The chapter title page displays the One Piece logo with skull and crossbones, rope borders, and the text "CHAPTER 969: THE IDIOT LORD". Below is a large dynamic illustration of a round, barrel-like figure with a wide open mouth, sweat drops, and chains, being struck by a massive striped shoe sole. In the background, a spiky-haired figure in a fur-collared coat stands amid smoke and debris near castle towers. French text at the bottom reads "GANG BEGE ET SA OH MY FAMILY. ÉPISODE 18: GOTTI VS LA MARINE." and "GANG BEGE'S OH MY FAMILY VOL. 18: "GOTTI VS THE MARINE"".
Gotti
01
Explosive action erupts inside a castle corridor. A samurai leaps through the air with swords drawn amid "ビビビビ" sound effects. Orochi recoils in panic as debris flies. A voice yells "AAAAHH!!!". In close-up, a young boy with a beaded headband shouts desperately, "STOP, ODEN! IF YOU GET ANGRY OVER SOMETHING TRIVIAL LIKE THIS THE ENEMY WILL ONLY...". Nearby, Orochi screams "AAAAHH!! OROCHI!!!" while another figure yells "WAIT, ODEN!! WAIT!! STOP!!". The sequence ends with a massive impact as someone is struck, "GYAAAAHH!!!".
Kozuki OdenKurozumi OrochiKin'emon
02
Multiple panels show chaotic combat. A long-haired man plays a biwa while a large hand blocks an attack with "HMI!". Massive sound effects "ズドドドン!!!" shake the room as a samurai is blasted backward. A figure with a crown-like helmet is hurled through the air amid debris. Voices cry out "AH! GYAAH!!!", "WHAT IS THIS THINGI!", "II WHATI!", and panting sounds "*PANT* *PANT*". Orochi's face twists in shock and rage as the fight intensifies.
Kurozumi OrochiKurozumi SemimaruKozuki Oden
03
Kurozumi Semimaru, labeled "BIWA PRIEST KUROZUMI SEMIMARU", reassures Orochi: "THERE'S NO NEED TO WORRY, LORD OROCHI... HAVE FAITH IN MY 'BARI BARI' TECHNIQUE". Orochi panics, "HIII!!! COME OUT, OROCHI!! IS THIS GLASSI! NO!!". An old woman labeled "OLD HAG KUROZUMI HIGURASHI" mocks, "AS A PIRATE, YOU SHOULD KNOW... ABOUT THE ABNORMAL POWER OF 'DEVIL FRUITS'!!!". Oden is restrained, shouting "MUHAHAHA ODEN!!! USING FORCE AND ANGER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS... THE OTHER VILLAGES' DAIMYO TRIED THAT AS WELL!!!" while others yell "YOUR STRENGTH WON'T HELP YOU, ODEN!! BECAUSE THIS BARRIER WON'T ALLOW ANYONE TO COME CLOSER..." and "BUT NOBODY CAN KILL ME!!!".
Excited citizens of Wano cheer wildly in the streets as news spreads. "He will definitely take care of Orochi!! And of Kaido too!!" "Wonderful!! We will have a new shogun!!" "The legitimate heir of the Kozuki clan has returned!!" "Did you seeI! Lord Oden dashed towards the palace!!" A massive crowd gathers before the grand palace, waving banners and shouting "Lord Oden!!" In a flashback panel, a young Kozuki Oden stands with his back turned, declaring, "Until the day I would return!!" and "Apparently, my father appointed you as a 'proxy shogun'..." A voice replies, "I don't know the reason, but..." Oden's intense close-up fills the final panels as he roars, "It wasn't my goal to become famous or anything... But under my rule, Wano will be in a much better state!!!" and "So return the title of 'shogun' at once!!!"
