Chapter Summaries

Kusana woke to find Kakuzu demanding answers about Sunagakure and the neglected affairs of the Land of Grass. After assigning Sasuke, Naruto, and Gaara to retrieve the missing-nin Mukade, Kusana shifted the discussion to lunch in Cocoyasi Village, where Kakuzu revealed the next matter concerned the village.

• Kakuzu woke Kusana and reported that Sunagakure was unsettled by a defected jōnin and that Advisor Ebizo might act without orders.
• Kusana told Kakuzu to reassure Advisor Chiyo and assigned Sasuke, Naruto, and Gaara to bring back the missing-nin Mukade.
• Kakuzu listed the academy, shipping routes, and Kingdom of Goa reconstruction among the delayed Land of Grass affairs, and Kusana postponed them until he returned.
• Kakuzu reported that Luffy was working on the logging team with a move called Rubber Axe, while accusing him of faking a leg injury for food.
• Kusana persuaded Kakuzu to join the others for orange-sauce rice, and Kakuzu said the next matter concerned Cocoyasi Village.

Kakuzu assessed Cocoyasi Village’s potential and proposed developing it through public works, tourism, and local industries. Kusana suggested turning Bell-mère’s orange jam into a signature product and named it Old Tangerine Mama, leaving Nojiko moved by the tribute to her mother.

• Kakuzu surveyed Cocoyasi Village and concluded that it could serve as a shipping station, but would need investment and new industries to escape poverty.
• Kakuzu proposed rebuilding Arlong Park as a tourist attraction, then blamed Madara for destroying it, and the two began arguing.
• Kusana suggested that Bell-mère’s orange jam could become a successful local product, and Kakuzu proposed producing it on a large scale.
• Kusana praised Bell-mère’s sacrifice and suggested naming the jam Old Tangerine Mama to honor her.
• Nojiko proudly agreed that Bell-mère had been an incredible mother, and the others praised Kusana’s name for the jam.

Kusana discussed development plans for Cocoyasi Village and the Land of Grass, then learned that Smoker’s Marines had arrived after witnessing the sinking of Branch 16. He discovered that his own Grass Ninjas had already sunk Smoker’s group too.

• Nojiko became overwhelmed by Kusana’s proposed development policies and said she needed to consult the village chief, Gen, and the villagers.
• Madara praised Kusana’s willingness to spend money on ordinary people, while Kusana and Kakuzu refined Cocoyasi Village’s development plan.
• Kusana reviewed the Land of Grass’s priorities, including safer sea routes, studying local abilities, and finding instructors in Haki and swordsmanship.
• Kakuzu told Kusana that the Marines from Branch 16 had been sunk, and a Grass Ninja reported that Smoker’s Loguetown Marines had discovered the operation.
• Kusana reassured the Grass Ninja that the Land of Grass was not a pirate crew, but the Ninja revealed that they had already sunk Smoker’s Marines as well.
• Smoker’s group had come to investigate the Land of Grass and the sinking of Branch 16; after seeing the scene, Smoker attacked and realized he could not defeat the people there.

Smoker woke after a day and night to learn that the Land of Grass had rescued him and the Marines after mistaking them for corrupt forces tied to Marine Branch 16 and the Arlong Pirates. As Smoker challenged the Land of Grass’s actions, one of its officials arrived to justify the operation as a lawful campaign against criminal corruption.

• Smoker regained consciousness in a wooden house and learned from Tashigi that the Marines had survived and been treated by the Land of Grass.
• Tashigi explained that the Land of Grass had mistaken them for allies of Marine Branch 16 and rescued them after someone stopped the Marines from being sunk.
• Tashigi told Smoker that Marine Branch 16 had protected the Arlong Pirates, who had extorted and terrorized Orange Island’s villagers for ten years.
• Smoker condemned the Land of Grass for privately punishing Marines and sinking them into the sea, while doubting its claims of friendship.
• A Land of Grass official entered and described the operation as a lawful campaign that had dismantled the Arlong Pirates’ criminal organization and its Marine protection.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku read the BBC Daily and learned of a report about Smoker and a joint operation against the Arlong Pirates. The chapter ended with Sengoku and Smoker both reacting to the newspaper’s account and photograph.

• Sengoku dismissed the BBC Daily as a waste of Navy funds but began reading it after its headlines caught his attention.
• Sengoku read a story about a retired Navy Senior Sergeant who died protecting her adopted daughters and village from pirates, and questioned whether the report was true.
• Sengoku recognized Smoker in a photograph showing him injured and shaking hands with the King of the Land of Grass.
• Sengoku read that the Navy and the Land of Grass had joined forces to fight the Arlong Pirates.
• Smoker stared at the newspaper’s photograph of himself shaking hands with the King of the Land of Grass, visibly annoyed.

