Chapters · Summit War › Post-War

Chapter 597: 3D2Y

Arc: Post-War · Saga: Summit War · Released: 2010-08-09 (est.)

Summary

The scattered Straw Hats decode Luffy’s coded message: the “3D2Y” tattoo on his right shoulder (with “3D” crossed out and replaced by “2Y”) means they are NOT to regroup in three days but to train apart and reunite in two years — at Sabaody Archipelago. On Gloom Island (the Muggy Kingdom ruins), Zoro — who has just defeated the island’s weapon-wielding monkeys — kneels and begs Mihawk to teach him the sword; Mihawk, recognizing that a man of Zoro’s caliber abandons his pride only “for the sake of another,” agrees to train him once his wounds heal, with Perona (“Ghost Girl”) nursing him. In a “few days earlier” flashback in the Calm Belt, Jinbei departs and promises to meet Luffy and his crew at Fish-Man Island in two years. On Rusukaina, a deserted island northwest of Amazon Lily, Silvers Rayleigh begins Luffy’s two-year training (forbidding Hancock and all women from visiting, so the wilderness stays harsh) and delivers the series’ first systematic lecture on Haki — the three “colors”: Observation (Skypiea’s “Mantra”), Armament/Arms (the only counter to Logia Devil-Fruit users), and the Supreme King (Conqueror’s), which Luffy already awakened at the auction house. The chapter ends as their sparring begins; Oda’s “HDYD!” note announces a one-month hiatus before the New World saga.

New reveals

• The “3D2Y” message decoded. Luffy’s right-shoulder tattoo reads “3D2Y” with “3D” struck through and replaced by “2Y.” His Marineford bell-ringing/newspaper-photo stunt was a deliberate coded signal to his crew: do not meet in 3 Days — train and reunite in 2 Years. The rendezvous is Sabaody Archipelago (pp. 5–7). Crew shown receiving/understanding it: Zoro, Nami, Franky, Usopp, Sanji, Nico Robin, Brook, Chopper.
• Zoro begs his rival for tutelage. Having beaten Gloom Island’s weapon-mimicking monkeys (the Humandrills), Zoro kneels before Mihawk — “Please… teach me… what you know!!” — openly stating he still intends to one day take Mihawk’s head but values “something more than his own pride.” Mihawk: “When a man of your caliber abandons his pride, it is always for the sake of another… When your wounds are healed, I will instruct you” (pp. 2–5). See Worlds Greatest Swordsman.
• Jinbei’s farewell + Fish-Man Island promise. In a “few days earlier” Calm Belt flashback, Jinbei leaves on a whale-shark mount and tells Luffy: “Let’s meet at Fish-Man Island two years from now! I’ll be waiting for you and your crew!” (p. 8).
• Rusukaina, Luffy’s training island. “Rusukaina, a deserted island northwest of the Island of Women, the Calm Belt.” Experiences the “48 seasons” (a different season every week of the year); home to over 500 ferocious beasts all stronger than Luffy; carries ancient ruins — “inhabited in ancient times, but those people lost the battle for survival” (pp. 9–11). Rayleigh forbids Hancock and all women from visiting so the training stays brutal.
• The three colors of Haki — first systematic explanation (Rayleigh, pp. 12–18):
  • Observation Haki (“color of Observation”) — sense an opponent acutely; read the location, number, and movements of enemies you cannot see. “They call this power Mantra in the Sky Island of Skypiea” (p. 13).
  • Armament Haki (“color of Arms”) — an invisible suit of armor that can be used as a weapon; the only counter-measure (besides striking weak points) effective against Logia / Devil-Fruit users. Lets one strike intangible Logia bodies — referencing Aokiji, “Smoky”, and how Rayleigh hit Kizaru (pp. 14–15). The Kuja imbue their bows and arrows with it.
  • Conqueror’s Haki (“color of the Supreme King”) — possessed only by those destined to stand above others; overwhelms the weak-willed without a touch. Cannot be trained directly — it grows only as the user’s spirit grows. Luffy already awakened it at the auction house (Sabaody) and has used it unknowingly before (pp. 16–18).
  • A “third form of Haki” is teased as rare (p. 15) — resolved within the chapter as the Supreme King color itself.
• Rayleigh commits to two years of training, teaching Luffy the basics of all three colors so he can find and focus the one he is best at (p. 18).

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Payoffs (seeds from earlier chapters that resolve here)

Mentions / appearances

• Characters (shown): Zoro, Mihawk, Perona, Luffy, Silvers Rayleigh, Hancock, Jinbei (flashback), Nami, Franky, Usopp, Sanji, Nico Robin, Brook, Tony Tony Chopper.
• Characters (referenced / tribute art): Whitebeard (title-page tribute splash), Aokiji, Smoker, Kizaru, Roger (“the Pirate King’s crew”).
• Groups / crews: Roger Pirates, Kuja.
• Locations: Gloom Island (Muggy Kingdom ruins), Rusukaina, Calm Belt, Amazon Lily (Island of Women), Sabaody Archipelago, Fish-Man Island, Skypiea, Grand Line.
• World-building: Haki (Observation / Armament / Conqueror’s), Mantra.

Notable panels

• p. 1 — Chapter-title tribute splash: two veteran titans of the Roger era, Silvers Rayleigh (left, beneath the Roger Pirates’ jolly roger) and Whitebeard (right, beneath the Whitebeard mark). The crossed-out “3D” / “2Y” appears in the title itself. Decorative/memorial; B&W.
• pp. 5–7 — The scattered crew rendered as split reaction panels spelling out the decoded message: “TWO YEARS!” / “IN TWO YEARS!!” / “AT THE SABAODY ARCHIPELAGO!!”
• p. 13 — Rayleigh’s Observation-Haki demo; the line equating it with Skypiea’s “Mantra.”
• pp. 16–17 — Rayleigh fells a charging beast with Conqueror’s Haki (“BABOOM”); the “color of the Supreme King” named.
• p. 19 — Final story panel: Luffy’s straw hat, as the two-year training begins (“Let’s get started, Rayleigh!!”).
• pp. 20–21 — Oda’s “HDYD!” author note: announces a one-month hiatus, the trip to Hawaii, and the coming “New World” arc. Signed 2011.
• pp. 22–23 — “3D2Y Section, Part 1”: rough concept-art preview of the crew’s post-timeskip designs (bonus material, not story canon).
• pp. 24–30 — Usopp Gallery Pirates fan-art gallery.

Open questions raised

• What ancient people inhabited Rusukaina, and what “battle for survival” wiped them out?
• What is the rare “third form of Haki” hinted before the Supreme King reveal — is the Supreme King color the only “third” form, or is a further form being teased? (Resolved in-chapter as Conqueror’s, but the phrasing leaves room.)
• Which “color” will Luffy prove best suited to over the two years?