Kozuki OdenWano citizens
05
Kozuki Oden glares at the false shogun. A shocked voice cries, "EhI! FatherI!" "Why are you ali..." The impostor stammers, "Oh... there you are, Oden..." while another figure laughs maniacally, "You don't have the authority of a shogun!!" "MUHAHAHA!! I will never do that!! In fact..." The curly-haired figure reveals the deception: "By disguising herself with the power of the 'Clone Clone Fruit' she managed to fool the entire country and enabled me to take on the position of 'shogun'!!!" The impostor panics as Oden shouts, "That's me!!" and the crowd reacts with "KYOKYO KYOKYO!!" The false shogun points accusingly, "Did he really die from a terminal illnessI! You bastard, what did you do to my fatherI!" and "And who cares what the real Sukiyaki thoughtI! In other words, I'm under no obligation to give the title to you!!"
Kozuki OdenKurozumi OrochiKurozumi Higurashi
06
Narration boxes recount the chaos: "The victims collapsed and, after violently vomiting blood, lost their lives." "When suddenly, two poisoned arrows were shot into the crowd from an unknown direction." Panicked citizens scream "A medic, quick!!" "KYAH!!" "GYAAH!!" as a crowd had gathered to celebrate Lord Oden's return. In the sky over the Flower Capital, a giant dragon appears amid swirling clouds. People flee indoors. Further narration explains Kozuki Oden's past: he became daimyo of Kuri after returning from the sea and meeting the Roger Pirates, yet the country suffered under an evil power. A young woman with a flower hairpin reads a newspaper showing Oden's image.
Kozuki OdenWano citizensHana
07
Flashback panels show Kozuki Oden dancing foolishly and acting like a clown for gold coins while Orochi's underlings and Beast Pirates laugh. "This is the big man going home..." "NICE! HERE!" Citizens watch in despair as Oden falls on his butt in front of a snake, prompting mockery: "Don't laugh at his jokes whoopsie!" "Fell on his butt in front of a snake ♪" The narration states Oden was presented naked before Orochi's residence, making a fool of himself. A large splash panel depicts a muscular, shirtless Oden striking a dramatic pose with musical notes, wearing only a fundoshi marked with characters, surrounded by shocked onlookers and debris in front of a grand building. Text boxes label him "Kozuki Oden, the idiot lord of Kuri."
No matter if it rained, stormed or snowed, Oden continued his strange weekly ritual. Once a week, Oden showed up at the capital, acting like a fool in front of the palace, trying to make a living. Townspeople whisper, "It's him again..." A woman with an umbrella glares as Oden dances naked with a sign on his back. Angry citizens confront him: "What did you say to OrochiI! Why are you acting like thisI!" Oden snaps back, "Don't lie to us!! Every week, I get paid for dancing naked, and that is my business." Someone pleads, "Lord Oden, please!!" A furious man shouts, "Even the people of Kuri, who have always believed in you, can't take this any longer!!" Others yell, "Instead of bowing to Orochi, you should have committed seppuku, like a warrior!!" A woman cries, "Stop acting like him... like the disappointment he is!!" In the background, voices shout, "It's the idiot lord!! The rumors about the events in the capital eventually reached Kuri."
Odentownspeoplewoman with umbrella
09
Oden, who had received a foreign newspaper from Orochi, stares at the headline about the execution of the "Pirate King", Gold Roger. A year later, Oden runs across the beach, crying like a fool, his cries interrupted by laughter: "Wahaha hahahaha haha!!" The narration continues: "Many people set out to sea, searching for the immense treasure he left behind..." Oden screams with tears streaming down his face, "You're really incredible!! What an incredible life you've lived!!" Roger laughs wildly in a flashback. The final caption declares, "And thus, the world entered the golden age of piracy. The One Piece!!"
OdenGold Roger
10
Oden continued to dance and... but even then... At the same time, the grave of the "Sword God" Ryuma was robbed. A fight broke out in Ringo between the "Gecko Pirates" and the "Beasts Pirates". Two years after Oden's return, retainers approach him. One says, "Lord Oden, we would like to attend your dancing show every week~ Kappappa~" Another adds, "We don't wanna miss it!" Oden's retainers react with shock: "His retainers... Are you jokingI That's not funny! Are you going to leave meI The only people who would still speak to him were his family and..." A woman calls out, "Hyo-san, Oden has arrived!" An attendant yells, "Now, come inside and have a cup of tea. Idiot!!" Another voice shouts, "Oi, you can't see the boss, idiot lord!" The final caption notes, "'Idiot Lord' is still far too nice of a nickname for him!"
