What’s the Truth Behind Ginny’s Sapphire Scales and How Kuma Found the Cure in One Piece?

Spoilers Ahead!

Bartholomew Kuma’s backstory is one of the most devastating and emotionally gripping stories in One Piece. While his childhood is one reason it was so painful, another reason is his relationship with Ginny and what they had to endure. Kuma and Ginny had known each other for years and were recruited to the Revolutionary Army together. However, Ginny was abducted by the Celestial Dragons, and it was during that time that she became terminally ill and suffered from the Sapphire Scales disease.

What Is The Sapphire Scales Disease?

The Sapphire Scale Disease is likely the rarest and deadliest disease in One Piece. The disease leads to the formation of sapphire-like scales on the skin of the sufferer. It is excruciatingly painful, and the scales are formed rapidly upon exposure to natural light, like sunlight and moonlight. As a result, the sufferer is kept inside closed rooms so that natural light does not reach them. However, it does not stop the process, rather it slows it down. Eventually, the entire body will be covered by these sapphire scales, ultimately leading to the person’s death.

How Did Ginny Get Inflicted With The Sapphire Scale Disease?

Ginny picked up the disease due to several failed experiments conducted on her by Saint Jaygarcia Saturn. One of those experiments was to infuse the ability of the Age Fruit into her. It ultimately led to her death, but the Age Fruit’s ability was passed on to Bonney, who was still inside Ginny at that time. While on the brink of death, she contacted the Revolutionary Army, and when they found her, she was taking her last breaths. Ginny’s last wish was to ensure that her daughter Bonney was safe and taken care of.

The Sapphire Scales disease ultimately claimed her life, and Kuma could do nothing about it. Bartholomew Kuma was in love with Ginny, and her death broke him. Even though he was not the biological father of Jewelry Bonney, he raised her like his daughter. Unfortunately, he received the shock of his life when he saw that Bonney was also suffering from the Sapphire Scales disease. While he was unable to do anything for Ginny, Kuma was determined to save Bonney’s life at all costs. As a result, he set out to find the cure for the deadly disease.

How Was Kuma Able To Cure Jewelry Bonney?

With Jewelry Bonney about to suffer the same fate as her mother, Kuma starts to venture into the world and meets all doctors and medical experts to discover the cure to the disease. He traveled to multiple islands and finally met One Piece’s Albert Einstein, Dr. Vegapunk, thanks to Monkey D. Dragon revealing the scientist’s location to Kuma.

On Egghead, the distressed father and the scientist met, with the former coming know that the Sapphire Scales Disease can be cured through stem cell transplant. It filled Kuma with joy, but Vegapunk also revealed that the procedure was extremely costly. Saint Jaygarcia Saturn came to know about the situation and cut a deal with Kuma. Dr. Vegapunk would save Bonney, but Kuma was not allowed to visit her and had to allow the World Government to experiment on him.

Kuma would lose his consciousness and turn into a cyborg, later known as Pacifista. He would be used by the World Government and given the position of Warlord of the Sea. The Nikyu Nikyu no Mi user happily accepted the deal, and Bonney was cured thanks to Vegapunk’s efforts. While it may seem like science that cured Bonney, it was actually Bartholomew Kuma’s fatherly love and sacrifice that helped her freely move under sunlight.

---

Also Read: Who Are the Buccaneers? One Piece Reveals Kuma’s Connection to a Vanishing Race

Understanding the Chain of Command Controlling the Seraphim and Pacifistas in One Piece

---

The One Piece anime series is available to stream on Crunchyroll.