One Piece Season 1 Episode Synopsis

Episode #1: "I'm Luffy! The Man Who's Gonna Be King of the Pirates!"

The series begins with an attack on a cruise ship at the hands of Alvida. Coby, a slave of Alvida, discovers a barrel. One of Alvida's pirates attempts to open the barrel, but a young boy emerges and accidentally hits him. The remaining pirates attack him, but the stranger stops them and says that his name is Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy drags Coby to the storage cellar of the ship, where he eats and converses with Coby, who reveils his dream of being a marine. Alvida confronts Luffy, but he escapes and knocks her pirate crew down with his Devil Fruit power. Luffy explains that he ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, therefore he has the powers of rubber. Coby, inspired by Luffy, stands up for himself when Alvida confronts them. Luffy uses his Gum-Gum Pistol technique on Alvida. Luffy and Coby sail away in a "borrowed" boat from Alvida's crew. Luffy asks about the pirate hunter Coby mentioned earlier. Coby says that he was captured by the Marines, and Luffy announces his intention of asking him to join his crew. 

Episode #2:"Enter the Great Swordsman! Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro!"

Luffy and Coby arrive at an island with a large Marine base, where Luffy discovers the swordsman, Roronoa Zoro tied to a pole. Rika, a young girl, offers Zoro some rice balls that she made herself. Helmeppo, the son of Marine Captain Morgan, discovers this and has Rika thrown out. Luffy asks Zoro to join his crew, but Zoro refuses and has Luffy give him the rice balls. Luffy and Coby meet Rika in town, who is happy to hear that Zoro enjoyed the rice balls. She tells them how Helmeppo brought his vicious pet dog into their bar and that Zoro knocked it out to protect everyone inside. He then made a deal with Helmeppo: if he can survive being tied to a pole with no food or water for thirty days, then Helmeppo will spare the people in the bar. However, Helmeppo says that he will execute Zoro the next day despite his word. Luffy punches him, and Helmeppo runs off to tell his father. While Luffy invades the Navy base to find Zoro's swords, Coby attempts to untie Zoro and explains the situation to him. Morgan orders that they are both to be executed. The soldiers open fire, however, before the bullets can reach them, Luffy leaps from the base and uses his rubber body to block the bullets. 

Episode #3: "Morgan versus Luffy! Who's the Mysterious Pretty Girl?"

Luffy hands the three swords to Zoro in exchange for Zoro joining his crew. Luffy and Morgan engage in battle. All of Morgan's attacks miss and Luffy knocks Morgan to the ground. Meanwhile, Helmeppo takes Coby hostage. But Coby declares that he will not stand in the way of Luffy's dream, even if it means death. Luffy strikes Helmeppo, while Zoro takes out Morgan right before he can kill Luffy. As Morgan collapses, the Marines toss their weapons into the air in celebration of their captain's defeat. Later, Luffy, Zoro, and Coby are in the town restaurant with Rika and her mom. Marines step into the restaurant, and as Luffy and Zoro are pirates, they must leave the island immediately. Luffy and Zoro get ready to go, and the head of the Marines asks if Coby is with them. Luffy goes on to explain that Coby spent time aboard Alvida's pirate ship as her slave, and this makes Coby angry as it will ruin his chances of enrolling in the Marines. Coby punches Luffy. The Marines see Coby is not with them, and so order Luffy and Zoro to leave. As they do, Coby asks to join the Marines, and is accepted. Outside, Luffy and Zoro climb into their boat, and as they set sail, the Marines salute them for saving the town, including Coby. Coby vows to meet Luffy again, as a Marine meeting a pirate. 

Episode #4: "Luffy's Past! Enter Red-Haired Shanks!"

In a flashback, a seven-year-old Luffy sits in a bar filled with the pirate crew of the "Red-Haired" Shanks, begging him to take him out to sea. But the pirate captain refuses. A bandit named Higuma enters and orders several barrels of booze. Shanks offers him the last bottle but Higuma smashes it and humiliates Shanks. After the bandit leaves the bar, all of the pirates start to laugh. Luffy gets angry that Shanks did not fight back and in a huff eats a purple fruit lying on the bar. Shanks notices this and tries to make Luffy spit it out, but it was too late. Shanks tells Luffy that he just ate the Gum Gum Fruit, a Devil Fruit, and now he is a rubber man and won't be able to ever swim again. Later, Luffy gets attacked by Higuma and his bandits. He is about to be killed, when Shanks and his crew arrive and effortlessly defeat Higuma's men. Frightened, Higuma throws down a smoke bomb and makes his escape, taking Luffy with him. He flees out to sea in a boat. There he throws the non-swimmer into the water. As Higuma laughs at Luffy's plight, a Sea King appears behind him and devours him whole. The sea monster then goes for Luffy, but Shanks stops the sea monster as it takes a bite, and with one look, drives the beast away. Luffy clutches Shanks and starts crying, since Shanks' arm was bitten off by the creature. Shanks replies that it is fine, as long as Luffy is safe. As the pirates get ready to leave, Luffy decides he will become a pirate on his own, that he will gather a crew that will beat Shanks', and that he will become King of the Pirates. Shanks gives his straw hat to Luffy and tells him to return it some day, as a great pirate. Back in the present, Luffy slingshots into the sky to catch a bird. Instead he is caught himself. Zoro, now alone in their boat, tries to keep up, paddling. On his way he picks up three castaways from Buggy's crew. The bird, carrying Luffy flies over a town, where it is shot down by Buggy's men. Luffy falls down and lands right in front of Nami, who is running away from Buggy's crew for stealing their precious map to the Grand Line. 

