Chapters · Water Seven › Enies Lobby

Chapter 381: Fired

Arc: Water Seven · Saga: Water Seven · Released:

Summary

Having ridden the Sea Train to the Enies Lobby gateway, the Straw Hats pour off the train into a crowd of Marines/Government forces. Usopp — fighting in his “Sniper King” (Sogeking) persona — and the others provoke a firefight, and Nami unveils her new weather weapon: she condenses a thundercloud from atmospheric moisture using the Cool Ball and Heat Ball and then fires a “Thunderbolt Tempo,” wiping out a swath of enemies and astonishing the crew (she calls it the “perfected climate baton”). Luffy has already charged ahead alone onto the Enies Lobby main island, smashing through wave after wave of Government forces at the island gate; the rest of the crew decides to follow him in. They meet the “Courthouse Guard Force” assigned to defend the island gate. The Franky Family then arrives on the rampaging King Bulls Sodom and Gomorrah out of Water Seven, joining the assault, while a Galley-La Company foreman tells Zoro to relay a message to the gate guards if he meets them: that they’re “fired.” Luffy, Zoro and the others demolish the Courthouse Guard Force as the battle escalates. (Cover: “Ms. Golden Week’s Big Plan, a Baroque Reunion, Vol. 17.” The chapter closes with an SBS Question Corner page.)

New reveals

• Nami’s rebuilt weapon — the Perfect / “perfected” Climate Baton — can now generate lightning: she condenses a thundercloud from atmospheric moisture (combining Cool Ball and Heat Ball) and discharges a “Thunderbolt Tempo” (page 6–7). The crew is stunned by the power (page 8: “What power. You really wiped them out”).
• The lightning attack is not selective — it shocks Usopp/Sniper King too (page 8: “It’s not selective?!”), establishing an early control limitation of the new weapon.
• Usopp reaffirms the Sniper King (“Sogeking”) persona among the crew during the firefight (page 2: “Sniper King, you’re too far away to be the fall guy”; page 8: Sanji apologizes “Sniper King” while keeping up the disguise pretense).
• The Straw Hats have arrived at and breached the Enies Lobby main island — first on-page depiction of the island and its gate (pages 9, 10, 13).
• A defending unit, the Courthouse Guard Force (assigned to defend the island gate), is named and shown (page 13).
• The Franky Family arrive at the gateway riding the King Bulls of Water Seven — Sodom and Gomorrah — and prepare to charge into the assault (pages 15–16).
• A Galley-La Company foreman (goggles, cigar) gives Zoro a message to deliver: tell the gate guards they’re “fired” (page 17) — title beat.

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Payoffs (seeds from earlier chapters that resolve here)

Mentions / appearances

• Luffy — charges ahead alone, smashing the gate forces on the Enies Lobby main island (Gum-Gum Spear, pages 10–12). First to reach the island.
• Nami — debuts the Perfect Clima-Tact lightning (Thunderbolt Tempo), pages 6–8.
• Zoro — receives and agrees to deliver the Galley-La foreman’s “you’re fired” message (page 17); demolishes Courthouse Guard Force.
• Sanji — fights at the gateway; apologizes for the lightning hitting “Sniper King.”
• Tony Tony Chopper — present at the gateway (“Meow meow”? no — Chopper in animal panels).
• Usopp — fighting as “Sniper King”/Sogeking; hit by Nami’s non-selective lightning.
• Straw Hat Pirates, Franky Family (riding King Bulls Sodom & Gomorrah), Galley-La Company (foreman with the “fired” message), CP9 (named as the WG enemy faction, off-page).
• Enies Lobby — main island and island gate, first on-page appearance.
• Water Seven — origin of the King Bulls.
• King Bulls Sodom & Gomorrah — Water Seven sea-train escort beasts, named on-page (pages 15–16). No dedicated notes yet.
• Cover: Miss Goldenweek, Mr. 5, Miss Valentine (Baroque Works reunion cover serial, Vol. 17).

Notable panels

• Page 1 — Cover: “Ms. Golden Week’s Big Plan, a Baroque Reunion, Vol. 17: ‘Show Yourself!!’” — a Navy notice demands the three Baroque Works criminals surrender or Ms. Valentine will hang.
• Page 2 — Usopp in his Sniper King persona is mocked as a “bounty hunter stooge”; the firefight begins.
• Page 6 — Nami: ”…I made a cloud out of the moisture in the atmosphere! With the Cool Ball and Heat Ball…” — mechanics of the new weapon.
• Page 7 — “Thunderbolt Tempo!!” / “KRAKOOM” — the lightning strike fires.
• Page 8 — “It’s not selective?!” — the non-selective limitation; “What power. You really wiped them out.”
• Page 10 — Panel label “Enies Lobby Main Island”; Luffy rampaging.
• Page 11 — “Gum-Gum… Spear!!!”
• Page 13 — “Courthouse Guard Force assigned to defend the gate” named; “Not one of you will cross this line!!”
• Pages 15–16 — “King Bulls from Water Seven!!!” Sodom & Gomorrah; Franky Family boards Sodom & Gomorrah.
• Page 17 — Galley-La foreman: “…tell them… if you meet them… …they’re fired.” Zoro: “I will.” — chapter-title beat.
• Page 18 — “Half-Knot Air Drive!!!” demolishes the Courthouse Guard Force.
• Page 20 — SBS Question Corner: Oda confirms Robin’s powers (Cien/Seis Fleurs) use Spanish/French/English numbers, and that Robin’s past will be covered “in the next volume.”

Open questions raised

• Can Nami’s lightning be made selective / controllable, or will the non-selective discharge remain a tactical liability?
• Where exactly is Luffy heading inside the island, and what gate/tower does the courthouse front?
• What role will the Franky Family and Galley-La crews play in the coming assault now that they’ve committed?