Chapter 1023

Chapter 1023 is titled "Two Peas in a Pod".

Cover Page
Cover Page Request: "Vivi singing with sparrows while Karoo looks on with jealousy" by PN Ari.

Short Summary
As Zoro and Sanji commence battle against King and Queen, Queen questions how Sanji can use Diable Jambe without having Judge's modifications while Kawamatsu and Hyogoro note Zoro's uncanny similarities in appearance and ability to not only the late daimyo Shimotsuki Ushimaru, but also the legendary Shimotsuki Ryuma.

Meanwhile, Inuarashi throws Jack out of the treasure repository into the courtyard, where the former is able to reactivate Sulong due to the explosion that claimed Ashura Doji having blown open a hole in the Skull Dome roof. Elsewhere, Nekomamushi overwhelms Perospero and forces him outside, where he is able to activate Sulong as well.

At Tokage Port on the Wano mainland, the Heart Pirates believe Kaidou has come down to confront them, but Luffy realizes that the dragon in front of him is a matured Momonosuke.

Long Summary
The samurai cheer for Zoro’s return to action while the Beasts Pirates become fearful for the All-Stars, who were knocked down by Zoro and Sanji (though both are still conscious). One of the Beasts Pirates attempts to shoot Zoro, but he is struck down by Kawamatsu. Hyogoro then announces to his allies that no one is to interfere with Zoro and Sanji’s battles with King and Queen, knowing that they would only get in their way. Marco, meanwhile, looks at King while thinking back to a story Whitebeard told him about “God’s Land,” which existed on the Red Line long before Mary Geoise came to be.

Several pirates shoot at Marco but they get shot themselves by Izou, who grabs Marco while also chastising him for dropping his guard during the battle, only for Marco to simply tells Izou he expected him to help him. As they run, Marco asks Izou if he believes in God, causing Izou to retort that Marco is sounding like Whitebeard while he was drunk.

Queen and King stand back up as Queen tells Zoro and Sanji that they need a little more effort to take the two of them, saying that there is a reason he, King, and Jack are classified as “Disasters.” Queen opens fire on both of them but they dodge, but Zoro notices something off about Sanji. Sanji tells Zoro that he has been feeling strange after using his Raid Suit for the second time. Zoro taunts that it will slow him down but Sanji insists he is fine. King takes the opportunity to strike with his sword but Zoro blocks it, saying Sanji owes him. When Queen tries to strike with his Bridal Grapper move, Sanji in turn blocks it too saying they are even. After seeing Sanji’s Diable Jambe, Queen says that he remembers that Judge enhanced all of his children, believing that Sanji’s burning leg is part of those enhancements. Sanji, however, refutes his belief by declaring himself 100% human, much to Queen’s disbelief, as according to him, only the Lunarians could burst into flames. Sanji says that it is because his emotions burn hotter than any real flame and resumes attacking Queen.

Zoro starts focusing his attention on King and attempts to strike him, but King blocks with his own sword. Zoro then sees that the bottom edge of King’s sword has several notches in it, which his swords get caught in, allowing King to simply toss them away and leaving Zoro open to be punched. Unfortunately for King, Zoro used the sword in his mouth to block it as he calls King a bloodthirsty brute. King retorts that he never understood why anyone would stick to traditional forms and techniques in a real battle, which Zoro accepts, admitting King never claimed to be a swordsman himself. Nevertheless, Zoro reclaims his swords and tells King he can’t afford to lose to him. In the distance, Kawamatsu tells Hyogoro that he didn’t protest too hard when Hiyori offered Enma to Zoro for a reason, which Hyogoro also sees. According to Hyogoro, Zoro resembles Shimotsuki Ushimaru in his youth, who inherited his ancestor Ryuma’s talent for swordsmanship. Also, Zoro ended up returning Ryuma’s sword Shusui to Wano, which Kawamatsu considers fate, especially since Zoro is one-eyed much like Ryuma was.

On the Second Floor, Jack battles Inuarashi in his hybrid form as he declares he will put him to sleep while also revealing that he has forgiven him for lying to him about hiding Raizo on Zou because the country paid the price for it. Though tired, Inuarashi manages to throw Jack into the room where Ashura Doji lays unconscious, in the process, telling Jack that he would have never been able to live with himself or return to Wano if he sold Raizo out, because everything he and his friends have gone through was for this moment in time. As Inuarashi steps outside too, he tells Jack that he has indeed suffered much in the past, but now the dawn of the world is approaching, and he doesn’t mind dying for it. Jack then sees that Inuarashi has turned into his Sulong form, as a hole in the roof is letting the moon shine down on him. At the same time in the front entrance, Carrot and Wanda, who have recovered, see Charlotte Perospero in the front. Nekomamushi then arrives, also in his Sulong form thanks to the moon, and tells Pedro to sit back and watch, because he is going to make sure the moon is the last thing Perospero ever sees. Also, up on the second floor, Fukurokuju calls Raizo and the rest of the Scabbards a joke and there is no reason for him to serve the child of a dead man. Raizo angrily tells Fukurokuju that Momonosuke still has time to grow, with Wano serving to shape that.

Down in the Tokage Port, the Heart Pirates panic when they see what appears to be Kaidou in his dragon form, but Luffy, who was standing in front of the dragon, realizes it is actually Momonosuke. While crying, Shinobu explains that she gave in to Momonosuke’s request and matured his body by twenty years. When Luffy asks why she is crying, Shinobu says it is because after she did so, Momonosuke now appears identical to someone. Nevertheless, Luffy asks Momonosuke to help him take back Wano together, which he accepts.

Chapter Notes

 * The battle at the Live Stage continues.
 * King and Queen stand up after Zoro's and Sanji's attacks.
 * Kawamatsu and Izou arrived at the Live Stage.
 * King faces off against Zoro, while Queen continues his fight with Sanji.
 * Sanji's body starts to feel different after using the Raid Suit a second time.
 * Queen can use Busoshoku Haki.
 * Queen assumes Sanji's Diable Jambe is the result of an enhancement from Vinsmoke Judge.
 * Queen reveals that the name of King's race is Lunarian.
 * King's sword is serrated, and he is able to catch Zoro's Sandai Kitetsu and Enma, and throws them away but Zoro quickly retrieves his swords.
 * Hyogoro and Kawamatsu talk about Zoro's similarities with members of the Shimotsuki Family: Ushimaru and Ryuma.
 * Ushimaru had a fighting style similar to Zoro's.
 * Ryuma is revealed to have been a one-eyed samurai as well.
 * It is revealed that Ushimaru was a direct descendant of Ryuma.
 * The fight between Inuarashi and Jack continues.
 * Jack is in his hybrid form.
 * Inuarashi throws Jack to the room Ashura Doji is.
 * Inuarashi transforms into his Sulong form with the light of the Moon coming from the hole in the roof.
 * Nekomamushi transforms into his Sulong form to fight Perospero.
 * Both Wanda and Carrot have woken up and are watching this battle.
 * Raizo and Fukurokuju continue their fight.
 * Back on Wano Country shore, Luffy, Shinobu and the Heart Pirates stand before a massive dragon which is revealed to be a transformed Momonosuke.
 * As a result of Shinobu's ability, Momonosuke is now 28 years old.