Episode #5: "A Terrifying Mysterious Power! Captain Buggy, the Clown Pirate!"

Nami pretends that Luffy is her boss, using the distraction to escape from Buggy's men. After Luffy beats them, she asks him to join her. Then Luffy finds out that she is a navigator, and asks her to join his crew of pirates. As she hates pirates, she refuses. Then she tricks Luffy into letting himself be tied up and brought to Buggy, where he is locked up in a small cage, while Nami fakes joining Buggy's crew. As proof of loyalty, Buggy demands of Nami to kill Luffy, but she cannot bring herself to do it. As Buggy's pirates attack her, Zoro arrives to save his captain and her. Buggy recognizes Zoro as the pirate hunter and attacks him. Zoro cuts Buggy into pieces. Believing Buggy to be dead, he sheaths his swords and is stabbed in the back. The wound puts Zoro at a disadvantage. He picks up the cage with Luffy inside and the three escape. 

Episode #6: "Desperate Situation! Beast Tamer Mohji vs. Luffy!"

Still trapped in the cage, Luffy meets a small dog guarding his master's store, despite knowing that his owner is dead. Mohji the Beast Tamer's lion, Ritchie, inadvertently breaks Luffy's cage open, and sends him flying. The dog tries to protect the store, but is no match for the much stronger Ritchie, and Mohji burns the store down. Angered by Mohji destroying what the dog finds precious, Luffy mercilessly punches him out. Moved by Luffy's concern for the dog, Nami agrees to work with Luffy for the time being. 

Episode #7: "Epic Showdown! Swordsman Zoro vs. Acrobat Cabaji!"

Enraged by the actions of Buggy's crew, the city's mayor rushes to fight Buggy himself, but the Straw Hat Pirates come to his rescue, with Luffy knocking him out to prevent him from getting himself killed. Zoro fights Cabaji, despite still being wounded from his previous encounter with Buggy and defeats him. Nami leaves to search for the map to the Grand Line. Luffy begins fighting Buggy, who knows that he can injure Luffy's rubber body by cutting him, and enrages him by damaging his straw hat. 

Episode #8: "Who is the Victor? Devil Fruit Power Showdown!"

Buggy reveals that Shanks accidentally caused him to eat the Devil Fruit he had been planning to sell while they were apprentice pirates on the same ship, preventing him from finding an underwater treasure. Nami manages to steal Buggy's body parts and Luffy sends him flying with Gum Gum Bazooka. Luffy, Nami and Zoro are forced to flee town as the villagers discover what Luffy did to the mayor and he identifies himself as a pirate, but the mayor thanks the three as they leave. 

Episode #9: "The Honorable Liar? Captain Usopp!"

When Luffy, Zoro, and Nami land on another island, Usopp appears to greet them, with three children hiding in the bushes. After a failed attempt on Usopp's part to scare the pirates away they talk about Shanks and his marksman Yasopp, Usopp's father. Usopp brings them to a restaurant, where after a meal, he leaves them to head for a mansion outside town. The mansion belongs to the sickly young woman Kaya. She and Klahadore, her butler, talk about Usopp and Klahadore forbids her to see him. Usopp comes anyway and he tells Kaya a story about fighting a giant goldfish with droppings the size of islands. Back at the restaurant, Usopp's small friends, the Usopp Pirates enter in search of their captain. They bring Luffy, Zoro, and Nami to Kaya's mansion, and tell them how Usopp tells Kaya lies to cheer her up since her parents died and she became ill. Luffy decides they should ask her for a ship and as there are bodyguards guarding the gate, he slingshots the whole group over the fence. They crash into the ground near Usopp, and as they get up, Klahadore comes out and calls them intruders. 

Episode #10: "The Weirdest Guy Ever! Jango the Hypnotist!"

At Kaya's mansion, Klahadore goes on about how Usopp's father is a filthy pirate, making Usopp livid and punch him in the face. Klahadore continues taunting Usopp, who eventually leaves. Later, Kaya is crying in her room. Klahadore enters to bring her a meal and reminds her of the day he came to the mansion, when he was battered and her father took him in. He then claims that if anything happened to Kaya, he would not forgive himself. The Usopp Pirates, Nami, and Zoro encounter Jango , who claims to be only a passing hypnotist. He then hypnotizes the Usopp Pirates—and accidentally himself—into falling asleep in the middle of the road. Later, by a cliff overlooking the ocean, Luffy and Usopp witness Jango and Klahadore—whose true identity turns out to be that of the infamous pirate Captain Kuro—plotting a raid of the village and a murder of Kaya. Luffy yells at them not to get rid of Kaya, but Jango uses his hypnotism to put Luffy to sleep, causing him to fall off the cliff. He lands on his head and appears to be dead. They do not worry about Usopp knowing, because of his reputation as a liar. 

Episode #11: "Expose the Plot! Pirate Butler, Captain Kuro!"

Zoro, Nami, and the Usopp Pirates still waiting around for Luffy and Usopp. The Usopp Pirates mention how Usopp always goes to the coast. They then spot Usopp running up to them, but he doesn't respond to their questions and runs right past them. Usopp is unable to convince the villagers that pirates are coming and that they have to abandon their homes. Meanwhile, Zoro and the others find Luffy. At Kaya's mansion, Merry shows Kaya the glasses that she got him to buy for Klahadore's third year of being a caretaker. Usopp is unable to convince Kaya of Kuro's assassination attempt and leaves, but gets shot by Merry in the process. Kuro announces his plans to attack the village at dawn. At sunset, Usopp remembers the stories he would tell Kaya, when Luffy and the Usopp Pirates arrive. Usopp tells about Kuro's plan, but then says that he was joking about it. The Usopp pirates abandon him. Nami asks Usopp why he said he made everything up. Usopp replies that it is because he is a liar. He says how he loves the village and wants to protect it, so he will stand against the pirates. Luffy, Zoro, and Nami decide to join him, and so Usopp stands up, declaring that even though he is scared, he will fight. 

