Usopp

Usopp (ウソップ Usoppu) is a fictional character from the anime and manga One Piece.

Usopp is the local liar in his hometown of Syrup Village. Usopp's name is probably based on "Isoppu", the Japanese title of the Boy Who Cried Wolf (a famous liar who does the same kind of false alerts as Usopp) story. Considering that "lie" in Japanese is said "uso", the name Usopp could be a portmanteau name between uso and Isopp, both defining a liar. Usopp's long nose is an allusion to Pinnochio, a wooden-boy who possessed a nose that would stretch after he lied. Usopp's nose doubles as a cross-hair, allowing him to be extremely accurate with any projectile weapons.

The other aspect of Usopp besides his lying is his cowardice; he is a very timid person, or so he thinks. In extremely stressful situations, Usopp has proven to be far more courageous than he believes himself to be. He may display cowardice, but shows great resolve when his friends are threatened or mocked by outsiders.

Despite his lack of physical strength compared to other members of the crew, Usopp seems to be much more resilient than his comrades. He suffers injuries in almost every fight he participates in, but shrugs them off after a very short period of time. Part of this is the result of care by the Straw Hats' very capable doctor, but part of it seems to be a natural ability to absorb punishment.

History

Usopp calls himself a pirate and takes in three kids, Carrot (Ninjin, meaning "Carrot", in the original Japanese), Onion (Tamanegi, meaning Onion), and Pepper (Piman, meaning Pepper), as his "crew"; he dubs the groups "Usopp's Pirates", or in the English anime, the "Veggie Pirates".

Usopp is the son of Yasopp, a pirate who is part of Red-Haired Shanks' crew. He lies to relieve himself of the pain of having his father not coming back in time to save his mother from dying by illness. He first began this practice when he start yelling to his mother that pirates were coming in the hopes that it would strengthen her spirits enough to keep her alive. After he started doing so, he just continued to do so. Many of the villagers make a show of chasing him and throwing things at him for running through the town, but they are used to his antics. Some villagers even use his daily run through town as a sort of alarm clock.

When the Black Cat Pirates came to town, Usopp, along with Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zolo (Roronoa Zoro in Japan), and Nami, fight the pirates and their leader, Captain Kuro. When Kaya shows up on the scene, Kuro, a.k.a. "Klahadore", orders his men to make Kaya write a will that would give him all of her inheritance, before killing her, causing Django to go after Kaya while Luffy, Zolo, Nami, and a critically wounded Usopp to stay behind.

"Usopp's Pirates" run away with Kaya but the group is ambushed by Django in the forest. Django attacks the kids until Kaya threatens to kill herself unless he stopped hurting the kids. Django does this and has her write the will. When Zolo, who was carrying Usopp, approaches, Django prepares to slash Kaya's throat. Usopp's Pirates ram a shovel into him, causing Django to shove the kids away. This gives Usopp enough time to use his secret technique exploding stars on Django, saving Miss Kaya. Django is presumed dead, but he survives and surfaces later on.

After Luffy takes care of the Black Cat Pirates, Usopp disbands "Usopp's Pirates" and leaves them to become the local liars while he joins Luffy, Nami, and Zolo. Usopp becomes a sniper for the crew as he has inherited his father's sharpshooting skills. After joining, he creates the flag for the Straw Hat Pirate Crew after Luffy proves unable to draw. Usopp also informs his captain that he will take over the crew if Luffy is unable to lead.

After the Straw Hats leave Syrup Village, Usopp accompanies them to the floating restaurant Baratie. The crew temporarily splits up at this point, Luffy stays behind to recruit a new member while Usopp accompanies Roronoa Zolo, Johnny, and Yosaku (the latter two are bounty hunters and temporary guests of the Straw Hats) in their pursuit of Nami, who has stolen their ship to settle an account with the captain of the Arlong Pirate Crew.

During the conflict with the Arlong crew, Usopp takes on Chuu, Arlong's Chief of Staff and a cutlass fishman, and beats him in single combat. After the victory over the Arlong Pirate crew, the Straw Hats reunite and head for Logue Town, which is the site where the legendary Pirate King Gold Roger was executed. Here Usopp buys a pair of goggles and also defends the Going Merry from being sabotaged by Mohji the Lion Tamer.

Usopp saw little action after this until the crew reaches Arurba during the Baroque Works or Alabasta Arc. During this, Usopp and Chopper team up to take on the Mr. Number 4 Pair, which consists of Mr. 4, Ms. Merry Christmas, and the Gun-Dog Lasso. When the Straw Hats attempt to leave Alabasta after the battle with the Baroque Works, the crew is attacked by the Marines. During the engagement, Usopp sinks two Marine ships with a single shot from the Going Merry's cannon.

After this, Usopp mainly spends his time during the Jaya Arc repairing damage done to the Going Merry during the escape from Alabasta. He also participates in the hunt for the South Bird. Here he proves to be less cowardly in some respects than other members of the crew, as unlike Sanji and Nami, Usopp is not afraid of bugs and spiders.

Still, Ussop doesn't really do much in the Skypeia Arc other then help Luffy and Sanji defeat the Trial of the Orb priest and then coming to Nami's rescue during the fight with Enreu after being out commision for most of the arc. Though he does show his smarts once again during the Donut Race of the Davy Back Fight, using the recently gained impact dial to help his team try to win the race. He the one who even suggest Luffy wear the afro during the combat portion of the event which helps Luffy beat Foxy in the end.

However, things take a drastic turn once the crew reaches Water 7. Ussop is viciously beat up twice by the Franky family (once for his money and again when Ussop goes to the Franky House to get the money back) which leads to a severe drop in his self-confidence in the crew. But the worst was yet to come when Luffy annouced they had to get a new ship (The Merry Go had suffered too much damage during their voyage and was at its wits end). Ussop refused to let go of the Merry Go, leading to him quitting the Straw Hats and betting the Merry Go on a duel against Luffy (if he won he would get the ship). While Ussop gains an advantage early in the battle, he is defeated yet given the Merry Go anyway. Later he taken in by Franky (a.k.a Cutty Flam) who has to show Ussop the hard way that the ship was beyond repair. But even with the truth known, Ussop wouldn't let go of the Merry Go. Sadly, the CP9 raids Franky's hideout for the Pluton bluprints and, in the process, pushes the wreaked ship out into a storming sea with Ussop looking on, helpless to do anything.

Currently, Ussop was captured along with Cutty and taken aboard the sea train, Puffing Tom, but was soon set free by Sanji who stowedaway. He is then filled in on the group's current situation invovling Nico Robin, but refuses to help since he feels he isn't part of the crew anymore and disappers, only to reappear in a mask, a cape and a new name: Soge-King: The sniper king.fr:Pipo zh:騙人布