Kuma keeps saving people from Bekori’s cruelty, even though everyone’s worried he’s gonna get himself killed. Meanwhile, as fires burn in the distance, Bekori brags that he got the idea from a kingdom in the East that did the same thing to win favor with the World Nobles. He claims the only way to make a kingdom powerful is if someone’s willing to do the dirty work. The people push back, but Bekori says they’re missing the big picture—then orders some of them executed. Right then, Kuma shows up at the castle and completely wrecks it, ignoring Bekori’s warnings about the consequences. That night becomes known as Sorbet’s “Solo Revolution.”
Over in the Holy Land, Saturn is told that Sorbet has a new king. Turns out, it’s Kuma—but only in name. The one actually running things is Bulldog, the old king before Bekori, who everyone loved. Kuma stays at his church healing the elderly, but the people still call him their king anyway.
Later, Kuma and the others are shocked when they see Bonney running around looking grown, even though she’s supposed to be ten. She says she was just trying to build stamina so she can sail with her dad, but she’s just as confused as everyone else. When she sees herself in the mirror and freaks out, she turns back into a little kid. That’s when Gyogyo figures out she ate the Toshi Toshi no Mi. Bonney tries to age herself up again, but Kuma tells her not to push it. Then Bulldog shows up at the church with Queen Dowager Conney—only for Gyogyo to completely mistake her for Bonney aged up successfully.
Bekori’s comeback
Bulldog meets with Kuma to warn him—Bekori’s planning a comeback. There’s propaganda spreading that paints Kuma as some kind of tyrant who stole the throne and started the fires himself. People are furious at Bekori’s lies, but Bulldog says he still has the World Government behind him, and with their support, he’ll probably try to take the throne back by force. The citizens tell Kuma they don’t want Bekori back, and Kuma agrees. He says he’ll fight, even if it means being branded a criminal and having to leave the country. Before he goes, he asks Bulldog to officially become king of Sorbet and to take care of Bonney. Bulldog accepts, and Kuma says goodbye to Bonney, promising to return soon.
Sure enough, Bekori shows up with a fleet of Marine ships—Kuma sinks them all. After that, he heads out to sea and becomes a pirate. His power earns him a bounty, and he starts traveling the world. Along the way, he visits places he’ll later send the Straw Hats to—Torino Kingdom, Kuraigana Island (where Abdullah and Jeet try to take his bounty and fail hard), Karakuri Island, Weatheria, and the Boin Archipelago, where he searches for a way to save Bonney, but comes up empty.
Kuma joins the Revolutionary Army
Kuma eventually runs into the Revolutionary Army and reunites with Dragon. They catch up, and Belo Betty asks Kuma if she can become the East Army commander. Dragon won’t let anyone take the position without Kuma’s approval, and he gives it. Dragon tells him that Sabo and Koala have grown a lot since he last saw them, and it’d be nice if Kuma came back to see it himself. Kuma says he’d love to return someday. That’s when Dragon mentions Dr. Vegapunk, who recently had to leave Punk Hazard because of Caesar’s mess, so his security might be down. Kuma thanks him and heads out right away, and Dragon tells him to let the winds of fate guide him.
Kuma makes it home and reunites with Bonney, who’s learned how to fight. They go to the Marines’ Science Division—Lab 8, which will become Egghead—where Dr. Vegapunk says he can cure Bonney using a new technique: stem cell transplant. While doing a checkup, Vegapunk finds out Kuma is a Buccaneer. That’s when he asks Kuma to be the template for a new line of clone soldiers, saying it’s the price for Bonney’s treatment. Kuma agrees but asks what the clones will be used for. Vegapunk explains they’ll be built to withstand bullets and be strong enough to take down pirates and protect the innocent. Touched, Kuma agrees, even though he knows Dragon wouldn’t be happy with the deal. As long as Bonney lives, it’s worth it. Vegapunk calls him a saint, but Kuma says he’s just a pacifist who wants peace. Inspired, Vegapunk names the new soldiers “Pacifista.”
Meanwhile, in the Holy Land, Saturn calls Vegapunk a fool for holding back on the project. In his view, the clones should be weapons—measured by how many people they can kill. He says he has his own plans for the Pacifista moving forward.
