After learning of Captain Kuro's evil plan, Usopp runs back to the village to warn Kaya, only to find that after all his years of lying no one believes him.
The Straw Hat Pirates take out most of the Black Cat Pirates, so Jango orders the Nyaban Brothers to attack. Meanwhile, after getting hypnotized by Jango, Luffy gets himself stuck under the collapsed mast of the Black Cat Pirates' ship.
Captain Kuro arrives at the scene, and with Zoro too injured to fight, Luffy being incapacitated, and the other two being too weak to handle him, things seem hopeless. However, Kaya herself appears to bargain with Kuro.
Luffy's fight to the finish intensifies when Kuro employs his devastating Out of the Back technique. In the forest, the Usopp Pirates do their best to protect Miss Kaya and evade the pursuing Jango.
The Syrup Village arc concludes with fights to the finish with Kuro and Jango. The game-changing battle opens new chapters for Miss Kira, Usopp, and the Usopp Pirates. The Straw Hats welcome aboard a new mate and set sail for adventure.
With Usopp now in the crew and a new ship, the Going Merry, the Straw Hats head to an island said to hold a fabled treasure, only to encounter a strange man stuck in a treasure box.
While Luffy and Usopp fool around with the ship's cannon, Zoro dreams about his childhood in the dojo and the years of training to strengthen his body and hone his skills. And he remembers the promise he made to rival swordfighter Kuina.
The Straw Hats meet bounty hunters Johnny and Yosaku. Nami shudders at the sight of a wanted poster for the pirate Arlong. They meet Marine Lt. Fullbody and at the Baratie restaurant they find an extraordinary sous chef named Sanji.
Gin returns to the Baratie with his also-starving captain, Don Krieg, to whom Sanji once more gives food, but Don Krieg betrays the cook once he regains his energy.
It is revealed that Chef Zeff was a great pirate known as Red Leg Zeff. Gin explains the catastrophe the fleet met in Grand Line when they encountered Hawk-Eyes Mihawk, and Krieg attempts to take control of the Baratie.
Mihawk leaves after defeating Zoro, so Krieg continues his invasion as Sanji reveals his fighting skills. Meanwhile, Johnny and Yosaku leave with Usopp and the wounded Zoro to go after Nami.
When Gin refuses to kill Sanji, Krieg uses poison gas on him. Luffy seems to have the advantage in the fight until Krieg pulls out his explosive Battle Spear.
The crew chases after Nami, who stole their ship, and Yosaku takes time during the trip to explain about Arlong and his Fishmen to Luffy and Sanji. Meanwhile, Usopp, Johnny, and Zoro arrive at the island Nami docked at.
After Zoro escapes with Nami's help, she tries to prove her loyalty to the Arlong Pirates by appearing to kill Usopp. Meanwhile, Luffy's group finally arrives at the island.
Nojiko starts her story about Nami's childhood and their adopted mother, Bellemere. Despite being poor and none of them being related by blood, they had a happy life.
With Arlong's officers defeated Zoro and Sanji take on Arlong but prove that they aren't a match for him. However, with Luffy finally free, he takes on Arlong himself.
Arlong's reign of terror is over, and no one has anything on their mind except to party. As the crew celebrates, Nami reflects on her hometown and decides to officially join the Straw Hat Pirates.
After his fight with Luffy, Buggy was sent flying to another island with several body parts missing. Thus, Buggy begins his journey to find his crew and his body parts, making some unlikely friends.
While searching for a pair of new swords to replace the ones shattered by Mihawk, Zoro meets a woman named Tashigi. At first sight, she looks exactly like Kuina.