Episode #12: "Clash with the Black Cat Pirates! The Great Battle on the Slope!"

Usopp, Luffy, Zoro, and Nami formulate a plan on the slope for when the pirates come. Meanwhile, Kuro breaks the glasses Kaya gave him and injures Merry with his clawed glove. Kuro then steps into Kaya's room, and he holds his blood-stained claw over Kaya's head, remembering the deed he has to commit the following day.

By the coast, the Black Cat Pirate ship approaches Syrup Village. Jango reiterates the plan to his men. Meanwhile, Luffy, Usopp, Zoro, and Nami stand on the slope leading to the village, and have poured a barrel of oil on it to make it slippery. The plan is that when the Black Cat Pirates slip on the oil, the four will spring out and attack them. Dawn breaks, and so the Black Cat Pirates land on the coast, spotting Luffy's boat. At that moment, Luffy and the others are waiting for the pirates as the sun has now risen, and Nami hears the pirates coming from the north. Usopp notes that there is an identical slope at the north end of the village, and they realize they are at the wrong coast. Panicking, Nami then realizes that their ship is located at the north coast, and their treasure will be robbed by the pirates. Luffy and Usopp take off running for the coast. Zoro and Nami start to leave, but Nami slips on the oil and drags Zoro down the slope, stepping on him to climb back up.

Zoro is unable to get up the slippery slope, and he slides to the bottom, but eventually uses his swords to pull his way up. At the north coast, Usopp arrives, surprised that Luffy hasn't come yet, who is now lost. The Black Cat Pirates arrive, and Usopp stands up to them, but realizes he can't beat them by himself. He sees the pirates taking the treasure from the Straw Hats' ship, and he says that the treasure belongs to him, and he'll give it to them if they leave. Jango decides to hypnotize Usopp instead, but Nami arrives in the nick of time and whacks Usopp in the head, knocking him over, refusing to give up her treasure. Usopp then reports that Luffy has not arrived yet, and is probably lost. The Black Cat Pirates then charge, and Usopp stands up to them, but they knock him down swiftly. Usopp struggles to fight them, but there are far too many. However, he is shocked when they are all sent flying back, and sees that Luffy and Zoro have arrived. Zoro yells at Nami about leaving him there, and Luffy yells at Usopp for not telling him which was north. However, united, the four face off against the invading Black Cat Pirates. 

Episode #13: "The Black Cat Pirates"

Jango kneels beside the fallen pirates and starts to hypnotize them. Once the hypnotism takes effect, the pirates became wild and ravenous, and foaming at their mouths, they charge at the Straw Hats. One pounds down a cliff with his fist. Zoro says that he and Luffy will handle it, but Luffy was also hypnotized, becoming a wild animal himself. Luffy charges down the slope and uses his Gum Gum Gatling technique to plow through the pirates with ease. Luffy keeps charging, and soon runs past the pirates, causing Jango to fear that he will be the next target.

Luffy takes the bow of Kuro's ship in an attempt to kill him, but Jango hypnotizes Luffy, and so Luffy falls asleep, the bow falling on top of him and squishing him as he does this. With Luffy out of the way, Jango prepares for the next attack. Seeing the pirates are defeated, he calls for Sham and Buchi and orders them to attack. They turn out to be cowards, but after some heavy persuasion they charge for Zoro. Zoro blocks their claws with his sword, and engages in a great fight with the two Nyaban Brothers.

Zoro slashes Buchi through the lowersection, but finds out Butchie has a very thin waist. He sits on top of Zoro and Sham leaps down, but Zoro manages to avoid the bone-crushing attack that leaves a crater. Buchi then uses his cat-like abilities to steal Zoro's two swords, and throws them away. Zoro has no chance to grab them and faces another assault by the Nyaban Brothers. Usopp decides to help and fires at the brothers, but Zoro blocks it with his back, yelling at Nami and Usopp to not get themselves killed. Nami then runs for Zoro's swords, picking them up, but Jango reacts swiftly and slashes her in the shoulder with his chakram. Just as Jango and the others are about to kill the Straw Hats, Kuro appears, and is not happy at all that his plan is foiled. 

Episode #14: "Good Pirates vs. Bad Pirates"

The episode begins with Kuro standing impatiently. Sham and Buchi decide that Kuro, having been inactive for three years, has lost his edge, and that they can defeat him. They charge at Kuro but only swing at thin air, and Kuro appears behind them, holding his claws to their necks. He says that everyone has five minutes to finish their job, or he will kill them all. He releases Sham and Buchi, pushing them so that they can continue their battle with Zoro. However, Nami sees her chance and kicks Zoro's swords through the air. Zoro catches them, and as the Nyaban Brothers charge at him he unleashes a great Toragiri, taking both of them down with one mighty swing. He turns to Kuro and declares he won't even need five minutes.

Nami realizes how dangerous Kuro is, and so runs to wake up Luffy. As she runs, Django spots her, and hurls a chakram. Nami turns and steps on Luffy's face, waking up Luffy abruptly. He springs up, pulling Nami down just as the chakram strikes him right in the mouth. Luffy stays standing, though, and he breaks the chakram with his teeth. He then sees Nami is wounded, and furious, prepares for battle with Kuro.

