ONE PIECE Episode 38 Recap & Characters (Spoiler-Free)

Episode Summary

Luffy in Big Trouble! Fishmen vs. The Luffy Pirates!

Luffy confronts Arlong, announces himself as a pirate, and demands an end to Arlong making his navigator cry. The fish-men accuse Nami of betrayal after Kuroobi identifies Zoro and they learn Usopp survived. Villagers question the newcomers while Johnny and Yosaku urge them not to interfere. Hatchan summons Mohmoo, which the villagers recognize as the monster that destroyed Gosa; Luffy overwhelms it with a spinning attack. Hatchan and Chew fight with ink and in pursuit of Usopp, while Sanji and Zoro take on their opponents. Arlong then reveals his game: how long Luffy can survive underwater while Zoro and Sanji prepare to finish their fights quickly.

• Confrontation with Arlong

  Luffy confronts Arlong, declares himself a pirate, and demands that Arlong stop making his navigator cry, while Sanji objects to Luffy taking all the fighting and Usopp is happy to leave it to him.

• Mohmoo summoned against the pirates

  Hatchan summons Mohmoo, which frightens the villagers who recognize it as the monster that destroyed Gosa; Luffy's stretching arm reveals his ability and his spinning attack throws the creature.

• Skirmishes with Hatchan, Chew, and their crew

  Hatchan's ink leaves Luffy blinded and stuck, Sanji intervenes, Zoro offers to fight Hatchan, and Usopp sets a fire attack and flees with Chew in pursuit.

• Arlong's underwater game

  Arlong announces a game in which Luffy must survive underwater; Zoro and Sanji resolve to defeat their opponents quickly, and Luffy can summon no strength while the onlookers fear he will die.

Recent Timeline

• Arlong claims Cocoyasi Village (Episode 35)

  The Arlong Pirates invade Cocoyasi Village and Arlong declares the entire island his domain. Every citizen must pay him a monthly tribute in exchange for their lives.

• Bellemere executed during Arlong's invasion (Episode 36)

  Arlong made his promise to spare Bellemere's daughters conditional on her accepting death, and the villagers' resistance was put down. Bellemere was shot after telling Nojiko and Nami that she loved them, and Arlong announced she would serve as an example.

• Nami joins Arlong's crew as surveyor (Episode 36)

  Nami returned to the village and announced she would serve Arlong as a sea chart surveyor, rejecting her family's pleas. She was ordered out of the village after agreeing to draw charts for Arlong in exchange for the chance to buy the village's freedom for 100 million berries.

• Marines seize Nami's savings (Episode 37)

  Nezumi's searchers found the hundred million berries Nami had hidden and seized them, with Nezumi claiming thirty percent for himself. Arlong's knowledge of the amount suggested he had sent the Marines, and the loss destroyed Nami's years-long plan to buy back Cocoyasi Village.

• Marines shoot Nojiko (Episode 37)

  During the search, the Marines shot Nojiko. She survived and said she was all right, and her statement that Arlong had allied with the Marines and deceived Nami for eight years made clear the betrayal behind the seizure.

Character Graph

Helmeppo

Marine

A snobbish, cruel man who is the son of Captain Morgan and abuses the townspeople.

• Abuse of townspeople

  Brings a hostile wolf into a bar, then threatens to execute the customers unless Zoro surrenders.

• Broken deal

  Breaks his deal with Zoro by intending to execute him anyway.

• Roronoa Zoro (Other, Hostility)

  Struck a deal with Zoro after Zoro defeated his wolf, then intended to execute him anyway.

Buggy

Buggy Pirates

Captain of the Buggy Pirates; a fearsome pirate with his own Devil Fruit ability; his territory is where Luffy lands after being dropped by the bird.

Former fellow apprentice of Shanks in the same pirate crew; plotted to steal a Devil Fruit and treasure map before being caught.

• Power

  Can separate his body parts and is immune to being cut apart, due to the Bara Bara Fruit.

• Roronoa Zoro (Other, Hostility)

  Fought Zoro and stabbed him; claimed Zoro's wound decided the fight.

• Nami (Hierarchy, Hostility)

  Accepted Nami into his crew as a supposed defector; ordered her to fire a Buggy Ball at Luffy as proof of loyalty.

• Luffy (Other, Hostility)

  Fights Luffy and pierces his straw hat with knives, enraging him.

  Luffy struck Buggy down during the attempt to seize his treasure and later blasted him out of town.