OdenretainersHyogoroOkami-san
11
Oden dances while retainers comment: "Your dancing is steadily improving, you knowI" "Oden-chan" "Oh stop it, Okami-san!" "Still, be careful, Hyo-san" "I will never be at his service!" "This Orochi has no manners!!" Four years after Oden's return to Wano, nothing had changed in the country. Oden performs a snow dance: "Ta-da-da, here's the snow." People remark, "You're embarrassing, Oden..." Three years after Oden's return to Wano, the Idiot Lord is back. In the fifth year, Shogun Orochi began to act in Kuri. The shogun has arrived in Kuri!! Orochi sits on a palanquin carried by elephants, declaring his rule as the new shogun.
OdenOkami-sanHyogororetainersOrochi
12
Orochi grins widely while holding a sword, declaring, "WHAT ABOUT THE BOATI AND WHAT ABOUT KAIDOI" He continues, "FIRST I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU, SHOSUN... I'D LIKE TO BUILD MULTIPLE FACTORIES IN KURI... AND I'M EXPECTING YOUR COOPERATION, ODEN!" In the background, Oden stands with retainers as Orochi speaks. Orochi then explains, "AND YOU KNOW HYOGORO, RIGHTI HE DIDN'T WANT TO COMPLY... SO I LEFT HIM IN KAIDO'S HANDS... HE'LL PROBABLY BE KILLED!!" Oden reacts with shock, "EHI WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUTI" Narration boxes detail the events: "HYOGORO OF THE FLOWER WAS CAPTURED IN THE CAPITAL, CAUSING HIS MEN TO REVOLT. THE RESULT: 16 OF HYOGORO'S MEN WERE KILLED, INCLUDING HIS WIFE." Orochi laughs, "MUHAHAHA, THE WOMAN OF THE CAPITAL'S HERO WAS QUITE IMPUDENT! OH AND THE HAG WHO FOLLOWED HIMI WE SHOT HER!" Oden stares intensely as the scene unfolds.
Kurozumi OrochiKozuki Oden
13
Narration continues: "NO LONGER ABLE TO CONTROL HIS EMOTIONS... FINALLY COULDN'T BEAR IT ANYMORE... THE SAMURAI WHO HAD ENDURED THE PAIN FOR FIVE YEARS ON HIS OWN... AS EXPECTED BY HIS FAMILY AND RETAINERS..." Oden's face shows tears streaming down as he breaks. He roars with fury, "I WILL MAKE HIM PAY!!!" while smashing a structure, the impact marked with large SFX. The retainers react in shock. Narration states, "THE WORDS WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR ALL THIS TIME!! FINALLY YOU'VE SPOKEN THEM!!" The group erupts in excitement with cries of "NOW!! WITNESS!!" and "WHAT HAPPENED NEXT!!" as the scene shifts to a chaotic gathering of allies.
Kozuki OdenKin'emonother retainers
14
Narration explains the aftermath: "THE PEOPLE OF WANO WOULD LATER COME TO RESPECTFULLY CALL THESE LOYAL MEN... THE NINE RED SCABBARDS!!" A dramatic spread shows the nine samurai charging forward in red flame-like cloaks, swords drawn, under a crimson sunset. Text reads, "THESE MEN, HUNGRY FOR A FIGHT, SEEMED CLAD IN RED FLAMES... AS DID THE SWORDS ON THEIR WAISTS, LIKE REFLECTIONS OF THEIR BURNING LIVES." Further narration notes, "AT HIS SIDE, THE NINE MEN HE HAD PICKED UP AND MADE HIS SAMURAI... THE GREATEST TURMOIL CAUSED BY A WEEPING ODEN... ILLUMINATED BY THE CRIMSON LIGHT OF A SETTING SUN..." The Scabbards' faces are shown in close-up with intense expressions. The page ends with, "PLEASE DO NOT AVERT YOUR EYES!!!" and SFX of their determined advance.
