Sanji's Homecoming - Into Big Mom's Territory!

Starving and battered by a storm, the Straw Hats fight to hold their heading, and Luffy insists he will rescue Sanji whatever it takes. Sanji, meanwhile, sails toward Big Mom's domain aboard the Queen Mama Chanter, where Tamago's transponder snail will not stop ringing with warning signals as the ship passes Tarte 28. Tamago urges Sanji to drop his stubbornness and ally with Big Mom alongside Germa 66, claiming such an alliance is the wish of Sanji's father. Sanji erupts, snapping that the man is no father to him and that he only came to end things, then dismisses Tamago's praise of his cooking by vowing to feed only his own crew.

Vito arrives with a fresh photo from Whole Cake Island. Despite Sanji's threats, he reveals an image of Pudding, and Sanji melts at her beauty just as he would for any lovely woman. Trailing Sanji afterward, Vito chats about the World Economic Journal and its comic Sora, Warrior of the Sea, admitting he roots for the strip's villains, the Germa 66. Sanji warns him never to count him among them, walks to his quarters, and orders Vito to stop following.

From a nearby cage Caesar Clown demands release, and Vito explains that he was merely ordered captured, whereas Sanji is to be treated gently as the groom meant to bind the Charlotte Family to Germa 66. When Sanji again refuses the wedding and tells Vito to leave, Gotti, a Fire Tank Pirates member, storms in, leveling a machine gun and demanding an apology. Sanji throws them both out, and a furious Chiffon marches in, orders Gotti not to harm Sanji lest Big Mom take their heads, apologizes to him, and drags Gotti out by the ear. Sanji murmurs how much Chiffon resembles someone he knows. Far away, the parched Straw Hats fish from the Sunny's edge until Luffy lands an enormous catch and shouts for them to eat, while a mist-cloaked vessel drifts elsewhere, two silhouettes aboard discussing their wish to meet him.

This installment begins the Whole Cake Island Arc and updates the We Can! opening to feature scenes from the new arc. The anime expands several moments, including the rescue team's storm-tossed voyage, Vito quizzing Sanji about his reaction to Pudding's photo, and an exchange between Sanji and Chiffon that the manga never showed. It also adds Caesar weeping in terror over Big Mom and gives Reiju and Yonji an early, shadowed cameo. More panels of the Sora comic and the Germa commanders appear than in print, and the giant-fish catch is extended. Keiichi Ichikawa debuts here as Chief Animation Director, replacing Kazuya Hisada.