Akainu

Origin

Much of Sakazuki's past is unknown. He would join the Navy and gain the powers of the powerful Magma-Magma Devil Fruit. He climbed he ranks of the Navy to Vice-Admiral, and he took part in the Buster Call on Ohara. It was his command to destroy all ships attempting to escape, regardless of the deaths of and innocent civilians. He reasoned that any of the Ohara scholars could have been aboard.

Sakazuki was eventually promoted to the position of admiral and given the epithet Akainu (赤犬 Akainu, literally meaning "Red Dog").

Creation

Sakazuki (サカズキ, Sakazuki)is an antagonist in the One Piece series that was created by Eiichiro Oda. The series first began serialization in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump on August 4, 1997. He first appeared during the Enies Lobby Arc that began in Volume 38.

His first appearance was in One Piece Volume 41 CH. 397 "In Order to Reach the Future".

Character Evolution

Major Story Arcs

Marineford Arc

All the admirals were present on Marineford when the Navy planned the public execution of Portgas D. Ace, one of the division commanders of Whitebeard. Whitebeard arrived with his entire armada, and a massive war broke out. The admirals remained mostly uninvolved in the first stage of the war. They mostly defended the execution grounds. However, Akainu put his own plot into motion. He had tricked Squard, one of Whitebeard allies, into thinking Whitebeard was going to sacrifice his entire fleet to save Ace. Squard turned on Whitebeard, piercing him through the chest, but it didn't kill him.

After Ace was freed by Monkey D. Luffy, Akainu successfully taunted Ace into attacking him. This gave him the chance to kill Luffy, but Ace jumped in front of the attack and soon died. Much of the Whitebeard crew were then trying to escape with Luffy and avoid Akainu. his pursuit was relentless until Whitebeard stepped in. Akainu and Whitebeard had a ruthless battle, but Whitebeard wouldn't stop no matter how many of Akainu's attacks he suffered.

After Whitebeard was finally killed by Blackbeard, Akainu returned to his pursuit of Luffy. He was able to strike at Luffy with his magma attack through Jimbei. They were both able to escape aboard the submarine of Trafalgar Law. When Coby, one of the Navy soldiers, pleaded for the fighting to end, Akainu was ready to kill him for disobeying orders to wipe out the pirates, but he was saved by the arrival of Shanks, another of the Four Emperors. Fleet-Admiral Sengoku ended the war when Shanks threatened to become involved if the senseless killing didn't stop.

Fish-Man Island Arc

After the events at Marineford during the war, Fleet-Admiral Sengoku was retiring and had planned to appoint Aokiji to the position. World Government officials pushed for Akainu. Aokiji strongly objected, and the matter was settled by a duel between admirals. They held the fight on the abandoned island of Punk Hazard. Their battle lasted ten days, but Akainu was the victor. He took the position of fleet-admiral at the new Marineford, previously the G-1 Base in the New World; then went back to using the name Sakazuki. Aokiji, Kuzan, left the Navy.

Dressrosa Arc

Sakazuki received word about an incident on Punk Hazard that had to do with Don Quixote Doflamingo, who had recently resigned from the Seven Warlords. This threatened to throw the balance of power in the New World into chaos. In response, Sakazuki ordered Admiral Fujitora to investigate Dressrosa.

Powers & Abilities

Physical abilities

Sakazuki possesses vast superhuman strength, speed, endurance, and durability. He was able to withstand two of Whitebeard's quake-enhanced punches at point-blank range, and he was still able to fight against the Whitebeard Pirates and two former Shichibukai (Crocodile and Jimbei) all at the same time.

Devil Fruit

Sakazuki possesses the Magma-Magma Fruit (マグマグの実, Magu Magu no Mi), a Logia-type Devil Fruit that allows him to create, manipulate, and transform into magma at will. As a Logia, Sakazuki can let physical attacks pass through his body harmlessly, and he can only be injured with Haki, Seastone, being caught off guard, or his elemental weakness.

Sakazuki's Devil Fruit is of a higher order than Ace's own Mera Mera no Mi (Flame-Flame Fruit), which allowed him to mortally wound Ace, despite his Logia-defense.

• Ryusei Kazan (流星火山 Ryūsei Kazan, literally meaning "Meteor Volcano") -Akainu creates a great number of magma fists that he fires into the air in order to let them rain down upon the battlefield, causing enormous amounts of area damage
• Inugami Guren (犬噛紅蓮 Inugami Guren, literally meaning "Dog-Bite Blaze"): Arguably the source of Sakazuki's nickname, Akainu creates a wave of magma, shaped like a dog's head, and launches it against his opponent. It was first used against Whitebeard.
• Dai Funka (大噴火 Dai Funka, literally meaning "Great Eruption"): Akainu's signature technique, he transforms his fist into one made out of pure lava before throwing it forward, like an over-sized rocket.
• Meigo (literally meaning "Dark Hound"): Sakazuki transforms his fist into magma and lashes out at his opponent with a claw-like thrust. This technique is powerful enough to melt part of Whitebeard's head off with a glancing blow.

Haki

Haki (覇気, Haki) is a power that is possessed by all people, but few can actually use it. It's often unique to those with a strong enough will to control. This power is even strong enough to cancel out the powers of Devil Fruit users, but even they can use this skill. There are three basic forms of Haki, and Sakazuki has only been seen to be able to use one.

• Armament Haki: The Armament Haki (武装色, Busoushoku) technique is a skill that surrounded the body of the user like an invisible armor. This can also be projected outward when striking to cause even more damage than normal. This power can even completely cancel the abilities of the powerful Logia Devil Fruit users. Sakazuki has used this to deflect an attack of Whitebeard.

Weaknesses

Sea Water

All devil fruit users share one similar weakness. That is the ocean. The incredible power of the devil fruit renders the user a complete inability to swim. Once in water, they will sink like a stone. In sea water, a devil fruit user will also lose all strength in in their body.

Extreme Cold

Though most Logia-types are nearly invulnerable, they can still be overcome by a more powerful force of the same kind, or their natural opposing element. Holding the power of the hottest of the fire-types mean he can't be overcome in heat. However, his natural enemy would be extreme cold. Kuzan held the power of the Ice-Ice Fruit, but still one after an extended battle.

Sea Prism Stone

Sea Prism Stone is a naturally occurring metal fund in the world. Minerals from the sea are embedded into the metal. It's said that sea prism stone is as hard as diamonds, and contact to the skin will both weaken the body and cancel out all devil fruit powers. they'll be as vulnerable as any other human. This is often found crafted into shackles.

Haki

Haki is a unique skill that all devil fruit users are vulnerable. Busoshoku Haki has the ability to cancel out any devil fruit power, however, the Haki of the attacker must be stronger than the target.

Other Media

Anime

One Piece (1999)

The One Piece animated series is a direct adaptation of Oda's original manga.. It's produced by TOEI Animation and first began airing in October 20, 1999. Sakazuki's first anime appearance was in One Piece - Episode 278 "Say You Want to Live! We are Comrades!!", which aired on September 24, 2006. His character in the Japanese series is mainly voiced by Fumihiko Tachiki, and the younger Sakazuki in his first appearance was voiced by Michio Nakao. The U.S. dub produced by FUNimation has not been announced.