Usopp

Village youth who invents tall tales and leads a small group of followers; wants to become a pirate.

Village liar who joins the crew as a new permanent member after his backstory is revealed.

• Tall tales

  Invents an alarm, claims to command eighty million followers, and tells extravagant stories to entertain Kaya.

• Reputation as a liar

  His repeated lies make the villagers refuse to believe his pirate warning.

• Retraction and resolve

  He claims the pirate threat was invented, then decides to intercept the pirates at the coast himself.

• Childhood and father's departure

  His father Yasopp left to become a pirate with Shanks, leaving Usopp and his wife behind. His mother later died of illness, and Usopp became the village liar hoping his father would return.

• Luffy (Colleague, Affinity)

  Invited to join the crew as a new permanent member.

Gaimon

A man who was trapped in an empty treasure chest for twenty years on the island; refuses to join Luffy's crew and lives freely on the island.

• Past life

  Formerly a boy aboard a pirate ship that came to the island searching for treasure; after a month of failing to find any, his crew left him behind.

• Current stance

  Knowing there was no treasure gave him closure and the freedom to live as he pleased; he has befriended the animals native to the island.

• Luffy (Friend, Affinity)

  Quickly befriended by Luffy, who later invited him to join his crew; Gaimon declined.

Genzo

Cocoyasi Village

Genzo is a villager of Cocoyasi Village who was nearly executed by Arlong for possessing a weapon and was treated for his wounds afterward.

• Near execution

  Arlong decides to execute Genzo for possessing a weapon, which he treats as rebellion; Usopp interferes.

• Arlong (Other, Hostility)

  Arlong tried to execute Genzo for possessing a weapon.

Kuroobi

Arlong Pirates

A fish-man of the Arlong Pirates who suspected Nami of betraying the crew and questioned her loyalty.

• Accusing Nami

  Argued that someone freed Zoro and accused Nami of letting him infiltrate the crew, and suspected her of hiding a treasure map.

• Nami (Colleague, Hostility)

  Suspects Nami of betrayal and questions her motives for buying Cocoyasi Village.

• Arlong (Hierarchy, Neutral)

  Serves Arlong within the Arlong Pirates.

Bell-mère

Marine (former)

Adoptive mother of Nami and Nojiko, who farmed mikan in the outskirts of Cocoyasi Village to survive; she formerly travelled overseas as a Marine.

• Adoption

  Met Nojiko and infant Nami overseas, then took them back to Cocoyasi Village to raise them as her own children.

• Nami (Family, Guardian, Affinity)

  Adoptive mother who went without food so she could feed Nami, and who regretted their quarrel and prepared Nami's favorite meal.

• Nojiko (Family, Guardian, Affinity)

  Adoptive mother who raised Nojiko alongside Nami on a low income.

Nami

Straw Hat Pirates · Arlong Pirates · Arlong Pirates (surveyor)

A thief who targets pirates and steals sea charts; infiltrates Buggy's crew under a false pretext while secretly aiming to recover the chart and steal his treasure.

Nami, a young navigator and surveyor who joined Arlong's crew to draw sea charts in order to buy Cocoyasi Village's freedom for 100 million berries.

• Ambition

  Aims to earn one hundred million berries for reasons she keeps secret.

• Arlong's plan

  Arlong called her indispensable to his planned empire and affirmed his promise from eight years earlier to free her and Cocoyasi Village if she accumulated one hundred million berries.

• Family background

  Stole books from a local bookstore to support her cartography interest, and wore only hand-me-down clothing from Nojiko.

• Motive

  Works for Arlong to earn 100 million berries for the village's freedom, and vows to earn it alone.

• Luffy (Colleague, Neutral)

  Met Luffy after he defeated armed men; proposed a partnership, then declined his invitation to join his crew upon learning he was a pirate.

  Gave Luffy the Grand Line map and agreed to sail with the crew temporarily to acquire Bellies.

• Buggy (Hierarchy, Other, Hostility)

  Infiltrated Buggy's crew by claiming to have quarreled with her boss; privately plans to steal from him.

  Nami was attempting to leave with Buggy's treasure when he spotted her, and she restrained him with rope.

• Arlong (Hierarchy, Pact, Hostility)

  Serves under Arlong as his officer and cartographer.

  Serves Arlong as a surveyor drawing sea charts; smiles in front of him while resenting him for killing Bellemere.

• Nojiko (Family, Mixed)

  Nojiko is her adopted sister.

