One Piece Chapter 40: USOPP PIRATE GROUP

USOPP PIRATE GROUP. This chapter has 18 searchable pages. Opening and key page summaries: The title page of Chapter 40, titled "USOPP PIRATE GROUP". The cover story illustration is titled "THE ADVENTURES OF BUGGY'S PIRATE FLEET VOL. 5 'BATTLE OF WITS'" (巴其海賊團冒險記 VOL.5 「智慧戰」). In the illustration, a miniature Buggy is hiding behind a tree trunk, sweating and crying as he watches a large bird wearing a pirate hat. The bird is thinking of a smaller bird flying out of its nest, with the word "BRAVO!" written next to it. Luffy grabs Kuro by the collar and slams him violently into the rocky ground with a powerful headbutt. Kuro's glasses fly off as he is knocked completely unconscious. Jango, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp watch in absolute shock and disbelief at the sudden, decisive end of the battle. Kuro lies defeated and motionless on the shattered ground, his cat claws broken and scattered around him. The Black Cat Pirates are in complete disbelief, stammering, "HE... HE DID IT, CAPTAIN KURO WAS..." and "EVEN A SHIP OF MARINES WEREN'T ABLE TO DEFEAT THE '100 PLANS KURO'". Another pirate shouts, "HE REALLY... HE REALLY BEAT HIM!". Jango, sweating profusely, stares at Luffy in terror and demands, "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!!!?" Luffy stands tall over the defeated Kuro and proudly declares his name: "MONKEY D. LUFFY!!!" He looks down at Kuro and says, "THERE'S NO WAY I'D LOSE TO A PIRATE WHO GIVES UP HIS NAME AND RUNS FROM THE SEA. THE ONLY TIME A PIRATE SHOULD GIVE UP HIS NAME IS WHEN HE DIES!! YOU BETTER TRY TO REMEMBER MY NAME..." Jango and the other pirates sweat in fear, whispering, "LU... LUFFY...? I'VE NEVER HEARD OF HIM". Luffy then smiles widely and proclaims, "I'M THE ONE WHO'S GOING TO BECOME... THE PIRATE KING!!!" Panicked, Jango orders his crew, "TAKE HIM BACK!" The Black Cat Pirates quickly pick up the unconscious Kuro and run back toward their ship, muttering, "IS THIS GUY.... CRAZY?" and screaming "AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!" Jango runs alongside them, shouting back at Luffy, "...AND DON'T EVER COME BACK!!!" Once they are gone, Luffy stands alone, breathing heavily with "HUF HUF..." and dripping sweat and blood as the adrenaline fades. Luffy collapses forward from exhaustion, falling face-first into Nami's lap with a soft thud. Nami gently holds him, saying, "YOU FOUGHT HARD... I GUESS EVEN YOU CAN'T STAND UP AFTER BEING CUT SO MANY TIMES". She asks him, "WHY DID YOU GET SO MAD EARLIER?" Luffy, lying on the ground, replies, "I DON'T LIKE THEM". Nami says, "THEY'RE WRONG...!!" and Luffy adds, "IT'S OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY'RE PIRATES". Nami looks at him in confusion, asking, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT...?" Luffy simply smiles and says, "I WANT MEAT", prompting Nami to sigh, "...YOU...". In the background, the Black Cat Pirates' ship sails away with the crew screaming in retreat. Zoro ties his black bandana tightly around his wounded arm to stop the bleeding. He then sheathes his swords with a sharp click. Walking slowly through the quiet forest, he eventually finds Usopp lying flat on his back on the grass, completely worn out but resting peacefully. Usopp sits on a tree stump, speaking seriously to Kaya and the three kids. He asks, "CAN YOU GUYS KEEP EVERYTHING... THAT HAS HAPPENED HERE AS A SECRET?" The kids are shocked and protest, "WHAT!? A SECRET?! BUT WHY WOULD WE DO THAT?! THAT'S RIGHT!! WE FOUGHT FOR THE VILLAGE!! EVERYONE WILL CHANGE THEIR OPINION OF YOU, CAPTAIN!! YOU COULD BE THE TOWN'S HERO!!" Usopp gently explains, "IT'S OVER NOW AND I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE UNNECESSARY FRIGHT. PEOPLE WOULD JUST SAY I'M A LIAR LIKE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN". Kaya tries to intervene, saying, "USOPP-SAN, WE HAVE TO FIX THE MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT YOU..." but Usopp smiles and replies, "THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDING,". Later page summaries: The three kids stare at Usopp in complete shock, speechless. Piiman quietly asks, "CAPTAIN?" and they cry out, "WHAT...? THAT'S SO SUDDEN! BESIDES, DON'T YOU LOVE THIS VILLAGE, CAPTAIN? CAPTAIN, THAT'S A LIE! THAT'S ALSO A LIE, RIGHT!? WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO USOPP PIRATE GROUP!?!". Usopp smiles and says, "AFTER SEEING THEM, I DECIDED. I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS VILLAGE". He then points forward dramatically and shouts, "THERE IS ONLY ONE REASON! BECAUSE THE PIRATE FLAG IS CALLING ME!" Usopp tells the crying kids, "THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, GUYS. I DON'T PLAN ON TELLING THE FOLKS IN THE VILLAGE, SAY BYE TO THEM FOR ME". The kids sob, "NO... I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT!!! DON'T GO, CAPTAIN". Usopp looks around the field and asks, "DO YOU REMEMBER THIS PLACE? THIS IS WHERE WE FIRST MET". A flashback panel shows a younger Usopp sitting on a wall, looking down at the three little kids and asking, "WHO ARE YOU LITTLE BRATS?" The kids reply, "BUT YOU'RE FAMOUS FOR YOUR LIES. YEAH, YOU'RE FAMOUS". Usopp yells, "I DON'T WANNA HEAR THAT STORY!" before smiling and saying, "OKAY, YOU CAN CALL ME CAPTAIN USOPP FROM NOW ON. YOU GUYS ARE USOPP PIRATE GROUP!" The flashback continues with various memories of their adventures: chasing a small dog ("IT'S A CERBERUS, GET RID OF HIM!"), chasing a lizard ("IT'S A DRAGON, CAPTURE IT!"), and running away from an angry shopkeeper after stealing apples ("STOP, YOU APPLE THIEVES!!", "RUN, IT'S THE ALIEN STORE-OWNER GUY!"). The kids praise Usopp's slingshot skills: "WOW, CAPTAIN! YOUR AIM'S PERFECT!" and Usopp boasts, "OF COURSE, I'M A BRAVE WARRIOR OF THE SEA!". Usopp then asks them, "WHAT ARE YOUR LIFE AMBITIONS?" Piiman answers, "TO OWN A BAR!", Ninjin says, "TO BECOME A MASTER CARPENTER!", and Tamanegi says, "TO BECOME A WRITER!". Usopp smiles warmly and tells them, "WHILE NOT LOSING SIGHT OF OUR AMBITIONS... SWEAR THAT YOU WILL GO ON THE ROAD YOU HAVE CHOSEN!" Back in the present, Tamanegi, Ninjin, and Piiman are crying uncontrollably, tears and snot streaming down their faces. Usopp, also crying heavily but trying to stay strong, shouts with all his might, "STARTING TODAY... THE USOPP PIRATE GROUP... IS DISBANDED!!!!" A wide, emotional panel shows Usopp standing opposite the three weeping kids in the middle of the vast, open grassy field under a cloudy sky.