At the mansion, Kaya wakes up from a nightmare, and she heads down the stairs to find Merry leaning against the wall, bloody and wounded. Merry explains the whole situation to Kaya, how Kuro is planning to take kill her and take her money in a will. Kaya realizes that Usopp was telling the truth the entire time, and so she puts on her overcoat and sets out. She arrives at the top of the slope, and tells Kuro to stop immediately, and that Merry told her everything. Kuro turns to her and wonders why Merry isn't dead, and Kaya sees the state Usopp is in. Usopp charges in and aims a punch at Kuro's face, but Kuro avoids the swing and so Usopp careens into the ground. Kaya then pulls out a gun and points it at Kuro, ordering him to leave the village. Kuro reminds Kaya of the fun times they had together, and Kaya hesitates. Kuro takes the gun from Kaya's hands, knowing she won't shoot, and he drops it to the ground. Usopp picks up the gun and fires at Kuro, but Kuro sidesteps the shot and knocks Usopp down. However, from out of nowhere flies Luffy's fist, striking Kuro right in the face. As Kuro falls back, Luffy retracts his arm and declares that he has a hundred more where that came from. 

Episode #15: "Beat Kuro! Usopp the Man's Tearful Resolve!"

Zoro and Buchi (of the Meowban Brothers) face off once again as Luffy and Kuro begin their fight. Usopp orders the Usopp Pirates to run away with Kaya, but Jango goes after them, and Zoro goes after both while carrying Usopp in order to find the way. A flashback reveals that Captain Kuro faked his death by hypnotizing one of his men into claiming to be him, and hypnotizing Captain Morgan to think that he caught him, before becoming Kaya's butler. 

Episode #16: "Protect Kaya! The Usopp Pirates' Great Efforts!"

The episode begins with the Usopp Pirates and Kaya running from Django through the forest. Django hurls his chakram and cuts down many trees, searching everywhere for them, and Kaya falls down. She tells the Usopp Pirates to run before they are killed, but they stay and fight, deciding to follow their captain's orders and fight to the death for Kaya. Back at the slope, Kuro claims that he hated being a pirate. Luffy refuses to be like him and Kuro uses his Silent Step to move quickly. Luffy gets the timing right, however, and pounds Kuro down. Kuro gets back up and announces that he is going to kill his entire crew, and that it was part of his plan from the beginning. Luffy claims that Usopp could beat Kuro. Kuro laughs it off and uses Shakushi, causing him to disappear.

As Luffy wonders where he went, Nami finishes up looting the Black Cat pirate ship, disappointed by the amount of treasure. She then wonders if the battle is over, but sees that Kuro slashes through several of his crewmates, taking them down quicker than the naked eye can see. Luffy gets even more angry, and as Kuro is about to slash him he grabs Kuro's arm and slams him onto the ground. Kuro stands up and says that now his crew is suffering because Luffy wouldn't let them die quickly, and so Kuro uses Shakushi once again to disappear.

In the forest, at that moment, Django continues searching for the Usopp Pirates, and they toss him a white flag. Django walks forward and so the Usopp Pirates launch their ambush. Django trips over a rope and one of the Usopp Pirates showers him with pepper, making him sneeze. The second jumps out and strikes Django in the groin with a frying pan. The third leaps down from a large rock and takes a swing at Django's head, but Django sits up in time and knocks his attacker away. Kaya then comes out, telling Django not to hurt the kids, but Django reports that it was his orders from Kuro to kill the children. Kaya then grabs Django's chakram and holds it in front of her throat, threatening to kill herself without writing the will. Django agrees, and so he gets Kaya to write the will. Once finished, he grabs her by the neck and holds her against a tree, holding up a chakram to kill her. Zoro is still running through the woods with Usopp on his back, and Usopp spots Django as the episode draws to a close. 

Episode #17: "Angry Explosion! Kuro vs. Luffy! How it Ends!"

Kuro's ultimate attack, "Shakushi", attacks everything in the area, whether friend or foe, and Luffy becomes enraged by his lack of regard for his crew. Luffy manages to catch Kuro by binding his limbs and headbutts him with Gum Gum Bell, while Usopp shoots Jango with an Exploding Star, saving Kaya. Usopp convinces Kaya and the Usopp pirates to keep the incident a secret in order to enable the village to stay peaceful. Kaya gives the Straw Hats the Going Merry as a gift, and Luffy invites Usopp into the crew, having befriended him. 

Episode #18: "You're the Weird Creature! Gaimon and His Strange Friends!"

The episode opens with Usopp pretending he is in a great battle as captain of the Going Merry, fending off attacking pirates. As he is doing so, Luffy announces that he has finished the pirate flag for their ship, and holds it up. It's a terribly drawn skull and crossbones, of course. The others are horrified of the artwork, and so Usopp tells them that he is a great painter. He paints a pirate flag with his own face on it, but the others reject it so he paints a proper pirate flag, a very nice one at that. They fly it on the mast and continue to sail. As they are sailing, Nami spots an island in the distance with her telescope, saying it is Legendary Treasure Island. Usopp says how he heard that there is a valuable treasure on the island, but if one tries to claim it they will face God's wrath.

As the Straw Hats draw nearer to the island, the weather turns foul and the waters very choppy. After a tough sail they make it to the island. The Straw Hats head into the jungle, looking for treasure. Zoro lies down and starts to nap, and as Usopp is shocked at how he can sleep in a creepy place like this, the Straw Hats find themselves surrounded by strange animals, creatures that are combinations of two or more animals. A voice booms through the jungle, claiming to be the Guardian God of the island and telling them to leave. Luffy picks up a lion pig that bites him on the face. The voice is shocked and Luffy explains he ate the Devil's Fruit. A gun then pokes out through a bush and shoots Luffy in the back, but Luffy bounces the bullet into the air with his Gomu Gomu powers. Luffy then spots a twitching green bush, and the owner of the voice takes off running.

