Chapter Summaries

Roy helped Kuina regain hope in becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman by challenging the belief that girls could not become strong and explaining her father's fear for her safety. Kuina recommitted to her dream, while Roy arranged to give Zoro pointers the next afternoon.

• Zoro angrily told Kuina that her gender did not diminish his respect for her strength or his determination to surpass her.
• Roy cited Big Mom and Boa Hancock as examples of powerful women and asked Kuina whether she still believed girls could not become strong.
• Roy explained that Shimotsuki Koshiro was trying to discourage Kuina because he feared she would be hurt if she pursued her dream at sea.
• Roy urged Kuina to earn her father's acknowledgment through her own strength, and she resolved to keep practicing.
• Roy told Kuina to send Zoro to him the next afternoon for pointers, and Zoro agreed despite protesting about their bet.

Kuina asked Roy about powerful women who had forged their own paths, then confronted Koshiro and asked him to teach her advanced, battlefield-ready swordsmanship. Koshiro admitted Roy understood his fears and began explaining the dangers he had witnessed at sea.

• Dragon organized the grain shipment from Shimotsuki Village and asked Ivankov to contact the Baratie about serving as a supply transfer point.
• Roy told Kuina about Momousagi Gion, Charlotte Linlin, Hancock, and the female warriors of Hachinosu, strengthening her resolve to become the World's Greatest Swordsman.
• Kuina went to Koshiro and asked him to teach her the swordsmanship used on a real battlefield.
• Kuina told Koshiro that Roy had explained his warnings came from fear of losing her, not disbelief in her talent.
• Koshiro admitted Roy was right and described the dangers he had encountered across the sea, from slave ships and wrecked pirates to the weak having no right to cry in the New World.

Kuina challenged Koshiro’s belief that girls could not become the World’s Greatest Swordsman, leaving him unable to answer as she pursued her dream. Roy stayed in Shimotsuki Village and watched as Kuina went out into a storm toward Koshiro’s treasured whetstone, beginning the supreme staircase incident.

• Kuina told Koshiro that losing her dream would make her feel as good as dead, and Koshiro asked for more time to think.
• Roy stayed behind after Dragon’s fleet departed and told Koshiro he was interested in Kuina and Zoro’s potential.
• Koshiro confronted Roy about his intentions, and Roy said he wanted to keep the two gifted students from being wasted in East Blue.
• During a torrential storm, Roy sensed Kuina leave her room and head for the dojo storeroom.
• Kuina entered the storeroom to use Koshiro’s heirloom whetstone to sharpen the Wado Ichimonji.

Kuina nearly fell to her death while retrieving the whetstone, but an invisible force caught and lowered her to safety. After she recovered, Koshiro went to thank Roy, whom he suspected had used telekinesis to save her.

• Kuina slipped on the wet stairs and fell headfirst while holding the whetstone.
• An invisible force stopped Kuina's fall and gently lowered her to the warehouse floor.
• Koshiro rushed in, checked Kuina for injuries, and learned that a force had caught her.
• Koshiro realized Roy's telekinesis had likely saved Kuina and comforted her as she cried.
• After Kuina went to sleep, Koshiro went to the guest room and bowed to Roy.

After Roy saved Kuina, he urged Koshiro to stop suppressing her dream and offered to take her to Hachinosu to train under Dracule Mihawk. Koshiro agreed to let her go, but Roy then proposed making Kuina’s death look convincing.

• Koshiro thanked Roy for saving Kuina, and Roy warned that denying her dream could lead to more accidents.
• Roy offered to take Kuina to Hachinosu so she could learn swordsmanship from Dracule Mihawk.
• Kuina revealed she had overheard them and begged Koshiro to let her pursue her goal of becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman.
• Koshiro accepted Kuina’s choice and comforted her as they embraced.
• Roy proposed faking Kuina’s death, leaving Kuina and Koshiro stunned.

