Episode 972

"The End of the Battle! Oden vs. Kaidou!" is the 972nd episode of the One Piece anime.

Short Summary
Kaidou defeats Oden at Udon and the retainers are captured. They are sentenced to be executed by boiling, where Oden suggests a challenge.

Long Summary
To the disappointment of Kaidou, King and Queen, Oden and his retainers fought strongly against Kaidou's men, even having Shinobu join them. Kaidou decided to intervene personally with his "Bolo Breath" attack, but Oden remained unharmed by the attack. The two fought each other one-on-one while Oden's retainers battled King and Queen. Kaidou got the upper hand, knocking Oden into the fiery ground below.

Oden got up, ready to face him again. He coated his swords with Ryuo and leaps toward Kaidou. Although Kaidou's flames nearly knock him back down, through sheer willpower he braves the flames and slashes into Kaidou's body, being the first person to ever cut Kaidou. He prepares to finish off Kaidou while he is in his human form.

However, Higurashi disguised herself as Momonosuke while a Beasts Pirate held her at knifepoint. This distracted Oden just enough for Kaidou to critically wound him off guard. Ashura and Kin'emon attempted to aid him, but were defeated by King and Queen. Oden collapsed, earning victory for the Beasts Pirates. The fires set during the battle raged through the Udon forest for five days until the rain finally put it out.

Oden and the Nine Red Scabbards were all jailed in the Flower Capital, with only Shinobu being spared. Previously, Oden denied allegiance to her so that she would not be arrested with the others. Eventually, the Nine Red Scabbards' verdict was released, and they would be executed by boiling in three days.

Three days passed and the day of the execution arrived. The public event became a big spectacle since execution by boiling was rare. As Oden walks the plank into the pot, one of the executioners slipped on oil, fell into the pot, and suffered an excruciating death. Just before Oden entered the pot, he suggested a wager to Orochi: if he and his retainers could survive a set amount of time in the pot, they would be set free.

Anime Notes

 * The following are extended:
 * Oden's battle against Kaidou.
 * King and Queen's appearance during the battle against Oden and the Scabbards are fully visible. In the manga they were shadowed.
 * King displayed the ability to fly without transforming into a pteranodon by using the wings on his back.
 * The scene where King creates the crescent moon-shaped scar on Raizo's forehead is omitted.
 * It was also shown that Queen had a shorter mustache than in the present time.
 * In the manga, after Oden scarred Kaidou, the emperor was still in his Beast Form when Oden was about to finish him off. In the anime, Kaidou turns back into his human form and was about to clash with Oden before the latter got distracted by "Momonosuke" being held hostage.