Smoker learned that Marine Branch 16 had been deeply corrupt and that Navy Headquarters wanted him to handle the scandal carefully and apologize to Bell-mère’s daughters. As Leader Mang and the Land of Grass soldiers departed Cocoyasi Village, Smoker watched the grateful villagers bid them farewell and ordered his Marines to prepare to sail.

• Tashigi told Smoker that Branch 16 had stolen public funds and colluded with pirates, and that Navy Headquarters praised his operation while asking him to apologize to Bell-mère’s daughters.
• Smoker learned that the suspected corrupt Marine had sunk to the bottom of the sea and that evidence about the Arlong Pirates might be found among the pirates and Orange Island residents.
• Tashigi explained that Cocoyasi Village’s residents had gathered to send off Leader Mang and the Land of Grass soldiers.
• The villagers offered the soldiers oranges, but the soldiers refused them because Leader Mang had forbidden them from accepting gifts.
• Smoker watched the farewell, then told his Marines to prepare to set sail.

Kusana and his companions continued touring the East Blue with Smoker and Tashigi aboard, while Madara regained his enthusiasm after learning about the world’s strongest fighters. A White Zetsu whispered something to Kusana, who turned to Smoker and asked whether he believed in justice.

• Kusana left Cocoyasi Village with Madara and the others, while Sasuke and Kakuzu returned separately to handle affairs in Sunagakure and Cocoyasi Village.
• Madara grew bored at sea until Kusana told him about the Navy’s Admirals, the Four Emperors, and other powerful figures, then gave him the Navy’s secret training manual.
• Kusana repeatedly tried to recruit Smoker and Tashigi into the Land of Grass, but Tashigi affirmed that she would remain in the Navy.
• Smoker warned Kusana that he would personally act if the Land of Grass became a pirate kingdom and complained that its ship’s doctor had worsened his condition.
• A White Zetsu emerged from the deck and whispered to Kusana, who placed a hand on Smoker’s shoulder and asked whether he believed in justice.

Smoker confronted the Land of Grass over false newspaper reports while Kusana learned that Kushina was pregnant. Kusana decided to end the voyage and return, as Luffy declared his intention to set sail alone and become the Pirate King.

• Tashigi told Smoker that Navy Headquarters had warned him to be more careful, and Smoker denied the BBC Daily's claims that he had cracked down on corruption in Shells Town.
• Kusana defended the newspaper's report as a celebration of justice, while Smoker suspected the BBC News Agency was connected to the Land of Grass.
• Tashigi announced that Kana had examined Kushina and believed she was pregnant, delighting Kusana and prompting him to decide to return with the Grass ninja.
• At the logging team's meal in the Kingdom of Goa, the foreman offered Luffy a chance to work in Cocoyasi Village, but Luffy said he would set sail alone and become the Pirate King.
• The workers laughed when someone joked that Luffy's ideals were wavering again.

Luffy quit his logging job and set sail from Foosha Village in a wine barrel, determined to become the Pirate King. As his barrel drifted near the Land of Grass’s island, Grass ninjas spotted it and Madara ordered them to retrieve it.

• Luffy told Makino and Chief Shlap that he was leaving to fulfill his promise to Ace and return Shanks’s hat.
• Chief Shlap tried to dissuade Luffy, then pretended he had not heard about Luffy’s plans.
• Makino lent Luffy a wine barrel, and he carried it to the dock and launched himself onto the sea in it.
• Luffy shouted that he would become the Pirate King before curling inside the barrel and drifting away as Makino and Chief Shlap watched.
• A Grass ninja spotted Luffy’s floating barrel near the Land of Grass’s island, and Madara ordered the crew to fish it out.

Luffy was fished out of the sea in a barrel by Madara’s fleet and was sent back to Foosha Village after Madara taught him a lesson. Mayor Woop Slap learned that Luffy had been found injured at the docks and was asked to arrange for his care.

• Madara’s crew hauled a heavy barrel aboard, and Luffy popped out of it and declared that he would become the Pirate King.
• Madara confronted Luffy by asking what king he wanted to become.
• Mayor Woop Slap reflected on Luffy’s departure and Foosha Village’s development with help from the Land of Grass.
• Comrade Xiao Shi told Mayor Woop Slap that Luffy had blocked Madara’s fleet, been fished from the sea, and been sent back injured.
• Mayor Woop Slap accepted that Luffy was at the docks and complained that the boy never let anyone rest easy.

