Chapter Summaries

Hawkeye and Duke fought after Hawkeye wagered that Luffy would save Ace, while Whitebeard’s failing health left him vulnerable to Akainu. On the execution platform, Luffy reached Ace, but Sengoku transformed into a golden giant and prepared to execute the brothers himself.

• Hawkeye bet that Luffy would save Ace, then unleashed a powerful slash that cut through Marineford and the sea before fighting Duke in earnest.
• Duke told Hawkeye he knew about Luffy and Shanks through Luffy’s ship doctor, and Hawkeye said he believed Shanks had chosen the right person.
• Whitebeard suffered a severe heart episode, and Akainu struck him in the chest and abdomen with magma while Aokiji froze Marco and Oars as they tried to help.
• With Inazuma’s help, Luffy reached Ace on the execution platform and took out Boa Hancock’s key to unlock the Seastone shackles.
• Sengoku transformed into a golden giant and declared that he would personally execute Ace and Luffy.

Sengoku nearly killed Luffy and Ace, but Crocodile’s intervention let Luffy free Ace and the brothers escape. Whitebeard stayed behind to cover the pirates’ retreat, and as Ace and Luffy fled, Akainu blocked their path while a troublemaker approached.

• Sengoku transformed into his giant Buddha form and struck at Luffy and Ace, but Crocodile destroyed the execution platform’s supports and spoiled his attack.
• Luffy recovered from the Seastone’s effects in midair and unlocked Ace’s shackles, allowing Ace to escape with him as the pirates cheered.
• Akainu ordered the Marines to stop the brothers, and Whitebeard fought back fiercely while the pirates retreated toward the harbor.
• Whitebeard ordered his crew to return to the New World without him, then unleashed the Tremor-Tremor Fruit’s full power to hold off the Marines and devastate Marineford.
• Ace grieved as Luffy dragged him away, but Akainu blocked their path while an unnamed troublemaker sneaked closer.

Ace confronted Akainu over his insults against Whitebeard, but Akainu burned and nearly killed him before Duke intervened. Whitebeard struck Akainu in retaliation, then took a devastating counterattack and used his final punch to split the ground, sending Akainu and many Marines into an abyss.

• Ace broke away from Luffy and challenged Akainu after he insulted Whitebeard.
• Akainu overpowered Ace's fire with magma, burned his arm, and prepared to kill him.
• Duke blocked Akainu's attack on Ace, giving Whitebeard time to strike Akainu from behind.
• Whitebeard tried to finish Akainu with his Bisento, but his injuries left him vulnerable to Akainu's Hell Hound, which melted half his face.
• Whitebeard unleashed his final punch, splitting the ground and sending Akainu and many Marines plunging into an abyss.

Whitebeard split Marineford and held back the Marines so his sons could escape, while Duke explained that he wanted Ace to inherit Whitebeard’s place in the New World. Blackbeard arrived with the Impel Down prisoners to confront the weakened Whitebeard and threatened Duke as well.

• Whitebeard’s quake split Marineford, and Sengoku rallied the Marines to attack him as the pirates fled toward the harbor.
• Whitebeard ordered his sons not to look back and continued fighting alone to buy them time.
• Duke complained that Whitebeard had left him on the other side of the fissure, then told Whitebeard he wanted Ace to become a new power in the New World after Whitebeard’s death.
• Blackbeard and the escaped Level 6 prisoners appeared, and Blackbeard taunted the weakened Whitebeard before threatening to kill Duke too.
• Duke insulted Blackbeard as the two sides faced off.

Duke stabbed Whitebeard in front of the Marines and Blackbeard’s crew, apparently killing him so Blackbeard could take his Devil Fruit. When the black curtain was lifted, Whitebeard was alive and had Blackbeard by the throat.

• Blackbeard declared that he would kill Duke and claim Arms Island, while Whitebeard taunted him into attacking.
• Duke suddenly stabbed Whitebeard through the heart with Flower Continent, shocking everyone on the battlefield.
• Blackbeard ordered his crew to protect him from Duke and covered Whitebeard’s body with a black cloth to take his Devil Fruit.
• Whitebeard emerged alive from beneath the cloth, holding Blackbeard by the neck as the Marines and pirates stared in terror.

Duke’s Cell-Dissolving Poison restored Whitebeard’s strength by consuming his remaining life force, allowing him to attack Blackbeard and his crew. Whitebeard and Blackbeard resumed their fight, ending with Blackbeard unleashing the Dark-Dark Fruit’s Dark Water.

