Lovely transition chapter. Not sure if I'm more impressed by Luffy's Hydra or the Pudding Punch.
The family just can't stop being a thorn on Sanji's side as even the RS suit Niji gifted him turned out to be a cruel Germa experiment. Like Chopper's 5 fingers to Queen, there is no defense from karma.
The Great Ninja War of Wano: officially longer than Marineford. Raizo mentions preparations he's made, with only Kaido and CP0 left I imagine he's packing scrolls to capture the flames that could devour the battlefield or just evacuate everyone. 100 chapters after Komurasaki's funeral, Hiyori gets her moment. Hiding her face while revealing her identity is a tense combination. Someone using seastone on an island supposedly rich with it against the largest DF army in the world is good to see. It's not lost on me that Orochi can no longer use his power (most of the heads got cut off anyway) the same chapter Luffy unleashes his 9-headed snake.
Your options for finding out what the One Piece is: 1) Putting everything at stake including your own life on the ultimate journey, 2) reading about it in a book. It's very obvious why no one alive is finding out the secret of Laugh Tale before the Pirate King's crew gets there. It's a boost for nakama Yamato in that she can no longer spoil the crew and has a strong reason to sail in completing Oden's "Bible", though I question why she has not expressed what should be a definitive desire.
The Gorosei ordering CP0 to side with the World's Strongest Creature to eliminate a "rubber" boy says it all - Luffy perfectly encapsulates their fears from 1037. Annoying to start dropping CP0 members while keeping their powers hidden in offscreen scuffles, but at least Izo getting a result in a 2v1 puts much needed respect on gunner's names. With the CP0 now targetting Luffy, it's only fitting Drake gets back up to fulfill his due to the man who believed in him. CP0 interrupting Kaido's precious 1v1 in light of Oden could be an interesting character moment, but the chapter makes it clear they are no threat on the roof and the third CP0 member preserved in the game room most likely has three tasks: 1) Confirm Luffy's Awakening. 2) Confirm Luffy defeated Kaido with his own hands to justify his post-Wano bounty. 3) Kill Luffy and/or Kaido when the battle is over.
A preview of the Rocks flashback with 24-25 y.o. Charlotte "Sugar Momma" Linlin looking for her next husband/prey.
With young Linlin sharing the same eyes and angular brows, let's hope Yamato wasn't born one of them.
The 9 shadows Orochi and Kaido should have been terrified of were actually just Luffy's fists.
Like Hawk to Roc, Culverin (grass snake) to Hydra marks another mythical animal upgrade. Luffy in 424 used his final G2 and told Lucci he wouldn't stop until he was beaten, which was 427 giving Kaido some fight left even ignoring a Rocks flashback. Snakeman Luffy with that flaming Nika hair. It's no wonder this is Luffy's final form as the Sun God introduced this arc bringing the Dawn to Wano is too good for Oda to pass up. Perhaps Luffy finally meets all prequisites with his highest stage of DF mastery in G4 + advanced CoA/CoO/CoC = Awakening, like Gear 4 was not possible without Luffy learning CoA. Amusing that G4's first opponent was the Awakened Doflamingo, now it looks like he'll ascend to a higher stage by combining them both.
