Chapter 996

Chapter 996 is titled "Island of the Strongest".

Cover Page
Cover Page Request: "Blackbeard and a hippo are brushing their teeth together." - PN Ebi

Short Summary
Tama, alongside Komachiyo and Hihimaru, saves Usopp and Nami from Page One and Ulti. Yamato continues fighting against Sasaki to protect Momonosuke and Shinobu; the fight is about to escalate when Franky rushes in, being chased by Hatcha. Hatcha smashes a hole in the floor, allowing Momonosuke, Shinobu, and Yamato to escape as Yamato launches an attack that takes down Hatcha.

In different parts of the Skull Dome, Law is searching for the Road Poneglyph in hope of learning the truth about the mystery of the Will of D.. Kid and Killer are making their way through the building to the roof where Kaido is, gathering as many weapons as possible along the way. As Kaido overwhelms the Nine Red Scabbards, Big Mom flies through the crowd towards the roof where he is.

Luffy's group is also making their way to the roof when Sanji hears something.

Long Summary
Inside the bathroom in the forehead of the Skull Dome, Ulti and Page One wonder what it was that attacked them before Tama grabs Nami and Usopp and runs off. Ulti demands Page One tear the komainu apart but he retorts for her to do it herself, which upsets her. Nami asks Usopp if he is okay, and he replies he is despite clearly not being so. She says that on the bright side, she is fine, which annoys him. Nami asks Tama how she and Komachiyo got to Onigashima and she replies that she snuck on board an enemy ship. Suddenly, the baboon Hihimaru appears and clashes with Page One as Tama asks for him to hold them off for three minutes. Nami becomes worried that Hihimaru may not stand a chance against the two Tobiroppo, but Tama tells her not to look down on his strength and that they can as samurai.

In the right-brain central tower, Yamato continues to blow away Sasaki's Armored Division. The manage to strike them, and despite taking the hit, Yamato is clearly showing signs of exhaustion. Momonosuke becomes worried for them and Shinobu asks them to take Momonosuke and leave her behind. Yamato refuses, saying that Kozuki Oden wouldn't do that. Sasaki starts to draw his sword and irritatingly tells Yamato that he finds it insulting they would say something like that to him while protecting 'dead weight'. Seeing this, Yamato's teeth start changing and becoming sharp.

Before the two can start fighting, Franky arrives with Hatcha following him. Yamato recognizes Franky inside the General Franky as Hatcha swings his club near Franky, causing him to bust a hole through the floor. Yamato remembers that there is a floor underneath them and grabs Momonosuke and Shinobu to escape. Franky asks if the two have been captured but they answer that they are being rescued. Yamato asks Franky to take care of Sasaki and that Luffy put them in charge of protecting the two. While Franky doesn't know who Yamato is, he nevertheless accepts. As thanks, Yamato uses a move called Narikabura Arrow, and fires a shot of Busoshoku Haki at Hatcha that strikes him in the head, defeating him. Sasaki orders his troops to chase after Yamato, who tells Momonosuke that he must live because they believe he is the one who will lead the world to the dawn.

In the second basement floor, Trafalgar Law defeats several guards and approaches a Poneglyph while thinking about what Donquixote Rosinante said about the name of "D.", and how they are considered the enemies of the gods. He also thought back to when he revealed his full name to Nico Robin on Zou, which surprised her. She appreciates the trust he has shown telling her this, but she can not give an answer, as despite her interest in the name, Luffy has no interest in knowing. Law realizes that in order to figure out the meaning, they need to follow the Road Poneglyphs. Sadly, the Poneglyph he finds isn't red, so he chooses to keep looking. He says to Rosinante that now he seeks to find the meaning of the "checkered life" he is meant to lead.

On the third floor, Eustass Kid uses his Devil Fruit to gather metal objects and asks Killer if he gathered enough. Killer answers that since they are fighting the world's strongest pirate, it can't hurt to have too much, which elates Kid. At the roof of the Skull Dome, Kaido continues his battle with the Nine Red Scabbards and is starting to overwhelm them. At the Live Stage, Big Mom returns, but she says that she only plans on joining Kaido up on the roof.

Luffy, Jinbe, and Sanji manage to reach the second floor of the castle with Jinbe telling Luffy that the roof is above the fifth floor. Suddenly, Sanji asks the two of them if they can hear that sound from the third floor. He focuses and hears someone speaking in a seductive voice.

Chapter Notes

 * Tama and Komachiyo take Nami and Usopp away from Ulti and Page One.
 * Hihimaru engages the two Tobiroppo.
 * Tama snuck on board an enemy ship to help fight in the war.
 * Franky and Hatcha arrive at the Right-Brain Tower, where Yamato and Sasaki are just before Yamato is overwhelmed by Sasaki's Armored Division.
 * Hatcha destroys the floor, which sends Sasaki's forces down with it.
 * Yamato defeats Hatcha and escapes with Shinobu and Momonosuke down the hole Hatcha made.
 * Yamato can use Busoshoku Haki.
 * Yamato began what appeared to be a transformation, gaining sharp fangs, before being interrupted.
 * Yamato is also aware of the concept known as the Dawn of the World, likely from Oden's logbook.
 * Law finds a Poneglyph in the second basement floor of the castle.
 * He revealed his true name to Robin at a earlier point.
 * He also reveals his intent to learn the truth about the Will of D.
 * Kid and Killer are at the third level of the castle.
 * Big Mom reenters the Skull Dome determined to head to the roof where Kaido is.
 * Luffy, Jinbe, and Sanji reach the second level of the castle.