Chapters · Four Emperors (Yonko) › Wano Country

Chapter 954: Like a Dragon Given Wings

Arc: Wano Country · Saga: Four Emperors (Yonko) · Released: 2019-09-02

Summary

Seven days before the Onigashima raid, at Ringo, the woman at Zoro’s side is named Lady Hiyori — Kozuki Oden’s daughter — who explains her father wielded two full-size swords: she inherited Enma, her brother Momonosuke inherited Ame-no-Habakiri. She asks Zoro to surrender the black blade Shusui — sacred treasure of Wano, the grave-sword of the swordsman-god Ryuma — so it can be returned to its rightful place; Zoro agrees, on condition he may visit Ryuma’s grave, and is offered Enma as a replacement (p. 2-4). In the Flower Capital, Law confronts Kid about the collapsed Kid–Apoo–Hawkins alliance: Apoo was secretly in Kaido’s employ, and Kaido recruits mighty pirates by capturing and breaking their will into Orochi’s pawns; Law cuts Kid loose and Kid agrees to join the raid as a “willing participant” — six days remain (p. 4-6). At Udon, Luffy trains by pounding a sheet of Kaido’s shed skin to forge advanced Armament under Hyogoro’s coaching — five days remain (p. 7). Across Wano, Kin’emon relays Yasuie’s dying alteration to the rally-message: two lines added to the “viper” (Habu) image turn it into a lizard (Tokage), redirecting the secret meeting-place to Tokage Port in Udon and foiling Orochi’s spies (p. 8-10). The strategy meeting convenes — 5,000 men sought, seven Kozuki vassals gathered, still no word on Denjiro — and the two Koi-fish-climb / waterfall-cave routes into Wano are laid out (p. 11-12). At Hakumai the annual Golden Festival opens; Kaido arrives and the giant Numbers return (p. 13-14). The chapter closes on the festival reveal: the Beasts Pirates and Big Mom Pirates are forming a pirate alliance to take over the world — and then finish their fight to the death (p. 15).

New reveals

• Kozuki Oden was a two-sword swordsman; his blades Enma and Ame-no-Habakiri were entrusted one each to Hiyori and Momonosuke (p. 2).
• Shusui is a Wano national treasure — the grave-sword of Ryuma, “god of the blade” — and Zoro’s possession of it is a “national tragedy”; both Enma and Ame-no-Habakiri were forged by two famed Wano bladesmiths (p. 2-3).
• Hiyori is alive and present at Ringo, attended by a fox-masked retainer; she negotiates Shusui’s return in exchange for Enma (p. 2-4).
• Scratchmen Apoo was in Kaido’s employ all along; the Kid–Apoo–Hawkins alliance was a trap (p. 4).
• Kaido builds his army by capturing strong-willed pirates and breaking their spirits into submission; “Kaido will not kill men of such strong disposition,” and the Four Emperors are “different creatures” who become Orochi’s pawns (p. 5-6).
• Yasuie’s altered rally-message: adding two lines (legs) to the pit-viper (Habu) image turns it into a lizard (Tokage), relocating the meeting place to Tokage Port in Udon to fool Orochi’s spies (p. 8-9).
• Each Wano port is named for an animal (Neko, Kaeru, Itachi, Tokage, Habu, Mogura Ports) (p. 9).
• Two ways into Wano: pulled up by Koi fish then a gondola to Mogura Port, or splitting a waterfall through caves — neither passable without Kaido/Orochi’s leave (p. 12).
• The annual Golden Festival at Hakumai; the giant Numbers return (p. 13-14).
• The Beasts Pirates and Big Mom Pirates announce a pirate alliance to conquer the world, then settle their grudge in a fight to the death (p. 15).

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Payoffs (seeds from earlier chapters that resolve here)

Mentions / appearances

• Characters: Zoro, Kozuki Hiyori (alive; = the oiran Oiran (top courtesan of Wano)), Gyukimaru (fox-masked retainer at Hiyori’s side — tentative ID), Kozuki Oden (referenced), Momonosuke (referenced), Ryuma (referenced), Trafalgar Law, Eustass Kid, Killer (referenced), Scratchmen Apoo (referenced), Kaido, Big Mom, Luffy, Hyogoro, Kin’emon, Franky, Sanji, Brook, Nico Robin, Tonoyasu (referenced; the “Yasuie” of his message), Orochi (referenced), Denjiro (referenced — still missing)
• Groups: Animal Kingdom Pirates (Beasts Pirates), Big Mom Pirates, the Numbers, the Kozuki vassals/Akazaya Nine
• Locations: Ringo, Wano Country, Flower Capital, Udon, Amigasa Village, Kuri, Hakumai, Onigashima (referenced), Neko Port, Kaeru Port, Itachi Port, Tokage Port, Habu Port, Mogura Port
• Items: Enma, Ame-no-Habakiri, Shusui (the three named swords)

Notable panels

• Page 1 — Title page. Cover story: Gang Bege’s Oh My Family Vol. 5: “Can’t Get Past the Red Line With All the Hub-Bub at the Reverie!!” (Capone Bege’s family ship near the Red Line, blocked by the Reverie traffic).
• Page 2-4 — Hiyori displays Enma and Ame-no-Habakiri; the Shusui/Ryuma exchange with Zoro.
• Page 7 — Luffy pounds Kaido’s shed skin “like it’s gelatin” to build Armament Haki.
• Page 9 — The Wano port-animals map and the viper→lizard (Tokage) riddle.
• Page 14 — Full-page silhouette spread of the Numbers arriving (visually significant; mirror flag).
• Page 15 — Big Mom and Kaido laughing together as the alliance is announced.

Open questions raised

• What exactly are the Numbers, and what is their role in Kaido’s forces?
• Will Enma’s properties (Oden’s own blade) prove significant for Zoro against Kaido?
• Where is Denjiro, the still-missing ninth Kozuki vassal?
• What sealed the Kaido–Big Mom alliance, and how/when will their “fight to the death” resurface?