One Heart, One Man

The world watches via Den Den Mushi as Squard pours out his betrayal: he was told Whitebeard had cut a deal sparing himself, Ace, and the crew while the allies were left to die, and his old hatred of Roger made Ace's place in the family feel like treachery. He notes the Marines target only the allies, and Aokiji's ice walls begin sealing the pirates in. Rather than retaliate, Whitebeard embraces the foolish son he still loves, deduces Akainu planted the lie, and tells Squard not to resent Ace. He commends Sengoku's deception as the work of a master strategist, then shatters the ice walls himself to prove he never sold out his children and to give them an escape, before jumping into the fray.

Squard reveals his grudge against Gol D. Roger as the lever Akainu used to turn him. The war's public broadcast is cut off. Whitebeard forgives Squard, destroys the ice barriers blocking the pirates, and enters the battle in person.

The cover shows Chopper sharing cotton candy with birds on a branch. Crocodile remarks on how diminished Whitebeard seems, and Marco worries the Emperor's failing health kept him from dodging the blade. Whitebeard insists every member of his crew is special, not Ace alone.