Luffy, Usopp, and Nami catch up to the man in the treasure chest, named Gaimon. Luffy explains to him how he wants to go to the Grand Line and claim One Piece, but Gaimon doesn't think he can do it. Luffy and Gaimon converse about how they can't read a map, and Nami is angered by this. Gaimon then explains how he became trapped in the treasure box as Zoro finally joins them. He explains that twenty years ago, he was with his crew in search of the treasure, and as they were leaving, he noticed how the captain never searched on top of a large cliff. Gaimon scaled the cliff but slipped and fell, getting stuck in a treasure box. He found that his crew had left, and he thought he would have the treasure on the ridge to himself, but found he could not climb in the box. When Luffy tries to pull Gaimon out of the box, he explains that his body grew to match the shape of the box, and his body will be ruined if the box is broken. Luffy then realizes that Gaimon uses the strange animals of the island to ward off visitors.

Inspired by Gaimon's story, the Straw Hats decide to help Gaimon find the treasure. They come to the ridge and Luffy uses Gomu Gomu no Rocket to launch himself up to the top, where there are five treasure chests. He refuses to hand them over to Gaimon, and while this shocks and angers Nami and Usopp, Gaimon realizes that the treasure boxes must be empty. Luffy confirms this, and so Gaimon begins to cry, saying that he's been guarding nothing for twenty years. Luffy says it could be worse, as he could have died guarding nothing, and he offers Gaimon to join their crew. Gaimon decides to stay with the strange animals of the island, however, as he has decided to protect them instead of the treasure. With this adventure behind them, the Straw Hats set sail in the Going Merry once again, waving goodbye to Gaimon as the episode draws to a close. 

Episode #19: "The Three-Sword Style's Past! Zoro and Kuina's Vow!"

While Usopp & Luffy fool around with the ship's cannon one day, Zoro dreams about his childhood. He had joined a dojo after losing to the teacher's daughter, Kuina. Despite training and growing stronger, he still was unable to defeat her. When she told him that he would one day defeat her as she grew weaker, Zoro grew upset over her defeatist attitude, and made her promise that one of them would be the world's greatest swordsman. She died soon afterward, and Zoro dedicated himself to fulfilling the promise. Back in the present, a bounty hunter attacks the ship, but Zoro recognizes him. 

Episode #20: "Famous Cook! Sanji of the Sea Restaurant!"

After a review of the ending of the previous episode, the episode begins with Marine Lieutenant Iron Fist Fullbody pouring a drink to a beautiful lady on his marine ship and saying how he is taking her to the greatest restaurant in the world. The lady then questions if the restaurant is in the middle of the ocean, which Fullbody answers by telling her to just look forward to it.

In the meantime, on the Going Merry, Zoro recognizes the intruder who got beat up by Luffy from the last episode as Johnny. Johnny then brings the straw hat pirates' attention to Yosaku, who lies ill on his and Johnny's small ship. Turns out that Johnny, Yosaku, and Zoro used to be bounty hunter partners some time ago. Johnny then proceeds to tell the straw hat pirates that he took Yosaku to a small rock island to rest, which was coincidentally blown up by Usopp and Luffy for target practice in the last episode. Usopp and Luffy quickly apologize. Johnny, however, was more worried about Yosaku's condition, which Nami quickly diagnosed as scurvy caused by a lack of Vitamin C. Luffy and Usopp then shove a bunch of lemons into Yosaku's mouth and Yosaku is revived!... or at least for 5 minutes. The straw hat pirates conclude that they need a cook for their potential nutritional problems. Johnny points out that they probably can find a good candidate in the floating sea restaurant known as Baratie. He also states that the one Zoro has been looking for, Hawk-eyes Mihawk, is near there too.

Thus they head to Baratie, which actually is pretty much right next to where they were. They then get passed by Fullbody's marine ship. Fullbody doesn't recognize the straw hat pirates mark, but he recognizes Johnny and Yosaku as worthless pirate hunters. Johnny responds by shouting "this is what pirate hunters do" while throwing a bunch of wanted posters in the air. Nami takes note of the Arlong poster with an angry look and crumbles the poster in her hands. Fullbody then orders his crew to sink the pirate ship. Luffy attempts to deflect the cannon but after losing his grip accidentally deflects it to the head chief's room in Baratie, where the head chief was subsequently injured and demands that Luffy work off his crime by working for the restaurant for one year.

In Baratie, while attempting to impress his girlfriend, Fullbody instead becomes humiliated by Sanji's witty remarks. Turns out that Sanji is actually the Assistant Head Chef. Frustrated, Fullbody destroys his table full of food. Sanji, who is angry that Fullbody wasted precious food, beats Fullbody up. 

Episode #21: "Unwelcome Customer! Sanji's Food and Ghin's Debt!"

After a review of the last episode, the episode begins with Patty, a cook for Baratie, picking his nose in the bathroom while making a monologue about how serving the customers who have money is the number one concern for a restaurant. Upon leaving the bathroom, Patty becomes furious when he sees that Sanji is beating up Fullbody, who is a customer. Sanji replies that customer or not, Fullbody insulted a chef and his food. At this moment, the head chef and Luffy come crashing down from the ceiling because the head chef was kicking Luffy too hard while trying to convince him that he has to work at Baratie for a whole year to pay off his debt. The head chef then kicks Sanji to calm him down and also kicks Fullbody out of the restaurant. Fullbody's subordinate then comes running into the restaurant yelling that their prisoner, a member of Don Krieg's pirates, has escaped. The customers are terrified because Don Krieg is supposedly the strongest pirate in East Blue. The pirate shoots the marine from behind and comes in to order food. Patty recognizes the pirate as a customer and asks if the pirate has any money on him. The pirate points a gun at Patty and says "is a bullet okay?" Patty then beats the pirate up and doesn't recognize the pirate as a customer since he has no money.

