Chapter Summaries

Zoro, Kuina, and Chopper arrived on Kuraigana Island and fought sword-wielding baboons trained by an unknown swordsman. Dracule Mihawk learned that Roy had sent the two young swordsmen to train with him, and prepared to test them with Yoru.

• Jozu and Vista resumed their battle against Luffy and Ace after Rayleigh refused to intervene.
• Zoro, Kuina, and Chopper landed on Kuraigana Island and entered its eerie forest.
• A sword-wielding baboon attacked the group, and Kuina knocked it back with Wado Ichimonji.
• Dozens of armed baboons surrounded the trio, and Zoro and Kuina fought them while protecting Chopper.
• Kuina realized the baboons used techniques taught by a swordsman as the attackers charged again.
• Mihawk read Roy's letter asking him to train Zoro and Kuina, then took up Yoru and prepared to judge them.

Zoro defeated the Baboon King in a swordsmanship-only duel after it imitated his techniques. Dracule Mihawk then appeared, overwhelming the forest with his sword pressure and asking Zoro and Kuina if they were the promising youngsters Roy had mentioned.

• Kuina and Zoro defeated the human-imitator baboon army, then faced the Baboon King as it emerged from the forest.
• Zoro chose to fight the Baboon King without Haki, and it copied his Three-Sword Style attacks during their duel.
• Zoro overcame the Baboon King's imitations and knocked it down with the back of his blade.
• An immense sword pressure froze the forest, and the Baboon King and the other baboons cowered before its source.
• Dracule Mihawk entered the battlefield and asked Zoro and Kuina if they were the two promising youngsters Roy had mentioned.

Roronoa Zoro challenged Dracule Mihawk, who initially fought him using only a tiny cross-shaped dagger. Impressed by Zoro’s growing strength, Mihawk drew his Black Blade Yoru, and the two prepared to truly cross swords.

• Roronoa Zoro declared his dream and challenged Dracule Mihawk to a fight.
• Dracule Mihawk stopped Zoro’s Three Sword Style: Oni Giri with his cross-shaped dagger and knocked him through several trees.
• Zoro charged again with Haki, and Mihawk repeatedly blocked his attacks as Zoro grew faster and stronger.
• Mihawk acknowledged that he had underestimated Zoro and drew the Black Blade Yoru.
• Zoro and Dracule Mihawk faced each other as their sword pressures swept through the forest.

Zoro pushed Mihawk into a serious duel, unveiling Demon Aura: Nine-Sword Style: Asura before Mihawk defeated him with overwhelming swordsmanship. Kuina then asked Mihawk to instruct her, but he postponed their fight until the next day so Zoro could rest.

• Zoro attacked Mihawk with several Three-Sword Style techniques, but Mihawk calmly defended and countered him.
• Zoro manifested Demon Aura: Nine-Sword Style: Asura and unleashed Ichibugin against Mihawk’s full-strength Black Blade Yoru.
• Mihawk’s sword strike overwhelmed Zoro and hurled him into a crater, though Zoro rose still determined to surpass him.
• Mihawk said Zoro had forced him to use seventy percent of his strength, and Zoro vowed to defeat him someday.
• Kuina challenged Mihawk to instruct her, but the rain and Zoro’s injuries led Mihawk to invite them to the Castle and postpone the fight until tomorrow.

Kuina questioned her swordsmanship after Mihawk and Zoro told her that her sword intent was too restrained, and she considered embracing her fruit power. At the battle for the prison wagon, Luffy sent Whitey Bay flying after she freed Marco, then confronted Andre as Andre attacked Nami.

• Mihawk told Zoro that he had done well and told Kuina that her sword intent lacked the obsession and purity needed to become stronger.
• Kuina reflected on whether she was holding back her fruit power, and Zoro urged her to unleash her sword intent without fear.
• Vista clashed with Ace while Jozu overpowered Luffy in another part of the battlefield.
• Andre charged at the prison wagon, but Nami blocked his blade while Sanji remained occupied fighting Aipoita.
• Whitey Bay broke the prison wagon's chains and began pulling Marco free.
• Luffy knocked Jozu back, struck Whitey Bay away, and confronted Andre for attacking Nami.

Luffy and the Straw Hats fought Whitebeard's former allies across the battlefield while Rayleigh revealed that Roy had isolated the area to give the Marines a real battle. Watching Ace fight, Hachi struggled with grief and anger before asking Rayleigh for a favor.

