a rudder, and instead of a figurehead, two Yuda are tied to the front, where they steer the ship. The front sail bears the Jolly Roger of the Kuja Pirates, while the back sail has Kuja (九蛇^?) written in kanji. The Kuja Pirates have been using the ship for over 40 years.

As the Kuja tribe resides on Amazon Lily, an island in the middle of the Calm Belt, they are in danger of being attacked by Sea Kings. Therefore, the crew uses Yuda, ferocious and poisonous sea-serpents that even Sea Kings do not dare to attack, that they somehow managed to domesticate, to safely guide their ship through. This is a newly devised method to travel through the Calm Belt.

Figures of the Kuja Pirates' ship are presented in the One Piece Wobbling Pirate Ship Collection, the One Piece Super Ship Collection, and the Grand Ship Collection.

Other Information

When Hancock made a treaty with the World Government for protecting her homeland, Amazon Lily, all members of the Kuja tribe were classified as pirates, whether on land or at sea. Should Hancock not live up to her duties, the treaty could be nullified, and all Kuja (on-land or at sea) could be endangered, and their island destroyed.

Historically, the Kuja Pirates were considered Idols who were able to resist any sort of manly attraction or opposition. This went as far as that their popularity became indispensable to a certain time of an era, as the Kuja Pirates were considered the desire of every man around due to their strength and beauty. It was stated that their bounty posters were sold for high sums, with everyone trying to take photos of any Kuja Pirate when they were around, and that they had to deal with hidden cameras and pursuers on a daily basis. This popularity extended into their leadership, as their former First Mate, Shakuyaku, was sought by many notable pirate groups for her sheer beauty, which could not be rivaled by even her captain, Gloriosa.

History

Past

The Kuja Tribe have been around for "generations," although it's unknown for how long they've had a pirate crew.

44 years ago, the Kuja Pirates' captain, Gloriosa, and First Mate Shakuyaku were already renowned across the world, leading the Roger Pirates to attempt to claim Shakuyaku as one of their crew. After Shakuyaku subdued Roger and most of his crew, the Kuja would retreat after Gloriosa suffered a love sickness attack over Roger.

Over 42 years ago, Gloriosa left the Kuja Pirates due to unknown reasons, and the former First Mate and empress of Amazon Lily, Shakuyaku, would eventually be the crew captain. Though, she would give up the life of piracy to open a bar.

13 years ago, Boa Hancock became the Kuja Pirates' captain and quickly gained a notorious reputation, catching the attention of the Marines and even the World Government. Hancock later opted to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea in order to protect her fellow Kuja by forming a treaty to protect their homeland from the government, preventing them from entering there.

Summit War Saga

Amazon Lily Arc

The Kuja Pirates answered the summons of Vice Admiral Momonga, who demanded Boa Hancock cooperate with the upcoming war in Marineford. The Marines expected the Whitebeard Pirates to attempt a rescue of their soon-to-be executed second division commander, Portgas D. Ace, who had been captured by the newest Warlord of the Sea, Marshall D. Teach. Hancock refused, claiming that her joining the ranks of the Warlords was just to get the Marines off her back from pursuit. She then ordered the Marines on board of Momonga's ship to load all of their treasure onto the Kuja's ship. They nearly complied due to her mesmerizing beauty, but Momonga's anger snapped them out of their trance. Hancock then launched her Mero Mero Mellow technique, petrifying all the Marines except the Vice Admiral, who negated the effects with pain (by stabbing his hand). As the Kuja Pirates departed back to Amazon Lily, Momonga gave them a warning: if Hancock does not reply to the summons of the World Government in two days, then the treaty for the safety of Amazon Lily will be nullified. However, she still refused.

After the pirates returned, they caught Monkey D. Luffy on their island, who had been sent there by Bartholomew Kuma. They had a battle at the Colosseum, with Luffy being victorious. After hearing Luffy's assault on the World Noble Saint Charlos, Hancock fell for the Straw Hat Pirates' captain. Upon hearing of Ace's impending execution, Luffy asked Hancock to sneak him into Impel Down to rescue his brother, to which she agreed, much to the shock of her sisters and Nyon.

The Kuja Pirates then sailed back to Momonga's ship, with Luffy hiding inside Hancock's robes. Hancock then boarded the Marine ship with Salome and Luffy, leaving her crew behind to wait for her return.

Post-War Arc

After the war ended, Luffy was rescued by the Heart Pirates, and Hancock contacted the Kuja Pirates to escort the entire Heart Pirates to Amazon Lily, where Luffy hid from the World Government. After Luffy returned to the ship when he rang the Ox Bell, the Kuja Pirates stretched his rubbery skin.

Fish-Man Island Saga

Return to Sabaody Arc

After two years, Hancock and her crew escorted Luffy back to Sabaody Archipelago, to let him start his journey to Fish-Man Island. Before Luffy headed off, Hancock and the Kuja Pirates promised to assist Luffy whenever he needed their help.

Wano Country Saga

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The following events are non-canon, and therefore not considered part of the canon story.

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One Piece: Stampede

The Kuja Pirates attended the Pirates Festival. When the Navy started encircling Delta Island, they sprung into action with Boa Hancock assisting in Douglas Bullet's defeat.

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Concludes non-canon section.

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Wano Country Arc

Following the abolishment of the Seven Warlords system, Hancock and her crew came under attack by the Marines led by Vice Admiral Yamakaji. Hancock was unafraid and prepared for battle. They were also attacked by the Blackbeard Pirates who came to kill Hancock and steal her devil fruit power, only for both Marines and the Blackbeard Pirates to be driven off by Silvers Rayleigh and Shakuyaku.

Final Saga

Egghead Arc

Despite the Marines and the Blackbeard Pirates being driven off, the Kuja's home nation was deemed to be unsafe as the Marines would continue attempting to capture Hancock and their technological advancements had made them more of a threat. The Kujas witnessed Vegapunk's pre-record message broadcast.

Trivia

• The skull with nine snakes seen on the front of their boat, is similar to a common symbol of the Gorgon: a woman's face surrounded by snake hair.
• "Kuja" is likely a pun with the Japanese term "kujaku (孔雀)" that means "peacock", an animal associated with beauty, matching the fact that Boa Hancock considers herself beautiful.