Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• The crew debates the upcoming sparring matches. Chopper is told to choose an opponent, while Nami is initially offered Lin MuMu—but Lin Mo rules that she cannot participate because she is not officially part of his crew.
• Sanji insists the Straw Hats will not back down, despite warnings that Lin Mo, Little White, and Shusuke are exceptionally strong. Robin chooses Little White; Nami picks Shusuke; Sanji takes Lin Mo. Luffy is expected to face Enel, whom only he can counter.
• Kaku pays for his group’s meals with gold, then Lin Mo adds a bag of jewels after Nami says the first payment is insufficient. Nami promptly accepts, and Sanji agrees to cook for the visitors.
• Luffy and Little White devour the meal, forcing Sanji to make more. Sabo recounts his shared childhood with Luffy and Ace; the next morning, Luffy recognizes Sabo and embraces him tearfully.
• When Luffy objects to fighting Enel, Nami reminds him of their matchups. Zoro is committed to fighting Kuina, while Sanji dismisses Usopp’s attempt to avoid a fight by pretending to faint.
• That night, Nami, Usopp, and Chopper secretly discuss how to get the visitors off the ship. Enel catches them and frightens them, but leaves when Luffy appears.
• Nami and Usopp urge Luffy to send the visitors away. Luffy argues that Enel seems different and that the newcomers have said they mean no harm. Zoro arrives just as Usopp tries to recruit him to persuade Luffy.

Character developments

• Luffy remains cheerful and food-obsessed, but shows trust in the visitors and notices a change in Enel’s behavior.
• Nami is wary of the newcomers and wants them off the ship, though she readily accepts their payment. She also firmly manages Luffy and the others.
• Sanji protects Nami and refuses to be intimidated, but agrees to feed the visitors once paid.
• Enel is still intimidating, yet Luffy believes he has changed. Enel’s brief appearance confirms the others remain afraid of him.
• Sabo reconnects with Luffy and shares his past with Ace and Luffy.
• Usopp and Chopper show their usual fearfulness; Usopp pretends to faint to dodge a fight, while Chopper is openly frightened by Enel.
• Lin MuMu wants to prove herself, but Lin Mo refuses to let her join the matches.

Significant themes

• Trust versus suspicion: Nami and Usopp fear the visitors, while Luffy judges them by their conduct and trusts their stated intentions.
• Courage and bluffing: Sanji insists on fighting despite the odds, while Usopp uses theatrics to avoid danger.
• Loyalty and belonging: The matchups reflect crew commitments, while Lin MuMu’s exclusion raises the question of who counts as a member.
• Comedy and camaraderie: Food, arguments, teasing, and Luffy’s reunion with Sabo keep the tense preparations lighthearted.

Character interactions

• Nami reassures Chopper, then spars verbally with Lin MuMu and bargains with Kaku over food expenses.
• Sanji and Zoro trade insults; Sanji also defends Nami against the visitors’ taunts.
• Luffy’s reunion with Sabo is affectionate and emotional, while his appetite immediately resumes the next morning.
• Nami and Usopp try to persuade Luffy to remove the visitors, but Luffy counters that Enel has changed. Zoro is drawn into their discussion at the end.

Key events

• The Straw Hats discuss how several members of Lin Mo’s crew—including Enel, Kaku, and Perona—seem changed. Zoro remains suspicious about the crew’s secrets.
• Luffy says he is nearly healed, and the crews agree to hold their friendly match the next afternoon. Zoro asks Sanji to switch opponents with Luffy so Luffy can face Lin Mo, but Sanji refuses; Luffy readily accepts Sanji’s decision.
• That night, Ace offers to light Sanji’s cigarette with his flame. Lin Mo snuffs it out and tells Ace not to do it again, without explaining why. The others notice the odd exchange.
• The next afternoon, Kuina steps forward to fight Zoro. She uses the swords from her mechanical Eight Desolations Sword Case, repeatedly outmaneuvering and striking him until he finally stops fighting.

Character development and interactions

• Zoro is confident before the match but is decisively beaten by Kuina. Her appearance, name, and manner remind him of the Kuina he knew as a child, despite his certainty that she died. He probes her age and background, then asks about Shimotsuki Village.
• Kuina is composed and assured, insisting she is not the Kuina Zoro remembers. She gives a different account of her training, but visibly freezes when he mentions Shimotsuki Village, then denies knowing it.
• Luffy remains cheerful and trusting, following Sanji’s lead about the opponent switch and enthusiastically cheering Zoro on.
• Sanji stands by his refusal to switch opponents and remains confident about the coming match.
• Lin Mo acts firmly toward Ace, suppressing a display of Ace’s powers and leaving the reason unexplained.

Themes

• Identity and resemblance: Zoro struggles to reconcile Kuina’s striking similarity to his childhood friend with the facts he remembers.
• Concealed pasts and secrets: Lin Mo’s crew members seem changed, while Kuina’s reaction to Zoro’s question hints at a connection she denies.
• Confidence versus ability: Zoro’s training has made him stronger, yet Kuina’s skill exposes the limits of his confidence.
• Trust and loyalty: Luffy accepts Sanji’s decision without argument, while the crews’ friendly competition proceeds with mutual encouragement.

