Roronoa Zoro is one of the most popular characters in One Piece. Over the years, this member of Luffy's crew has proven to be a formidable asset and one of the most loyal and authentic characters in the series. Due to his immense combat experience, Zoro has accumulated an impressive number of scars, among which the one on his chest stands out. In this article, we will explain how and when he got it.

Zoro's body is full of scars, but the largest and most noticeable is the one on his chest, which stretches from his left shoulder to his right hip and is visible whenever he is shirtless or whenever his chest is exposed. It is also his most "impressive" scar. How did he figure it out? Zoro got this scar in Baratie when he fought Dracule Mihawk, who cut his chest during the battle and left a permanent scar on his chest. This was, of course, their first duel, where Mihawk noticed something about Zoro and decided to declare him his future rival.

The rest of this article will tell you a little more about Mihawk and Zoro's relationship, as that's actually the main topic of this article. This is actually relevant to the story of how Zoro got his (in)famous scar on his chest. In this article, we'll tell you the whole story, then explain the context in which it happened and how it relates to the nature of Zoro and Mihawk's relationship. Of course, the article will contain some spoilers, albeit from previous arcs, so we advise you to be careful when reading it.

Zoro got his chest scar while fighting Mihawk in Baratie

We all know who Roronoa Zoro is and how important he is in the story of One Piece. This is quite clear in every way. So, we will begin this article by explaining Zoro's visual appearance in detail.

Zoro is of average height, with a muscular build and tanned skin. He always carries his three blades, which are tied with a light green belt around his waist on his right side so he can easily grab them with his left hand when needed. He wears three completely identical golden earrings on his left earlobe and a black bandana, which is tied around his left bicep and which he uses to tie around his head when engaged in serious combat.

Zoro also bears a few scars inflicted on him during his battles, including the one stretching from his left shoulder to his right side, acquired by Dracule Mihawk in Baratie, and the ones on his ankles, which he inflicted on himself while attempting to free himself from Galdino's wax structure in Little Garden.

Another important element of Zoro's appearance is his green hair, which is why Sanji calls him "moss head" due to his resemblance. Like his male companions, Zoro wears the same outfit for most of the series. His pants are always black with green trim, while his outerwear generally changes as the sagas change. After the time skip, Zoro gained a new scar above his left eye, which he always keeps closed. His neck appears thicker and stiffer, and his hair is slightly longer.

As you can see, aside from his trademark green hair, Zoro also has many scars, which are, in a way, the most prominent aspect of his appearance. Many of these scars have their own stories, but the most prominent is the scar on his chest, which we mentioned above. It runs from his left shoulder to his right hip, and can be seen whenever he's shirtless or his chest is revealed. As we said, he got the scar after fighting Mihawk in Baratie, but here's the full story for you.

Mihawk arrives determined to do what he had been interrupted from doing a few days earlier: sink the Dreadnought Saber while the Straw Hat Pirates struggle with Creek and his men. Zoro challenges Mihawk to a duel as soon as he recognizes him. Mihawk successfully repels his opponent's three blade assaults with a single basic knife before stabbing Zoro in the chest at the last second.

However, the Seven Warlords of the Sea member is moved by his rival's spirit and grants him the privilege of witnessing his black sword in action. Zoro is about to use one of his most powerful moves, but Mihawk manages to destroy two of his swords in one blow, leaving only the Wado Ichimonji intact.

Zoro admits defeat and positions himself to be stabbed by his opponent, exposing his chest, convinced that a back injury is a hindrance to a swordsman. Mihawk smirks and stabs him in the chest, but he resists long enough to survive. He then challenges him to become the world's greatest swordsman. Mihawk quickly decides it's time to return to the Grand Line. However, when Creek attempts to attack the swordsman, the swordsman's blows split the ship in two.

And that's basically the whole story. As you can see, there isn't much in terms of details - Zoro saw Mihawk, Zoro challenged Mihawk to a duel, Zoro lost the duel, Zoro got his chest sliced ​​by Mihawk, which left a permanent scar on his chest.

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Mihawk is indeed so powerful, and it should come as no surprise to fans that the sea warlord was able to inflict such a wound on Zoro in this aspect. And that's all there is to it. It's not a very long story, but we've tried to provide you with as much detail as possible.

Of course, this battle had a lot of consequences for Zoro and Mihawk's relationship, as Mihawk finally recognized Zoro as a potential rival, and it also indirectly led to Zoro training with Mihawk during the two-year time skip.

The scar serves as a reminder to Zoro, who, every time he sees it, remembers the embarrassing defeat he suffered at the hands of Mihawk in Bariatie, but also as motivation, as it can help him become better. His goal is to become the best, and to become the best, he will have to surpass Mihawk, and the large scar he inflicted on him can thus constantly remind him of his goal and how much better he must become. And that is why this scar, in particular, is so important, and that is why we have told you this whole story.