Summary:
On their way to Whole Cake Island, the Sanji Retrieval Team gets hungry after running out of food. They come across Fron Island, where they stop to look for food, but quickly discover that it is home to a naval base.
A gunned-down Marine captain named Grount arrives at the Marine Corps base for his new assignment, quickly irritating his comrades and his commanding officer, Vice Admiral Prodi. Grount then encounters Bonham and Zappa, who served with him under Admiral Aokiji. Luffy, Nami, Chopper, and Carrot put on their Marine outfits and slip into the cafeteria for a meal. However, after an argument, they are quickly recognized and Grount excitedly prepares to fight Luffy.
After Luffy wasted all of their food supplies, the Sanji Retrieval Team quickly starved and Luffy starved to the point where he even tried to eat Chopper. Pedro then sees an island in the distance and Nami realizes that it must be the island she saw on the map in Zo. The team prepares to forage there, but Pekoms reveals that Fron Island is home to a naval base that oversees Big Mom and is full of hot shots. The team heads to the coast of the island in Shark Submerge III, with Pedro and Pekoms staying behind to guard the Thousand Sunny. On Fron Island, Vice Admiral Prodi and his men watch as a Marine ship with reserve forces approaches the island. However, the ship is suddenly hit by an explosion when the soldiers on it target one of their own. The target, Grount, began charging at everyone, overwhelming them with his speed and strength. To finish off the rest of his comrades, Grount activates a metal attachment on his arm that causes steam to start coming out of him, allowing him to knock them all down with extreme speed and force. Grount then jumps close to Prodi and tells him to send back the defeated forces as they are too weak, angering Prodi.
Meanwhile, Brook scares a group of marines unconscious with his unchained soul, and Luffy, Nami, Chopper, and Carrot don their marine uniforms, though Luffy is hesitant. Brook then heads back to the submarine and Nami and Chopper look around the island, they see a naval ship that just arrived and also find a building where the marines store food. At the naval base, Prodi angrily contacts Garp and accuses him of sending Grount to the base, but Garp reveals that Grount requested it himself. After the call ends, Koby wonders to Garp why Grount asked to be placed in such a remote area. Prodi then berates Grount for his reckless actions and asks the 17-year-old captain why he asked for a transfer, and Grount states that he intends to take down Big Mom. Prodi dismisses Grount’s lofty goals, calling him naive and noting that he served under Aokiji, belittling the former admiral for leaving the Marines. Grount becomes angry with Prodi for mocking Aokiji and has to be restrained by Prodi’s handlers. Prodi then tells his retainers to let Grount rest for a while before putting him on duty.
Outside, the Sanji Retrieval Team prepares to sneak into the Marines’ food depot, but Luffy and Carrot end up going ahead to the main base, where they come to the cafeteria. Grount then comes to the mess hall as well and his actions on the ship ostracize him from his friends. Grount’s stance incites both sides to fight, but Bonham then steps in. At first it looked like he was going to attack Grount, Bonam instead embraced his mate, having previously served with him under Aokiji. He then showed Grount to another old friend of theirs, Zappa, who is slumped over and crying into his food, having been rejected by every girl on the island. When this happens, Luffy and Carrot get excited to see their food being served. Meanwhile, some other marines find the marines that Sanji Retrieval Team knocked out and undressed and immediately report the scene. Prodi receives the report and immediately tells his men to find the attackers’ invasion route, activating all the Video Den Den Mushi on the island before rushing into the monitoring room.
In the dining room, Grount eats his spicy curry. Nami and Chopper then enter and are horrified to see Luffy and Carrot out in the open. The kitchen lady then notices them and states that they don’t look familiar, which scares Nami and Chopper, but she mistakes them for new marines and happily gives them food. Carrot then sees them and loudly calls out their names, shocking Nami. Zappa hears Nami’s name and quickly recognizes her in confusion. He then approaches her crush and says he knows who she is and holds up her reward poster. Zappa proposes to Nami and tries to kiss her, but ends up kissing the spoon lady in the kitchen as Nami runs into the hall. Chopper goes with Nami as she recovers from the shock of Zappa’s attempts, and when Zappa starts crying again, Luffy grabs an entire bowl of curry, causing the marines to scream in confusion. In the monitoring room, Prodi notices the fight and quickly recognizes Luffy. He then activates an island-wide alarm and tells his forces that Luffy and his crew are here and orders them captured. Meanwhile, Nami and Chopper run out of the Marine base, wanting to get supplies from the food warehouse before they leave. Brook hears the alarm and is confronted by several marines himself. Inside the cafeteria, the Marines confront Luffy and Carrot as Grount excitedly prepares to take down Luffy himself.
The Sanji Retrieval Team goes to the island that Nami saw on the sea chart in episode 775.
Marine Captain Grount is stationed on Fron Island under Vice Admiral Prodi.
Grount tries to take down Big Mom.
Grount and his comrades Bonam and Zappa served under Aokiji.
Luffy, Nami, Carrot, Chopper, and Brook infiltrate a naval base located on the island while Pedro and Pekoms keep an eye on the Thousand Sunny.
Garp and Koby first appeared after the time skip in the anime series. Prodi is close to Garp.
The Marines discover the Straw Hat Crew and Grount prepares to fight Luffy.
This is the first episode of the Marine Rookie Arc.