Chapter Summaries

Madara Uchiha defeated and captured Admiral Aokiji, while Sasori explained that the crew’s Buggy operation had been intended to help an undercover Marine earn a promotion. The crew set out for the Grand Line with Aokiji in custody, and Aokiji accepted his capture after learning that Mihawk had helped assassinate Saint Charlos.

• Aokiji questioned why the pirates cared about Marine promotions, but Sasori ordered the crew to capture him.
• Madara fought Aokiji, overwhelmed him with Susanoo and Conqueror’s Haki, then immobilized and pinned him with black rods.
• Sasori stopped Madara from killing Aokiji and revealed that the crew had sought Buggy’s capture to advance an undercover Marine.
• Aokiji deduced the crew’s plan, and Mihawk arrived as the pirates prepared to leave for the Grand Line.
• Sasori said they would drag Aokiji through the sea for two days and disclosed Mihawk’s role in Saint Charlos’s assassination; Aokiji accepted the punishment.

The Konoha Pirates entered the Grand Line with Admiral Aokiji still captured, and Sasori planned to use him as a spy and bargaining chip. At Twin Cape, they learned they needed a Log Pose and prepared to contact Marine Headquarters, while Crocus recognized Aokiji and warned them that Buggy had never seen One Piece.

• Sasori explained to Kaguya Otsutsuki that Aokiji would serve as a double spy, and Orochimaru and Tobirama Senju took his blood for experiments.
• The Konoha Pirates and the Marines approached Reverse Mountain, where Smoker recognized the Straw Hat Pirates' mark on Laboon and tried to order their capture.
• Crocus watched the Konoha Pirates enter the Grand Line with Aokiji tied behind their ship and recognized the Marine Admiral when he used his ice powers.
• Sasori asked Crocus about the ship's broken compass, and Crocus explained they needed a Log Pose and that Buggy had never seen One Piece.
• The pirates searched Aokiji and found his Log Pose and three Den Den Mushi, then Sasori ordered him to contact Marine Headquarters and negotiate his release in exchange for Buggy.

The Konoha Pirates negotiated with Fleet Admiral Sengoku over Admiral Aokiji and Buggy the Clown, then used a recording of Sengoku’s willingness to cooperate against the Celestial Dragons to enlist Aokiji. Aokiji agreed to work with them from within the Marines, leaving Sengoku unknowingly caught in Akihara Kagura’s scheme.

• Madara Uchiha recorded the Konoha Pirates’ call with Sengoku using a Transcription Seal while Sengoku learned that Aokiji had been captured.
• Sengoku and the Konoha Pirates bargained over Aokiji’s release, Buggy the Clown, and the Marines’ response, eventually agreeing that the pirates would target the warship carrying Buggy while sparing its Marines.
• Sengoku revealed the warship’s likely stop at Drum Island and suggested a cover story for Aokiji’s return, and the Konoha Pirates ended the call.
• Madara Uchiha showed Aokiji the recorded conversation, and the pirates used it to persuade him to cooperate with them rather than expose Sengoku’s agreement.
• Sasori of the Red Sands placed a cursed seal on Aokiji, and Orochimaru took him to learn an Ice Release technique.
• Madara Uchiha recognized that Akihara Kagura had engineered the situation to draw Sengoku and Aokiji into opposing the Celestial Dragons.

The Straw Hat Pirates escaped Smoker on Drum Island after Chopper joined their crew, while Akihara Kagura helped arrange treatment for the injured Marine colonel. Aokiji confronted Kagura about Buggy the Clown’s capture, and Kagura claimed he had captured him.

• Smoker spotted the Straw Hat Pirates at Drum Island, but his injuries and the Log Pose’s need to recharge prevented the Marines from pursuing them as they sailed away.
• Chopper joined the Straw Hat crew as their doctor, and Luffy’s crew departed while Smoker and Tashigi remained on the island.
• Akihara Kagura and Karin learned about Drum Kingdom’s recent history, and Kagura asked Dalton to persuade Doctor Kureha to treat Smoker.
• Kagura told Tashigi that the Straw Hat Pirates were dangerous because their good deeds exposed the World Government and Marines’ failures to protect ordinary people.
• Aokiji asked who had captured Buggy the Clown, and Akihara Kagura answered that he had done it.

Akihara Kagura warned Aokiji that he planned to obtain the Rumble-Rumble Fruit soon, while the Konoha Pirates rescued Buggy and steered him toward a supposed gold-dust palace in Alabasta. The Buggy Pirates set sail for the treasure, and the Konoha Pirates planned to use the fabricated history to draw out the truth hidden by the World Government.

