Chapters · Four Emperors (Yonko) › Wano Country

Chapter 978: Introducing the Tobi Roppo

Arc: Wano Country · Saga: Four Emperors (Yonko) · Released: 2020-04-26

Summary

The alliance fleet makes landfall on Onigashima under cover of the burning decoy ships, and the strike force gets its first look at Kaido’s island lair — vast, fortified, and packed with revelers for the once-a-year Golden Festival (p. 2-5). Law sinks the alliance’s own ships the moment they disembark — “We need no return ships!! We sink them before we go!” — to a chorus of panic from the less-resolute Straw Hats, while Brook reads it as proof of how serious the samurai are: win or die (p. 7-8). To slip past the shoreline crowd, Kin’emon deploys his garb-garb power — “Kin’s Clothing Company” — clothing the whole party in Beasts Pirates uniforms, warning that the jutsu is pure illusion-cloth that vanishes if removed or damaged, so they must avoid all conflict on the way in (p. 9-10). Up on the festival stage the All-Star Queen performs as flamboyant MC, hyping the crowd and naming the crew’s rank tiers in turn — Waiters, Pleasures, Gifters, Headliners, the Tobi Roppo, and the Numbers (p. 11-15). The Tobi Roppo themselves are finally shown individually — Who’s-Who, Page One, Ulti, Sasaki, X Drake, and Black Maria — bickering as they wait: Ulti and Page One reveal themselves as siblings (Ulti viciously defending her “Pay-pay” against Sasaki), and the six muse over who would replace Queen as lead performer, having been summoned by Kaido on urgent business and left to wait (p. 15-17).

New reveals

• The Tobi Roppo (“Flying Six”) are revealed individually for the first time (chapter title: “Introducing the Tobi Roppo”). All six are named and shown at the festival: Who’s-Who, Page One, Ulti, Sasaki, X Drake, and Black Maria — Kaido’s six strongest Headliners (p. 15-17). This is the payoff to the silhouetted-feet tease at the end of Ch. 977.
• Ulti and Page One are siblings. Ulti calls Page One “Pay-pay” and dotes on him; Page One tells her “I said stop it, sis!!”; Ulti threatens “If you insult my Pay-pay one more time, I’ll break you in two!!” at Sasaki (p. 15-16). Black Maria remarks “Another family issue, then?” (p. 16).
• Kin’emon’s garb-garb power “Kin’s Clothing Company.” Kin’emon clothes the entire strike force in Beasts Pirates uniforms — “one of the greatest applications of my garb-garb power” — but warns it is only jutsu creating the effect; if the garb is removed or damaged, you revert to your original clothes. He orders the party to avoid any unnecessary conflict on the way to the battle (p. 9-10).
• Law scuttles the alliance’s ships on landing — “We need no return ships!! We sink them before we go! On this mission… …or die!!!” — a deliberate burn-the-boats commitment that panics Nami/Usopp/Chopper (p. 7-8).
• Queen runs the Golden Festival as MC, an All-Star “lead performer,” and names the Beasts Pirates rank tiers on the live floor: Waiters (those awaiting SMILE fruits), Pleasures (those who lost the bet and laugh), Gifters (those blessed with powers), Headliners (the chosen Gifters), the Tobi Roppo, and the Numbers (p. 13-15). He also name-checks “Big Mom’s children” present and “the Ninja Oniwabanshu” as special guests.
• Kaido summoned the Tobi Roppo on “urgent” business and left them waiting — “when Kaido says ‘urgent’… it usually means one thing.” The six gossip about who would become the next lead performer if Queen were to die (p. 15-17). (Kaido himself is referenced, not shown.)

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Payoffs (seeds from earlier chapters that resolve here)

Mentions / appearances

• Straw Hats (disguised infiltrators): Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Nico Robin, Franky, Brook, Tony Tony Chopper, Usopp (uses a “Sleep-grass Green Star” Pop Green to keep the shore guards asleep, p. 6), Jinbei — Straw Hat Pirates
• Alliance: Kin’emon (Akazaya Nine; garb-garb “Kin’s Clothing Company”), Denjiro (Kin’emon: “I trust you’ve kept your combat skills in shape, Denjiro?!”), Trafalgar Law (Heart Pirates; sinks the ships), Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance
• Tobi Roppo (Flying Six) — revealed: Who’s-Who, Page One, Ulti, Sasaki, X Drake, Black Maria — Animal Kingdom Pirates
• Other Beasts Pirates: Queen (All-Star / festival MC) — Gifters, Pleasures, Waiters, Headliners, the Numbers named on the floor
• Referenced (not shown): Kaido (summoned the Tobi Roppo; “urgent”), Big Mom (her “children” announced as present), Orochi (his forces / the Mimawari-gumi name-checked), the Numbers, the Oniwabanshu ninja
• Groups / lore: Big Mom Pirates, Orochi Oniwabanshu, SMILE (Waiters await SMILE fruits), Fire Festival (the Onigashima “Golden Festival”)
• Cover story: Capone Bege, Charlotte Chiffon, Vito, Gotti

Notable panels

• Page 1 (cover story): “Gang Bege’s Oh My Family, Vol. 25: ‘We’re grateful!! Thanks for saving our captain!!’” — the Firetank Pirates / Bege’s crew. (Cover-story B-plot — defer to cover-tracker.)
• Page 2-3: The alliance launches its assault under the burning decoy ships (“…and meet at the rear gate of the castle!!”); the ships blaze on the water.
• Page 4-5: Wide reveal of Onigashima — “Whoa!! So this… is Onigashima!!!”; the festival lanterns, ogre statues, and skull-faced lair.
• Page 7: Law sinks the alliance ships — “We need no return ships!!!”
• Page 11-14: Queen’s flamboyant “FUNKY!!!” stage performance as festival MC; the rank tiers (Waiters / Pleasures / Gifters) introduced with crowd call-and-response; “HEADLINERS — The Chosen Gifters.”
• Page 15-17: The Tobi Roppo revealed individually — Who’s-Who, Page One, Ulti, Sasaki, X Drake, Black Maria — bickering as they wait on Kaido’s summons. Closing “TOP!! ANIMAL KINGDOM!” panel; “Next chapter hits May 10!” (Golden Week break).

Open questions raised

• What is Kaido’s “urgent” business that has summoned the Tobi Roppo?
• What are the Devil Fruits / powers of the newly revealed Who’s-Who, Ulti, Sasaki, and Black Maria?
• Will Kin’emon’s garb-garb disguises hold, given his own warning that damage reverts them?
• Who is the “next lead performer” candidacy really about — which Tobi Roppo is angling to replace an All-Star?