• Whitebeard rejected Blackbeard’s plea for mercy and said he would no longer call him his son.
• Duke explained that his Cell-Dissolving Poison gave Whitebeard strength by rapidly extracting his life force, and Whitebeard thanked him.
• Whitebeard slammed Blackbeard into the ground with the Tremor-Tremor Fruit’s power, then struck back the Blackbeard Pirates and sent San Juan Wolf into the sea.
• Whitebeard declared he would kill Blackbeard, who broke free using darkness and challenged Whitebeard to see whose life would end first.
• Whitebeard attacked Blackbeard with razor, and Blackbeard countered by invoking the power he had gained from killing Thatch: Dark Water.

Blackbeard used the Dark-Dark Fruit to suppress Whitebeard’s power, but Whitebeard wounded him badly and condemned his betrayal. Duke then attacked Blackbeard’s allies, killing Pizarro and leaving Devon begging for her life.

• Blackbeard dragged Whitebeard into the darkness and absorbed his vibration attack, but Whitebeard struck him with the Bisento and nearly severed his arm.
• Duke confronted Van Augur, Pizarro, and Devon as they considered retreating from the battle.
• Van Augur shot at Duke, but Duke dodged the bullet, broke his rifle, and wounded him before sending him flying toward the Marines.
• Duke fought off Pizarro and Devon with Rankyaku: Infinite Kick, then stabbed Pizarro through a hidden door created with the Door-Door Fruit and killed him.
• Devon begged Duke to spare her and offered to join his crew, but Duke refused to recruit her.

Duke rejected Devon and helped the Marines defeat the Blackbeard Pirates as Blackbeard fought Whitebeard in a devastating clash. Whitebeard died after declaring that the One Piece was real, leaving Duke facing Blackbeard.

• Duke refused Devon's offer, killed her when she tried to escape, and saw the Marines capture Van Augur and overwhelm the Blackbeard Pirates.
• Garp and Aokiji took down Shiryu while Blackbeard continued fighting Whitebeard, who wondered whether Teach was the man Roger had awaited before rejecting the idea.
• Whitebeard unleashed his remaining power against Blackbeard, and their collision devastated Marineford and left Blackbeard badly injured but alive.
• Duke stepped between Blackbeard and the dying Whitebeard as Blackbeard moved toward him.
• Whitebeard declared that the One Piece was real, then died.

After Whitebeard's death, his declaration that the Great Treasure existed reignited the Pirate Era, while the Marines pursued his fleeing crew. Duke kept Blackbeard from taking Whitebeard's power, and Ace led the battered pirates onward by destroying the Marines' warships with Fire Fist.

• Whitebeard died standing after proclaiming that the Great Treasure truly existed, alarming Sengoku, Garp, and Aokiji about the coming surge of pirates.
• Akainu ordered the Marines to pursue the Whitebeard Pirates, while Blackbeard faced Duke and tried to seize Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit power.
• Duke used the Door-Door Fruit to evade Blackbeard's Black Hole and repeatedly kept him away from Whitebeard's corpse.
• Marine warships intercepted the exhausted Whitebeard Pirates, and Marco despaired as their fleet faced overwhelming forces.
• Ace appeared wounded, reminded Marco that Whitebeard had ordered them to return safely, and struck more than ten Marine warships with Fire Fist.

After the Whitebeard Pirates escaped Marineford, Red-Haired Shanks arrived and used his presence to stop the remaining fight between Duke and Blackbeard. Duke left with Whitebeard’s corpse, leaving Blackbeard surrounded by the Marines.

• Sengoku learned that the Whitebeard Pirates had split up, allowing most of the crew to escape while the rest held off the pursuing vice admirals and were wiped out.
• Red-Haired Shanks arrived at Marineford and announced that he had come to stop the war, threatening to involve the Red-Haired Pirates when Akainu challenged him.
• Shanks asked Teach and Duke to give him face and stop fighting, but Blackbeard cursed at him, so Shanks ordered Yasopp to shoot Blackbeard.
• Duke stopped fighting, opened a gate, and disappeared with Whitebeard’s corpse.
• Blackbeard attacked the spot where Duke had vanished, then realized Sengoku, Garp, Aokiji, and Akainu had surrounded him as Shanks sailed away.

