One Piece Chapter 35: THE STEEP SLOPE AGAIN

THE STEEP SLOPE AGAIN. This chapter has 19 searchable pages. Opening and key page summaries: The cover page features Chapter 35, "THE STEEP SLOPE AGAIN." It marks the beginning of the cover page series "THE ADVENTURES OF BUGGY'S PIRATE FLEET." Buggy is shown on a small wooden raft, looking angry and holding a wooden paddle, surrounded by aggressive, sharp-toothed fish in the ocean. Luffy stands confidently in the middle of the slope after knocking Captain Kuro down. The Black Cat Pirates are completely shocked, wondering how Luffy managed to knock their captain down from his position. Meanwhile, Kuro lies motionless on the ground near the cliffside where Kaya and Usopp are watching. Luffy cracks his knuckles, preparing for more action. Kuro slowly begins to rise, radiating an intense, terrifying anger. Jango and the Nyaban brothers tremble, realizing Kuro is furious. Sensing an opportunity while Kuro is down, the Usopp Pirates (Ninjin, Piiman, and Tamanegi) suddenly charge out of the bushes. The three kids leap onto the fallen Kuro, screaming, "YOU INGRATE BUTLER!!" and "DIE, YOU BASTARD!!" They beat him relentlessly with their shovel, bat, and racket. Usopp and Kaya watch in absolute shock, with Usopp yelling at them to stop and asking how they even got there. Usopp and Kaya scream at the kids to stop. Jango and Zoro look on, bewildered by the children's reckless actions. The kids finally stop, deciding to show Kuro "mercy," and turn to Usopp, demanding to know why he didn't tell them he was fighting. They argue over whether his secrecy was "disloyal" or "dishonest." Usopp desperately orders the kids to run away, but they stubbornly refuse, wanting to stand and fight alongside their captain. Suddenly, Kuro stands up behind them, his long clawed gloves crackling menacingly. The kids freeze in absolute terror as they realize the monster is back on his feet. Kuro walks right past the terrified kids without attacking them, leaving them confused. He stumbles slightly, adjusting his glasses with his palm. Luffy watches from a distance, commenting that Kuro's movement was quite an odd attack and expressing curiosity about his abilities. Kuro deduces that Luffy possesses a Devil Fruit power. Luffy cheerfully confirms, "YUP! I ATE A 'GOMU GOMU FRUIT'!! AND I'VE BECOME A RUBBERMAN!!" The Black Cat Pirates are shocked to learn that Devil Fruits actually exist, and Jango realizes Luffy's stretching arm wasn't an illusion. Later page summaries: Usopp commands the kids to protect Kaya instead. He tells them this is their most important task: to take Kaya away from the danger zone and escape safely into the forest. Usopp demands the kids obey his captain's orders. They salute and agree. Zoro quietly notes that Usopp is just finding a clever way to make them run away. The kids grab Kaya and flee into the forest, while Jango prepares his spinning chakram to pursue them. Just as Jango is about to throw his weapon, Usopp fires a lead star ("Namarii-boshi") with his slingshot, hitting Jango squarely in the back of the head. Kuro angrily orders the fallen Jango to get up and go after them immediately. The kids lead Kaya away, but Kuro points out they can't outrun Jango. He challenges Luffy and Zoro to try and stop him if they can survive the slope. Luffy and Zoro confidently tell Usopp to leave the rest to them.