Sanji, on the other hand, heads to the kitchen and starts making a meal. Fullbody in the meantime, leaves the restaurant sneakily (along with the subordinate who got shot earlier, guess he is still alive). Sanji brings his meal to the pirate, who was thrown out by Patty. Sanji states that, for him, a customer is anybody who is hungry. He also states that he understands the feeling of starvation more than anybody else. The pirate then grabs the meal and gobbles it up, while crying and saying that this is the most delicious dish he has ever had in his entire life. Luffy, who was watching the whole thing, attempts to recruit Sanji as the cook for his crew. After refusing and some conversing, we find out that the head chef used to be a notorious pirate and the restaurant often comes into conflict with other pirates after his fame. Luffy, as always, is stubborn and insists that Sanji joins them. We also find out that the other pirate's name is Gin. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, we learn that Don Krieg is the captain of a fleet of 50 ships. Gin thanks Sanji for the meal and leaves. Sanji throws the dishes into the ocean to get rid of the evidence that Sanji is giving out food for free, which makes Gin even more grateful.

Luffy is then sent back to work, where he ends up breaking even more dishes and makes a big commotion in the kitchen. The rest of the crew, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp, turn out to be eating a meal at the restaurant. Sanji, after seeing Nami, is captivated by her beauty. While flirting with Nami, the head chef tells Sanji that he's annoying and that he doesn't need him anymore. Meanwhile, Gin informs Don Krieg of the restaurant, where Don Krieg makes clear his intention to "visit" the restaurant. 

Episode #22: "The Strongest Pirate Fleet! Commodore Don Krieg!"

Ghin returns to the Baratie with his captain, Don Krieg, on a nearly destroyed ship, and begs the cooks to feed him. Sanji feeds him again, despite knowing that he is evil but Krieg betrays him and demands 100 meals for his men, as well as the restaurant ship. The cooks oppose Sanji, but Zeff agrees to prepare the food. 

Episode #23: "Protect Baratie! The Great Pirate, Red Foot Zeff!"

It is revealed that Chef Zeff was a great pirate known as Red Foot Zeff who sailed in the Grand Line, but lost his leg at some point. Ghin explains the catastrophe the fleet met in Grand Line when they encountered Hawk-Eyes Mihawk, who destroyed all but one of their ships. Krieg feeds his men and is about to begin to attack the Baratie when Mihawk attacks his ship. 

Episode #24: "Hawk-Eye Mihawk! The Great Swordsman Zoro Falls At Sea!"

As Nami steals the Merry Go, Mihawk has returned to finish the job, but Zoro challenges him to a duel in order to achieve his dream of being the world's strongest swordsman. Despite his best efforts, he is easily outclassed, but gains some respect by persisting despite his inability to win. Luffy sends Zoro, Usopp, Johnny and Yosaku ahead to follow Nami so that he can defeat Krieg to pay his debt to the Baratie. 

Episode #25: "The Deadly Foot Technique Bursts Forth! Sanji vs. The Invincible Pearl!"

Mihawk leaves after defeating Zoro, so Krieg continues his invasion. He has Pearl, one of his stronger crewmates, attack, and Sanji reveals his fighting skills, gaining the upper hand on Pearl, but Ghin takes Zeff hostage.

Episode #26: "Zeff and Sanji's Dream! The Illusory All Blue!"

With Zeff held captive by Ghin, Sanji has no choice but to take Pearl's hits. He reveals that he worked on a cruise ship that Zeff attacked, and when a storm hit, the two were the only survivors. Zeff sacrificed his leg to save Sanji and gave Sanji food, as both shared the same dream of finding the legendary ocean, All Blue. No longer able to fight with his legs and be a pirate, Zeff founded the Baratie. Sanji reveals that he will defend the Baratie with his life, and Luffy responds by attacking the ship's porch with Gum Gum Axe. 

Episode #27: "Cool-headed, Cold-hearted Demon! Pirate Fleet Chief Commander Ghin!"

Ghin finishes off Pearl, claiming that he wants to kill Sanji himself. A lengthy battle ensues but Ghin eventually gains the upper hand after Sanji breaks his ribs. Ghin, however, comes to terms with himself, realizing he does not have the strength to kill the man who saved him from malnutrition. He then begs Don Krieg to leave the Baratie alone but Krieg is just disgusted with this show of emotion. Because of this, Ghin is no longer a member of the Krieg pirates and Don Krieg decides to have him executed. He then pulls off one of his shoulder pads, attatches it to his hand and it turns into a launcher for one of his deadliest weapons, the MH5 Poison Gas Bomb. Even Ghin and the Krieg pirates are shocked at this length of execution and are quick to put on their masks (except Ghin who throws his in the water). The Baratie chefs swim away while Patty and Carne run inside with Zeff and Luffy attempts to make a beeline for Krieg but is thrown back by the Needle Gun concealed in the launcher shoulder pad. Krieg fires the MH5 while Luffy steals two masks from two Krieg pirates and throws them to Sanji and Ghin. He turns round to get another for himself but the pirates have vanished. Out of nowhere, a gas mask lands in Luffy's lap and he puts it on, just as the MH5 impacts and explodes. 

Episode #28: "I Won't Die! Fierce Battle, Luffy vs. Krieg!"

