Chapters · Four Emperors (Yonko) › Wano Country

Chapter 979: Family Problem

Arc: Wano Country · Saga: Four Emperors (Yonko) · Released: 2020-05-10

Summary

Shogun Orochi laughs in dangerous complacency: thanks to reports from his spy Kanjuro, he believes he knows everything the Akazaya are planning, that the samurai’s retribution has been “completely headed off,” and that his plan is “perfect” — he will no longer be tormented by the ghosts of the Kozuki clan (p. 2). But contrary to his belief, the raid on Onigashima is already beginning: Kin’emon leads the Eastern forces, Denjiro the Southern, total manpower exceeds 5,000, and Law’s submarine carries the Akazaya samurai under the sea — all converging on Kaido and Orochi undetected (p. 3-4). Kanjuro, who has the bound Momonosuke held hostage, is lost in the island’s tunnels and cannot reach Orochi to warn him; to the castle guards he is just one more enemy samurai (p. 4-5). On the approach, Chopper commands Franky-built mecha — the Black Rhino FR-U4 and the Brachio-Tank 5 — ferrying Nami, Usopp, Brook, Carrot, Robin and Jinbei (fighting “my first battle on the crew”) to dock at the rear of the island, while Kid’s crew charges the front gate and Luffy runs off, prompting Zoro to chase him before he ruins Kin’emon’s plan (p. 6-9).

Inside Kaido’s castle, the six Tobi Roppo — Who’s-Who, Sasaki, Black Maria, Page One, Ulti, X Drake — are received by Kaido, who explains “something’s come up” so they were made to wait; he had meant to introduce them to Linlin (Big Mom), still changing, and declares the day is “all about mingling freely” (p. 10-11). When they ask who actually summoned them, KING reveals it was him: title-carded as an Animal Kingdom Pirates Lead Performer, he notes the Tobi Roppo are former pirate captains “angling for a spot among the Lead Performers” in the crew’s meritocracy (p. 12-13). King has the Headliner Bao Huang (Flying Squirrel SMILE Fruit) recite the schedule — Queen MCs the Golden Festival, then Orochi and Kaido give a speech and toast — building to Kaido’s “very important announcement” upon the Big Mom Pirates’ arrival: the world’s strongest pirate alliance (p. 13-14). Kaido then states his real task: his “idiot son” Yamato has disappeared, and the Tobi Roppo must find and bring Yamato back; the reward is the right to directly challenge a Lead Performer of their choosing. The six eagerly accept — Black Maria grumbles “it IS your stupid family problem” — with no complaints (p. 14-17). Below, Queen MCs the festival (“NOW SCREAAAM!! FUNK!!”) as a disguised Luffy hunts for “Jaggy” and, ignorant of Oden’s struggle, is enraged to see the Beasts about to waste sweet red-bean soup (oshiruko) by dumping it in front of starving Okobore Town (p. 16-17).