• Akihara Kagura revealed that he intended to obtain the Rumble-Rumble Fruit within a month, making Aokiji reconsider killing him before the Konoha Pirates valued him too highly.
• Aokiji learned that pirates were trying to rescue Buggy and headed for the port, while the Konoha Pirates used a wooden dragon and vines to overwhelm the Marines and free the prisoners.
• A Konoha pirate told Buggy about a gold-dust underground palace supposedly built in Alabasta by an ancestor among the Twenty Kings, and Buggy's crew urged him to claim its treasure.
• Buggy overcame his fear of provoking the World Government and ordered his crew to sail for Alabasta in search of the palace.
• Tobirama Senju and Madara Uchiha recognized that Sasori planned to build the palace and fabricate its history, while the Konoha Pirates discussed using false history to expose the World Government's secrets.

While Aokiji and the Konoha Pirates fought at Drum Island’s port, Akihara Kagura planned to frame Crocodile for inventing a false history of the Void Century and dictated an elaborate account to Karin. He finished the fabricated story with Nefertari D. Lily’s supposed confession and considered adding more with Doflamingo in Dressrosa.

• Akihara Kagura decided Crocodile would be a plausible scapegoat for fabricating Alabasta’s hidden history.
• Akihara Kagura told Karin to write as he dictated the invented history of the Void Century.
• Akihara Kagura’s story claimed the Rabbit Goddess created the Red Line, Calm Belts, and Devil Fruits before humanity sealed her away.
• Akihara Kagura’s story described Im’s rise, Joy Boy’s struggle, and Nefertari D. Lily’s role in hiding Pluton and leaving clues on the Poneglyphs.
• Akihara Kagura finished Lily’s purported message and wondered whether Doflamingo could help add to the tale in Dressrosa.

Akihara Kagura told Aokiji that the Konoha Pirates were heading to Alabasta to uncover an underground palace linked to Nefertari Lily. After Kagura revealed Lily’s erased name, Aokiji realized she belonged to the Clan of D and decided to reach Alabasta before Nico Robin and the others stirred up trouble.

• Aokiji failed to stop the Konoha Pirates from escaping Drum Island, and Sengoku asked him to return to Marineford with information about the crew.
• Akihara Kagura stopped Aokiji from reporting to Sengoku and revealed that the Konoha Pirates were going to Alabasta to investigate secrets left by Nefertari Lily.
• Aokiji connected the Alabasta mission to Nico Robin, who had survived Ohara and was working with Crocodile.
• Akihara Kagura said Lily’s underground palace was hidden beneath the desert and revealed her erased name: Nefertari D. Lily.
• Aokiji realized that Alabasta’s royal ancestor belonged to the Clan of D and resolved to reach Alabasta before Nico Robin caused trouble.

Aokiji sought reinforcements for Alabasta after Akihara Kagura warned that the Konoha Pirates might uncover an ancient royal secret there. When Sengoku told the Five Elders, they learned the pirates were targeting a secret left by Alabasta’s king from eight hundred years ago and ordered every Marine Admiral to respond.

• Akihara Kagura urged Aokiji to request World Government and Marine reinforcements before they went to Alabasta.
• Aokiji called Sengoku and reported the Konoha Pirates’ plans, prompting Sengoku to contact the Five Elders.
• The Five Elders ordered Sengoku to send all Marine Admirals to Alabasta after learning the pirates sought an ancient Alabastan secret.
• The Five Elders considered whether the secret involved Pluton but decided the Konoha Pirates had to be eliminated regardless.

As Crocodile prepared Baroque Works' Operation Utopia, the Straw Hat Pirates and Buggy's crew headed toward Alabasta, each entangled with his agents. The Konoha Pirates captured Mr.1 Poz Denis and planned to experiment on him before using him as a spy.

• Crocodile staged a rescue in Larouana to win the citizens' trust, then returned to Rain Base and discussed the approaching Straw Hat Crew with his partner.
• Crocodile learned that Buggy the Clown had arrived in Alabasta with a 730,000,000-Berry bounty, that Mr.3 Gallery Dino had joined Buggy, and that Marines were also on their way, so he ordered Baroque Works to begin Operation Utopia.
• Mr.3 Gallery Dino secretly planned to report Buggy's crew and the Golden Underground Palace to Baroque Works in exchange for forgiveness.
• Mr.2 Bon Clay demonstrated his Clone-Clone Fruit on the Going Merry, and Vivi recognized that he had impersonated King Cobra, prompting the Straw Hat Crew to become wary.
• The Konoha Pirates defeated Mr.1 Poz Denis's ship, and Tobirama Senju wounded and captured him while Sasori of the Red Sands proposed experimenting on him and sending him back as a spy.