Roy proposed faking Kuina’s death to turn Zoro’s rivalry with her into a lasting drive to become stronger, and Kuina and Koshiro agreed. After the staged announcement at Isshin Dojo, Zoro reached Kuina’s memorial altar and refused to believe she was dead.

• Roy explained that Zoro might despair if he learned Kuina was training under the World's Greatest Swordsman, and proposed making him believe she had died.
• Kuina agreed to the plan, and Koshiro accepted Roy’s proposal to stage her death and give Zoro Wado Ichimonji at the funeral.
• At dawn, Koshiro carried the supposedly dead Kuina from the storeroom, and the news spread through Isshin Dojo.
• Zoro learned from a junior disciple that Kuina was dead, ran to the memorial hall, and insisted the news could not be true.

After Kuina’s staged death, Zoro mourned her and renewed his vow to become the World’s Greatest Swordsman. Kuina left Shimotsuki Village with Roy, who secretly gave Zoro training knowledge, and Roy planned to stop at Foosha Village before heading to Hachinosu.

• Zoro accepted Wado Ichimonji from Koshiro and vowed at Kuina’s memorial tablet to become the World’s Greatest Swordsman.
• Zoro trained with his wooden sword throughout the night while Kuina watched from behind a screen with Roy.
• At dawn, Koshiro gave Kuina provisions and a letter for Dracule Mihawk, then embraced her as she prepared to leave.
• Roy secretly placed physical training methods and swordsmanship insights into the sleeping Zoro’s mind.
• Roy and Kuina departed Shimotsuki Village, and Roy said they would visit Foosha Village to meet a future Pirate King.

Roy flew Kuina toward Foosha Village while explaining the dangers of the New World and the powerful forces based on Hachinosu. Kuina eagerly accepted the challenge of training there under Dracule Mihawk and Savi.

• Roy lifted Kuina above Shimotsuki Village with Telekinesis and let her admire the island before flying toward Foosha Village.
• Roy explained how the New World’s hazards and powerful rulers made it far more dangerous than the East Blue or Paradise.
• Roy told Kuina that Hachinosu was the stronghold of one of the Emperors and described its defenses and core officers, including Bullet, Red Count, Tesoro, Crocodile, Moria, and Kuma.
• Kuina eagerly accepted the danger of Hachinosu after learning that Dracule Mihawk would be her swordsmanship instructor.
• Roy explained that Savi would train Kuina’s physique, Six Powers, Fish-Man Karate, and Armament Haki.

Roy explained why he was helping Kuina and passed swordsmanship and martial arts knowledge directly into her mind as they flew toward Foosha Village. They arrived at dawn, and Roy brought her down beside a wooden house before she could ask about the Pirate King.

• Roy told Kuina that her potential and his resources had led him to offer her a chance, and he wanted to see what she and others he helped would achieve.
• Roy gave Kuina detailed swordsmanship and Six Powers training insights to prepare her for training on Hachinosu.
• Kuina asked Roy about Foosha Village and the Pirate King, but he refused to give her a hint.
• Roy and Kuina reached Foosha Village at dawn and landed beside a wooden house before Kuina could finish her question.

Roy visited Rouge in Foosha Village with Kuina, and learned how she was getting by and how Buggy and Shanks had visited. Their conversation was interrupted when Ace woke up, recognized Roy, and excitedly declared that he wanted to become a pirate like him.

• Roy and Kuina visited Rouge, who welcomed them into her home and asked about Roy's travels.
• Rouge told Roy that she helped Makino at the tavern, that Buggy had narrowly avoided Garp during a visit, and that Shanks often brought supplies and money.
• Roy and Rouge discussed Shanks's recent presence nearby before Rouge invited them to Makino's tavern.
• Ace came out of the inner room, recognized Roy, and eagerly asked about his adventures and whether he could teach him.
• Ace said he wanted to be a pirate like Roy, but someone suddenly called out his name.