New reveals

• The Onigashima raid begins. Kin’emon leads the Eastern forces, Denjiro the Southern; total alliance manpower “exceeds 5,000,” and Law’s submarine carries the Akazaya samurai under the sea — all converging on Kaido and Orochi undetected (p. 3-4).
• Orochi’s fatal complacency (dramatic irony). Believing his spy Kanjuro has kept him fully informed, Orochi thinks the samurai retribution is “completely headed off” and his plan “perfect” (p. 2) — even as the raid lands.
• Kanjuro cannot deliver his warning. Carrying the hostage Momonosuke, Kanjuro is lost in the tunnels and cannot reach Orochi; the guards read him as an enemy samurai (p. 4-5). The surprise of the raid hinges on this failure.
• King summoned the Tobi Roppo — not Kaido. King is title-carded “Animal Kingdom Pirates Lead Performer — KING” (p. 12), the first time he is framed on-page as an All-Star here. He observes the Tobi Roppo are former pirate captains “angling for a spot among the Lead Performers,” confirming the crew is an explicit meritocracy (“You climb the ranks with skill,” p. 13).
• Kaido’s “idiot son” Yamato. Kaido reveals his child Yamato ran off “earlier today” and orders the Tobi Roppo to find and return Yamato; the reward is “the right to directly challenge a Lead Performer of your choosing” if they bring Yamato back safely (p. 14-15). Yamato is first named here (mentioned, not yet shown).
• The hidden announcement. Bao Huang’s schedule and King confirm Kaido’s “very important announcement” — to be made on the Big Mom Pirates’ arrival — is the world’s strongest pirate alliance: Kaido and Big Mom joining forces (p. 13-14).
• Bao Huang debuts. Title-carded “Animal Kingdom Pirates Headliner — BAO HUANG / Flying Squirrel SMILE Fruit,” reciting the day’s schedule (p. 13-14).
• Jinbei’s first battle as a Straw Hat. Jinbei: “I want to make myself useful for my first battle on the crew!!” (p. 9). Chopper commands Franky’s Black Rhino FR-U4 and Brachio-Tank 5 (p. 6-9); Robin volunteers to “calmly observe the state of the battle” (p. 9).
• Luffy’s food-rage (Okobore setup). Disguised and hunting for “Jaggy” (Kid), Luffy — who “doesn’t even know the first thing about Oden’s struggle” — is enraged when the Beasts move to dump sweet red-bean soup in front of starving Okobore Town (p. 16-17).

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Mentions / appearances

• Orochi — complacent on his spy’s reports (p. 2).
• Kanjuro — lost in the tunnels with the hostage Momonosuke, unable to reach Orochi (p. 4-5).
• Momonosuke — held hostage by Kanjuro (referenced, p. 4).
• Kin’emon (Eastern forces) / Denjiro (Southern forces) lead the landing; Trafalgar Law’s submarine ferries the Akazaya under the sea (p. 3-4).
• Eustass Kid charges the front gate (p. 7); Luffy runs off, Zoro gives chase (p. 7).
• Tony Tony Chopper commands Franky’s Black Rhino FR-U4 / Brachio-Tank 5; rides with Nami, Usopp, Brook, Carrot (Mink), Nico Robin, Jinbei (p. 6-9).
• Kaido, King (Lead Performer), Bao Huang (Headliner) and the six Tobi Roppo — Who’s-Who, Sasaki, Black Maria, Page One, Ulti, X Drake — meet in the castle (p. 10-17).
• Queen MCs the Golden Festival (p. 16). Big Mom (Linlin) referenced as still changing / inbound (p. 11, 14). Yamato named (p. 14-15).
• Cover story (Limited Cover Series No. 24 — “Gang Bege’s Oh My Family”, Vol. 26): “The Tontattas Find a Ship Adrift” (p. 1 title page) — the Tontatta dwarves (Dwarves / Tontatta Kingdom) find the Fire-Tank family’s cake-ship adrift off Dressrosa; 0979 cover_characters: Capone Bege, Charlotte Chiffon. Tracked in Limited-Cover-Series-No-24-Gang-Beges-Oh-My-Family.

Notable panels

• p. 1 (cover story) — “Gang Bege’s Oh My Family, Vol. 26: ‘The Tontattas Find a Ship Adrift’” — the Tontatta dwarves discover the Fire-Tank family’s adrift cake-ship off Dressrosa. Cover-story B-plot — tracked in Limited-Cover-Series-No-24-Gang-Beges-Oh-My-Family.
• p. 3-4 — Onigashima raid splash + tactical map (Kaido’s Castle / South & East forces / Law’s sub converging).
• p. 6-9 — Franky’s Black Rhino FR-U4 and Brachio-Tank 5 in action; Chopper as “Commander.”
• p. 12 — King full-body title-card reveal as Animal Kingdom Pirates Lead Performer.
• p. 13-14 — Bao Huang title-card (Flying Squirrel SMILE Fruit).
• p. 16 — Queen’s “FUNK!!” festival-MC splash.

Open questions raised

• Who is Yamato, and why is Kaido’s child a runaway “son” he needs retrieved?
• Will any Tobi Roppo actually earn an All-Star challenge by capturing Yamato?
• Can the raid stay undetected now that Kanjuro can’t warn Orochi?