Episode 976

"Back to the Present Day! 20 Years Later" is the 976th episode of the One Piece anime.

Short Summary
Denjiro becomes the yakuza boss Kyoshiro and Hiyori becomes the oiran Komurasaki. Transitioning to the present day, Kin'emon's troops are prepared to storm Onigashima.

Long Summary
Orochi took a bath and complained about it being too cold, despite the water being scalding hot. He expressed his frustration that Oden's retainers had not been caught. Meanwhile, Oden's remaining followers were devastated by the deaths. Ashura, who survived the encounter in the forest with injuries, reflected on the prophecy given by Toki just before her death. Kawamatsu attempted to cheer up a grieving Hiyori, but to no avail.

Denjiro had a meltdown while hidden in a secluded wooden cabin. In the end, this transformed him into a cold and cynical person under the new name, Kyoshiro. He created a new yakuza group and very begrudgingly pledged allegiance to Orochi to work undercover. At night, he became the infamous thief Ushimitsu Kozo.

Eventually, Hiyori ran away out of guilt for Kawamatsu. She showed up at the brothel owned by Kyoshiro, who immediately recognized her. Kyoshiro took her into the brothel and raised her, transforming her into an oiran by the name of Komurasaki. She was to carry fake blood at all times so she could fake her death when needed.

Twenty years nearly passed and the Fire Festival was fast approaching. Paranoid of the Nine Red Scabbards' return, Orochi secures the country. He mentions a spy among them that was allied with Kaidou the entire time. This unknown spy was a member of the Kurozumi Family. He was originally part of a theatre troupe but his parents were killed in front of him. The spy met with Orochi and Higurashi, who tasked him with working undercover as one of Oden's retainers.

The retainers who were transported to the future attempted to sail out to Zou, but their ship wrecked in stormy waters, and Raizo got separated from the group. Then, in Dressrosa, Momonosuke boarded on the wrong ship and also got separated. Kanjuro sacrificed himself there and allowed himself to get captured, allowing Kin'emon to escape Dressrosa and pursue the ship to Punk Hazard. Unfortunately, he encountered Law, who cut him into pieces. He would be reassembled and reunited with the others thanks to the Straw Hat Pirates' efforts. They formed the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance to take down Kaidou and gathered an impressive army to battle in Onigashima.

Anime Notes

 * The anime adds the following:
 * Denjiro consumed by rage is shown.
 * Denjiro taking down his foes at ease during his arrival in the Flower Capital.
 * Hiyori arriving in the Flower Capital.
 * In the flashback where Orochi recruits his spy, the spy's lines are presented via text rather than voiced, in order to hide their identity.