Every scar tells a tale, some more fascinating than others.

Action manga have a special place in our hearts, pumping out scenes after scenes of adrenaline-packed epic fights that’ll leave you wanting for more.

The most vicious battles between rivals inflict wounds that leave scars, which are a bitter reminder of defeat. Sometimes they also tell of a traumatic past, and instead of disfiguring characters, some make them look evencooler.

A recent poll of 3,761 Japanese readers revealed the top 10 scarred Shonen Jump characters they found the coolest.

10. Xanxus (80 votes)

Ruthless and merciless, Xanxus is one of the main antagonists in Reborn!. Scars covers most of his body, which were inflicted when the Ninth Vongola Boss unleashed a powerful ice technique called Zero Point Breakthrough: First Edition upon him.

9. Yamcha (81 votes)

Stalwart ally of Goku, Yamcha from the famed Dragon Ball series earned his scars during his strenuous three-year training in preparation for the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament.

8. Allen Walker (87 votes)

Allen Walker of D.Gray-man sports an unusual scar, resembling a pentagram and a streak running down the left side of his face. Given to Allen when he was cursed by his adopted father, it became the source of his trademark ability, the Cursed Eye, which he used in the series to detect demons and human souls attached to them.

7. Shu (103 votes)

https://twitter.com/hagokuro_mf/status/894490410705223680

Shu, originally a villain, clawed out his own eyes in order to save main protagonist Kenshiro’s life in Fist of the North Star, earning him a spot in the hearts of many a Japanese reader.

6. Monkey D. Luffy (120 votes)

https://twitter.com/Onepiece_GAZ/status/903202099952885760

A pirate isn’t worth his salt without scars, as Luffy showed in One Piece. The scar under his left eye came from stabbing himself to prove his worth to Shanks, while the massive X-shaped scar on his chest was likely a result of a fierce battle between Luffy and Akainu in the Battle of Marineford.

5. Kakashi Hatake (232 votes)

https://twitter.com/neko22kijineko/status/916333528945639425

The Third Shinobi World War left Kakashi, the former mentor of Team Seven, injured in the ninja hit series Naruto. His left eye was damaged in the process, but Kakashi gained a Sharingan, an eyeball possessing omnipotent abilities such as hypnotism and increased perception.

4. Tsukuyo (247 votes)

Tsukuyo from Gintama was originally a courtesan, but rejected her way of life and sought to protect the people that mattered to her. Scarring herself as a symbol of transition from prostitute to ninja, Tsukuyo remains a favorite among female Japanese readers.

3. Shanks (358 votes)

Renowned pirate of the One Piece world, Shanks inspired Luffy adopt a life of wandering the seas. Details surrounding his three scars are shrouded in mystery, except for the fact that Blackbeard gave Shank those in a fierce encounter.

2. Roronoa Zoro (388 votes)

It seems like One Piece’s male characters are dominating this list as much as the female characters dominated another list!

Seeking to become the greatest swordsman in the world of One Piece, Zoro is considered the most dangerous crew member in Luffy’s band of pirates behind Luffy himself. The large scar across his chest was given to him by shichibukai Dracule Mihawk, the current holder of the title “Greatest Swordsman in the World.”

1. Himura Kenshin (642 votes)

https://twitter.com/jump_champion/status/922451839622135809

Himura Kenshin from the Rurouni Kenshin series was a legendary former assassin who vowed never to kill again. His cross-shaped scar was a result of two separate incidents, one from a battle with Kiyosato Akira and the other from his wife, the dying words of whom changed Kenshin forever.

We hope some of your favorites made it into the list, though it would have been nice if Kenpachi Zarachi from Bleach got a spot as well. It wouldn’t be overreaching to say that these scars define some of these characters, creating compelling storylines that propel their respective series into becoming the bestsellers of all time.

Source: Goo Rankings
Top image: Pakutaso