After Whitebeard’s death, Duke stayed out of the New World’s scramble for territory and accepted Fish-Man Island’s request for protection in exchange for labor rather than tribute. In the Unknown Space, another Duke’s memories revealed that he had inherited a wealthy student’s body and discovered that the student’s new girlfriend was named Tomie.

• Duke read reports of the Navy imprisoning the Blackbeard Pirates and learned that the Whitebeard Pirates had vanished without reclaiming Whitebeard’s body.
• Duke told Robin that he had modified only a clone of Whitebeard and would return the original body if the pirates came for it.
• Duke agreed to fly his company’s flag over Fish-Man Island, asking for labor instead of annual tribute.
• Duke prepared to train Wenxi after handling Robin’s urgent decisions.
• In the Unknown Space, Duke’s memories revealed that his wealthy body’s parents had died in a plane crash before he transmigrated into it.
• Duke realized the body’s new girlfriend was Tomie and wondered if sleeping with her would calm his nerves.

Duke fled his haunted home and traveled to the United States, only to find himself surrounded by horror settings and reunited with Tomie. The Dukes then welcomed new arrivals, including a martial artist who revealed that his destination after ascending was the world of After Ascension.

• Duke stayed home to avoid Tomie, visited his downstairs neighbor Uncle Qiang, and survived a blue-clothed ghost thanks to a Golden Buddha.
• Duke moved to the United States, discovered his home was beside Kayako’s, and fled from taxi driver Thomas Hewitt before returning to hide.
• Tomie appeared at Duke’s door, announced that she had transferred nearby, and brought him a box of videotapes.
• The Dukes discussed the horror-world newbie and a Fullmetal Alchemist newcomer before Duke from the Wuxia Grand Fusion World arrived.
• Duke from the Wuxia Grand Fusion World said he had ascended into After Ascension, but the other Dukes mistook his answer for boasting.

Duke from Wuxia Grand Fusion World rejected the Dukes’ advice to seek a patron, then promptly joined them to watch an adult episode. In the Hokage World, Duke and Terumi Mei rekindled their intimacy, but Terumi Mei’s question about marriage left Duke trying to dodge the issue.

• The Dukes told Duke from Wuxia Grand Fusion World to rely on a patron, but he insisted he would grow stronger through his own efforts before joining them to watch an adult episode.
• Duke and Terumi Mei spent the night together in Kirigakure, and Duke offended her by saying he loved her because of her breasts.
• Duke made amends with Terumi Mei, and she raised her family’s efforts to arrange blind dates and asked when they would marry.
• Duke claimed the ninja world’s hidden dangers made marriage badly timed, but Terumi Mei called out his excuses and pressed him for an answer.
• Duke tried to divert Terumi Mei from the marriage discussion by initiating another round of intimacy.

In Konoha Year 60, Asuma asked Duke to take over Kurenai’s genin team because she was pregnant, and Duke agreed. He then used a Shadow Clone to bring his household to the expensive barbecue restaurant so Asuma would pay for their meal.

• Duke and Haku went to buy Naruto a graduation gift, but Asuma hurried over and pulled Duke aside.
• Asuma told Duke that Kurenai was pregnant and could no longer lead the new graduates’ team.
• Asuma asked Duke to take over Kurenai’s team, and Duke agreed after considering the likely members and the Hokage’s approval.
• Asuma promised to handle the Third Hokage and pay for the barbecue meal.
• Duke created a Shadow Clone to fetch his household, explaining that he intended to make Asuma pay for everyone’s food.

Mitarashi Duke introduced himself as Team 8’s Jonin Instructor and prepared to train Kiba, Shino, and Hinata, while their families reacted with surprise and alarm to his appointment. The chapter ended with the Inuzuka Clan ordering Kiba to obey Duke and threatening to punish him if he failed.

• Duke had Kiba, Shino, and Hinata introduce themselves, then announced their first mission would begin the next day.
• Kiba asked whether Duke had a boyfriend, and Duke clarified that he was male before leaving with a Body Flicker.
• Duke considered his students’ personalities and resolved to address their weaknesses rather than leave them without guidance.
• Hiashi learned that Hinata’s instructor was Mitarashi Duke and reacted with shock.
• Shibi told Shino that Duke was exceptionally capable and urged him to seek guidance.
• The Inuzuka Clan told Kiba to obey Duke, while Kiba’s father threatened to break his legs himself if he failed.

Duke tested Team 8 by having them try to take a bell from his Ninja Dog, Hades, and left them defeated after demonstrating his own technique. Hinata fled before Duke could use it on her, but Kiba’s protest earned him another Thousand Years of Death.