• Luffy killed Andre, then fought Jozu and the newly freed Marco, knocking both back with a clash of Haki-coated dragon fists.
• Nami, Sanji, and Usopp worked together to restrain and defeat Aipoita, while Ace blocked Vista from reaching him.
• Rayleigh told Shakky that Roy had cleared Island 13 of onlookers and isolated the battlefield to sharpen the Marines through combat.
• Hachi remembered Arlong, Chū, and Kuroobi's deaths, then approached Rayleigh and asked him for a favor.

Luffy and his allies defeated Marco and Jozu in a battle on Island 13. Vista then fought Ace, but a fire attack from the smoke struck him and left him unable to rise.

• Luffy attacked Marco with Dragon Breath, while Jozu shielded him and Marco tried to counterattack.
• Usopp shot Marco and Nami struck him with lightning, leaving him unable to fight; Luffy’s Dragon Breath then overwhelmed Jozu, and Usopp’s shots brought Jozu down.
• Vista flew into a rage after seeing Marco and Jozu fall and attacked Ace with Flower Sword: Wild Cherry Blossom Slash.
• Ace countered with Great Flame Commandment: Explosive Flame Lotus, and the clash engulfed the battlefield in explosions and smoke.
• Vista prepared to attack again, but a streak of fire hit his shoulder and exploded, sending him through trees and leaving him unable to rise.

Kuma ambushed the Straw Hats, sending Sanji away and overpowering Luffy and Ace. The chapter ended with Kuma still dominating the battlefield as Nami and Usopp watched helplessly.

• As Luffy returned to human form, Kuma appeared behind Sanji and sent him away with a Paw-Paw Palm.
• Kuma blasted Luffy with Pressure Cannons and struck him with Ursus Shock Miniature, badly injuring him.
• Kuma attacked Nami and Usopp, but Usopp knocked Nami aside to help them evade the blast.
• Hachi attacked Ace to avenge Arlong, but Ace's Conqueror's Haki disarmed and overwhelmed him.
• Rayleigh stopped Ace's Fire Fist from hitting Hachi and urged Hachi to stop seeking revenge.
• Ace tried to help Luffy, but Kuma repelled Ace's Fire Fist back at him while continuing to suppress Luffy.

Luffy and Ace fought Kuma, but his Paw-Paw Fruit powers overwhelmed them and left them near exhaustion. When Kuma threatened Nami and Usopp, Luffy unleashed Conqueror's Haki, earning Kuma's approval.

• Luffy and Ace attacked Kuma with dragon and flame techniques, but he repelled their strikes and endured their combined fire assault.
• Kuma unleashed Paw: Repelling World and swiftly sent Luffy and Ace flying, leaving them unable to reach him.
• Kuma appeared before Nami and Usopp and raised his paw as Luffy watched in alarm.
• Luffy erupted with Conqueror's Haki after shouting for Kuma not to touch Nami.
• Kuma endured Luffy's Haki and showed gratification and approval, calling him Dragon's son.

Luffy awakened Conqueror's Haki while fighting Kuma to protect his companions, but Kuma still overwhelmed him. As Rayleigh tried to kill the weakened Luffy, Kuma struck Rayleigh aside, and a mysterious dark figure appeared behind him.

• Luffy unleashed Conqueror's Haki, shocking Rayleigh and revealing that he had awakened the power.
• Kuma attacked Nami, but Ace's fire disrupted the strike and Usopp pulled Nami to safety.
• Luffy fought Kuma to demand Sanji's return, but Kuma blasted him into a crater and left him badly injured.
• Ace stood between Kuma and Nami and Usopp, while Kuma acknowledged Luffy's potential and prepared to strike him again.
• Rayleigh attacked the weakened Luffy, but Kuma used Ursus Shock to knock Rayleigh away.
• A dark figure appeared behind Rayleigh and confronted him for attacking Luffy.

Roy defeated Rayleigh with a devastating punch, but Shakky escaped with him beneath the sea. After Kuma removed Luffy’s accumulated injuries, Roy sent Jozu, Vista, and Marco into the pain-filled bubble to bear them, leaving Kuma to reconsider his approach.

