The Nine Pirates

On a ship at sea near Sabaody Archipelago, a hooded figure with a spotted cloak adjusts a large spotted hat on a woman's head. The woman, Boa Hancock, adjusts the disguise while speaking. A mustached man in an earlier panel says, "You should wear this... like so." The hooded figure replies, "Our association cannot be revealed to the world at large." Hancock warns, "That shadow on the horizon is the Sabaody Archipelago. Luffy... this is as far as we can take you." The mustached man laughs, "AHAHAAH! I DON'T NEED THAT! DON'T WORRY, NO-ONE WILL FIND OUT!" A long narration box lists supplies prepared: "...OH, AND I HAVE PREPARED A RUCKSACK FOR YOU WITH 500 CHANGES OF CLOTHES, ENOUGH PACKED LUNCHES FOR A THOUSAND MEN... HANDKERCHIEFS, TISSUES, AND FIVE YEARS' WORTH OF TOWELS... THREE YEARS' WORTH OF DRINKING WATER AND SNACKS, SILVER CUTLERY..." Someone shouts, "MAKE IT LIGHTER!" The hooded figure responds, "OH, AND TOOTH BRUSHES, SOAP, HAND CREAM, OINTMENT OR INSECT BITES -" Hancock says, "YEAH, I KNOW!" She adds, "YOU DO NOT WANT ITI STILL, YOU SHOULD AT LEAST HIDE YOUR FACE... THE WORLD MAY CURRENTLY THINK YOU TO BE DEAD... BUT THEY KNOW YOUR FACE WELL FROM THE INCIDENT TWO YEARS AGO. IF YOU CAUSE A DISTURBANCE, IT MAY DELAY YOUR JOURNEY." At the bottom, the Kuja Pirates wave goodbye with a sign: "PLEASE DO NOT FORGET THIS." They declare, "WE OF THE KUJA PIRATES WILL ALWAYS BE READY TO COME TO YOUR AID SHOULD YOU EVER NEED US!!"

Hancock continues speaking to the hooded figure, saying, "NO, NOT THAT...! I ONLY DESIRE THAT YOU LEAVE... WITHOUT SAYING 'FAREWELL'..." The hooded figure asks, "WHAT IS ITI I'M NOT MARRYING YOU." Hancock replies, "ALSO... THERE IS JUST ONE OTHER THING I WISH TO ASK OF YOU..." The Kuja Pirates cheer in the background, "AHAAH... WE'LL BE PRAYING FOR YOUR SAFE JOURNEY!!" and "UH-HUH!! THANKS FOR ALL THIS, YOU GUYS!!" The hooded figure pulls back the cloak to reveal Monkey D. Luffy's face, beaming with a wide grin, "I WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN, AFTER ALL!!" Luffy adds, "OH, RIGHT! WELL, I'VE NEVER SAID THAT TO ANYONE ANYWAY!!" Hancock blushes deeply, hand to her mouth, thinking, "HE SAID THAT HE WISHES TO SEE ME AGAIN... COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE......A PROPOSALI!" She stammers, "IT IS NYOT." with a loud "はっ!! ゴーン!" sound effect. Luffy waves from the ship, "SEE YOU!!!" Hancock responds, "I AM CERTAIN WE WILL MEET AGAIN... LUFFY...!!" She concludes, "WELL, THEN... I'LL BE OFF NOW!!" as the ship sails away with dramatic motion lines and a large "わあああああああああ" sound effect.

The scene shifts to Sabaody Archipelago, Grove #47, a lively area with tall trees, bubbles, and buildings. A large man with a sword angrily confronts a smaller figure, shouting, "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AMI!! YOU TRYIN' TO START SOMETHINGI!!! DID YOU SEE HOW MUCH OF AN IDIOT YOU JUST MADE ME LOOKI!! YOU MADE A FOOL OUT OF ME IN FRONT OF ALL THESE PEOPLE!!!" He continues, "YOU JUST BUMPED INTO ME ON PURPOSE, DIDN'T YAI!" In the foreground, Monkey D. Luffy, wearing a spotted hooded cloak and straw hat, points a black pistol forward with an intense glare. He declares, "OUT OF ME, A PIRATE WITH A BOUNTY OF 400 MILLION!!!" The large man yells back, "NOW GET DOWN!! ON YOUR KNEES!! TREMBLE IN FEAR... AND BEG FOR YOUR LIFE!!!" while Luffy growls, "OUT OF MY WAY, A PIRATE WITH A BOUNTY OF 400 MILLION!!!" Background onlookers react with shock as various sound effects like "ドキドキ" and "ビキ" appear. A sign reads "SHABONDY ARCHIPELAGO, GROVE #47".

