Chapter 952

Two days on from their first bout, Zoro is back at Oihagi Bridge and drives Gyukimaru to the ground, demanding to know why the thief hoards travelers' swords and clings so fiercely to Shusui. Gyukimaru replies that this one blade he can never part with, convinced its theft had angered the Sword God and cursed Wano. Kawamatsu then barges in, branding the duel a farce, and Hiyori, recognizing him at once, cries his name as Gyukimaru reels in equal astonishment.

Over on Onigashima, Kaido and Big Mom trade blows through the whole night, unnerving the island's crew. Queen, after scolding their cowardice, decides to inspect Udon over its dead signal, only for Babanuki to phone in that communications are back and the prisoners recaged, a fabrication that robs Queen of his excuse to leave. Babanuki, in truth, is under Tama's control. Hyogoro is reunited with the four regional yakuza bosses, and Raizo relays the Udon triumph to Kin'emon, including the muster of 3,500 fighters.

Chopper succeeds in synthesizing a remedy for the Mummy plague, healing Luffy and the stricken prisoners. Tama tames Babanuki into feeding Queen a bogus report. Hiyori and Kawamatsu reunite, and Gyukimaru is shown to know Kawamatsu and be glad of his return. Four onetime yakuza chiefs make their debut here, namely Omasa out of Udon, Tsunagoro from Hakumai, Cho of Ringo, and Yatappe representing Kibi, all of whom set off to rouse Wano's hidden resistance. Ashura is revealed to hold the blueprints of Kaido's Onigashima residence, and Kin'emon sets out for Amigasa Village.

The cover serial's third part has Bege declaring his wife's wish to be his own. Hiyori admits she ran from Kawamatsu thirteen years back because he kept surrendering all the food to her, hoping her leaving would help him endure, and he calls the reasoning kind. When a Beasts Pirates squad rides up and shoots Gyukimaru, Zoro and Kawamatsu fell them all in one sweep.