Episode 13: Terrifying Duo! Nyaban Brothers vs Zoro
Air Date: 2000-02-09
Opening: We Are! (1st Opening)
Ending: Memories (1st Ending)
Short Summary
Luffy and Zoro have arrived to take on the Kuroneko Pirates, but Jango hypnotizes them into becoming very powerful and dangerous. When Luffy knocks himself out, Jango sends the fierce Nyaban Brothers after Zoro, resulting in Zoro facing very tough odds.
In-Depth Summary
The episode opens with Kuro waiting impatiently in front of Kaya's mansion. Usopp is amazed with the power of the Straw Hats. Luffy and Zoro stand together, ready to take down more of the Kuroneko Pirates. However, Jango kneels beside the fallen pirates and starts to hypnotize them. Once the hypnotism takes effect, the pirates became wild and ravenous, and foaming at their mouths, they charge at the Straw Hats. One pounds down a cliff with his fist. Zoro says that he and Luffy will handle it, but Luffy was also hypnotized, becoming a wild animal himself. Luffy charges down the slope and uses Gomu Gomu no Gatling Gun to plow through the pirates with ease. Luffy keeps charging, and soon runs past the pirates, causing Jango to fear that he will be the next target.
Luffy runs to the bow of the Kuroneko Pirate ship, and with a great heave tears it off of the front of the vessel. The pirates watch in horror as Luffy swings the bow around wildly, but Jango reacts quickly. Using his chakram, he hypnotizes Luffy, and so Luffy falls asleep, the bow falling on top of him and squishing him as he does this. With Luffy out of the way, Jango prepares for the next attack. Seeing the pirates are defeated, he calls for Sham and Buchi and orders them to attack. They turn out to be cowards, but after some heavy persuasion they charge for Zoro. Zoro blocks their claws with his sword, and engages in a great fight with the two Nyaban Brothers.
Zoro slashes Buchi through the midsection, but finds out Buchi has a very thin waist. He sits on top of Zoro and Sham leaps down, but Zoro manages to avoid the bone-crushing attack that leaves a crater. Buchi then uses his cat-like abilities to steal Zoro's two swords, and throws them away. Zoro has no chance to grab them and faces another assault by the Nyaban Brothers. Usopp decides to help and fires at the brothers, but Zoro blocks it with his back, yelling at Nami and Usopp to not get themselves killed. Nami then runs for Zoro's swords, picking them up, but Jango reacts swiftly and slashes her in the shoulder with his chakram. Nami falls, and so the Nyaban Brothers are ready to finish off Zoro when all of the pirates suddenly freeze. Standing at the top of the slope is Kuro himself, and impatiently gives his crew an ultimatum - hurry up and finish the job, or die.
Mumbo230's Notes
The action really starts to heat up in this episode. Kuro showing up at the end really gives the ending a nice spark of peril.