The fake Straw Hat crew surrounds a small figure, weapons drawn. Demaro Black warns, "...IS GONNA BE THE MISTAKE THAT COSTS YOU YOUR LIFE...!" Another crewmate adds, "AN' IF YA DON'T...THAT MOMENT'S BLUNDER..." while a third growls, "...SO OUR CAPTAIN'S REAL PISSED OFF RIGHT NOW, YOU GET IT!!! SO HURRY IT UP...!" A voice notes, "JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO... THIS LONG-NOSED GUY AND LONG-HAIRED WOMAN WERE FOOL ENOUGH TO MESS WITH US..." and another says, "OUR CAPTAIN CAN GET PRETTY DAMN TWITCHY WITH HIS TRIGGER FINGER ON THAT PISTOL...!" The small figure replies, "BUT I'M IN A HURRY, SO..." and apologizes, "I'M REAL SORRY." A crewmate snaps, "JUST GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES ALREADY, BOY! THIS IS STRAW HAT LUFFY YOU'RE DEALING WITH!" The next instant the impostor captain is struck with massive force; he screams "AAA AAAH HHH!!!" as impact lines explode around him. Demaro Black roars, "ALL RIGHT... I'VE HEARD ALL I GOTTA HEAR!!!"

Demaro Black is hurled backward through the air, his massive body flipping as his pistol flies from his hand amid heavy impact effects. He crashes to the ground on his back, eyes wide in shock, limbs splayed. Onlookers react in panic: "WHAT DID HE JUST DOI!" and "...EH...!!I" The fake crew stares in horror as the impostor lies defeated, smoke and debris rising around the scene. A small robot-like figure and other background characters react with surprise while the surrounding grove remains chaotic.

Nami stands on the deck of the Thousand Sunny, goggles on her head, smiling slightly as she says, "THE SUNNY..." The ship sails through the bubbles of Sabaody Archipelago, Grove #17, its lion figurehead and massive mast towering. Franky, inside the BF-37 robot, declares, "FOR TWO WHOLE YEARS..." The robot strikes a dramatic pose with arms spread as the ship docks. A voice calls out, "WE'VE KEPT YOU WAITING..." Below, the robot turns and spots someone, exclaiming "HMII" while a background figure watches. The robot then beams, "IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU'RE ALL RIGHT." An unseen voice cries, "OWWWWH!! THAT NIIICE BEAUTY CAN ONLY BE...!!!"

Franky bursts from the BF-37 robot in a dramatic pose, arms outstretched, shouting, "THE SUPER-ARCHAEOLOGIST OF OUR VERY OWN CREEEEEW!!" The robot's head and limbs fly apart around him. He lands and points excitedly, yelling, "IF IT AIN'T OLD ROBIIIIIN!!!" Robin smiles warmly at him and replies, "YOU NEVER DO CHANGE, FRANKY!" The Thousand Sunny is visible behind them at the dock, with the grove's structures and bubbles filling the background.