The Marines mobilized nearly all their top forces to Alabasta, prompting Sengoku to summon Garp while the Five Elders ordered him to eliminate the Konoha Pirates and capture Buggy. Aboard Aokiji’s warship, Akihara Kagura proposed letting Kizaru face the Konoha Pirates without his colleagues’ full support, leaving Aokiji amused by the prospect.

• Sengoku dispatched Aokiji, Kizaru, Tsuru, and himself toward Alabasta, then ordered Garp to join them because intelligence on the Konoha Pirates was scarce.
• Sengoku persuaded Garp to turn back by mentioning that Ace and Luffy were heading for Alabasta, and Garp hurriedly set course for the Grand Line.
• Sengoku told Tsuru that the Five Elders had ordered him to eliminate the Konoha Pirates and capture Buggy, and that they had authorized him to recruit Crocodile if needed.
• Aokiji received orders to help Kizaru delay the Konoha Pirates until Sengoku, Tsuru, and Garp arrived, while Akihara Kagura learned of the deployment.
• Akihara Kagura suggested that Aokiji withhold his full effort and let Kizaru face the Konoha Pirates alone, and Aokiji agreed that Kizaru should experience what it was like when colleagues did not work seriously beside him.

In Alabasta, the Konoha Pirates and Marines converged as Kizaru attempted to destroy their ship. Kaguya Otsutsuki countered his attack and trapped him with her spatial ability, leaving him unable to escape.

• The Konoha Pirates arrived in Alabasta, and Sasori of the Red Sands sent Mr.1 Daz Bones back to Crocodile as a spy after the crew’s experiments altered his body and awakened his Armament Haki.
• Kizaru met Kuzan and followed the Konoha Pirates inland, while Kuzan warned him that Kaguya Otsutsuki guarding their ship was dangerous.
• Kizaru chose to destroy the Konoha Pirates’ ship while Kuzan tracked the others, but Madara Uchiha and the crew waited for Kuzan nearby.
• Kizaru launched Yasakani no Magatama at the ship, and Kaguya Otsutsuki swept away the light bullets with Armament Haki.
• Kaguya used her spatial ability to appear behind Kizaru and struck at him, prompting him to call Kuzan and admit he might not be able to win.
• Kaguya shifted the world around Kizaru, cutting off his Den Den Mushi signal and leaving him convinced he could no longer escape.

Kaguya Otsutsuki defeated Kizaru, but the Konoha Pirates surrounded him and Kuzan after Kizaru escaped her space. Kuzan then revealed that he was a Konoha Pirates spy who had deliberately led Kizaru into the trap, leaving Kizaru restrained and facing the pirates’ serious offer to recruit more Marine Admirals.

• Kaguya Otsutsuki trapped Kizaru in Amenominaka and overwhelmed him with Haki-coated chakra fists before releasing him, believing he could no longer fight.
• Kizaru feigned incapacitation, escaped Amenominaka, and joined Kuzan, but the Konoha Pirates surrounded both Admirals.
• The Konoha Pirates attacked the two Admirals, and Tobirama Senju wounded Kizaru with a Flying Thunder God Slash while the others pressed their assault.
• Kizaru told Kuzan he might escape by abandoning him, but Kuzan seized him and helped Madara Uchiha and Sasori of the Red Sands pin him down with black rods.
• Kuzan confessed that he was a spy for the Konoha Pirates and had deliberately lured Kizaru into the trap.
• Kizaru joked about the pirates recruiting other Marine Admirals, and Sasori of the Red Sands confirmed that they were serious.

Akihara Kagura built a golden underground palace in Alabasta’s desert, using magnetism and gold dust to create a shrine filled with symbolic statues and a historical stele. After he and Karin left to see the wounded Marine Admirals, the Konoha Pirates’ doctor arrived, and Madara Uchiha warned Kizaru that his treatment might make life worse than death.