It is revealed that the mask Luffy was wearing was Ghin's while he held Sanji's to his face. Krieg succeeds in poisoning Ghin and Patty and Carne pull him inside the Baratie to administer first aid. Outraged, Luffy runs for Krieg who pulls out his Needle Gun again but they don't even hinder Luffy. Krieg pulls out his spiked Porcupine Cape and covers himself but Luffy punches right into hit, striking Don Krieg in the face. Luffy seems to have the advantage in the fight until Krieg pulls out his explosive Battle Spear. 

Episode #29: "The Conclusion of the Deadly Battle! A Spear of Blind Determination!"

Even after taking several hits from the Battle Spear, Luffy refuses to give up. 

Episode #30: "Set Sail! The Seafaring Cook Sets off With Luffy!"

After the battle, Ghin decides to go back to the Grand Line with Krieg despite still being poisoned, and Sanji makes the difficult decision on whether to stay or to go with Luffy just as Yosaku comes back with news that he knows where Nami is. 

Episode #31: "The Worst Man in the Eastern Seas! Fishman Pirate Arlong!"

The crew chases after Nami, who stole their ship, and Yosaku takes time during the trip to explain about Arlong and his Fishmen to Luffy and Sanji. Meanwhile, Usopp, Johnny, and Zoro arrive at the island Nami docked at. 

Episode #32: "Witch of Cocoyashi Village! Arlong's Female Leader!"

Zoro is captured by the fishmen after Usopp and Johnny ditch him, and it's revealed that Nami was part of Arlong's crew the entire time. When a group of Fishmen attack Cocoyashi Village, Usopp comes to the rescue. 

Episode #33: "Usopp Dead?! When is Luffy Going to Make Landfall?!"

After Zoro escapes with Nami's help, she tries to prove her loyalty to the Arlong Pirates by appearing to kill Usopp. Meanwhile, Luffy's group finally arrives at the island

Episode #34: "Everyone's Gathered! Usopp Speaks the Truth About Nami!"

Johnny tells the others about Nami killing Usopp, and Luffy doesn't believe them until Nami appears herself and confirms it. She tells them to stay out of her business and leave without her, but Luffy stubbornly decides to stay on the island. Usopp returns, revealing that Nami only pretended to kill him, and Nami's sister, Nojiko, starts to explain why Nami is acting the way she is. 

Episode #35: "Untold Past! Female Warrior Bellemere!"

Nojiko starts her story about Nami's childhood and their adopted mother, Bellemere. Despite being poor and none of them being related by blood, they had a happy life. 

Episode #36: "Survive! Mother Bellemere and Nami's Bond!" 

Nojiko continues her story, explaining how their life was ruined when the Arlong Pirates first took over the village. 

Episode #37: "Luffy Rises! Result of the Broken Promise!"

When a marine officer under Arlong's pay confiscates all the money Nami stole over the years, in order to one day buy the village from Arlong, the villagers decide that enough is enough and fight back, despite Nami's pleads that they don't and that they'd all be killed. Upon seeing Nami's sorrow, the Straw Hats head for Arlong Park. 

Episode #38: "Luffy in Big Trouble! Fishmen vs. the Luffy Pirates!"

The Straw Hats face the Fishmen themselves as the villagers watch from the sidelines. 

Episode #39: "Luffy Submerged! Zoro vs. Hatchan the Octopus!"

Arlong has trapped Luffy in the ocean and Zoro faces the six-sword–wielding octopus Hatchan.

Episode #40: "Proud Warriors! Sanji and Usopp's Fierce Battles!"

With Hatchan defeated, two of the fishmen battle Sanji and Usopp. Things look grim for Sanji as he attempts to face Kuroobi underwater, and Usopp gets the chance to prove that he too is a brave warrior.

Episode #41: "Luffy at Full Power! Nami's Determination and the Straw Hat!"

Arlong's officers have been defeated, but Sanji and Zoro prove to be no match for Arlong in their current state. However, with Luffy finally free, he just may be able to defeat the "most wicked man in the East Blue". Meanwhile, Nami finally gathers the courage to face Arlong.

Episode #42: "Explosion! Fishman Arlong's Fierce Assault From the Sea!"

Luffy returns to the fight, and the battle with Arlong versus Luffy begins.

Episode #43: "End of the Fishman Empire! Nami's My Friend!"

The battle spreads into Arlong Park itself and Arlong is no longer holding back.

Episode #44: "Setting Out with a Smile! Farewell, Hometown Cocoyashi Village!"

Arlong's reign of terror is over, and no one has anything on their mind except to party. As the crew celebrates, Nami reflects on her hometown and decides to officially join the Straw Hat Pirates.

Episode #45: "Bounty! Straw Hat Luffy Becomes Known to the World!"

As a result of defeating Arlong, Luffy now has the highest bounty in East Blue. News quickly spreads to both friend and foe, including Shanks, who celebrates Luffy's arrival into the world of pirates.

Episode #46: "Chase Straw Hat! Little Buggy's Big Adventure!"

After his fight with Luffy, Buggy was sent flying to another island with several body parts missing. Thus, Buggy begins his journey to find his crew and his body parts, making some unlikely friends.

Episode #47: "The Wait is Over! The Return of Captain Buggy!"

With Buggy assumed to be dead, his crew fights over who will be the new captain, only to be captured by a tribe of cannibals.

Episode #48: "The Town of the Beginning and the End! Landfall at Logue Town!"

The crew arrives at the last large town before the entrance to the Grand Line—Loguetown, the place where Gold Roger was both born and executed, where they stock up on supplies and sightsee. As Luffy heads for the execution platform where Roger was killed, old enemies are searching for him.

