Chapters · Water Seven › Enies Lobby

Chapter 416: Zolo vs. Kaku

Arc: Enies Lobby · Saga: Water Seven · Released: 2006-05-08

Summary

Across Enies Lobby the Straw Hats race to reach Robin before she crosses the Gates of Justice: Sanji finishes off Jabra (“…demons create the spices… gods create food… but perhaps this dish was a little too spicy for you”), grabs Key No. 1, and runs to help; Nami and Robin reach the Bridge of Hesitation as Spandam gloats that the Gates are opening “to welcome me” — “the world’s hero.” The drawbridge beyond the gate begins to rise, the Buster Call ships report in, and the route narrows to roughly ten minutes. Down below, Luffy (recovering from Lucci’s blows) and Franky reunite at the courthouse plaza, learn Robin was taken toward the Gates of Justice “through the door behind Pigeon Guy,” and Luffy sends Franky after Robin while he turns to face Lucci. Meanwhile Zoro squares off against Kaku, who has now fully embraced his Devil Fruit: he transforms into a giraffe-man (“I’ll eat you alive!!”). Kaku unleashes giraffe-themed Rokushiki-blended attacks — Giraffe Scythe, Tempest Kick, Giraffe Shower — and hardens with Iron Body into a “perfect cube,” while Zoro counters with Tower Climb / Tower Climb Return, the single-sword iai “Lion,” “Dragon Cut Song,” and the three-sword “Two Gorilla Cut.” Both end the chapter standing, bloodied and impressed, the fight far from over.

New reveals

• Kaku’s CP9 Devil Fruit is a giraffe Zoan. He transforms into a long-necked, horned giraffe-man (pp. 8–10), vindicating the “horn” reading of his name 角. The fruit’s formal name is NOT printed on-page this chapter — only the giraffe form is shown.
• Kaku’s giraffe-form techniques: Giraffe Scythe (p. 11), Tempest Kick (Rankyaku, pp. 12, 16), Giraffe Shower (p. 13), Nose Pistol (a stretched-neck Finger-Pistol variant, pp. 14, 18), and an Iron-Body “perfect cube” defensive posture (p. 12).
• Zoro’s answering sword arts named here: Tower Climb / Tower Climb Return (pp. 9–10), Lion (iai single-sword draw-and-resheath, pp. 16–17), Dragon Cut Song (Dragon Twister-class, p. 17), and Two Gorilla Cut (three-sword, p. 18).
• Sanji has defeated Jabra off-panel (the chapter opens on the finishing line and Jabra collapsing in rubble) and carries Key No. 1.
• The Gates of Justice are opening and the bridge beyond will be raised; the Buster Call fleet reports in; Robin’s window to be carried through is ~10 minutes (pp. 4–5).

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Payoffs (seeds from earlier chapters that resolve here)

Mentions / appearances

• Characters: Zoro, Kaku, Sanji, Franky, Luffy, Rob Lucci, Nami, Nico Robin, Spandam, Jabra (collapsed, off-panel KO)
• Groups: CP9, Straw Hat Pirates, Marines (Buster Call fleet reporting)
• Locations / world-building: Enies Lobby, Gates of Justice, Bridge of Hesitation, Tower of Law / courthouse plaza, Six Powers (Rokushiki)

Notable panels

• Title page (p. 1): Cover-story side-comic — a young woman with a rhinoceros, a “LOST CHILD” vertical caption, a flock of small birds, and a uniformed boy at right reading a notice. (B-plot cover-story install; see updates file for cover-tracker hand-off.)
• pp. 1–2: Sanji’s finishing line on Jabra (cooking-metaphor combat register), Jabra blasted into rubble.
• p. 3: “It’s Giraffe and Mosshead…” — wide shot of the tower shaking from the Zoro/Kaku fight; Sanji notes Nami and the others are already on their way to Robin.
• pp. 4–5: Spandam’s “world’s hero” monologue at the Bridge of Hesitation; Gates of Justice opening; Buster Call fleet (“All ships, report!”) — ~10-minute window.
• p. 6: Luffy and Franky reunite (“STRAW HAT LUFFY?!” / “FRANKY!!”); Lucci waits by Pigeon-Guy’s door.
• p. 7: Luffy sends Franky after Robin and turns to take Lucci himself.
• pp. 8–10: Kaku’s giraffe transformation and the start of the duel — “I’ll eat you alive!!”; Zoro’s two-sword “Nigiri” and “Tower Climb / Tower Climb Return.”
• pp. 11–13: Giraffe Scythe, Iron-Body “perfect cube,” Tempest Kick, Giraffe Shower.
• pp. 14–15: Nose Pistol (stretched-neck), both fighters knocked around.
• pp. 16–18: Zoro’s “Lion” iai draw, “Dragon Cut Song,” and three-sword “Two Gorilla Cut”; Kaku’s metal-Iron-Body musing.
• pp. 19–20: Both still standing and trading respect (“I’d say the same of you!!” / “It’s time to get your head out of the clouds!!”); p. 20 is a bonus B/W Coloring Page group line-art (decorative, not a color spread).

Open questions raised

• Can Zoro cut through Kaku’s hardened Iron Body / “perfect cube” Tekkai — i.e., can he cut steel? (Kaku’s explicit p. 17 question.)
• Will Franky reach Robin before the Gates of Justice/Bridge of Hesitation carry her across?
• What is the formal name of Kaku’s giraffe Devil Fruit? (Not printed on-page this chapter.)