• Madara Uchiha and the Science Ninja Tool Trio tended to Kizaru’s wounds, while Kizaru learned that Aokiji had become an undercover agent for the Konoha Pirates.
• Akihara Kagura gathered sand and gold dust to construct a Golden Underground Palace, briefly disrupting Log Poses across Alabasta and alarming Nami and Princess Vivi.
• Akihara Kagura filled the palace with statues representing the Rabbit Goddess, peoples of the world, and the Clan of D, then buried it beneath the desert with a small portion exposed.
• Karin spotted a battle between Colonel Smoker and a fire-using Logia user, but Akihara Kagura chose to visit the Marine Admirals instead.
• Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha spoke with Kizaru and Aokiji about their doctor, and Madara warned Kizaru that his coming treatment could make his suffering worse than death.

Akihara Kagura and Aokiji left Kizaru with the Konoha Pirates while they headed toward Alabasta’s Golden Underground Palace, whose discovery had disrupted the kingdom’s magnetic field. As Garp prepared to confront the pirates, Kagura and Aokiji intercepted the Going Merry, carrying Ace and the Straw Hat Crew, and Kagura urged Aokiji to stop them.

• Karin healed Kizaru, and Sasori of the Red Sands placed a curse mark on him after the Konoha Pirates had taken his blood for experiments.
• Akihara Kagura revealed that he had found the Golden Underground Palace and deliberately caused a magnetic disturbance that attracted pirates and Marines across Alabasta.
• Aokiji reported the discovery to Sengoku, while Smoker went to arrest Ace; Ace instead helped Luffy escape Smoker and boarded the Going Merry.
• The Konoha Pirates sailed inland with Kizaru, while Akihara Kagura, Aokiji, and Karin stayed behind; Kagura explained that Crocodile might be needed to dig through the quicksand around the palace.
• Garp asked Aokiji to drive Kagura and Aokiji out of Alabasta, and Kagura soon spotted the Going Merry and urged Aokiji to stop it.

Akihara Kagura and Aokiji captured Ace to keep him from interfering with the Konoha Pirates’ plans, while Crocodile accelerated his campaign to seize Pluton and was lured toward the Golden Underground Palace by Nico Robin. The Marines, pirates, and Straw Hat Crew converged on the palace, and King Cobra discovered that Alabasta might have another hidden Golden Underground Palace.

• Akihara Kagura warned the Straw Hat Crew that Crocodile would soon attack Alabasta’s palace, then Aokiji froze Luffy and captured Ace while the crew headed for Alubarna.
• Crocodile ordered Baroque Works to attack the palace and seek Pluton, while Mr.3 agreed to infiltrate Buggy’s crew and learned that Buggy had already been arrested by Smoker.
• Kizaru joined the Konoha Pirates as they investigated the Golden Underground Palace, and Sasori and Orochimaru explained how the palace could be used as bait for Crocodile.
• Crocodile defeated Luffy, Smoker, Zoro, and Tashigi at Alabasta’s palace, then forced Cobra to lead him to the royal tomb; Nico Robin falsely claimed that the Poneglyph pointed to the Golden Underground Palace.
• Sengoku arrived in Alabasta with Garp and Tsuru, while Luffy and Smoker recovered and Cobra wondered why he had never heard of the Golden Underground Palace hidden by his ancestors.

Nico Robin and Crocodile uncovered Queen Lily’s Golden Underground Palace and read its account of the Rabbit Goddess, Raftel, Im, and Pluton, leaving Robin shaken by claims that the Poneglyphs contained altered history. The Konoha Pirates arrived, revealed Pluton’s locations, and captured Crocodile after warning him that top Marines had reached Alabasta.

• Nami used the Log Pose’s remembered direction to guide Luffy and Smoker toward the Golden Underground Palace while Crocodile raised it from the sand with his Sand-Sand Fruit.
• Crocodile and Nico Robin entered the palace and read a golden stele claiming that the Rabbit Goddess had been sealed at Raftel, Im had gained eternal life, and Pluton’s clues were hidden in a Poneglyph.
• Nico Robin questioned whether the stele or the Poneglyphs were false and fell into despair, while Crocodile demanded that she reveal what the royal mausoleum’s Poneglyph said about Pluton.
• A red-haired youth from the Konoha Pirates revealed that Pluton slept in Wano Country and that its blueprints were in Water 7, then warned Crocodile that Sengoku, Garp, and two Marine Admirals were in Alabasta.
• The Konoha Pirates admitted they had lured Crocodile into opening the palace, soaked him with a water cannon, and knocked him down when he attacked.

Madara Uchiha’s group captured Crocodile and examined the golden inscription, while Sasori of the Red Sands questioned Buggy the Clown about Raftel. Buggy invented details about the Rabbit Goddess to preserve his reputation, until Monkey D. Luffy arrived and declared he would find the truth himself.

