Chapter 158

While the rest of the crew grumbles over their captain's recklessness and spots Mr. 3's ship offshore, Smoker is squaring off against Ace inside a Nanohana eatery, with stunned bystanders amazed that a Whitebeard commander stands among them. As Smoker readies to strike, a starving Luffy rockets into the room, bowling both men aside, and starts wolfing down food before a baffled crowd. Ace recognizes him and apologizes for the chaos; Smoker, equally aware of who Luffy is, grows irritated by the boy's rudeness. Luffy finally registers the danger and bolts. Smoker orders Tashigi to block him, but she cannot, so the captain gives chase alone. The rest of the crew, now in local garb to blend in, is forced to scatter when Luffy gives their position away. Just as Smoker's smoke powers close around Luffy, Ace intervenes.

For the first time in the series, Luffy is shown landing a hit on Smoker, however accidental. Ace's power is confirmed as a fire-based Logia Devil Fruit. Mr. 3 is revealed to be alive and back in Arabasta. Vivi and Nami sample perfumes to Sanji's delight and Chopper's distress, and Vivi explains that the crew must reach Yuba so she can speak with the rebellion's leader, Koza.

The cover advances Jango's Dance Paradise, volume 25, The Brittle Fang Called Justice, in which Fullbody endures a beating from the Tulip Pirates' captain rather than risk their hostage. The chapter, part of the Arabasta arc, converges Luffy, Ace, and Smoker in one place and sets the crew's desert route toward Yuba in motion.