  Sister who condemned her decision; Nami keeps her in the dark about her plan to fight alone.

• Usopp (Other, Hostility)

  Threatened to eliminate Usopp because his companions could ruin her work, and Usopp accused her of deceiving Luffy.

• Bell-mère (Family, Guardian, Mixed)

  Adoptive mother with whom Nami quarrelled before running away from home; Bell-mère later prepared her favorite meal to make up for it.

Nezumi

Navy

Captain of the 16th Branch who arrived with another Navy ship and demanded that Genzo guide him to Nami's home without explaining his purpose.

Official who led the search for Nami's savings, accusing her of hiding stolen treasure.

• Arrival

  Identified himself as a captain of the 16th Branch and demanded guidance to Nami's home.

• Role

  Claims Nami hid pirate treasure in the tangerine grove and demands its surrender for government confiscation.

• Seizure of the money

  Ordered his men to search despite Nami's protest and declared thirty percent of the money would belong to him.

• Genzo (Other, Hostility)

  Demanded that Genzo guide him to Nami's home without explaining his purpose.

• Nami (Other, Hostility)

  Confronts Nami as the thief he is seeking and demands she surrender the stolen treasure.

  Accused her of hiding pirate treasure and seized her savings during the search.

Nojiko

Cocoyasi Village

A human resident who rescues Usopp by diverting an Arlong Pirate away.

Nami's sister who defended the villagers' struggle and was shot by the Marines during the search.

• Rescue of Usopp

  Intervenes when a revealed Arlong Pirate attempts to capture Usopp, diverting the pirate away.

• Introduction

  Arrived, introduced herself as Nami's sister, and asked the crew to stop interfering with the village and leave Nami alone.

• Search for Nami

  Went looking for Nami at Bell-mère's request and reunited with her before they returned home for dinner.

• Accusation against Arlong

  Asserted that Arlong allied with the Marines and deceived Nami for eight years.

• Nami (Family, Affinity)

  Nami is her adopted sister.

  Sister who stood against the Marines and Arlong's deception alongside her.

• Bell-mère (Family, Guardian, Affinity)

  Adoptive mother who raised her and Nami on a low income.

Arlong

Arlong Pirates · fish-man

The most notorious pirate in East Blue, a fish-man originating from the Grand Line, who claims fish-men are far superior to humans.

Fish-man leader who dominates Cocoyasi Village; he mocks the idea that humans could defeat him and threatens to kill Luffy.

• Base and claims

  Operates from Arlong Park; bribes a corrupt Marine officer; asserts fish-men surpass humans in strength and underwater breathing.

• Gosa destruction

  Arlong destroyed Gosa Village because one person failed to pay the tribute.

• Commanding the pursuit

  Ordered the hunt for Usopp and suspected the captured swordsman was a bounty hunter come for his head.

• Broken promise

  Refused to return the village unless Nami presented the full sum, and threatened to kill everyone if she fled.

• Nami (Hierarchy, Pact, Hostility)

  Commands Nami as his officer and cartographer.

  Captain of the crew Nami joined under the promise; holds her to the debt.

• Roronoa Zoro (Other, Hostility)

  Interrogates Zoro after capturing him.

• Hatchan (Hierarchy, Neutral)

  Learned from Hatchan that Zoro was also searching for him.

• Luffy (Other, Hostility)

  Arlong calls Luffy his target after Luffy names him as the real target of the fight and threatens to kill him.

Hatchan

Arlong Pirates

An octopus fish-man who met Zoro and guided him to Cocoyasi Village, mistaking him for a guest.

Fish-man who summons Mohmoo against the pirates and fights alongside Chew.

• Guiding Zoro

  Took Zoro to Cocoyasi Village without knowing his identity and later admitted doing so.

• Arlong (Hierarchy, Neutral)

  Serves Arlong as a fish-man crew member who reports on his movements.

• Roronoa Zoro (Other, Hostility)

  Hatchan accuses Zoro of deceiving him and cutting down his comrades.

Luffy

Would-be pirate who set sail to begin a pirating career; cast adrift at sea in a barrel after his dinghy was destroyed by a whirlpool. Aims for the Grand Line to search for the One Piece, and first sets out to recruit Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro into his crew.

Pirate who confronts Arlong, introduces himself as a pirate, and demands that Arlong stop making his navigator cry.

