Episode 974

"Oden Wouldn't Be Oden If It Wasn't Boiled" is the 974th episode of the One Piece anime.

Short Summary
Oden completes the challenge but Orochi decides to kill them anyway. The Nine Red Scabbards manage to escape but Oden is killed.

Long Summary
The truth about Oden's sacrifices are revealed to the public, and feeling bad for mocking him over the years, they rushed to the execution site to cheer him on, hoping for his survival. However, Oden knows that he will not survive the execution, so he tells his retainers to open up the country in his name. Meanwhile, Fukurokuju confronts Shinobu for telling everyone the truth, but Shinobu denounces the Orochi Oniwabanshu and pledges loyalty to the Nine Red Scabbards. Thirty minutes passed and Oden still stood strong, so Orochi ordered his men to further increase the temperature.

Ten minutes remained and Orochi became increasingly frustrated that Oden had not yet died. Through pure willpower, Oden pushed through the final ten minutes and completed the challenge. Despite this, Orochi decided to break his promises, and the firing squad pointed their guns on Oden anyway.

After telling his retainers to open up the country for him, he threw the plank away from the execution area, allowing his retainers to flee to Kuri. They remembered their happy times with Oden as they tearfully ran away. Kaidou mentioned that he killed Higurashi, but then took out his pistol and shot Oden in the head. His final words, "Oden wouldn't be oden," was cut off, but the townspeople completed his sentenced with, "if it wasn't boiled."

Anime Notes

 * The anime adds the following:
 * Oden recalling his adventures with the Whitebeard Pirates and Roger Pirates while the execution time passes.
 * This episode's "To Be Continued" end screen has sakura petals twirling behind the text.