Kusana returned to the Land of Grass and reassured Hanzō, while Smoker explored the island and was baffled by its new image. Meanwhile, Naruto, Sasuke, and Gaara searched the desert for Mukade, with Naruto wondering why Amang had sent them.

• Luffy was carried back to Foosha Village wrapped in bandages after Madara broke his legs and beat him, then had a medical ninja treat him.
• Smoker left the Grass Ninja Leader to explore the Land of Grass and was startled by the red banners and slogans throughout the Kingdom of Goa.
• Kusana returned to the Land of Grass headquarters and calmed the angry Hanzō by apologizing and asking Little Qin and Little Sang to coax him.
• Hanzō teased Kusana about sending Sasuke, Naruto, and Gaara to capture Mukade, then left to visit Smoker and Madara Uchiha.
• Kusana planned to visit Kushina, who had chosen to stay in the Land of Grass, and wondered whether Naruto knew he would become a big brother.
• In the Land of Wind, Naruto searched the desert for Mukade and questioned why Amang had sent the three of them there.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Gaara headed to the Ancient Kingdom of Roran to pursue the rogue ninja Mukade, but Naruto hurried after learning his little sister was about to be born. Meanwhile, Kusana handled routine work and approved Scorpion’s business trip to the new world, then wondered what Smoker was doing as an unfamiliar figure appeared in Foosha Village.

• Gaara, Naruto, and Sasuke discussed Mukade’s defection and followed intelligence pointing to the ruins of the Ancient Kingdom of Roran.
• Naruto received a call telling him his little sister was about to be born and urged the others to catch Mukade quickly so he could return.
• Kusana reviewed work on the dockyard and approved Scorpion’s business trip to the new world.
• Kusana finished handling routine affairs and wondered what Smoker was doing.
• An unidentified figure drank in a Foosha Village bar and asked whether it was Garp’s hometown.

Smoker visited Foosha Village to assess the Land of Grass and found its rebuilding and public mood unexpectedly impressive, though he questioned its seizure of the Kingdom of Goa. After sampling an expensive liquor and hearing about the Dadan Family’s labor reform, he saw an injured young man enter the bar.

• Smoker reflected on the Land of Grass’s rapid construction and considered the consequences of its takeover of the Kingdom of Goa.
• Makino offered Smoker Palace Jade Liquid Wine and told him of its supposed connection to the Pirate King and its limited 1482 vintage.
• Smoker asked the wine’s price, learned a glass cost 1,800,000 Beli, and drank it in one gulp before praising its smoothness and unique flavor.
• Makino explained that the Dadan Family had once been bandits but had been given labor reform and now visited the bar on their days off.
• Smoker noticed an injured young man with a cane enter the bar and wondered at how quickly he was recovering.

Luffy reaffirmed his determination to become Pirate King and decided to keep working and train until he could defeat Madara Uchiha. After telling Smoker he would still go to sea, the story shifted to Shanks meeting Mihawk in the New World.

• Luffy entered Makino's bar on crutches, endured the villagers' teasing, and insisted he would not abandon his dream of becoming Pirate King.
• Luffy said he would work at the logging camp and train until he could defeat Madara Uchiha before setting out to sea.
• Curly Dadan warned Luffy about the Land of Grass and mentioned the Literacy Class, which might help him get stronger.
• Luffy recognized Smoker as the man who had lent a strange weapon and declared to him that he would become Pirate King.
• Shanks sneezed in the New World, and Mihawk asked him what he had come to see him for.

Shanks and Mihawk discussed Luffy’s future as Mihawk prepared to visit the East Blue, while Luffy and Zoro remained caught up in work under the Land of Grass’s expanding influence. The chapter left Zoro aboard a work ship bound for Cocoyasi Village, looking for food before pursuing his dream.

• Shanks visited Mihawk, who said he planned to travel to the East Blue and meet the boy who had taken Shanks’s arm and hat.
• Shanks expressed confidence that Luffy would become an incredible pirate, while Mihawk wondered whether Luffy had already set sail and whether he might have been caught by the Land of Grass.
• Luffy, bruised and leaning on a crutch, declared that he would become Pirate King, then went back to work at the logging camp when a coworker called him.
• After the Land of Grass took over Shells Town, workers boarded a ship for Cocoyasi Village, and the foreman repeatedly treated Zoro as a timber worker instead of a swordsman.
• Zoro recalled that the East Blue’s pirates had been cleared out, leaving him to take logging work for survival, and reaffirmed his ambition to become the World's Greatest Swordsman.
• Zoro’s stomach rumbled, and he looked around the ship to see whether the promised food had been served.

