Who Is Vinsmoke Sanji?

Vinsmoke Sanji, also known as "Black Leg" Sanji, is the chef of the Straw Hat Pirates in the anime and manga series One Piece. He is one of the crew's top three fighters, known for his kick-only martial arts style that protects his hands for cooking. Sanji was the third official crew member, joining after Luffy defeated Don Krieg at the floating restaurant Baratie, which is owned and operated by Sanji’s surrogate father, “Red Leg” Zeff.

Appearance

Sanji has blonde, jaw-length hair, usually covering one eye, distinctive curly eyebrows, and a lean, tall build. After the two-year time skip, he grew a goatee, and his hair was adjusted to cover his right eye instead of his left. His eyebrows' direction can change in battle as a visual indicator that his Germa genetic enhancements and scientific powers are active, shifting from the normal outward curl to an inward curl that matches his siblings' design. He typically wears stylish suits, but has also been seen in his cook's uniform, and is almost always smoking a cigarette.

Personality

Sanji is known for his constant, over-the-top flirtations and romanticism, especially toward attractive women like Nami and Nico Robin. He is extremely protective of all women, refusing to harm a female opponent even if it means risking his own life. Despite having a bit of a quick temper, Sanji is exceptionally compassionate and generous. 

His own experience with starvation left him with an unwavering rule to never deny a hungry person a meal, even if they are a villain. He frequently goes out of his way to rescue or help others, even when he has no obligation to do so. Sanji is fiercely loyal to his crewmates, often putting their safety before his own. This was most famously demonstrated during the Thriller Bark arc when he offered to sacrifice his life for Luffy.

Background

Sanji is the third son in a set of quadruplets born to the Vinsmoke family, the ruling family of the Germa Kingdom. However, he disowned his family twice due to a horrific and abusive childhood. Sanji's father, 

• Vinsmoke Judge: Sanji's biological father, the King of the Germa Kingdom, and the supreme commander of Germa 66. He is a ruthless scientist who genetically modified his children to become emotionless super-soldiers.

• Vinsmoke Sora: Sanji's deceased biological mother, who secretly took a drug during her pregnancy to counteract her husband's genetic modifications. Her actions allowed Sanji to be born with his emotions intact, but led to her own health failing.

• Vinsmoke Ichiji: The eldest quadruplet and second son, known as "Sparking Red". He has enhanced strength and can shoot energy blasts. He was one of Sanji's primary bullies.

• Vinsmoke Niji: The second quadruplet and third son, known as "Dengeki Blue" ("Electric Blue"). He possesses incredible speed and electricity-based powers.

• Vinsmoke Yonji: The youngest quadruplet and son, known as "Winch Green". He has superhuman strength and was another of Sanji's tormentors.

• Vinsmoke Reiju: Sanji's older sister and the eldest child. She is known as "Poison Pink" for her ability to absorb and manipulate poison. Unlike her younger brothers, she retained her emotions and secretly sympathized with Sanji.

• "Red Leg" Zeff: The former pirate and owner of the Baratie restaurant who found and rescued Sanji as a child. He taught Sanji how to cook and fight, and Sanji considers him his true, loving father.

Powers and Abilities

Sanji's powers originate from his Black Leg fighting style, proficiency with Haki, and latent superhuman genetic enhancements from his Vinsmoke lineage that awakened during the Wano arc. 

Black Leg Style

As a chef, Sanji fights exclusively with his legs to protect his hands from injury, which are necessary for cooking. This technique, inherited from his mentor "Red-Leg" Zeff, allows for incredibly powerful and acrobatic kicks.

• Diable Jambe: Sanji superheats his legs by spinning at high speed, adding extreme fiery heat to his kicks. After the two-year timeskip, he no longer needs to spin and can ignite his legs almost instantly, even underwater.

• Ifrit Jambe: An evolved form of Diable Jambe, unlocked after his genetic modifications awakened. By combining his enhanced body with Armament Haki, his flames burn with a much hotter, bluish-white color, dramatically increasing his destructive power.