Key events

• Zoro ends his friendly match with Kuina by conceding defeat. Usopp is angry that he gives up, but Luffy reassures the crew that they can still win.
• Brook faces Kaku. Kaku blocks Brook’s lightning-fast sword draw with a screwdriver, then uses smoke bombs and the Calm-Calm Fruit to conceal himself. He incapacitates Brook and traps him in a Seastone net, claiming the win.
• Kaku admits the tactic was meant to finish the match quickly. Enel recognizes it as the same trick that once fooled him and challenges Kaku to try it again.
• With Luffy held back as their “secret weapon,” the crew chooses Usopp to face Perona. Usopp protests that her spirit form is difficult to fight, but Perona tricks him into saying he forfeits. The crew disputes the fairness of her win, while Luffy accepts it as part of a friendly match.
• Franky volunteers to fight next. The chapter ends before his opponent is chosen.

Character developments and interactions

• Zoro shows unusual willingness to concede, while Usopp’s frustration highlights how seriously he takes the team’s chances.
• Luffy remains upbeat after each loss, trusting his friends and treating the matches as low-stakes fun. Sanji takes a more strategic approach, keeping Luffy in reserve and selecting fighters based on their strengths.
• Brook stays courteous even after losing; Kaku is similarly polite, though unapologetic about using an unconventional tactic. Their exchange contrasts sportsmanship with Kaku’s win-at-any-cost attitude.
• Usopp is nervous and easily flustered, but he challenges Perona’s rules before being caught by her wordplay. Nami and Chopper protest, while Robin and Sanji point out that Usopp did say he was giving up.
• Enel and Kaku trade taunts over Kaku’s trick, setting up the possibility of a rematch.

Significant themes

• Winning versus fairness: Kaku and Perona exploit loopholes, prompting debate about whether a victory counts if it comes through tricks.
• Team confidence and trust: Despite falling behind, Luffy’s faith in his crew helps restore their spirits.
• Different approaches to competition: Sanji plans carefully, Usopp worries about the odds, and Luffy sees the matches as friendly practice rather than a serious contest.

Chapter 684 Summary

Key events

• Franky takes Chopper’s place against Big Orange. The cat swallows Franky’s bullet, then uses a tentacle to pull him close and bite his head. Despite Franky’s bravado, Big Orange beats him unconscious without causing serious injuries.
• Robin faces Little White, who transforms into a gigantic white dragon. After her attacks are effortlessly countered, Robin concedes, judging the fight unwinnable.
• Sanji challenges Lin Mo. Lin Mo catches Sanji’s heated Diable Jambe kick with a Haki-coated hand, then knocks him into the Sunny’s hull. Sanji coughs blood but suffers only a slight internal injury.
• Luffy faces Enel. Enel uses the Ruyi Jingu Bang and physical attacks, knowing lightning will not work on Luffy. After exchanging a few blows, Enel distracts Luffy by presenting him with a mysterious black ring, which Luffy eagerly reaches for.

Character developments and interactions

• Franky remains courageous and determined, insisting that a real man never gives up, but Big Orange decisively overwhelms him. Chopper checks his injuries and confirms he will recover.
• Robin stays composed and practical, choosing to surrender rather than continue a futile fight. Sanji encourages her, then volunteers to battle Lin Mo.
• Sanji is serious and focused, even keeping Luffy from taking his opponent. Lin Mo displays overwhelming strength but reflects that he used more force than intended; the opponents repeatedly stop short of causing lasting harm.
• Luffy is delighted by the opponents’ abilities and treats Enel warmly, saying his instincts tell him that Enel and the others are good people. Enel, who remembers fighting Luffy as a child, is smug and teasing; he exploits Luffy’s curiosity with the ring. The Straw Hats, especially Nami, grow increasingly exasperated by Luffy’s distraction.

Significant themes

• The fights highlight the gap between the Straw Hats and their opponents, while showing that courage alone cannot overcome every mismatch.
• Restraint and care temper the violence: the defeated fighters are hurt but not seriously harmed.
• Luffy’s trusting, cheerful nature contrasts with the tension of the tournament and shapes his unexpectedly friendly exchange with Enel.

• Key events: Enel places a ring on Luffy’s finger. Luffy immediately loses his strength and falls from the air. Zoro rushes to help him, while Nami confronts him for letting his opponent get close enough to weaken him.
• Character developments: Luffy is suddenly vulnerable and confused by what has happened. Zoro reacts protectively, and Nami responds with her usual blunt, practical criticism.
• Themes: The scene highlights the consequences of underestimating an opponent and the importance of staying alert in a fight.
• Character interactions: Enel’s action leaves Luffy incapacitated; Zoro checks on him, and Nami rebukes him rather than accepting his confusion.