Atop a bizarrely remodeled ship, a voice declares, "YES, QUITE. I DON'T THINK I CAN ASSOCIATE WITH YOU AS A PERSON ANY LONGER." Another boasts, "HELL, I'VE EXCEEDED THE BOUNDS OF HUMAN INTELLECT!!" A third proclaims, "BEHOLD A REMODELLING THE LIKES OF WHICH THE WORLD HAS NEVER SEEN!" while a fourth shouts, "I HAVE CHANGED, YOU IDIOT!! TAKE A GOOD LONG LOOK AT THE SHEER ROMANCE PACKED INTO THIS BODY!!" A man retorts, "OI, OI, ARE YOU CALLING ME A PERVERTI YOU SURE KNOW HOW TO GIVE A MAN A COMPLIMENT!!" Below, a large stitched man asks a woman, "YOU WENT TO THE BAR, THEN. WHAT NUMBER ARE YOU, THENI" She replies, "I'VE JUST BEEN TO VISIT RAYLEIGH." In the next panel the armored figure exclaims, "WITH THIS, WE'LL BE BLAZING ACROSS THE OCEAN FLOOR!! THIS TECHNOLOGY IS JUST OUTRAGEOUS!" as another yells, "DAMN RIGHT! RAYLEIGH'S SKILLS ARE SOMETHING ELSE!" The woman notes, "SO THIS IS A COATED SHIP... IT'S LIKE SOME KIND OF JELLY." Elsewhere a figure lounges, "WELL, I'VE FIXED HER UP GOOD AND PROPER! NEW WEAPONS AND ALL! GAHA-HAHAH!" A voice answers, "SO THE TIME TO SET SAIL ON OUR NEW VOYAGE DRAWS NEAR!!" A close-up of the woman concludes, "I SEE! I'M THE EIGHTH. WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR LUFFY."

The woman with sunglasses holds a poster of Brook and says, "...OH, THE WHOLE THING WITH BROOK. YEAH, I KNEW. HIS TDs ARE EVERYWHERE, AFTER ALL..." Nearby voices report, "SAY, DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS WAYI USOPP'S GONE OUT TO GET FUEL, AND SANJI'S STOCKING US UP ON FOOD!! USOPP AND SANJI HAVE BEEN HERE ALREADY." A figure muses, "I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED..." while another describes, "...HE'S CLIMBED ALL THE WAY TO A DAZZLING STAGE ROARING WITH THE SOUND OF NON-STOP CHEERS! THAT GUY'S A REAL SHINING STAR RIGHT NOW!! FROM THE DARK, SILENT DEPTHS OF THAT MISTY OCEAN..." A dramatic spread shows a roaring crowd and stage as voices shout, "...NOT TO GO BACK TO BEING A PIRATE AT ALL...! BAOWW'!! NO BEARD AT ALL! BUSHY OL' BEARD! YEAHH HHH!!" and "WHOAHH!! LIVIN' IN DA SOUTH BLUE EEEEEE!" A final voice adds, "...IF HE DECIDED..."

At Grove #47 a voice cries, "LUFFY!! I'VE MISSED YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!!" Others shout, "CAPTAIN! CAPTAIN LUFFY!!" A large man in a straw hat sits surrounded by pirates, one saying, "...IT WAS LIKE A COLD CHILL SHOT THROUGH MY WHOLE BODY... THE HELL DID THAT GUY DO...I" Another asks, "OH, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENED TO US...! THE THING IS, COCOA - UH, I MEAN, NICO ROBIN -" A small figure exclaims, "LUFFY!! FRANKY!! NAMI!! SOGEKINGII WHAT THE HECK HAPPENEDI!!" The large man notes, "YOU GUYS REALLY HAVE CHANGED IN THESE TWO YEARS, HUHI YOU GUYS REALLY GOT STRONG... HMMI" Panic erupts as voices yell, "WHO THE HELL KIDNAPPED HER...I!I! THAT'S THE THING... WE DON'T HAVE A CLUE!! IT COULD BE THOSE SLAVE TRADERS! LIKE BEFORE, WITH CAMIE!" A child shouts, "WHAT DID YOU SAY, ZOROI! NICO ROBIN'S BEEN KIDNAPPEDI!! UH-HUH!! IT'S TERRIBLE, LUFFY!! ROBIN'S IN TROUBLE!!" A pirate concludes, "WELL, THE THING IS, JUST NOW..."