The Land of Grass leaders discussed their East Blue projects and decided to recruit skilled people through the Stealing the Sky and Changing the Sun Plan. After learning that someone had robbed their merchant ships, Kusana sought out Smoker, who was preparing to sail, and asked whether he believed in justice.

• The Land of Grass higher-ups reviewed their shipyard, Cocoyasi Village project, sea exploration, and new trade caravan while discussing their shortage of skilled workers.
• Kusana reminded the meeting that the Land of Grass could recruit talent through the Stealing the Sky and Changing the Sun Plan.
• A secret letter reported that someone had robbed the Land of Grass's merchant ships, and Kusana asked where Smoker was.
• Smoker prepared to set sail with Tashigi despite her suggestion that he inform Kusana first.
• Kusana appeared beside Smoker, called him his friend, and asked whether he believed in justice.

Crocodile discovered that a group of supposed merchants had emptied his Seastone prison and ordered Baroque Works to find them, while Robin linked the thieves to the Land of Grass. In the East Blue, Kusana persuaded Smoker to pursue pirates into the Grand Line, insisting they were small-time and that the Land of Grass had no hidden agenda.

• Crocodile found his Seastone prison stripped bare and demanded that Robin explain the loss.
• Robin said the group had vanished, likely escaped underground, and suspected they came from the Land of Grass.
• Crocodile recognized the Land of Grass as the nation that had seized the Kingdom of Goa's island and challenged the World Government.
• Kusana told Smoker that pirates had robbed a Land of Grass merchant convoy and argued that the Navy needed to act.
• Smoker learned the pirates were in the Grand Line, beyond the Calm Belt, and questioned whether they were worth over a hundred million.
• Kusana assured Smoker that the pirates were small-time and denied that anyone powerful was protecting them.

Smoker left the Land of Grass group to deal with the pirates, while Naruto and his companions returned from the past after meeting Minato. Naruto kept his memories of his father and headed home, and a blue-haired girl arrived aboard the merchants' ship, where a black-haired young man urged her to set off.

• Smoker learned the pirates had no powerful backers and left the Land of Grass group to handle them, while Kusana and Hanzō joked about helping him.
• Naruto recognized Minato as his father, helped prepare the Dragon Vein seal, and told him Kushina was pregnant before sending everyone back without sealing their memories.
• Gaara and Sasuke realized Naruto had deliberately kept his memories of meeting Minato, and the group prepared to return home.
• Naruto and Sasuke argued about their baby sisters as Gaara wondered what Aunt Yakura was doing.
• A blue-haired delinquent girl boarded the merchants' ship to deliver her president's message, but a black-haired young man warmly told her to hurry and set off.

Nefertari Vivi, undercover as Miss Wednesday, boarded a Land of Grass ship hoping to investigate Baroque Works' President, but discovered the crew had captured Navy Colonel Smoker. When Vivi tried to appeal to Smoker for help with Alabasta, someone silenced her.

• Baroque Works offered agents a promotion and an audience with Mr. 0 for intelligence about the Land of Grass, prompting Nefertari Vivi to set out alone for the East Blue.
• Vivi found a ship flying the Land of Grass flag and boarded it after Miss Valentine ordered her to bring the people aboard to Whiskey Peak.
• Vivi threatened the crew in Baroque Works' name, but Smoker revealed that he was a Navy officer and complained that Kusana had captured him.
• Kusana grandly introduced Smoker as the East Blue's Emissary of Justice, prompting Smoker to walk away while Vivi stared in shock.
• Vivi called after Smoker to ask for help, but someone covered her mouth and told her, "No! You don't want to!"

Kusana brought Smoker along under the pretense of hunting pirates while secretly taking Princess Vivi and heading for Alabasta. When Smoker recognized the kingdom and tried to turn back, Kusana stopped him, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Kusana threatened to reveal Princess Vivi's identity to Baroque Works, then had Pakura take her away.
• Smoker questioned why Kusana had kept Vivi with them, but Kusana insisted they were only going to catch pirates.
• Kusana praised Smoker's reputation for pursuing pirates to persuade him to promise he would not retreat.
• The group reached Alabasta, and Smoker recognized the kingdom and ordered Tashigi to turn the ship around.
• Kusana slung an arm around Smoker's shoulders and stopped him with, "Since we're already here..."