Bai Yu left Windmill Village to pursue swordsmanship and quickly gained allies and enemies while his skill and reputation grew. After defeating Koshiro and learning iron-cutting intent, he confronted Treasure at the docks, where the pirate challenged him with layered chains.
Bai Yu defeated Treasure, Arlong, Smoker, Onigumo, and Krieg while gathering new crew members and crossing paths with Ace. The Marines considered Bai Yu for Admiral Candidate, and his crew headed to Loguetown to resupply.
Bai Yu defeated Golden Lion Shiki and Enel after surviving the floating island’s beasts, then returned to Marineford and challenged Akainu for the right to become an Admiral. His victory and apparent Dark-Dark Fruit power left the Marines stunned, while news of his nomination reached Whitebeard and his crew.
Bai Yu built his Marine following with a Haki-awakening method, then captured Crocodile in Alabasta and exposed his plot to seize the kingdom. After delivering Crocodile to Impel Down, Bai Yu confronted the prison’s notorious sixth-level inmates, where his Conqueror’s Haki drew comparisons to Rocks.
Bai Yu survived the Five Elders’ attempt to discredit and kill him, then set out to recruit Fire Fist Ace and drew the Beasts Pirates’ anger by attacking their men. Jack began hunting Bai Yu as Marine leaders worried he might also cross paths with Whitebeard.
Bai Yu pursued his mission to invite Ace to become a Shichibukai, fought the Whitebeard Pirates, and then went to G-15 to confront Jack. After Bai Yu killed Jack, the Marines prepared for a possible war with Kaido, who learned that his All-Star had fallen.
Bai Yu lured Kaido away from the evacuating Marines, then entered Dressrosa, exposed Doflamingo’s crimes, freed the toys, and killed Doflamingo. With Kaido arriving in Dressrosa, Bai Yu turned to face him as the battle was broadcast across the New World.
Bai Yu survived his clash with Kaido, escaped underwater, and gained a Black Blade before setting out to recruit Shichibukai candidates. He defeated Dorry and Brogy and killed Edward Weevil and Miss Bakkin, then used his rewards to obtain the Eight Gates Released Formation as Zephyr shared rumors about Weevil’s origins.
Bai Yu returned after killing Weevil, brought Dorry and Brogy through the Shichibukai assessment, and drew Mihawk’s challenge. At Sabaody, he rescued Camie by attacking Saint Charlos and other Celestial Dragons, setting the Five Elders against him again.
Bai Yu’s Eight Gates training strengthened the Marines while the Five Elders and the Emperors prepared a trap for him. After the Big Mom Pirates captured Momousagi, Bai Yu headed alone for Whole Cake Island, and Whitebeard mobilized his fleet as Shanks and Mihawk received the news.
Bai Yu fought his way through Charlotte Linlin’s banquet trap, wounded her twice, and escaped Totto Land with the Kuja Pirates. As he headed for Kales Island to face Dracule Mihawk, Kaido and the Five Elders prepared to target him, while Shanks and Mihawk awaited his arrival.
Bai Yu defeated Dracule Mihawk, claimed the title of World's Greatest Swordsman, and accepted a mission to bring Fish-Man Island to the World Affiliated Nation Conference. He arrived to find Neptune refusing his help, Shirahoshi missing, and Hody Jones launching a coup.
Bai Yu defeated the conspirators threatening Fish-Man Island and went to the World Affiliated Nation Conference, where the Five Elders trapped him and tried to make the Shichibukai kill him. Most of the Shichibukai defected to his side, and the fighting left Nusjuro’s fate uncertain.
Bai Yu killed Nusjuro, rang the Ox Bell to mark the old era’s end, and became known as the Fifth Emperor. He recruited Fujitora and traveled to Zou, where he began training Law and the crew as the Five Elders prepared their next moves.
Bai Yu brought Cat Viper and Inuarashi into his campaign against Kaido, then struck Wano while the Four Emperors Alliance gathered to ambush Whitebeard. A Senzu Bean from Bai Yu restored Whitebeard, and the arc ended with news that Bai Yu was advancing on the Flower Capital as the banquet battle continued.
Bai Yu destroyed the Four Emperors Alliance’s hold on Wano, killed Orochi, and defeated Killer, drawing Imu’s attention. At Udon, he reunited with his crew, faced Kaido and the arriving Nusjuro, and Zoro took on Nusjuro.
Bai Yu and his allies fought Kaido and the Five Elders in Wano, where Bai Yu killed Kaido and Nusjuro despite their transformations and tricks. Imu ordered the Five Elders to accelerate their plans as news of Bai Yu’s victory reshaped the balance of power.
Bai Yu gathered World and his crew after defeating Ryokugyu, then tracked down Redfield at Sabaody and beat him in a devastating clash. He healed Redfield with a Senzu Bean and proposed seeing how strong he could become with the Bat-Bat Fruit.
Bai Yu cleared a hell-level dungeon by killing Madara Uchiha, then returned to the world and headed to Punk Hazard to intervene in the Admiral duel. There, Blackbeard revealed the Five Elders’ plot and used Devil’s Medicine to transform his prisoners, while a familiar voice interrupted their attack on Bai Yu.
Bai Yu defeated Blackbeard and brought Aokiji into his crew, then urged Whitebeard to abandon his attack on the Big Mom Pirates. Whitebeard went to war anyway, and as Bai Yu arrived to save Katakuri, Shanks appeared with Mihawk and Gaban.