Isuka
CharacterNailing Isuka is a Marine Ensign introduced in the novel One Piece novel A, where she repeatedly pursues Portgas D. Ace and his Spade Pirates. Her rivalry with Ace echoes Smoker's chase of Luffy.
Appearance
Isuka is a young woman with cropped vermilion hair and brown eyes, a bandage stuck to her left cheek, and a burn scar marking the back of one hand. Her usual look is a Marine uniform of collared buttoned shirt, tie, brown gloves, shorts, and heeled boots, with the coat reading Justice draped over her shoulders. While off duty at Sabaody she swaps this for casual tourist wear.
Personality
Bold and fiercely principled, Isuka thinks nothing of boarding the Spade Pirates' ship alone to arrest Ace, and her tenacity keeps her chasing him across half the Grand Line. She can also be clumsy and a touch naive, expecting Ace to face her head on rather than slip away. Above catching criminals she places the rescue of fellow Marines and civilians, and she is appalled by needless casualties, holding firmly that those who serve justice should never stoop to taking hostages.
History
As a child Isuka lost her parents and her village to a fire set by Marine officer Draw during a pirate raid, suffering the burn on her hand and being pulled from the flames by Draw himself. Believing him a savior, she joined the Marines to rescue people from pirates, rose to Ensign, and earned the epithet Nailing for the way her rapier leaves bodies full of holes.
She infiltrates the Spade Pirates during a party, easily handling the crew while trying to arrest Ace, who simply turns to flame and dodges her. When a pursuing warship strikes a reef and sinks, she dives in to save her drowning comrades, and Ace throws her a life preserver, sparing her life and turning her resentment into a vow to hunt him down. The two cross paths repeatedly on amicable terms. Reuniting at Sabaody, she urges Ace to give up piracy and even offers him a place among the Marines, which he refuses. Days later she accompanies Vice Admiral Draw, only to watch in horror as he torches a slum to kill Ace, finally realizing he had burned her home. After Ace defeats Draw, he invites her aboard his ship as a bounty hunter, but she stays behind to keep walking the Marine path, thanking Ace by name as they part.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Isuka in One Piece?
Isuka, nicknamed Nailing, is a Marine Ensign introduced in the novel One Piece novel A. She repeatedly pursues Portgas D. Ace and his Spade Pirates, in a rivalry that echoes Smoker's chase of Luffy.
How did Isuka get the nickname Nailing?
Isuka earned the epithet Nailing for the way her rapier leaves bodies full of holes.
Why did Isuka join the Marines?
As a child, Isuka lost her parents and her village to a fire set by Marine officer Draw during a pirate raid. Believing Draw to be her savior for pulling her from the flames, she joined the Marines to rescue people from pirates and rose to the rank of Ensign.
Does Isuka ever catch Ace?
No, Isuka never manages to arrest Portgas D. Ace. She infiltrates his crew's party and tries to arrest him, but he simply turns to flame and dodges her, and their paths keep crossing on increasingly amicable terms.
Why does Isuka refuse to join Ace's crew?
After Ace defeats Vice Admiral Draw and invites Isuka aboard his ship as a bounty hunter, she declines and chooses to stay on the Marine path instead, thanking Ace by name as they part.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Isuka? The One Piece Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the One Piece anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byEiichiro Oda
- Published byShueisha
- Animated byToei Animation
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