Kozuki OdenKin'emonother Nine Red Scabbards
15
No description for this page.
End of chapter16 pages
Discussion
p7Citizens' hope turned to anger after seeing Oden humiliated.
p7Oden was made the lord of Kuri after his return.
p8Oden performs a weekly naked dance ritual in front of the palace.
p8Townspeople confront Oden about his actions toward Orochi.
p8Oden claims he receives payment for his dancing.
p9Oden receives newspaper about Gold Roger's execution.
p9Oden reacts with tears and laughter on the beach one year later.
p9Roger is confirmed executed as Pirate King.
p10Ryuma's grave is robbed during this period.
p10Gecko Pirates clash with Beasts Pirates in Ringo.
p10Oden's retainers remain supportive of his dancing.
p11Oden performs a snow dance in Kuri.
p11Orochi arrives in Kuri five years after Oden's return.
p11Hyogoro refuses to serve Orochi.
p12Orochi plans to transform Wano into a gigantic weapon factory.
p12Hyogoro refused to comply with Orochi's demands.
p12Orochi left Hyogoro in Kaido's hands to be killed.
p12Sixteen of Hyogoro's men were killed including his wife.
p13Oden endured pain alone for five years.
p13Oden finally declares he will make Kaido pay.
p13The retainers react with excitement to Oden's declaration.
p14The nine loyal men are later called the Nine Red Scabbards.
p14The Nine Red Scabbards were picked up and made samurai by Oden.
p14Their path leads to the public execution of Kozuki Oden.
What is said, page by page
p0French caption identifies Gotti vs Marine confrontation in Gang Bege's side story.
p1Young boy warns Oden that anger over trivial matters will only help the enemy.
p1Multiple retainers shout for Oden to stop and wait.
p1Orochi screams in terror during the attack.
p2Characters react with shock to unknown barrier technique.
p2Orochi and allies express confusion and pain during impact.
p3Semimaru urges Orochi to trust his 'Bari Bari' barrier technique.
p3Higurashi reminds Oden of Devil Fruit abnormal powers.
p3Orochi panics about the barrier being glass.
p3Oden laughs while being told force will not work.
p4Excited Wano citizens shout that Oden will defeat Orochi and Kaido and become the new shogun.
p4Young Oden declares he will return one day and reclaim the shogun title under his rule.
p5Orochi denies Oden's authority and refuses to return the shogun title.
p5Higurashi reveals the Clone Clone Fruit disguise used to fool the country.
p5Oden shouts that the disguised figure is actually him.
p6Citizens scream for a medic as victims fall from poisoned arrows.
p7Orochi's men mock Oden for falling and dancing foolishly for gold.
p7Narration describes Oden being forced to make a fool of himself naked.
p8Narrator states Oden's weekly naked dance ritual continues regardless of weather to make a living.
p8Townspeople ask Oden what he said to Orochi and why he acts this way with accusatory tone.
p8Oden angrily retorts that his paid naked dancing is his own business to the crowd.
p8Pleading citizen calls out to Lord Oden with desperate intent.
p8Citizen claims even Kuri people can no longer tolerate Oden's behavior.
p8Woman criticizes Oden for acting like the disappointment he is.
p8Crowd labels Oden the idiot lord as rumors spread to Kuri.
p9Narrator notes Oden received foreign newspaper from Orochi about Roger's execution.
p9Oden laughs wildly while crying on the beach after Roger's death.
p9Oden yells that Roger lived an incredible life with emotional intensity.
p9Narrator states many people set out to sea searching for Roger's treasure.
p9Final caption declares the world entered the golden age of piracy.
p10Narrator states Oden continued to dance even after events.
p10Narrator notes Ryuma's grave was robbed at the same time.
p10Narrator describes fight between Gecko Pirates and Beasts Pirates in Ringo.
p10Retainers ask to attend Oden's dancing show weekly with playful tone.
p10Retainers react with shock asking if Oden is leaving them.
p10Only family and few allies still speak to Oden.
p10Okami-san welcomes Hyo-san while calling Oden idiot.