Chapter 981

Chapter 981 is titled "Joining the Fight".

Cover Page
Color Spread - Luffy, Nami, Chopper, and the Town Musicians of Bremen are enjoying music played by Usopp, Sanji, and Brook. Zoro is sleeping in the background.

Short Summary
Queen gives the Beasts Pirates permission to kill Luffy, Zoro, Kid, and Killer, and they are forced to run away from their onslaught, which even Hatcha of the Numbers joins in. Meanwhile, part of Kin'emon's group splits off to infiltrate Kaido's fortress in order to help surround Kaido as well as rescue Momonosuke. Elsewhere, the Big Mom Pirates attempt to scale the waterfall around Wano again, looking to find out why Big Mom and Kaido are in an alliance. However, they are knocked down by Marco, who is approaching Wano with Nekomamushi and Izo.

Chapter Notes

 * One of the Numbers, Hatcha, is fully shown.
 * It is revealed that Apoo's attacks can only reach where the target can hear them.
 * Orochi was the one who forced Killer to eat a SMILE fruit.
 * Who's Who's team is shown. He orders them to investigate Yamato's whereabouts.
 * Kin'emon's team arrives at a brothel belonging to Black Maria. At this point, the team splits up in two, with one advancing to the rear entrance of Kaido's castle as originally planned and the other infiltrating the brothel to search for Momonosuke.
 * Nami, Carrot, and Shinobu are going to look for Momonosuke.
 * Kin'emon, Shishilian, Chopper, and Usopp proceed forward, but Big Mom spots Chopper on the Brachio Tank V from the brothel's windows.
 * The Big Mom Pirates attempt to enter Wano again, but they are stopped by Marco, who arrives along with Nekomamushi and Izo.