Episode 4 of One Piece resumes with Zoro waking up at the bottom of the well, miraculously alive and unscathed despite the swords that narrowly missed piercing him. As he gathers his belongings, he crafts a makeshift grappling hook and prepares to ascend the well's depths.
Our gaze shifts back in time to Shimotsuki Village, seven years prior. Here, we delve deeper into Zoro's past, witnessing how he honed his swordsmanship under rigorous training. However, his journey didn't start smoothly, as he was constantly overshadowed by Kuina, a natural-born swordswoman.
The two engage in another duel, this time with authentic katanas in hand. Kuina accepts the challenge, emphasizing that Zoro must be prepared to fight to the death. Despite repeated defeats, Zoro persists, determined to improve. Kuina recognizes his potential, noting that as a man, he will grow stronger with time, while she, as a child, will eventually weaken.
Encouraged by her words, Zoro vows to train harder and eventually surpass Kuina. They seal their promise, aiming to become the world's greatest swordsman or swordswoman.
Tragically, an accident occurs, resulting in Kuina's untimely death. While the manga reveals she fell down a flight of stairs, this adaptation leaves the cause unexplained. Nonetheless, Zoro's determination is reignited, fueling his resolve to train harder than ever and fulfill their shared dream for Kuina's sake.
Meanwhile, Koby embarks on a hunt for Luffy and Kuro, the pirates lurking on the island. Unaware of their intentions, Usopp unwittingly leads them to Kaya's mansion. However, Luffy remains unconscious after ingesting the mysterious goo from the slow cooker in the previous episode.
It's not Koby who stumbles upon the unconscious pirate but Kuro's henchmen, Sham and Buchi. The two bicker until Kuro intervenes, demanding answers. Learning that Luffy has consumed the entire batch of soup intended for Kaya, Kuro assumes him dead and orders his men to dispose of the body by throwing him into the well.
While skulking in the shadows of the kitchen cabinet, Nami eavesdropped on the entire conversation. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, shattering the silence, and the Marines appeared on the scene. Kuro calmly answered the door, painting Usopp as a madman who profited from the soldiers' benevolence, particularly his offer to surrender Luffy. Usopp frantically tried to refute these claims, but without concrete evidence of Kuro's piracy, Koby's hands were tied.
Koby, who knew far more than he was letting on, was about to depart when a loud clang echoed from the kitchen, alerting him to another commotion. It was Nami's handiwork, as she sneaked up behind Sham and knocked her unconscious. Meanwhile, Usopp crept into Kaya's bedroom, warning her of Kuro's sinister intentions and the butler's grisly fate. Kaya, however, refused to believe her old friend's story, dismissing it as a childish game and slapping him across the face.
Undeterred, Usopp sat firmly on the sofa, vowing to stay by Kaya's side until she was safe. As midnight approached, Kuro's evil smile widened as he revealed that Kaya had reached the age of inheritance, rendering her no longer necessary to them. They could now seize her fortune without any hindrance. Buchi was ordered to lock down the house, trapping everyone inside with the pirates. Kuro, Buchi, and Sham embarked on a hunt, leaving Nami to reveal the shocking truth to Kaya.
Kaya's illness, it turned out, was a result of the pirates' gradual poisoning. They had been slowly weakening her over time, waiting for the perfect moment to claim her fortune. Nami's convincing words finally broke through Kaya's skepticism, and they crept through the hidden passageways in a desperate bid for freedom. But their escape was cut short when Kaya's coughing betrayed their position. Kuro, lurking on the other side of the wall, emerged with his blades drawn, intent on finishing what he had started.
Luffy projectilely regurgitated the azure soup, gradually returning to consciousness. In his weakened state, he whispered to Koby, urging him to do what was right, insisting that Kaya was innocent in the entire affair. Helmeppo, having heard enough, drew his gun, ready to fire. But before he could pull the trigger, Zoro emerged from the shadows, stepping into the fray. With a powerful blow, he knocked Helmeppo unconscious, and the two parted ways, Luffy vowing to Koby that he would not stop him from saving his friends.
Back at the mansion, Zoro and Luffy reunited and split up, each intent on tracking down and stopping Kuro's murderous rampage. However, it was Usopp who unexpectedly intervened, using his slingshot to distract Kuro long enough for Luffy to gain the upper hand. Meanwhile, in the main atrium, Zoro faced a dual challenge, engaging in combat with both Sham and Buchi.
Kuro taunted Luffy, darting around the room and slashing at him with his knives. He boasted about being the man with a thousand plans... but he hadn't anticipated Luffy's sneak attack, slamming him in the face from behind a pillar. As the battle intensified, Luffy unleashed his Gum Gum Bell attack, smashing Kuro square in the face and sending him flying through the window. The impact knocked him unconscious, finally bringing an end to Kuro's reign of terror.
With the pirates vanquished, Kaya gracefully consented to gift the Straw Hat Crew their own vessel. He christened the ship the Going Merry, in homage to his loyal butler, who had passed away. Meanwhile, Luffy and his crew warmly welcomed Usopp onto their new ship, acknowledging his unselfish deeds and remarkable marksmanship. As Usopp prepared to depart, he and Kaya shared a tender kiss, sealing their bond.
Koby returned to the ship, his brow furrowed in disappointment over his efforts. Yet, Garp calmly reminded him that he had always had a contingency plan in place - to force the pirates out into the open. And so, the mission was declared a success as Luffy and his crew set sail into the vast open seas... only to be immediately besieged by an attack.
Peering through his telescope at the approaching ship, Luffy's eyes widened in disbelief as he recognized the pursuer... it was his grandfather! Wait, what?!