Voices react, "HUHI!...!! VERY WELL, CAPTAIN!" "WELL, WHATEVER. LEAVE HER. THIS IS HER FATE." "YEAH, COULD BE... THE RESEMBLANCE IS UNCANNY. WE SUSPECT, THOUGH, THAT IT WAS SOMEBODY WITH A GRUDGE AGAINST THE REAL NICO ROBIN... THEY MUST HAVE TAKEN COCO BY MISTAKE..." A man snaps, "OI, LUFFY!!! DON'T YOU GET ITI! ROBIN'S BEEN KIDNAPPED!! WHAT'S THIS THINGI HEY, STOP WHISPERING!!" Demaro Black roars, "...AND A 'BRAT WITH A CAPE AND A GIANT RUCKSACK'...!!! I WANT ALL THREE OF 'EM FOUND, SO WE CAN MAKE 'EM RUE THE DAY THEY EVER GOT ON THE WRONG SIDE OF STRAW HAT LUFFY!!! MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'VE GOTTA GET ALL THE HUNDRED PIRATES WE'VE RECRUITED ON THIS ISLAND GATHERED TOGETHER IN GROVE #46!!! THE 'LONG-NOSED GUY'... THE 'WOMAN WITH LONG ORANGE HAIR'..." A small figure worries, "FALLING OUT AMONG THEMSELVES...I" as Demaro declares, "I'M GONNA SAVE HER EVEN IF I HAVE TO DO IT ALONE!!! HANG IN THERE, ROBIN!!! DAMMIT!!! I'M DISAPPOINTED IN YOU GUYS!!!" The group panics, "LUFFY!!! HAS YOUR HEART CHANGED OVER THESE TWO YEARS AS WELLI! I'M FEELING SO BAD, I COULD CRY...!!! HOLD ON, YOU GUYS!!! ROGER THAT....I!! WHAT ABOUT ROBINI!!! ARE YOU ALL JUST GOING TO LET THIS HAPPENI!! LIKE I SAID, WHAT IS THIS THING...I!"

In a bustling marine outpost on the Sabaody Archipelago, officers react with shock to reports of the Straw Hat Pirates. "...ARE THE STRAW HAT PIRATES!! THEY ARE STILL ALIVE...!!!!" one exclaims. Another states, "IT WOULD APPEAR THE APPEARANCES OF STRAW HAT LUFFY AND HIS CREWMEMBERS HAVE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS... THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT..." A third adds, "...BUT THERE'S NO MISTAKING THAT STRANGE PET. THOSE MEN..." Signs label the location as "MARINE OUTPOST" and "SHABONDY ARCHIPELAGO, GROVE #66". Further panels show confirmation: "WE HAVE VISUAL CONFIRMATION ON THE STRAW HAT PIRATES! THIS IS GROVE #43!!" A marine commander orders, "PREPARE FOR BATTLE!!! GET TROOPS TO GROVES #40, #42 AND #44, READY TO SURROUND THEM!! THE PIRATES ARE ON THE MOVE!! GROVE #46!! WE'RE UP AGAINST THE STRAW HAT PIRATES!! WE'RE HEADING INTO THE LAWLESS REGIONS!!" Backup is noted from G11. A wanted poster clearly displays "MONKEY D. LUFFY" with a bounty symbol.

Characters discuss the returning Straw Hats. "IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS. THEY'LL BE EVEN STRONGER THAN BEFORE." "OF COURSE. ARE YOU GUYS UNDERESTIMATING THE STRAW HATSI" "I'M TAKING THE PX-5 AND PX-7 WITH ME." "AH... SENTOMARU-SAN...!!!" "I'LL GO ON AHEAD." A man in a cap warns, "THEY'RE NOT ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE ROOKIES YOU'RE USED TO!!" A massive figure looms, reflecting, "TWO YEARS AGO......KUMA'S ACTIONS BACK THEN NEVER WERE FULLY EXPLAINED....BUT JUDGING FROM HIS STRANGE BEHAVIOUR EVEN AFTER HE LOST HIS PERSONALITY..." He declares, "I KNEW FOR SURE THAT THE STRAW HAT PIRATES WOULD SHOW UP ON THIS ISLAND AGAIN SOMEDAY....!!! LET'S GO!!!" Smaller panels show surprised reactions and a group of figures below.

