Episode 576

"Z's Ambition Arc - The Mysterious Strongest Army Appears!" is the 576th episode of the One Piece anime.

Short Summary
Nami creates a plan for the Straw Hats to rescue Lily's father, Panz Fry. Chopper, Robin, Brook, and Luffy are the diversion group while Usopp, Sanji, Zoro, and Lily are in the submarine. Luffy goes on the submarine because he finds the diversion group boring. They rescue Panz Fry, but Momonga attacks Luffy, forcing Zoro to intercept him.

Shuzo attacks the Marines and Panz Fry. His pet alpaca Alpacacino shoots out a cannon ball at the Marine ships. Shuzo attacks Panz Fry directly but is intercepted by Luffy. Shuzo then kicks Luffy into the sea. Zoro jumps into the water to save his captain, and Shuzo and Sanji get into an argument. Shuzo tells Momomga the reason why he quit the Marines, much to the dismay of the rest of his crew. Luffy and Zoro then resurface and Luffy threatens Shuzo. Luffy and Momonga prepare to fight Shuzo.

Long Summary
As Panz Fry is being taken into custody by the Marines, Vice Admiral Momonga questions him for his actions in taking the pirates' food from before, Panz Fry states it was because there are other starving people that need it more and that all of the food that Marines take is used for the World Nobles and states they do not need all of the food and question how could the Marines let others starve for the sake of the cruel World Nobles. Momonga states regardless he is still going to Impel Down for being a pirate.

Meanwhile, the Straw Hat Pirates have Nami create a plan for the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates to rescue Lily's father. Chopper, Robin, Brook, and Luffy are the diversion group while Usopp, Sanji, Zoro, and Lily are in the submarine. Luffy goes on the submarine because he finds the diversion group boring. As they go to rescue him, Usopp mentions to Lily that they have met giants before such as Dorry and Brogy, surprising Lily that they met them and states that her father have been friends with the two since they were kids. They execute the plan as Robin uses her Hana Hana no Mi abilities to take out the Marines around the ships while Brook uses his Yomi Yomi no Mi abilities to scare them away. Sanji uses Sky Walk to fight the Marines from another ship while Zoro cuts the chains around Panz Fry. They rescue Panz Fry, but Momonga attacks Luffy, forcing Zoro to intercept him on the spot.

As Lily is reunited with her father, the reunion is ruined as a person named Shuzo intercepts them and attacks Panz Fry. Momonga is shocked to see him, as the two reveal a history together. Shuzo states that the Marines sending a pirate to Impel Down is pathetic and that all pirates from the New World need to be killed and he, along with the Neo Marines and their leader, Z will execute all pirates in the world. Momonga is shocked by the name, having known Z for a while, as the latter is a former Marine Admiral.

Shuzo now decides to kill Panz Fry himself and goes to attack him but Sanji intercepts and Shuzo is tackled to the ground by the pirate. Luffy attempts to attack and is thrown into the water prompting Zoro to abandon his fight with Momonga and save Luffy. Luffy eventually is saved and prepares to fight Shuzo himself while Zoro will fight Momonga.

Anime Notes

 * Momonga appears for the first time after the timeskip.
 * Shuzo used to work for the Marines.
 * Alpacacino is the name of Shuzo's pet alpaca. It is also revealed to have the ability to turn into a cannon. It has yet to be revealed if he is a weapon that "ate" a Devil Fruit.
 * Panz Fry was friends with Dorry and Brogy.
 * Lily reunites with her father.
 * This episode does not contain the New World opening narration.
 * The preview for the next episode is very brief, only having Luffy state the title of that episode.