• Roy’s Star-Shattering Cosmic Impact broke Rayleigh’s spine and drove him into a crater.
• Shakky rescued Rayleigh and fled underwater while Roy’s Hundred-Crack Fist Storm battered the sea, but they escaped.
• Kuma arrived with the unconscious Luffy, and Roy allowed him to remove the pain Luffy had endured in battle.
• Roy explained that someone could bear Luffy’s pain, then forced Jozu, Vista, and Marco into the bubble to take it on.
• Kuma was moved by Roy’s approach, and Roy told Ace that Shakky loved Rayleigh, not Ace’s father.

Roy revealed that Kuma’s attack had been a trial to prepare Luffy’s crew for the New World, then covered up the battle and sent Sanji away for training. Sanji awoke in Kamabakka Kingdom and discovered that his training meant facing a crowd of okama.

• Nami recognized Kuma as Bartholomew Kuma, one of the Shichibukai, and scolded Roy for frightening them.
• Luffy woke and tried to attack Kuma, but Roy stopped him and explained that the trial was meant to show how powerful their future enemies would be.
• Roy took Marco and Jozu away, restored Sabaody Archipelago to normal, and ordered the CP0 agents to report that the Whitebeard Remnants had been killed and Rayleigh had been driven off.
• Roy told Luffy that Sanji had gone somewhere suited to his training and would return stronger in two months.
• Sanji woke on the coast of Kamabakka Kingdom, mistook Dibani for a woman in danger, and recoiled when Dibani revealed himself as an okama.
• Dozens of okama surrounded Sanji, and Dibani grabbed him as he tried to flee.

Kuina fought Mihawk on Kuraigana Island, unveiling blood-moon powers as she pushed her swordsmanship to its limits. Mihawk defeated her but acknowledged her growth, and Kuina vowed to challenge him again.

• Kuina faced Mihawk in the Castle square, and Zoro and Chopper watched as she began their duel.
• Kuina used Shimotsuki Style techniques, including One-Mind Slash, but Mihawk countered her attacks and cut her shoulder.
• Kuina awakened scarlet ghost flames and unleashed Blood Moon techniques that drained Mihawk's stamina and forced him back.
• Kuina and Mihawk's ultimate attacks collided, leaving Mihawk's blade at her chest and Kuina's sword at his tip.
• Mihawk declared Kuina the loser, advised her to integrate her Devil Fruit power with her sword intent, and said she could challenge him again in time.
• Kuina thanked Mihawk and vowed to return, while he told her he would be waiting.

After reading that Luffy and the others had fought alongside Roy at Sabaody, Zoro and Kuina chose to stay at Hawk-Eye's Castle and train under Mihawk, with Chopper joining them. When Zoro asked how Mihawk had met Roy, Mihawk recalled their first encounter four years earlier but left the outcome of their duel unstated.

• Zoro challenged Mihawk again, but Chopper stopped him because his wounds had not healed; after seeing a newspaper report about the battle at Sabaody, Zoro vowed to fight Mihawk once he recovered.
• Zoro and Kuina decided to remain at the Castle, and Mihawk let them stay after remembering Roy's promise of a favor.
• Zoro trained against the island's baboons, Kuina developed her swordsmanship with Mihawk's guidance, and Chopper gained strength while treating them and evading baboons.
• When Zoro asked how Mihawk had met Roy, Mihawk recalled Roy appearing on Kuraigana Island four years earlier and challenging him to a duel after saying he had fought Red-Hair.
• Mihawk ended the story without revealing who won, then muttered that Roy always liked to play dirty.

After the Five Elders decided not to interfere with Roy, he proposed an internal Martial Arts Tournament to strengthen the Marines’ middle ranks. Sengoku approved the plan, which would award Devil Fruits to the top three competitors.

• The Five Elders reviewed CP0’s report, confirmed Marco’s death, and ordered the Phoenix Fruit recovered while agreeing to leave Roy alone.
• Roy told Ace, Luffy, Nami, and Usopp that he planned to hold a Martial Arts Tournament for Marine mainstays, and Luffy decided to attend and challenge the winner.
• Roy returned to Marineford and asked Sengoku to summon Staff Officer Tsuru and Instructor Zephyr to discuss his plan.
• Roy proposed an internal tournament for elite vice admirals, with the goal of identifying strong leaders and reigniting the Marines’ fighting spirit.
• Roy announced that the top three competitors could choose combat-enhancing Devil Fruits he had gathered himself.
• Staff Officer Tsuru and Zephyr agreed to help, and Sengoku approved the tournament as the start of a Marine transformation.

