Captain Kuro arc

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One Piece Sagas
East Blue Saga
Captain Kuro Arc
Manga Chapters	22-41 (Volume 3-5)
Anime Episode	9-17 (English Dub: 9-16)
Main Characters	Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Captain Kuro
Previous Arc	Buggy the Clown Arc
Next Arc	Baratie Arc

The Captain Kuro arc is the third story arc in the East Blue Saga of the anime and manga One Piece. Luffy, Zoro, and Nami arrive at Syrup Village looking for a ship, where they meet Usopp, the local village liar. After they learn of Usopp's past and the reason for his lying, they must help him defeat Captain Kuro to save his friend, Kaya. It is followed by the Baratie arc.

The first part of this arc sees the group land on a mysterious island inhabited by strange creatures. After passing the "Test" of the forest, the Straw Hat Pirates (now comprising Luffy, Zoro, and Nami) meet Gaimon, a pirate stuck inside a treasure chest that was marooned by his crew. The four become friends and Luffy agrees to help Gaimon get down the treasure he has been guarding on top of the rock. When Luffy refuses to throw down the treasure chests, Gaimon realizes that the chests on the rock are the same as the island’s other treasure chests which are empty. Seeing Gaimon’s disappointment, Luffy offers to take him off the island. Gaimon decides to remain on the island and protect the island’s rare animals which he has become his friends. With that, The Straw Hats bid Gaimon goodbye and continue on.

Next, the Straw Hat Pirates arrive in Syrup Village where we meet Usopp. Usopp entertains notions of grandeur by commanding the Usopp Pirates (called the Veggie Pirates in the English dub). This group is composed of Usopp and three loyal village children, Onion, Carrot, and Pepper. The Usopp Pirates cause no real trouble, but do frequently annoy the villagers, most often by giving false warnings of attacking pirates.

However when the Ussop Pirates spot two ships sporting Buggy's insignia. Usopp is overjoyed to have real pirates arrive, and greets them with a cleverly-conceived act designed to fool the pirates into believing he is the commander of his own huge pirate fleet. The ruse fails, and Luffy and friends proceed into Syrup Village unhindered. Soon the Straw Hats make friends with Usopp when Luffy discovers he is the son of Yasopp, one of the pirates in Shank's crew. While they are talking however Ussop suddenly rushes off claiming he has something to do however the Ussop's Pirate explain that that he just going to visit his friend Kaya.

Usopp's wealthy friend Kaya is bedridden, but is well-provided for by her two butlers as well as Ussop who comes by and tell her tall tales of his "adventures" to make her feel better. However, one butler hides a dangerous secret: he is actually the evil Captain Kuro, leader of the Black Cat Pirates. Though Kuro was believed to have been executed years ago, in reality, an imposter was switched to take his place. The real Kuro has since been undercover, working to acquire the villagers’ respect and Kaya's assets so he can have peaceful retirement.

Kuro's long awaited time to act arrives, but his identity and plan are accidentally overheard by Luffy and Usopp. His ship and crew arrive at Syrup Village and meet no resistance, as the villagers choose to not believe in Usopp's warnings once he found out the truth. The Straw Hat Pirates are informed of the situation however and lend aid on the side of Usopp and Kaya. At first they devise a plan to set up an oil slick on a slope leading up to the town which will hinder the pirates. However as morning comes and no pirate ship is seen. Ussop realizes that theres another slope entrance on the other side of the island, the heroes are in the wrong location! Ussop and Nami (worried about the treasure on the boat which is docked on that part of the island) immedently set off for the other side while Luffy and Zoro (who got stuck in the oil slick thanks to Nami) get lost in making their way there.

Ussop and Nami arrive just in time to confront the Black Cats, stalling them with tacks while hitting them from afar. However the tactic is broken through and the pirates proceed into town just as Luffy and Zoro arrive. Django resorta to hypnotizing his men into believing their invincible but that tactic backfires when Luffy is hypnotised as well and procceds to wreak havoc on the Black Cats and their ship before Django puts Luffy to sleep. Django then sends his two subborniates Butchie and Siam, a.k.a. The Meowban Brothers, to fight which Zoro does so but is disarmed of all but one sword and takes a beating before Nami recovers his other two swords and throws them to him allowing Zoro to defeat the two. Kuro soon shows up in the midst of the battle and threatens to kill the his crew if they don't carry out his plans and reveals a hint of his power when the Meowban Bros try to mutunity against him. Kaya arrive at the scene at that point, having learned of Kuro intention from her remaining and faithful butler threatening to kill Kuro himself. But he demoralize her of their past together to stop her from doing so.

Ussop then tell Onion, Pepper and Carrot who have also arrived in the area to take Kaya away from the area and protect her which they do so as Kuro sends Django after them. Zoro quickly defeats the reveived Bucthie then carries the wounded Ussop through the woods to go save them. Luffy, who was awaken roughly by Nami, takes on the lightning-fast Kuro and his ten deadly finger-blades. Despite Kuro's super speed and his arrogant taunts, Luffy manages to survive all of Kuro attacks, inculding the "Shakushi" attack and defeats him with his devastating Gomu Gomu no Kane(Bell) attack.

At the same time Django manages to catch up to Kaya and the Ussop's Pirates and attempts to hypnotize Kaya into willing all of her estate to Kuro, so that he can kill her and "legally" acquire her wealth. She agrees to do so willingly to keep the kids safe. However before Django can strike the final blow, Ussop and Zoro arrive on the scene. Zoro cuts a branch blocking Ussop's sight while the latter hits Django with an exploding star, knocking the pirate out and proving himself less useless than he may at first seemed. Back at the shore, Luffy throws Kuro to the Black Cats and yells for them to get lost which the Black Cats fearfully oblige while Ussop's tell his band that the battle shall remain a secert before saying his goodbyes to the boys tearfully and disbanding the Ussop's Pirates.

Kaya, realizing that confinement in her home had been the cause of her illness, is grateful to the Straw Hat Pirates, and gives them her ship, the Going Merry (or the Merry Go in the English dub). Usopp is grateful to them as well, and now has the confidence to strike out on his own and be a real pirate. But his luck proves to be even better than he knows when Luffy invites him to join his crew. With a new friend and crewmember, as well as a new ship, the Straw Hat Pirates leave Syrup Village to continue their voyage to the Grand Line while Kaya resolves to be a doctor in honor of her friend and the former Ussop's Pirates continue Ussop's traditon of running through Syurp Village yelling that pirates are coming.

[edit] Anime Changes

• In the manga Luffy, Zoro and Nami go to Gaimon's island first before arriving in Syrup Village. In the anime, this happens after the Kuro encounter so Usopp is with the Straw Hats at that point.
• When Jango threw the ring at Nami, it doesn't hit the back of Luffy's head on its return like in the manga. Rather, Luffy caught it in his teeth and bit it to pieces.