Episode 12: Battle! The Kuroneko Pirate Crew, Battle on the Slope!
Air Date: 2000-02-02
Opening: We Are! (1st Opening)
Ending: Memories (1st Ending)
Short Summary
Luffy, Zoro, and Nami devise a plan to prevent Kuro's pirates from attacking the village. They discover they are at the wrong coast, however, and run to the north. In the meantime, the Kuroneko Pirates have arrived, and only Usopp arrives in time, forced to face them alone.
In-Depth Summary
The episode opens with Kuro walking down a path, through the woods, to Kaya's mansion. While he does this, Usopp, Luffy, Zoro, and Nami are formulating a plan on the slope for when the pirates come. Kuro arrives at the mansion as Merry is cleaning, going on about how the next day is the three-year anniversary of Kurahadol's arrival. Kuro spots the glasses Kaya got him for the occasion, and he drops them, stomping on them with his foot and breaking them. Merry is shocked, and so Kuro whips out his glove with five swords, saying three years has been too long, and slashes Merry down. Kuro then steps into Kaya's room, and he holds his blood-stained claw over Kaya's head, remembering the deed he has to commit the following day.
By the coast, the Kuroneko Pirate ship approaches Syrup Village. Jango steps out of the cabin and reiterates the plan to his men. Meanwhile, Luffy, Usopp, Zoro, and Nami stand on the slope leading to the village, and have poured a barrel of oil on it to make it slippery. The plan is that when the Kuroneko Pirates slip on the oil, the four will spring out and attack them. Dawn breaks, and so the Kuroneko Pirates land on the coast, spotting Luffy and co.'s boat. At that moment, Luffy and co. are waiting for the pirates as the sun has now risen, and Nami hears the pirates coming from the north. Usopp notes that there is an identical slope at the north end of the village, and they realize they are at the wrong coast. Panicking, Nami then realizes that their ship is located at the north coast, and their treasure will be robbed by the pirates. Luffy and Usopp take off running for the coast. Zoro and Nami start to leave, but Nami slips on the oil and drags Zoro down the slope, stepping on him to climb back up.
Zoro is unable to get up the slippery slope, and he slides to the bottom, but eventually uses his swords to pull his way up. At the north coast, Usopp arrives, surprised that Luffy hasn't come yet, who is now lost. The Kuroneko Pirates arrive, and Usopp stands up to them, but realizes he can't beat them by himself. He sees the pirates taking the treasure from the Straw Hats' ship, and he says that the treasure belongs to him, and he'll give it to them if they leave. Jango decides to hypnotize Usopp instead, but Nami arrives in the nick of time and whacks Usopp in the head, knocking him over, refusing to give up her treasure. Usopp then reports that Luffy has not arrived yet, and is probably lost. The Kuroneko Pirates then charge, and Usopp stands up to them, but they knock him down swiftly. Usopp struggles to fight them, but there are far too many. However, he is shocked when they are all sent flying back, and sees that Luffy and Zoro have arrived. Zoro yells at Nami about leaving him there, and Luffy yells at Usopp for not telling him which was north. However, united, the four face off against the invading Kuroneko Pirates.
Mumbo230's Notes
The Zoro and Nami discrepancy on the slick slope is hilarious, as is Luffy's getting lost. There's a really great feel to the end of the episode as the three Straw Hats and their future crewmate stand togehter.