Shimotsuki Kuina

**Shimotsuki Kuina** was Roronoa Zoro's childhood friend and a swordsman student as the Shimotsuki Dojo. She was the best among the students and was Zoro's goal and biggest opponent at the time. After their promise and her death, Zoro's doubled down on his dream of becoming the greatest swordsman in the world, as he had twice the reasons to fulfill it.

## Apparence

Kuina is a teenager with short blue hair and black eyes. Naturally, she is always seen wearing a green kimono with the red symbol of the dojo and a white belt, which is characteristic of Shimotsuki students.

## Personality

Her personality is that of someone who is confident, even arrogant because of her great talent of swordmanship. Though, behind her appearing confidence, the burden of finding her female body an obstacle makes her tell Zoro that she will soon be less strong because of puberty.

## History

### Biography

Kuina was born in Shimotsuki Village in East Blue. She's the only child of Koshiro Shimotsuki, the owner and teacher of the village's dojo. As she grew up, she became one of her father's students, learning the art of swordsmanship and becoming the best student at the dojo. During one of her training sessions, Zoro challenged her and the rivalry between the two began. After losing one of these times, the boy decided to challenge the girl, this time with real swords.

After arriving in a remote part of the dojo, Kuina meets Zoro, challenging him once again to a duel. After firing several blows at the boy and throwing him backwards, he raised his two swords, getting into position to put an end to this, Kuina also gets into position, launching herself to put an end to Zoro.

Knocking him down after the impact of the swords, Zoro is defeated, but Kuina hits the ground, not ending the boy's life. After lifting him off the ground, the two decide to make a promise, that one of the two would become the best swordsman in the world.

A few days later, Kuina's father finds Zoro where he and Kuina meet to train together. Zoro asks him where Kuina was, as he's waiting for her. He answers the boy, saying that Kuina had had an accident and passed away.

During Kuina's funeral, all the students gather to pay their respects. But Zoro comes close to Koshiro and asks to have her sword Wado Ichimonji. Koshiro is sceptic at first and asks why he should have it. Then Zoro expresses his common dream with Kuina and their promise. Koshiro accepts, saying that now he has to fulfill his promise for the both of them.

## Abilites and Powers

### Physical Abilities

Kuina is said to be a talented swordswoman, someone who is extremely fast and can easily strike Zoro several times in just a few attacks.

### Weapons

She carries a wooden sword during her training, but during her fight against Zoro, she used the Wado Ichimonji, her main sword.

## Trivia

* In the manga, Kuina's surname is unknown when she appears, but is revealed years later during the Wano arc.
	+ One major difference in the adaptation is that Kuina's father scolds the girl for wanting to become a swordsman because she is a woman, but this trait was left out of the live-action.
	+ In the manga, it is told she dies falling down the stairs, but in the live-action it's not precised, her father only telling she had an accident and passed away.