Episode 40: Proud, Tall Warriors! Dramatic Battle of Sanji and Usopp!
Air Date: 2000-09-06
Opening: We Are! (1st Opening)
Ending: Run! Run! Run! (2nd Ending)
Manga Chapters: Chapter 86 (8-20/20), Chapter 87 (1-19/19), Chapter 88 (1-10/19)
Short Summary
Sanji and Kuroobi do battle underwater as Kuroobi uses Sanji's inabiility to breathe underwater to his advantage. However, Sanji manages to surface, and as Kuroobi surfaces as well, he delivers a series of kicks that bring the battle to an end. Elsewhere, Usopp does battle with Chu, and reigns victorious in style. Sanji and Zoro then find that they must face Arlong himself.
In-Depth Summary
The episode begins with Kuroobi diving toward Genzo, who continues to struggle to keep air in Luffy's lungs. Sanji grabs Kuroobi's hair to stop him. Kuroobi wraps his hair around Sanji, pulling him in, so Sanji aims a series of kicks at Kuroobi. Kuroobi avoids each one, declaring that while Sanji loses half of his power underwater, the power of Kuroobi's Merman Karate doubles. With a series of punches and kicks, Kuroobi makes quick work of Sanji, using Joudan Bakushou (Palm Strike) to send Sanji careening into the wall of the pool. Kuroobi decides that he will take down Genzo and end things, but then sees Sanji scrambling up the side of the pool, swimming frantically for the surface so he can get air. Kuroobi swims up and blocks his path, grabbing onto Sanji, and declares that Sanji wants to protect Nami, but he can't even protect a single soul. Kurobi says that he will destroy Genzo, the villagers, and everyone that stood against Arlong Park. He then grabs Sanji and says how a sudden pressure change will cause Sanji's insides to implode. Gripping Sanji tightly, Kuroobi uses Appakushi Chokakouro (Pressure-Crushing Death Dive) to plunge toward the bottom of the pool.
When he reaches the bottom, Kuroobi is surprised to see the Sanji is still alive. He swims for the surface again, then gets ready to dive, but Sanji comes to the realization that mermen use their lungs on land and their gills in the water. He covers up Kuroobi's gills, cutting off Kuroobi's air, and so Sanji finally manages to surface, emerging from the pool. Zoro asks Sanji if Luffy's okay, and Sanji replies that half of him is. Before can explain, Kuroobi emerges from the pool, declaring that it doesn't matter whether they fight in the water or on land - he will still win. Sanji stands up to him, though, and furiously he delivers a kick to each of Kurobi's body parts, doing him serious damage as he collapses to the ground. As Kurobi rises to his feet, Sanji uses Mutton Shot to finish Kuroobi off, and Kuroobi is sent flying through a wall, defeated at last. Arlong gets up, furious, saying how his brethren were taken out one by one. Zoro asks what Sanji meant when he said that Luffy is half okay, and Sanji replies that Luffy will live, but he still needs to be freed, and Arlong won't allow him to do that. By the edge of the pool, Genzo finally surfaces, and Nojiko tells him that her hope is becoming rekindled after the success of Zoro and Sanji.
Meanwhile, Chu has finally caught up with Usopp, and Usopp lays battered on the ground in a pool of his own "blood." Chu remarks how it took a long time, but only one water blast of his was needed. As Chu walks away, Usopp grins, as the "blood" was only the ketchup from his Ketchup Star. Usopp thinks back on the cruelty of the mermen when Chu stops and looks back, seeing Usopp rising to his feet. Usopp quickly falls down again, and Chu dismisses that he was just seeing things and continues to leave. Once Chu is gone, Usopp sits down, putting dirt on his arms so it looks like he had a rougher fight. He goes over what he will tell the crew when he returns, about how Chu escaped and such things. As he thinks it over, he keeps thinking about things the others have said, causing him to start crying. He thinks that if he doesn't fight his hardest, he has no right to sit with the Straw Hats on their boat. He stands up, whipping out his slingshot, and declares to Chu that he isn't finished yet. Chu stops and turns, ready to fight.
As Usopp fires at Chu, Chu charges right through and punches Usopp in the face, knocking Usopp to the ground. As Chu lands, Usopp uses his Usopp Hammer to hit Chu in the knee, then whips out the Usopp Rubberband. As Chu winces, Usopp makes his escape. Usopp hurls a bottle of wine at Chu, which he then breaks, covering Chu in wine. Chu becomes furious, and he goes to the water, swallowing up the whole pond. He unleashes his Water Cannon, blowing down a large number of trees and exposing Usopp. Chu starts using his 500-Shot Water Cannon, repeatedly striking the tree Usopp hides behind. Usopp thinks how his days with the Usopp Pirates in Syrup Village are over, and Chu kicks the tree down, sending Usopp flying. Usopp, however, turns in midair and shoots an Ultimate Fiery Flaming Star, and as Chu is covered in wine, he bursts into flame. Chu frantically runs for the water, but Usopp runs up behind him, whirling through the air and using Usopp Hammer to strike Chu down. Usopp then repeatedly strikes Chu on the head, and he finally falls back into the water, declaring that he has defeated a merman and is victorious.
Back at Arlong Park, Sanji and Zoro are in bad shape, both battered by Arlong. Arlong uses just water to fight them, and both are quickly detained. Nami then arrives, and when Arlong asks why she is there, she tells him that she has come to kill him as the episode draws to an end.
Mumbo230’s Notes
This episode is one of Usopp's great moments of character development. He truly emerges as a strong warrior in this episode, becoming a true Straw Hat.
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