• Naruto asked Duke for advice about Kakashi’s survival exercise, and Duke told him not to eat breakfast and suggested bringing a steel plate.
• Duke explained the bell test to Shino, Kiba, and Hinata, then summoned Hades and tied the remaining bell around his neck.
• Team 8 attacked Hades with weapons and explosives, but Hades transformed into a giant silver wolf and quickly defeated them.
• Duke told Team 8 they had failed, and Kiba, Shino, and Hinata chose to challenge him rather than return to the Ninja Academy.
• Duke used Thousand Years of Death on Kiba and Shino, while Hinata fled before he could use it on her.
• Kiba called Duke a pervert, so Duke used Thousand Years of Death on him again.

Duke’s Team 8 passed its assessment and spent more than ten days on dull D-rank missions before Duke agreed to seek a higher-level assignment. At the Hokage’s Office, Duke teased Kakashi with the promise of a rare VIP edition of Make-Out Paradise while Team Seven waited for a mission.

• Duke declared Kiba, Shino, and Hinata had passed their assessment, then repeatedly used One Thousand Years of Death on Kiba.
• Team 8 spent more than ten days completing tedious cleanup missions, and Kiba, Shino, and Hinata asked Duke for more challenging work.
• Duke agreed to get Team 8 a higher-level mission and tricked Kiba into believing he should beat Akamaru to make him stronger.
• Duke brought Team 8 to the Hokage’s Office, where Team Seven was waiting for a mission.
• Duke teased Kakashi by claiming to own a VIP Diamond Member edition of Make-Out Paradise, and Sakura mistook Duke and Kakashi’s closeness for a romantic relationship.

Duke accepted a mission to expose his Genin team to combat and learned that the Third Hokage had asked Orochimaru not to disrupt the Chunin Exam. Duke met Orochimaru to discuss their plans for the exam, but was shocked when Orochimaru revealed whose body he was using.

• Duke received a C-rank mission to wipe out a band of thieves and sent Kiba, Shino, and Hinata home to prepare for the next day.
• Hiruzen gave Duke information about the Chunin Exam and told him not to interfere too much.
• Duke suspected Orochimaru was involved in the exam’s coming conflict and contacted him at an underground laboratory.
• Orochimaru said Hiruzen planned to use their confrontation to shake up Konoha and punish an allied nation, while he had prepared a gift involving the Hokage’s predecessors.
• Orochimaru revealed the face of the body he was using, and Duke said he suddenly wanted to kill him.

Duke led Team 8 through a bandit-clearing mission, then trained them as the Chunin Exam approached. Hiruzen Sarutobi approved the rookie teams’ entry and let Duke replace Hayate Gekko on patrol, leaving Asuma and Kakashi suspicious of his motives.

• Duke took Team 8 on a C-rank mission, where Shino organized the capture of the bandits and Duke ordered that none be left alive.
• Team 8 returned shaken but grew stronger after the mission, and Duke trained Hinata, Kiba, and Shino as foreign ninja arrived for the Chunin Exam.
• Duke encountered Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Gaara facing off in the street, then joined the other instructors summoned to the Hokage’s Office.
• Duke, Kakashi, and Asuma recommended their nine Genin for the Chunin Exam, and Hiruzen Sarutobi approved the entries despite Iruka’s objections.
• Duke asked to replace Hayate Gekko on patrol duty during the exam, and Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed, prompting Asuma and Kakashi to suspect he had an ulterior motive.

During the Chunin Exam, Duke helped Team 8 pass the Forest of Death and secretly restored their strength, while Anko discovered Orochimaru’s infiltration and Sasuke received Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal. The chapter ended with Duke healing Sasuke and preparing to seal the mark before the matches began.

• Duke accompanied Ibiki to the written test and waited as Team 8 passed and headed into the Forest of Death with Anko.
• Anko recognized Orochimaru’s Vanishing Facial Copy Technique on three dead examinees, ordered a report to Hiruzen Sarutobi, and rushed into the forest with Duke.
• Orochimaru had already placed the Cursed Seal on Sasuke before Anko reached him, and Hiruzen told Konoha’s shinobi to stay vigilant without stopping the exam.
• After the five-day scroll battle, Duke secretly healed Shino, Kiba, and Hinata before Kakashi caught him and led him to Sasuke.
• Duke healed Sasuke’s injuries and exhaustion, then reached for the Cursed Seal and warned Sasuke that sealing it might hurt.