• Origin at sea

  Dinghy destroyed by a whirlpool, left trapped in a barrel

• Response to Nami's plea

  Readily agreed to help after Nami broke down and asked, then called for the others to go.

• Roronoa Zoro (Colleague, Affinity)

  Rescued by Zoro in the fight against Buggy's men; Luffy told him to run.

• Gaimon (Friend, Affinity)

  Befriended Gaimon and then invited him to join the crew, which Gaimon declined.

• Nami (Other, Colleague, Affinity)

  Offered help, which she first refused, and later accepted when she asked for it.

  Luffy calls Nami his navigator and confronts Arlong on her behalf.

• Arlong (Other, Hostility)

  Luffy names Arlong as his real target and stands against him.

Roronoa Zoro

Straw Hat Pirates

Pirate-hunter swordsman whom Luffy first finds crucified at the Marine base in Shells Town and sets out to recruit.

Pirate who offers to fight Hatchan so the others can continue, and declares that the pirates intend to crush the fish-men.

• Crucified at base

  Held on a cross at the Marine base and refuses to be fed by others; he eats the dirt-stained rice Rika brought.

• Childhood training

  Was a dojoyaburi who challenged local dojos; after defeat by Kuina he joined her father's dojo and trained harder than peers.

• Vow to Kuina

  After Kuina's fatal fall, decided to become the world's greatest swordsman; received Kuina's katana Wado Ichimonji from her father and trained eight more years before becoming a pirate hunter.

• Pursuit of the hawk-eyed man

  Revealed that the attacker on the Grand Line is the man he went to sea to find, and became more determined to head there.

• Helmeppo (Other, Hostility)

  Defeated Helmeppo's wolf to protect the bar's customers, then was threatened and betrayed by him.

• Buggy (Other, Hostility)

  Fought Buggy, who wanted to kill him to enhance his reputation; stabbed during the clash.

• Hatchan (Other, Hostility)

  Zoro dismisses Hatchan's grievances over the fish-men he cut down and offers to fight him.

World Memo

• Weapon possession treated as rebellion

  Under Arlong's rule, merely possessing a weapon is regarded as a form of rebellion.

• Monthly tribute under Arlong

  Citizens under Arlong's reign must pay him a monthly tribute in exchange for their lives.

  Arlong's pirates demanded 100,000 berries per adult and 50,000 per child for survival, and villagers could barely afford their tribute.

• Cocoyasi freedom price

  Cocoyasi Village's freedom from Arlong could be bought for 100 million berries.

Battle Record

Arlong Park confrontation continues: Luffy and the Straw Hat crew fight Arlong's fish-men; Arlong sets an underwater survival game for Luffy, and the fight is still unresolved at the episode's end.

Navy assault on Arlong's crew at sea

Naval ship vs Arlong's officers · Episode 34

Location: waters off the island

Trigger: The naval commander decided that justice required attacking Arlong's crew rather than overlooking their stronghold

Navy vs Arlong's crew

• Navy — attackers: naval commander
• Arlong's crew — defenders: Chew, Hatchan, Kuroobi

Outcome: Arlong's three officers sink the Navy ship: Chew attacks the sailors, Kuroobi tears off the rudder, and Hatchan creates a whirlpool that swallows it

Aftermath

• Naval ship left unable to steer and headed toward a whirlpool

Arlong Pirates' invasion of Cocoyasi Village

Tribute demand on the island · Episodes 35–36

Location: Cocoyasi Village

Trigger: Arlong declares the entire island, including the village, his own domain and demands monthly tribute from all citizens

Invaders vs villagers

• Arlong Pirates — invaders: Arlong
• Cocoyasi Village — residents: Nojiko, Nami, Bell-mère

Outcome: Arlong takes over Cocoyasi Village; Bell-mère, who can pay the tribute only for her two daughters, refuses to deny them and is shot dead by Arlong

Aftermath

• Arlong takes Nami into his crew to draw sea charts, and she sets out to raise 100 million berries to buy the village back

Arlong Park confrontation

Straw Hat crew against Arlong and his fish-men · Episode 31– (Ongoing)

Location: Arlong Park

Trigger: Arlong made Nami cry and the Straw Hat crew came to confront him

Straw Hat pirates vs Arlong Pirates

• Straw Hat pirates — attackers: Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp
• Arlong Pirates — defenders: Arlong, Hatchan, Chew, Kuroobi, Mohmoo

Ability Table

Music Releases

• We Are! (OP)
• RUN! RUN! RUN! (ED)