Roy met Luffy at Rouge’s home, where Ace introduced his younger brother and Luffy eagerly questioned Roy about Shanks and the New World. Over breakfast, Kuina watched the brothers’ chaotic behavior and struggled to reconcile Luffy with Roy’s prediction that he would become Pirate King.

• Luffy stormed out of bed to complain that Ace had woken him before dawn, and Ace bonked him on the head for his rude behavior toward Roy.
• Ace introduced Luffy to Roy, and Luffy excitedly asked about Roy’s exploits, his fight with Shanks, and whether he could beat Garp.
• Rouge explained that she cared for Luffy and that Garp kept trying to train Luffy and Ace to become Marines.
• Rouge served breakfast, and Ace and Luffy fought over the food while asking Roy questions about the New World.
• Kuina stopped eating as she watched the brothers’ table manners and compared Luffy unfavorably to Zoro.

Kuina observed Ace and Luffy training in the mountainside clearing, studying their contrasting skills while wondering what Roy meant by the Pirate King. After their training, Roy accompanied Rouge to Makino's bar in Foosha Village.

• Ace invited Kuina to watch him and Luffy train, and Roy encouraged her to go.
• Kuina observed Ace and Luffy run and spar, noting Ace's disciplined Marine-style training and Luffy's instinctive speed and ability to learn from repeated falls.
• Ace and Luffy finished training and headed to the stream, while Kuina remained unsure how either boy related to the Pirate King.
• Roy walked with Rouge through Foosha Village toward Makino's bar, where Rouge planned to help with the lunch rush.

Roy visited Rouge at Makino’s tavern, where Luffy, Ace, and Kuina later reunited with Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates. Shanks and Roy discussed his trip and a locked chest containing the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, as Roy waited to see what would happen next.

• Roy sat in Makino’s tavern while Rouge helped behind the bar, and Makino recognized him without asking questions.
• Luffy, Ace, and Kuina arrived at the tavern, then rushed to the harbor when a horn announced Shanks’s return.
• Shanks reunited with Luffy and Ace at the harbor, and the Red Hair Pirates gathered at the tavern.
• Uta introduced herself to Kuina while Luffy and Ace joined the crew’s noisy celebration.
• Shanks asked why Roy was visiting, and Roy noticed the locked chest holding the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika.
• Shanks said he had defeated Cipher Pol 0 after they fought to the death, while Roy chose not to press him further.

Higuma and his mountain bandits barged into Makino’s tavern and provoked the Red Hair Pirates, while Roy watched the confrontation unfold. The chapter ended with Shanks calmly bending down to pick up the broken bottle after Higuma drenched him with liquor.

• Roy and Shanks quietly discussed the locked chest containing the Gum-Gum Fruit, which Roy knew was the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Nika.
• Higuma arrived with his bandits, demanded all the tavern’s booze, and challenged Makino when she said they were out.
• Shanks politely offered Higuma an unopened bottle and apologized for the shortage.
• Higuma smashed the bottle, splashing Shanks with liquor as Roy used a Telekinesis: Barrier to protect himself from the glass and drink.
• Higuma invoked his eight-million-Beli bounty and accused Shanks of looking down on him, while Shanks calmly crouched to pick up the broken glass.

After Higuma and the mountain bandits left, Luffy angrily questioned why Shanks had tolerated the insult, while Roy watched without explaining. Still upset, Luffy opened Shanks's treasure chest and ate the strange fruit inside.

• Higuma threatened Shanks with his sword, mocked the Red Hair Pirates as cowards, and left the tavern with his men.
• Luffy shouted at Shanks for not fighting back, while the crew laughed and teased their captain.
• Kuina wondered why Roy had not intervened, and Roy told her there was no rush.
• As the tavern returned to its lively mood, Luffy sulked and noticed Shanks's partly open treasure chest.
• Luffy opened the chest and bit into the strange purple fruit as Roy watched, sensing that the fruit's appearance had been destined.