• Hell Memories: A pre-timeskip technique where Sanji ignites his entire body with rage, delivering a powerful kick that incinerates his opponent.

• Sky Walk: An air-based movement technique inspired by the Rokushiki art "Geppo." Sanji kicks the air to propel himself high into the sky, allowing him to "fly".

• Blue Walk: The underwater equivalent of Sky Walk, allowing Sanji to move at extremely high speeds beneath the ocean.

• Parage Shot: A series of kicks that can completely rearrange an opponent's facial structure.

Vinsmoke Genetic Modifications

As a child, Sanji's genetic modifications were thought to have failed due to his mother's intervention during pregnancy. However, years later, wearing a Raid Suit provided by his family awakened these dormant genes. Sanji ultimately chose to destroy the suit but kept his new abilities.

• Exoskeleton: His body gained a durable exoskeleton, making him incredibly resistant to damage, including blows that would normally be lethal.

• Healing Factor: Sanji gained an accelerated healing factor, allowing him to recover from wounds much faster than a normal human.

• Superhuman Speed: His speed and agility were tremendously boosted, to the point that he could become so fast he was seemingly invisible to his opponent, Queen.

• Superhuman Strength: The enhancements gave Sanji a massive increase in physical strength, allowing him to overwhelm powerful foes. 

Raid Suit

Before destroying it, Sanji used a Raid Suit from Germa 66, which provided several technological boosts.

• Invisibility: The suit's unique camouflage ability allowed him to blend in with his surroundings and become invisible.

• Mobility: It granted him accelerated boots for flight and stronger kicks.

• Durability: The suit added an extra layer of durable armor. 

Haki

Sanji has developed two of the three types of haki known throughout the world of One Piece, including Armament and Observation Haki.

• Armament Haki: Creates an armor-like force that strengthens attacks and defenses, allowing armament haki users to harm Devil Fruit users and ignore their powers.

• Observation Haki: Gives individuals a sixth sense that allows them to perceive and predict their opponent's movements. In its advanced form, they can see moments into the future.

• Conqueror's Haki: A rare form of Haki that allows individuals to knock out those with weak wills. With advanced control, conqueror’s Haki users can coat their body with this Haki to further enhance their attacks. At the moment, Sanji is not a user of Conqueror’s Haki

Cook/Chef

Sanji is an extraordinary chef with technical skills, an intuitive understanding of food, and the ability to prepare healing and strengthening meals, all while maintaining a chef's etiquette of never using his hands as weapons.

• Technical Prowess: Sanji possesses exceptional skill in knife work and is able to cook with incredible speed and precision.

• Intuitive Understanding: He demonstrates an almost innate ability to deduce the qualities of ingredients and cooking methods, even from a short time with a dish. 

• Healing and Strengthening: His cooking provides the Straw Hat Pirates with meals that not only nourish but also heal and strengthen them. 

• Aesthetic Sense: Sanji has a strong appreciation for the aesthetics of food, which translates into how he prepares and presents dishes. 

• Nutrition Expertise: Beyond taste, he has a deep understanding of food and nutrition, allowing him to maximize the beneficial effects of his cooking. 

• Adaptability: Sanji can create delectable meals from a wide variety of resources, even in challenging conditions.

Goals and Reputation

As the cook of the Straw Hat Pirates, Sanji's ultimate dream is to locate the All Blue, a mythical sea that would be a paradise for any chef. This dream was passed down to him by his mentor, "Red-Leg" Zeff. Beyond his personal dream, Sanji's life is dedicated to his crew. He constantly provides them with exceptional meals and is one of the "Monster Trio," the three strongest fighters protecting the ship and its members. Despite his current bounty of 1,032,000,000 Berries after the Raid on Onigashima being one of the highest in the world, it is only the fourth highest on the crew following Luffy, Zoro, and Jimbei, even leading to Zoro referring to him as "Number 4".