Episode #49: "Kitetsu III and Yubashiri! Zoro’s New Swords and the Woman Sergeant Major!"

While searching for new swords to replace the ones shattered by Mihawk, Zoro meets a woman named Tashigi, who looks exactly like an older Kuina, who then helps him look.

Episode #50: "Usopp vs. Daddy the Parent! Showdown at High!"

Usopp manages to anger the daughter of bounty hunter Daddy the Father, and finds his own life at stake. When Daddy discovers that Usopp is the son of Yasopp, the only man to beat him, he challenges him to a duel.

Episode 51: "Fiery Cooking Battle? Sanji vs. the Beautiful Chef!"

Sanji enters a cooking contest against a woman named Five-Alarm Carmen for a fish that he has always dreamed of cooking. Meanwhile Buggy and Alvida show up and catches Luffy. Then Sanji wins against Five-Alarm Carmen! And Luffy’s to be executed!

Episode 52: "Buggy's Revenge! The Man Who Smiles On the Execution Platform!"

Zoro and Sanji show up to late to stop Buggy but a bolt of lightning shows up just in time to cancel the execution. Then Smoker catches Buggy and Alvida and gets on a Dune Buggy to follow Luffy. Meanwhile Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji run into Tashigi. Who Zoro fights and beats quickly. Then Smoker catches up and tells Luffy that if he beats him he can go to the Grand Line. And just when Smoker is about to finish Luffy a mysterious man named Dragon saves him. And a green gust of wind lets Buggy and Alvida escape! Then Luffy and company get away and head to the Grand Line! Smoker, Tashigi, Alvida, and Buggy also decide to go to the Grand Line!

Episode 53: "The Legend Has Started! Head for the Grand Line!"

Miraculously saved from death by an unnatural green gust and a lightning bolt to Buggy, the Straw Hats rush out of Loguetown, only for Zoro to be stopped by Tashigi and Luffy to be stopped by Captain Smoker.

Episode 54: "Precursor to a New Adventure! Apis, a Mysterious Girl!"

On a stormy night a girl called Apis escapes from the Marines and arrives at Straw hat's ship, but the girl upon knowing that they are pirates begins to hide some of the reasons which she is being wanted by the Marines. As the Straw Hats escape from the Marines, they get caught in the Calm Belt.

Episode 55: "Miraculous Creature! Apis' Secret and the Legendary Island!"

The Calm Belt is revealed to have no winds or currents as well as being the home of many giant sea kings. Apis forms a plan with Luffy's help and escapes the sea kings by riding with one's sneeze. Later, the crew reaches Battleship Island, where they listen to the soporific story of the island's creation. After following Apis into a cave where a dragon is hidden, Luffy and Nami find the reason why Apis is being chased.

Episode 56: "Eric Attacks! Great Escape from Warship Island!"

Now that the crew is informed about the reasons for which Apis was followed, they hurry to escape the island so Ryuuji could be saved, but they meet with a foe that wants Ryuuji to himself. Zoro and Usopp bring the ship to a thin rock at the side while Nami and Api get Ryuuji onto a cart. Luffy and Sanji fight the Marines to buy time for all preparations. In the end, the ship pulls the cart away on the search for Lost Island.

Episode 57: "A Solitary Island in the Distant Sea! The Legendary Lost Island!"

After arriving to what might seemed as the Lost Island the Straw hats where looking for, they find an old Temple with paintings that might indicate where the Lost Island really is, and also Erik who has been following them throughout the sea.

Episode 58: "Showdown in the Ruins! Tense Zoro vs. Eric!"

Zoro is left fighting with Erik while Luffy and the gang run to the ship in order to get to Lost Island, but only find more problems.

Episode #59: "Luffy, Completely Surrounded! Commodore Nelson's Secret Strategy!"

At last Admiral Nelson has seen through the ambitions of Erik, but takes it a little too personally and now the mystical dragon's life is in danger.

Episode #60: "Through the Sky They Soar! The 1000 Year Legend Lives Again!"

With his last breath, Ryuuji calls all his fellow dragons, and the Lost Island re-surfaced. Meanwhile Luffy takes out Admiral Nelson and his gang.

Episode #61: "An Angry Showdown! Cross the Red Line!"

After leaving Battleship Island the Going Merry is now towards the Grand Line, and the crew now returns to the Great Adventure.

Episode #62: "The First Line of Defense? The Giant Whale Laboon Appears!"

As the Straw Hats ride down Reverse Mountain into the Grand Line, a huge whale appears in front of them. With the helm still broken, they are about to crash into it, but Luffy fires a cannon, sufficiently slowing the ship, just breaking Luffy's beloved seat, the ships figurehead. Infuriated, Luffy punches the whale directly in the eye. The whale swallows the Straw Hats and their ship. Only Luffy falls overboard and gets on the whale. The whale submerges. In the last second, Luffy notices a door on top of the whale. While Luffy winds up in some sort of passageway, his crew finds itself in front of a small island in the middle of green waters, with a clear blue-sky overhead. There they encounter Crocus, the whale's caretaker, who painted the inside of its stomach to look like the sky. Suddenly everything starts to shake as Laboon—which is the name of the whale—rams its head against the Red Line. Crocus leaves to give Laboon a sedative. Meanwhile, Luffy and two individuals, crash into the whale's stomach. As Crocus returns, they shot two cannonballs from their bazookas, to rip a hole in the whale’s stomach, but Crocus takes the cannonballs with his own body. Then Luffy knocks them both out. Leading the Straw Hats out of the whale, Crocus explains that Laboon is a whale with a heart like a person, who has been waiting for a certain group of pirates for fifty years.