Summary:
Nekomamushi and the Guardians arrive at Whitebeard’s home island. Nekomamushi finds Marco in a hidden village where he works as a doctor. During the meeting, Marco tells Nekomamushi about Whitebeard’s childhood and the reason why he cannot leave the island.
On a certain island, the Rangers wander near its shore, surveying the ruined buildings nearby. Blackback is impatient as he waits for Nekomamushi to return with Marco, but Roddy reminds him that they can’t go where their ruler is so as not to scare the residents. Behind a nearby waterfall is a small blissful village where Marco works as a doctor and uses his phoenix flames to heal a resident sphinx named Tama.
Marco was once the commander of the first division of the Whitebeard Pirates, whose captain, Whitebeard, treated his crew like his own sons. During the Summit War of Marineford two years ago, Whitebeard was betrayed by his subordinate Squard, whose entire crew was killed by Gol D. Roger. However, Whitebeard immediately recognized that Squard did this as a result of resenting his crewmate Ace, who they were trying to save, as he was Roger’s son, whom Akainu had cunningly fed beforehand. As a result, he immediately forgave Squard. After successfully rescuing Ace, Whitebeard decided to stay and allow his crew to escape and asked Ace if he had been a good father, which Ace tearfully confirmed. However, Whitebeard eventually met his end at the hands of Blackbeard, a former crew member he refused to consider family after Blackbeard killed his co-worker Thatch. Decades ago, young Whitebeard was asked by his crewmates what his greatest desire was after he showed no interest in their treasure, and Whitebeard replied that it was family.
After Whitebeard’s death, Blackbeard stole his Devil Fruit and held it alongside his own Yami Yami no Mi power to gain unfathomable power. Blackbeard went on to capture almost all of Whitebeard’s possessions en route to taking his place among the Four Emperors, and Marco led the rest of Whitebeard’s pirates in an attempt to stop him in the War of Vengeance. However, Blackbeard proved too powerful for them, and now Marco can only watch over this island where Whitebeard grew up. It suffered from extreme poverty, which prevented it from becoming a member of the world government, and so it was often attacked by pirates and raiders. Whitebeard left the island at an early age, but for the rest of his life he sent the treasure he obtained to the people there and allowed them to prosper, as this island was his greatest treasure. Marco tells Nekomamushi that the Shichibukai Edward Weevil has been walking around claiming to be Whitebeard’s son and looking for Whitebeard’s treasure. Marco has no idea whether or not Weevil is actually Whitebeard’s son, although he knows that his mother Buckin sailed with Whitebeard about 40 years ago. Regardless, there is no treasure, so Marco assumes that Weevil and Buckin will eventually come after him and this island one day. Therefore, he won’t be able to leave the island with Nekomamushi and tells him to give Luffy a message. He questions what they are going to do in the land of Wano and is shocked when Nekomamushi reveals that they are aiming to depose Kaidou.
The anime adds the following:
Before the Sphinx shows up, aquatic creatures resembling plesiosaurs swim by.
Two minks in suits examine an abandoned part of the Sphinx.
Other scenes of Bělobrád’s childhood.
Payback War scenes.
Nekomamushi tells Marco about the Ninja-Pirate-Nink-Samurai Alliance’s intention to take down Kaidou, shocking him.
Roddy and Blackback’s conversation is extended in the anime.
During Marco’s flashback from the War of Vengeance, Jozu is seen with both arms intact, despite having lost his right during the Summit War of Marineford.
This episode recaps the Marineford Arc, focusing more on the Whitebeard Pirates.
This is the first episode of the Wano Country Arc and Saga.