• Madara Uchiha defeated Crocodile, and Tobirama Senju and Orochimaru restrained him and drew his blood.
• Sasori of the Red Sands and Madara Uchiha studied the inscription and urged Nico Robin to reach Raftel to verify its claims.
• Buggy the Clown entered the palace with his crew, gave up his claim to the gold when he recognized the Konoha Pirates, and accepted Sasori’s offer to take the rest.
• Sasori asked Buggy about the inscription’s claim that Raftel sealed the Rabbit Goddess, and Buggy pretended to confirm it while inventing details about her and Shanks.
• Monkey D. Luffy interrupted Buggy, rejected his stories, and declared that he would reach Raftel and become the Pirate King.

Luffy, Ace, Smoker, and the Marines converged on the Golden Underground Palace, where the Konoha Pirates fought them while Robin warned that the World Government would hunt anyone who learned the Void Century’s secrets. Sengoku arrived with senior Marines and ordered lower-ranking personnel to leave before the coming battle, disrupting Aokiji’s plan to get Akihara Kagura killed in the crossfire.

• Luffy challenged Buggy’s claim to have reached Raftel, and Smoker captured Buggy and restrained the Buggy Pirates before Madara and Hashirama drove Smoker and Luffy from the palace.
• Ace arrived to rescue Luffy and fought Madara with fire, while Orochimaru clashed with Smoker and began wounding him.
• Robin urged Luffy to flee, warning that the World Government would eliminate everyone who learned the Void Century’s history, but Aokiji appeared behind her.
• Garp arrived and punched Luffy and Ace, then prepared to attack again until Sengoku arrived with Tsuru, Kizaru, and Marine personnel.
• Sengoku ordered everyone below Marine Headquarters Colonel to leave before the battle, forcing Akihara Kagura out of danger and ruining Aokiji’s plan to have him killed in the crossfire.

Sasori of the Red Sands revealed that Alabasta’s Golden Underground Palace held history that undermined the World Government and warned that the world faced destruction, while Sengoku and the Konoha Pirates began fighting. Away from the battlefield, Akihara Kagura planned to spread the story, manipulate the conflict, and use the coming upheaval to strengthen his position.

• Most pirates, including Buggy the Clown, Crocodile, Fire Fist Ace, Straw Hat Luffy, and Nico Robin, left Alabasta while Sengoku’s Marines confronted the Konoha Pirates.
• Sasori of the Red Sands told Sengoku that Alabasta preserved the truth about the Twenty Kings and the sealed creator Rabbit Goddess, forcing Sengoku to recognize the threat to the World Government’s legitimacy and the world’s stability.
• Sengoku transformed into his Golden Great Buddha Form and fought Hashirama Senju, while Madara Uchiha clashed with Garp, Tobirama Senju fought Kizaru, and Sasori of the Red Sands faced Aokiji.
• Akihara Kagura instructed White Zetsu Awei and Black Zetsu to send Alabasta’s story to the World Economic News Agency after the battle and discussed his plan to gain the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and establish his position in the Navy.
• Akihara Kagura proposed exploiting the Five Elders’ possible trip to Alabasta by attacking the Holy Land Mary Geoise and capturing Celestial Dragons to encourage people to oppose their rule.

Hashirama Senju overwhelmed Sengoku in Alabasta, while the Konoha Pirates revealed that Aokiji and Kizaru had joined their side and stopped the Marines from retreating. Sasori captured Sengoku and demanded that he tell the Five Elders what the King of Alabasta had left behind about the Golden Underground Palace, leaving the Fleet Admiral facing the danger of the World Government silencing him.

• Hashirama Senju used his Wood Golem to overpower Sengoku's Golden Great Buddha, despite Sengoku's Haki and shockwaves.
• Sasori of the Red Sands warned Aokiji that Sengoku would die if Aokiji did not choose the Konoha Pirates, while Tsuru called for the Marines to retreat.
• Tsuru ordered Sengoku and Aokiji to withdraw under Kizaru's cover, but Sasori declared that the Konoha Pirates would decide when the battle ended.
• Aokiji turned an ice blade against Sengoku, and Kizaru revealed that he was also a spy for the Konoha Pirates, preventing the Marines from escaping.
• Sasori told Sengoku to contact the Five Elders and reveal what the King of Alabasta had left behind about the Golden Underground Palace, then asked whether the World Government would kill the Fleet Admiral to hide history.