Roy gave Zephyr the Phoenix Devil Fruit, restoring his youth and reviving his determination to fight as a Marine. Meanwhile, confidential orders for Roy’s Martial Arts Tournament spread through the Marine branches, prompting officers across the ranks to prepare to compete.

• Roy reassured Sengoku, Tsuru, and Zephyr that he had recovered Devil Fruits from low-risk prisoners in Impel Down and would not target the prisoners in its deepest levels.
• Roy revealed the Phoenix Devil Fruit to Zephyr and urged his teacher to abandon thoughts of retirement.
• Zephyr ate the fruit, regained his youthful strength, and awakened its phoenix flames and regenerative power.
• Sengoku, Tsuru, and Roy welcomed Zephyr’s return to fighting form, and Roy predicted that the Phoenix powers would make him stronger than in his prime.
• Marine branches received confidential orders about the Martial Arts Tournament, and Sakazuki, Garp, Sentomaru, and other officers prepared to take part.

The Marines prepared for a secret martial arts tournament, while Enel, Ace, and Law carried out a pirate-hunting mission in the New World. At the tournament, Garp reunited with a revitalized Zephyr, and the old comrades agreed to fight after the competitors finished.

• Roy sealed off a deserted island as a secret tournament ground, while Sengoku praised his preparations.
• Enel, Ace, and Law were sent to the New World, where Enel destroyed a pirate ship and argued with Ace as Law urged them to focus on the mission.
• Sengoku opened the tournament, announcing unrestricted combat and a Devil Fruit for each of the top three winners.
• Garp protested being excluded from the tournament, but Roy explained that his presence would intimidate the competitors.
• Zephyr arrived with a powerful Haki presence, and he and Garp clasped hands and agreed to have a proper fight after the tournament.
• Sengoku and Tsuru watched as Marine officers celebrated Zephyr's return to strength, while Roy reflected that the Marines needed their legends back.

The First Marine Martial Arts Tournament began as 22 elite Vice Admirals fought across 11 arenas under the watch of the Marines' greatest fighters. Gion defeated Ronse, while the other matches continued with their outcomes still undecided.

• Sengoku officially opened the tournament, and Roy told the Vice Admirals to fight at full strength and said he would take responsibility for casualties.
• The 11 matches began at once as Garp, Zephyr, Sengoku, Tsuru, the Three Admirals, and Roy watched from the raised platform.
• Gion dodged Ronse's attacks and damaged his giant battle-axe with Kompira.
• Gion unleashed Veiled Moon Skyward Soar, drove Ronse into the ground, and forced him to concede.
• Momonga and Comil, Dalmatian and Bastille, and Sentomaru and Urban continued their fierce battles in other arenas.
• Zephyr, Garp, and Sengoku praised the younger Marines and reminisced about their own fighting days.

The first day of the Navy Martial Arts Tournament ended with eleven fighters advancing, including Tokikake, Gion, Smoker, and Sentomaru. After Roy teleported everyone back to Marine Headquarters, the winners prepared for the next day’s battles.

• Tokikake revealed his strength against the Hound, while Onigumo and Stainless fought an intense sword battle on another ring.
• The tournament’s eleven winners were announced: Tokikake, Gion, Doberman, Onigumo, Strawberry, Yamakaji, Momonga, Sentomaru, Dalmatian, Smoker, and Maynard.
• Sengoku declared a nighttime truce, and Roy teleported the audience from the deserted island back to Marine Headquarters.
• Gion practiced with Kompira, Tokikake studied his opponents, Smoker contemplated his future, and Kizaru worked with Sentomaru on equipment and tactics.
• Yamakaji, Dalmatian, and other veteran Vice Admirals discussed tactics as the fighters prepared for the second round.

The Navy Martial Arts Tournament began its second round after Roy sent the defeated Vice Admirals to hunt pirates for a reward. Smoker defeated Dalmatian, showing off new ways to weaponize his smoke.

• Roy encouraged the eleven defeated Vice Admirals to hunt pirates in the New World and promised a small wish to the most successful hunter.
• Sengoku began the second-round draw, which paired Smoker against Dalmatian.
• Smoker wounded Dalmatian with compressed smoke, a hardened smoke blade, and an explosive attack.
• Dalmatian launched a barrage of claw strikes, but Smoker pierced his defense with a thin smoke spear.
• Dalmatian surrendered, and Sengoku declared Smoker the winner.
• Zephyr praised Smoker's use of his Logia powers, while Roy said no Logia was weak when properly developed.