_Chapter 1,102: "The Life of Kuma"._
- Reader request in the cover: Bonney is eating some sandwiches that a pack of wolves made.
- Chapter starts with Bonney's journey. The Bonney Pirates were traveling to an island searching for Kuma. He was there, but when Bonney Pirates arrived, Kuma already warped away. Bonney Pirates always left tons of injured kids and elderly after their attacks (they were actually Marines transformed by Bonney's powers) so Marines believed they're really evil pirates. Kuma was aware that Bonney was looking for him but he decided he couldn't meet her.
- Cut to the scene when Luffy got his first bounty. We can see Luffy's reaction and the reaction page showed in Jump Festa 2024 (with Ace, Jinbe, Sabo...). Short after that (during Enies Lobby incident) Kuma visited Vegapunk in Egghead Island. Vegapunk showed him an army of Pacifistas being produced and they talked about Enies Lobby incident.
- Kuma revealed to Vegapunk that Luffy is Dragon's son. Kuma knew it's useless to hide this information from Vegapunk since he already promised to give Vegapunk all his memory. Vegapunk can't believe Luffy is Dragon's son.
> Kuma: "It's curious how a boy with rubber powers is going against the World Government... Just like the legendary "Nika"!!"
> Vegapunk: "That's true, pe pe pe!!"
 |
| Color Spread OP - Chapter 1,102: "The Life of Kuma" |
- Then we cut to Thirller Bark incident, we see it from Kuma's point of view (Kuma saw Straw Hat crew fighting Moria). After the incident, Kuma received a Den Den Mushi call with the order to prepare for war against Whitebeard.
- Cut to Sabaody. We see Bonney's introduction scene, but now we discover that Kuma was actually hiding outside the restaurant, looking at Bonney through a window. Kuma smiled when he saw Bonney.
> Kuma: "She has grown into a strong pirate!!"
- Kuma heard about "the incident of the Tenryuubito" so he warped to the Human Auction's roof immediately and looked inside. Kuma was shocked when he discovered that Luffy punched a Tenryuubito to protect a Gyojin.
> Kuma: "This is a rebellious act that no one has been able to do for centuries!!"
 |
| this chapter was very sad. |
- Then we see Sabaody incident (Kizaru/Sentoumaru/Pacifistas Vs. Straw Hat crew) from Kuma's point of view.
> Luffy: "I couldn't save them...!! Not a single one of my nakamas...!!!!"
> Kuma (thinking to himself): "That's not true at all. You all just aren't ready for the New World.
> Do not come until you are ready, because you are a man who might one day save the world!!"
- In Egghead Island, Saturn ordered Vegapunk to put an additonal self-destruction switch on Kuma just in case. Vegapunk tried to negotiate other methods that will allow Kuma to retain his conciousness but Saturn insisted Kuma's mind must be wiped.
> Saturn: "I'm also a scientist. It's useless that you try to lie to me, Vegapunk!!"
- On the last day of his "normal life" (just before the "Summit War" of Marineford) Kuma and Vegapunk said goodbye to each other. Vegapunk programed Kuma to go fight Whitebeard Pirates in the war, but Kuma asked Vegapunk to program him to protect Thousand Sunny too.
> Kuma: "I would love to see the Straw Hat's growth... But since I can't do it, at least I want to protect their home!!"
> Vegapunk: "Kuma, why do you have so much faith in Luffy?"
> Kuma: "I know "Nika" is just a legend. But I promised Bonney that one day a "warrior of liberation" will come to free her. Luffy's actions moved me!! I think he's a man who might end up changing the seas one day!!"
- Kuma gave his memory to Vegapunk as he promised. Kuma's memory is like a copy of original one, so Kuma doesn't forget anything by pulling it out with his powers. Also the memory will disappear when someone touch it, so Vegapunk developed a system to observe and study it without touching the memory sphere itself. As Kuma pulled out his memories, we see Kuma's entire life flashing before him and all faces of people he love: his dad, his mom, Ivankov, Ginny, Bonney...
- Then, in a very emotional scene, we see Vegapunk pulling a machine's lever in tears. The machine started to erase Kuma consciousness, there were rays of light shining on Egghead Island (just like in Kuma's church when he took damage from people). All scientists and Sentoumaru were praying/saluting together.
- In the final page of the chapter, flashback ends and we cut to "Nikyu Room” in Egghead Island. The sphere with Kuma's memory is gone and Bonney is crying on the floor. Chapter ends with Kuma's final words that he asked Vegapunk to tell Bonney.
> Kuma: "Happy 10th birthday, Bonney!!!"
End of the chapter. Break next week (no Shonen Jump for Christmas holidays) but maybe next chapter will appear sooner.