Episode 25: Emerge of the Superb Kicking Skill, Sanji VS the Iron Wall Pearl
Air Date: 2000-05-17
Opening: We Are! (1st Opening)
Ending: Memories (1st Ending)
Short Summary
The Don Krieg pirates launch an attack upon Baratie as the chefs valiantly fight back. Patti and Carne unveil the greatest weapon of Baratie, the Tiny Fish, but are unsuccessful with their attack on Don Krieg. As Sanji does battle with the Iron Wall Pearl, Gin puts a gun to Zeff's head, offering Sanji an ultimatum.
In-Depth Summary
The episode opens with Don Krieg explaining to his men their attack on Baratie. He declares that Mihawk must have the power of a Devil Fruit and that Zeff knows how to fight people with those powers, since he survived on the Grand Line for a year. He then says that the secret to defeating Devil Fruit users must be in Zeff's journal, and so they must claim it. As this is going on, Luffy makes sure that if he defeats Krieg, he won't have to work off his debt at Baratie. Patti and Carne then emerge from the vessel in a small fish-shaped submarine, the Tiny Fish, and they lead a charge against Krieg. However, due to their arguing, they have trouble keeping control over it. As Krieg's pirates draw near to Baratie, Sanji has the deck emerge from the sea so that fighting will take place on the deck instead of in the restaurant, so the restaurant won't be destroyed. Krieg is glad with this because he wants the ship in good shape when he takes it.
Krieg's pirates start clambering onto the deck as the chefs raise arms and prepare for battle. The Tiny Fish charges at Krieg, but Krieg holds it back with one hand, and with a great heave he hurls the submarine into the air. Sanji leaps up and kicks it back down though, revealing his great kicking ability to everyone. Patti and Carne become furious, yelling at Sanji for nearly destroying the Tiny Fish, the secret weapon of Baratie. Meanwhile, the chefs are fighting valiantly against Krieg's crew, but are quickly losing. Patti and Carne join the fray and knock down many pirates, striking fear in their opponents, but they are both knocked down when the humongous armored brute Pearl emerges from the water. A pirate tries to take Patti's knife away, but Sanji kicks the pirate away, saying a knife is a chef's sacred tool. He passes the knife back to Patti and as the pirates charge at him, Sanji swings around and knocks them all down with incredible kicks.
Pearl asks if all Sanji knows how to do is kick, and Sanji replies that a chef's hands are their tools. Pearl replies by going on about how great he is, how he defeated 61 enemies, is named the Iron Wall, and has not lost a single drop of blood in any of his fights. Luffy wonders what's wrong with Pearl, and Krieg takes this opportunity to make the most of Luffy's distraction. He swings a ball and chain at Luffy, smashing the mast that Luffy is clinging onto and sending him flying through the air. He swings the spiked ball again and strikes Luffy directly, sending Luffy flying. Luffy lands right on Pearl as Pearl and Sanji are battling, and so Pearl's nose begins to bleed. Pearl loses it, and he becomes engulfed in fire. The other pirates explain that Pearl was born in the jungle, and will start a fire when he is in danger. He starts shooting fire everywhere, forcing Luffy and Sanji to leap back. Sanji then moves in and starts kicking Pearl, despite Pearl being ablaze. When Pearl asks why Sanji isn't afraid of fire, Sanji scoffs that any chef wouldn't be, holding out his cigarette.
Sanji knocks down Pearl with another kick, and Pearl loses it even more, shooting fire right at the restaurant. Zeff uses his kicks to generate wind and blow the flame back. Krieg, worried that Pearl will destroy Baratie, hurls his iron ball again, but Luffy uses Gomu Gomu no Bazooka to send it flying right back. It smashes beside Don Krieg, knocking down the mast of Krieg's ruined ship, and the mast lands right on Pearl's head. As Pearl stands motionlessly, Gin knocks Zeff down and holds a gun to his head, telling Sanji to stop as the episode draws to a close.
Mumbo230's Notes
This episode is action-packed. We see Sanji in action for the first time in this episode, and it manages to remain amazing, even after the spectacle of the previous episode.