Luffy ate the Devil Fruit in Shanks's treasure chest and discovered that his body had become rubber, while Shanks warned him that he could no longer swim. Shanks crouched before Luffy to explain what he must remember.

• Luffy ate the entire Devil Fruit despite its awful taste, and Shanks realized the chest was empty.
• Shanks told Luffy the fruit was a Devil Fruit and tried to make him spit it out, but Luffy's body stretched like rubber and slipped from his hands.
• Luffy discovered that his fingers and face could stretch, while Ace scolded him for losing the ability to swim.
• Makino checked whether Luffy felt unwell, and Rouge worried about how the fruit might affect his life.
• Kuina asked Roy about the Devil Fruit, and Roy explained its value and revealed that he was a Devil Fruit User too.
• Shanks crouched before Luffy and began telling him to remember something.

Shanks warned Luffy that eating the Devil Fruit had taken away his ability to swim, but Luffy remained determined to become a pirate. The next day, Higuma returned to the tavern, and Luffy stood up for Shanks before Higuma grabbed him.

• Shanks told Luffy that he would sink and die if he fell into the sea, and Luffy said he would still become a pirate.
• Roy reflected that Luffy had accidentally eaten the fruit containing the Nika power, without Shanks arranging it.
• Luffy excitedly tested his new rubber body while training with Ace, and Roy waited at Makino's tavern for Higuma to return.
• Higuma came back to the tavern and insulted Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates, prompting Luffy to demand an apology.
• Higuma seized Luffy by the collar and lifted him, while Makino ran to the port for help.

Makino warned Shanks that Luffy had been captured by Higuma and the mountain bandits, prompting the Red Hair Pirates to rush to the tavern. Roy stopped Ace and Kuina from charging in, and the chapter ended as Shanks confronted Higuma and his crew.

• Makino told Shanks that Higuma's mountain bandits had captured Luffy, and Shanks gathered the Red Hair Pirates.
• Ace tried to rush to Luffy's rescue, but Roy stopped him and told him Luffy would be fine; Kuina stayed with them.
• Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates reached the tavern, where Higuma had Luffy pinned beneath his foot.
• Shanks told Higuma he would not forgive anyone who hurt his friends, and Lucky Roux immediately took down a bandit who fired at him.
• Higuma ordered his men to attack, but Beckman shot down the charging bandits before they could reach Shanks.

Higuma kidnapped Luffy and threw him into the sea, where the Lord of the Coast attacked him. Shanks rescued Luffy but lost his left arm, and the chapter ended with Luffy sobbing in guilt as Shanks comforted him.

• Higuma escaped the smoke-filled clearing with Luffy, then kicked him into the sea from his boat.
• Roy stopped Ace from jumping in while the Lord of the Coast destroyed Higuma's boat and lunged at Luffy.
• Shanks rescued Luffy from the Sea King, which bit off Shanks's left arm.
• Shanks drove the Lord of the Coast away with his Conqueror's Haki.
• Luffy wept and blamed himself for Shanks losing his arm, but Shanks told him it was not his fault.

Shanks gave Luffy his straw hat and urged him to remember the sacrifice that had saved him, prompting Luffy to vow that he would become Pirate King and return it. Kuina realized Shanks had deliberately sacrificed his arm to strengthen Luffy’s resolve, and she began to understand Roy’s reasons for bringing her to the East Blue.

• Shanks comforted Luffy and told him to remember the cost of protecting a friend until he became strong enough to protect others.
• Shanks placed his straw hat on Luffy and asked him to return it when he became a great pirate and the Pirate King.
• Luffy vowed to become the strongest Pirate King and return the straw hat to Shanks.
• Ace watched Luffy’s vow and relaxed his clenched fists as a faint smile appeared.
• Kuina realized Shanks had chosen to lose his arm to give Luffy’s promise weight, and she compared his protection of Luffy with her father’s fear for her safety.
• Kuina thanked Roy silently for bringing her to witness Luffy’s vow and began to understand why he had come to the East Blue.