Hiriluk's Cherry Blossoms! Miracle of the Drum Rockies

Long ago, Hiriluk vowed to make cherry blossoms bloom across Drum Kingdom, convinced the sight would rescue his nation the same way it had once rescued him, though Kureha stayed doubtful. In the present, Chopper sits atop Drum Castle after Luffy's battle with Wapol, dwelling on his time with Doctor and recalling Hiriluk's advice to go to sea so his troubles would seem small. Luffy soon finds him and renews the chase to recruit him. Meanwhile, Kureha gathers the wounded, among them Dalton, Sanji, and Nami, and treats them, handling Sanji's reinjured back roughly.

Nami bargains over the bill, and Kureha demands the Going Merry's treasure and a two-day stay before relenting once Nami produces the armory key she lifted from Wapol. Chopper, convinced he must stay behind because he is a blue-nosed reindeer he calls a monster, finally leaps down, and when Luffy shouts at him to stop talking and simply come along, he breaks into tears at having friends who do not mind his differences. Announcing to Kureha that he will depart to serve as the crew's physician, Chopper endures her accusations of ingratitude and flees as she hurls her ornamental blades. He hitches into her sleigh on the Drum Ropeway and races down with the Straw Hats in tow while villagers gape at what looks like a flying reindeer.

Watching from above with Dalton, Kureha claims her pet merely ran off and that she dislikes drawn-out goodbyes, then orders the cannons made ready to see the crew off in style. Doubting whether Hiriluk ever truly completed his research, Chopper triggers a flashback in which the doctor lays it out: a dust that tints falling snow pink. Fired over the mountain, it makes the peak resemble an enormous sakura tree with petals drifting down, and Chopper weeps at the realization of his father figure's dream. This was the last One Piece episode to air on Fox, with later 4Kids-dubbed episodes moving to Cartoon Network. Chopper's eyecatcher debuts here, and he reads the next episode's title in the preview.