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Chapter 371: The Honorable Captain T-Bone

Arc: Water Seven · Saga: Water Seven · Released: 2005-08-29

Summary

The Straw Hats’ rescue sea train — the shark-faced Rocketman, driven by Kokoro with Chimney and Gonbe aboard — barrels through the Aqua Laguna storm in pursuit of the kidnap train (the Puffing Tom) carrying Robin and Franky toward Enies Lobby (pp. 2-5). When a stranded, engine-less Marine sea train sits stalled on the tracks ahead, Luffy launches himself by Gum-Gum Rocket to investigate, learns his crewmates aren’t aboard, and the Straw Hats decide to clear the obstacle (pp. 6-8). Zoro slices the train’s stone “castle gate” lighthouse-tower clean in two with a two-sword cut, astonishing the Marines (pp. 8-13). The Marine train’s commander reveals himself: Captain “Ship-Slasher” T-Bone of Navy Headquarters, who having seen the Straw Hat train cut a Neptunian (and his own gate) in half, leaps across to confront the swordsman in the name of justice for endangered citizens (pp. 11-16). Zoro and T-Bone clash mid-storm; T-Bone predicts Zoro’s move (“Right Angle Flying Bird Bone!”) but Zoro defeats him, sending him splashing into the sea (pp. 15-18). The Rocketman speeds on, the crew cheering that Zoro “beat the Ship-Slasher,” as they close in on the enemy train (pp. 18-20).

New reveals

• Captain “Ship-Slasher” T-Bone of Navy Headquarters — a swordsman who “carves up pirate ships like steaks.” First appearance and first mention (p. 14).
• T-Bone’s swordsmanship “predicted” Zoro’s attack; his named technique is “Right Angle Flying Bird Bone” (VIZ) — a bird-of-prey-themed strike (“Courageous Talons!”, p. 16).
• The Straw Hats’ rescue train (the Rocketman, shark-faced engine driven by Kokoro) is on the same single Sea Train track as the kidnap train, chasing it through the storm.
• Zoro’s cutting power scaled up on-page: he severs an entire stone tower / “castle gate” — and (per Marine dialogue) a Neptunian “five times the size of this train” — cleanly in half.
• The stalled Marine sea train has no engine and “couldn’t have bypassed the cars” — it’s on the only Sea Train track in the world (pp. 4-5, 14).

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Payoffs (seeds from earlier chapters that resolve here)

Mentions / appearances

• Luffy — launches by Gum-Gum Rocket to scout the stalled Marine train (pp. 6-7).
• Zoro — cuts the Marine train’s stone gate-tower in two; duels and defeats Captain T-Bone (pp. 8-18).
• Nami — aboard the Rocketman, reacting to the chase (pp. 3-5).
• Tony Tony Chopper — aboard the Rocketman (pp. 3-6).
• Kokoro — driving the Rocketman (“Ol’ lady, how are the brakes on this thing?!”, p. 5).
• Chimney / Gonbe — aboard with Kokoro (pp. 2-5).
• Captain T-Bone (“Ship-Slasher,” Navy Headquarters) — first appearance (pp. 11-18).
• Sanji, Usopp, Franky, Nico Robin — referenced as aboard the other (kidnap) train; not present on-page (pp. 6-7, 19).
• Marines — the stalled Marine sea train crew under T-Bone.
• Cover: “Ms. Golden Week’s Big Plan, A Baroque Works Reunion, Vol. 10” — Miss Goldenweek relaxing beachside with a “JUSTICE” newspaper; cover caption “Today: Fun Hunting Down the Survivors!” (Baroque Works).

Notable panels

• p. 1 — Cover (Baroque Works reunion serial, Vol. 10): Ms. Goldenweek lounging beachside, reading a paper headlined with the Marine “justice” kanji.
• pp. 6-7 — Luffy “Gum-Gum Rocket” launches onto the Marine train; “NOT HERE!!” — none of his crew is aboard.
• pp. 8-10 — Zoro: “Two-Sword Style…” cuts the stone “castle gate” tower clean in two; full-page reaction.
• p. 14 — T-Bone named: “That’s Captain ‘Ship-Slasher’ T-Bone, from the Navy Headquarters!!!”
• pp. 15-16 — T-Bone’s “Right Angle Flying Bird Bone!! …Courageous Talons!!!! …Bird of Prey!!!” vs. Zoro’s “Three Swords Style… Bull Demon!!”
• pp. 17-18 — Zoro defeats T-Bone; “He beat the Ship-Slasher!!!”

Open questions raised

• What is CP9 / the World Government’s full plan for Robin once the Puffing Tom reaches Enies Lobby?
• Why is the Marine sea train stranded engine-less on the track — was it a casualty of the kidnap train’s passage?
• How far behind is the Rocketman, and can it catch the kidnap train before Enies Lobby?