With Rayleigh's appearance, it was time to talk.
Some time later...
Only Ray, Chouchou, Rayleigh, and Shakky remained in the bar.
The others had been "dealt with" (sold to the slaver).
That evening, another guest arrived outside—the massive, bible-carrying figure of Bartholomew Kuma.
...
Noon the next day.
The Thousand Sunny carried Luffy's crew to the Sabaody Archipelago.
"WOW! SO MANY BUBBLES!"
Luffy's excitement sent him bouncing thirty feet high at the sight of the bubble-covered islands.
Other crew members stretched as they disembarked one by one, ready to resupply and explore.
Their main goal was finding the ship coating craftsman that Hachi had mentioned.
Earlier that morning while fishing for Sea Kings, they'd accidentally hooked a mermaid named Camie.
By sheer coincidence, Camie's momentum sent her flying onto the Sunny—directly onto Sanji, nearly killing the cook instantly with a nosebleed.
Sanji finally got to meet his dream mermaid girl!
Later, after Camie's repeated pleas, the reluctant Straw Hats rescued Hachi—the former octopus swordsman subordinate of Arlong—from the Flying Fish Riders.
Hachi prostrated himself before Nami, tears streaming down his face as he begged forgiveness for his past crimes.
Seeing his genuine remorse and desperation to help, kind-hearted Nami temporarily forgave him.
With one condition.
"You owe me 300 million berries in emotional damages. Sign this IOU."
Thus, Hachi sold himself to Nami completely.
Meanwhile, Sanji encountered Duval—leader of the Flying Fish Riders, whose face matched Sanji's horrible wanted poster exactly.
A few "Parage Shot" kicks later, the plastic surgery was successful—Duval actually looked handsome now.
Overcome with gratitude, Duval pledged himself and his crew as Straw Hat subordinates for life.
Through Hachi's connections, they learned crucial information: to reach the New World as pirates, their ship needed coating to travel underwater.
Only a coated ship could submerge deep enough to reach Fish-Man Island.
Thus, guided by Hachi and Camie, they arrived at Grove 13 of Sabaody, seeking the legendary coating master—Rayleigh.
Naturally, Hachi would foot the bill.
...
Upon disembarking at Grove 13, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Chopper, and Robin all sensed a sinister presence.
After long training, only Nami, Franky, and the newly joined Brook lacked Observation Haki to sense it clearly.
"Everyone be careful. This feels hostile."
SHING.
Zoro drew Shusui and Wado Ichimonji, his gaze fixed on the shadows ahead.
The aura felt like a savage beast—and it was powerful.
Taking no chances, the crew entered combat formation.
Thump. Thump.
Three seconds later, from the forest ahead emerged a twelve-meter-tall, twenty-five-meter-long Demon Dog with glowing red eyes.
Straw Hat Crew: (⊙ˍ⊙)
"HOLY SHIT! CHOUCHOU!"
Franky shook his head, eyes alight with excitement.
"SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUPER!"
He knew Chouchou—but only in small white dog form.
Seeing the demonic transformation shocked him.
A shape-shifting giant dog? This pushed all of Franky's robot buttons!
Only Brook failed to recognize the dog.
The massive red-eyed beast terrified him—especially as it stared while drooling uncontrollably.
He got no heartbeat to race, but still felt fear nonetheless.
"Yohoho... that dog looks hungry..."
Luffy, recognizing Chouchou, immediately relaxed and bounded over, stretching rubber arms to pat the giant dog's head.
"Chouchou! It's you!"
But Zoro and Robin spotted the danger too late.
"LUFFY! WATCH OUT!"
CRUNCH!
Chouchou's jaws snapped shut around the rubber man.
Sanji lit a cigarette, observing seriously.
"So this is Chouchou's berserk form?"
Chopper panicked, tears welling up.
"HURRY! LUFFY'S ABOUT TO BECOME DOG FOOD!"
Seeing the reindeer's distress, Robin smiled gently, patting his head.
"Relax, Chopper. Have faith in our captain."
Somewhat reassured, Chopper kept watching Chouchou's maw, hooves coated in Armament Haki, ready to strike.
POOF!
Then white smoke burst from Chouchou's mouth.
"GEAR FOURTH: BOUNDMAN!"
BOOM!
Pain forced Luffy's transformation.
Muscular, Haki-coated arms pried Chouchou's jaws open as he escaped.
"That hurt! What's your problem, Chouchou?!"
Luffy's idiocy even annoyed Usopp!
"Chouchou got drugged by Shiki's men, remember dumbass?!"
"Oh right! Chopper, let's give him the antidote!"
Following their captain's lead, the crew sprang into action.
Thus, on Grove 13's forested roots, a Yonko-level crew undertook the arduous task of "force-feeding medicine to a giant dog."
RUMBLE.
The giant root-island shook with their efforts.
Sanji and Zoro used Brook as live bait to distract Chouchou.
"Why meeeee?! Yohohoho!"
Franky bombarded the ground while Chopper dug, creating dust clouds to obscure vision and keep Chouchou focused on the running skeleton.
"Gomu Gomu no... DOG CAGE!"
After much maneuvering, Luffy's elastic limbs formed a massive cage trapping Chouchou's legs.
Nami simultaneously used her Clima-Tact to fill the cage with "Slippery Bubbles," "Weakness Bubbles," and "Thundercloud Bubbles."
ZAP!
Instantly, lightning struck from all sides.
Numbed by electricity, weakened by energy-draining bubbles, and slipping on the cage's coated surface, even the berserk Chouchou struggled to stand.
Of course, Luffy also weakened from the bubbles as he strained to maintain the cage.
"Cien Fleur: JAW BREAKER!"
Robin sprouted four five-meter arms on Chouchou's jaws, Haki-enhanced, prying them open with tremendous effort.
"NOW, USOPP!"
"Special Attack: Star Mark Antidote!"
THWACK.
Usopp's perfect shot delivered the antidote capsule straight into Chouchou's stomach.
GULP.
"Whew..." ×8
Everyone sighed in relief—except Brook.
"Hey! Anyone care about me? I almost died!"
"Though I'm already dead! Yohohoho!"
Sanji and Zoro gave simultaneous thumbs-up.
"Good job, bones."
Brook's bones had been instrumental—though Chopper's medicine deserved equal credit.
Within seconds, Chouchou's red eyes faded as his body shrank back to normal size.
POOF.
"Long time no see, my brothers and sisters! Chouchou-sama has returned!"
Luffy immediately lifted Chouchou skyward like a trophy.
"I missed you so much Chouchou!"
Robin's Flower-Flower arms snatched Chouchou from Luffy's hands, cradling him gently.
"Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?"
Chouchou's adorable head turned around—then locked onto Brook standing behind Robin.
Drool soaked Robin's neckerchief.
"I want bones."
Unfazed, Robin glanced seriously at Brook.
"Mr. Bones... choose. Left arm or left leg?"