At Grove #42, a blond man with a cigarette reacts as a green-haired figure vanishes. "HE'S GONE...!! THAT GREEN-HAIRED GUY...!!" "WHAT'S WRONGI" "AAAHH..." "GREEN...I DID SOMETHING HAPPENI" Nearby, a fisherman is approached: "HOW'S THE HAUL TODAYI I'M LOOKING FOR A BARGAIN!" "HEY, MR. FISHERMAN!" Inside a building, locals gossip about a swordsman. "...SO I TELLS HIM, I'LL BE TAKING MY BOAT OUT SOON, SO YOU JUST WAIT FOR ME ON BOARD, YEAH...I" "AND HE SAYS, 'I'M BORED, SO I WANNA DO SOME FISHING'....!!" "Y'SEE... JUST NOW, THIS GUY WITH THREE SWORDS HAPPENED TO COME BY HERE, RIGHT...I" "I'VE GONE AN' DONE SOMETHING TERRIBLE!!" A wanted poster is shown with "DEAD OR ALIVE". People ask, "AHHH!! YEP, THIS IS THE GUY ALL RIGHT!! HE A FRIEND OF YOURSI!" "IS THIS THE GUYI" "YEAH! THAT'S HIM! ONE-EYED, TO BOOT!! D'YOU KNOW HIMI" "A GREEN-HAIRED GUY WITH THREE SWORDS AND A HARAMAKI ROUND HIS WAIST!" The blond man mutters, "...WELL, I SUPPOSE.. I KNOW HIM, KIND OF..." "ONE-EYED..I"

The fisherman panics, recounting, "I WAS PANICKED, I TELL YOU, BUT I YELLED AT HIM, 'NOT THAT BOAT!', I DID, BUT HE JUST KEEPS ON SNORING!! AND BY THEN IT WAS TOO LATE! THE PIRATE SHIP WAS ALL COATED UP, AND IT SANK RIGHT DOWN INTO THE OCEAN....!! IT MUST'VE HEADED OFF..." He continues, "HE WAS ONLY FAST ASLEEP ON THE GIGANTIC PIRATE SHIP RIGHT NEXT TO IT!!" "BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I FOUND WHEN I CAME OVER HEREI!" "...BUT LISTEN! I SWEAR, I TOLD HIM, I TOLD HIM TO WAIT ON MY FISHING BOAT! I DID!!" The blond man thinks, "THAT IDIOT..." Bubbles and tension lines fill the air. Onlookers spot something emerging: "HEY!! LOOK - OUT IN THE OCEAN!! THERE'S SOMETHING COMING UP!!" "HMI" "IT'S HUGE!!" "...NO, NO, THAT'S FINE. DON'T WORRY YOURSELF. THIS ISN'T YOUR FAULT AT ALL!! THAT BRUTE WON'T GET HIMSELF KILLED, SO YOU CAN REST EASY." "IT WAS A PIRATE SHIP, YOU HEARDI! HE COULD'VE BEEN KILLED BY NOW....!!" "I THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD SIGN THAT HE'D ACTUALLY MADE IT TO THE MEETING POINT BEFORE ANYONE ELSE, AND NOW LOOK WHAT HAPPENS!!" The blond man stands ready as a massive shape surfaces.

Sanji sits on the dockside, sweat dripping, swords at his side. A voice calls out, "WHAT, YOU'RE BACK ALREADYI" He replies flatly, "NOT THAT I CARE..." Nearby crew members panic: "THERE'S SOMEONE ON BOARD!!" "WHAT NONSENSE IS THIS...I!!" "LOOK!" Sanji mutters, "I GOT..." as a massive impact rocks the area. A huge pirate ship is shown cleaved cleanly in two, water exploding upward. Someone screams, "BUEG HH...!" The narration reads, "A MASSIVE PIRATE SHIP, SPLIT CLEAN IN TWO!!!" Onlookers yell, "GUAAAH HHH!! IT'S A GALLEON!!!" Close-ups show shocked faces and a blade's path through the hull. A voice questions, "THAT'S JUST HOW THE DICE ROLL... BLAME FATE FOR ABANDONING YOUR SHIP TO THE GODS OF MISFORTUNE." Another adds, "...YOU'VE RUINED EVERYTHING... OUR DREAMS OF THE NEW WORLD...!!!!" A figure demands, "WHY, YOU... HOW DARE YOU..." while others cry, "DON'T BE STUPID... WHO THE HELL COULD SLICE THROUGH A MASSIVE SHIP LIKE THATI!" and "DID IT HAVE A COATING FAILURE AND GET CRUSHED BY THE WATER PRESSURE...I!" The final panel shows a glaring eye as someone shouts, "...THE WRONG BOAT!!!"

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