@Shift:

Okay, crazy theory fun time! This is one I'd been gnawing on before it seemed the joining was imminent: maybe Aladdin gave Jinbe that scar. It could have even happened right after the funeral. Maybe he was upset Jinbe would still work with humans after Otohime's (supposed) assassination by one, how he even wanted to cover it up, and so they had a falling out. He worked under and respected the queen like Jinbe, but he clearly had to take a moment to put aside his anger and help the Celestial Dragon when she asked, and even Arlong asked whether there was some anger pent up in there.

I figured Aladdin should be a bigger part of the story considering how much the flashback spotlighted him, and maybe he and Jinbe, similar in many respects, differed in that he had some resentment he couldn't release and which took over when the queen was killed seemingly by a human, while Jinbe could set it aside for the success of her dream.

Anyway, now that the true killer, Hody, is known, maybe Jinbe wants to find and make amends with him and the other Sun Pirates, tell them that Tiger and Otohime did have it right, and help them find a way to live safe from the Marines.

I could be way off base, but that's crazy theory fun time for ya.

Yay for crazy theories! Anyways, I had the same type of theory but instead of just Aladdiin, I said the whole crew did not like how Jinbe continued to work for humans, especially after the death of their Queen and perhaps caused Jinbe's scar in their fit of rage. And remember Camie did tell Luffy (found here: http://www.manga-access.com/manga/O/One_Piece/chapter/609/7) that there were a lot of detail more to the story that would take too long to explain at the time.

@Coruscation:

Right. Seeing that all that bonding, interacting and emotional peak of the last chapter's ending apparently not being worth more than slightly over one page of the same old I-can't-because-duty-something and the puke-worthy "feelgood" dialogue and facial expressions of the crewmembers on the next page, apparently meant to be satisfying, was just… I have few words for it. I don't think I've EVER felt so completely empty reading One Piece.

So naturally, I hope more fervently than I can say that there is going to be much more to it than that. Guy above me, yeah, there are indeed some things that remain cryptic and unknown about Jimbei. It always felt off to me that we wouldn't get more about the scar, and now that you say it, Caimie did put it that way which implies a degree of complexity to it all that I'd forgotten about. But this chapter just felt so terribly final to me. In a bad vibes kind of way. Like, Oda really did mean for this to somehow be a satisfying wrap-up and heartfelt promise or whatever. Ugh… not that I wouldn't WANT more Jimbei in the story. I'd be as happy as anyone if he's still with us the next arc. But it just doesn't feel like that's going to happen. This WAS "his" arc, he got it all - facefaults, gags, a flashback, a fight no different from the other crewmembers, a volume cover, double-spreads, epic moves... but then it's all just cut right off.

I definitely agree. I admit that I got a bit choked up when Jimbe and Luffy were lying side by side, with Jinbe's blood flowing into Luffy and that lovely narration and topped off by Luffy's first thought upon waking up was to ask Jinbe to join his crew. All of that emotion and interaction felt wasted at this chapter with Jinbe stating he can't join yet but after he finished his duty then he will join.

Someone mentioned it earlier but the way Jimbe worded his refusal sounded a bit foreboding**.** "And if you still feel the same way then, promise me that you'll invite me once more … to the Straw Hat Pirates." (according to Mangastream translation). It almsot sounds like Jinbe is worried that whatever his duty is will cause Luffy and the others to change their minds about him. I'm still on the boat that his duty relates back to his ex-crew (and Camie definitely implies that there is something more about his ex-crew going on) and we can only wait to see if Oda reveals this in the next few chapters.

I had a bit of a theory where I posted in "Last Two Nakama" where I think maybe Jinbe and his ex-crew are not on speaking terms after Jinbe continued to be a Shichibukai after Queen Otohime's assassination by a human (supposedly). To them, combining the death of Fisher Tiger and now with Otohime, it must feel like a betrayal that Jinbe continued to be "loyal" to humans. Maybe he tried to speak to them to help in the fight with Hody but they refused.

@ultimateclima:

If they were close enough to the island, that wouldn't explain why Jinbe was alone this arc or why Jinbe didn't think of asking for their help when dealing with Hody. Or why they didn't help when the Kingdom was taken. I can't imagine all of them not willing to want to help their kingdom. This becomes a time issue. How far are they from the island and is it plausible for Jinbe to meet up with them while the crew is staying on the island?

It also depends on how he plans on "fulfilling his duties", but stepping down from the role as former captain/guilt about dropping his title seems more like he's running away from his duties than fulfilling them if he just goes "I want to travel with these humans now buh-bye". That's not how it would go…want to stop baseless spectulation but there's different scenarios I could see with this...

Like many others, I wondered why Jinbe's ex-crew did not come to help. It was stated by Hyouzou (I believe) that they also left the island (and also currently not in Fishman Island when Hody started his attack) when Jinbe's Shichibukai status was revoked. Could it be possible that the crew broke off relations with Jinbe after he continued to be a Shichibukai after Otohime's death (supposedly) by a human? It might have seem like a great betrayal to them that Jinbe would continue to serves those who had not only killed Fisher Tiger but now assassinated their beloved queen. Maybe Jinbe did try to speak to his ex-crew about helping in this fight against Hody but they refused.

Chopper's amazed. Luffy won't share. Zoro's jealous and Robin's last line cracks me up.
http://mangarun.com/one_piece/one_piece_255/One_Piece_-255-_02.jpg

• Luffy's first appearance
• Zoro's speech after Milhawk battle
• Luffy punching Don Krieg when he had the spiked cape on
• Zoro's killer night with the 100 bounty hunters
• the ringing of the Bell in Skypiea
• another Zoro speech after Luffy vs. Usopp
• all the Straw-Hats standing against the CP9

Can someone find ZoroxNami doujinshi for me? I haven't got a chance to look over this whole thread and I'd appreciate it if someone finds links.

Oh man, I haven't laugh like this in a while. Great job guys.

Gotta love Luffy's expression and posture http://www.devilsfruit.com/gallery/gallery.php?pic=Screen%20Shots/Episodi%20001-050/022%20-%20Fame%20di%20conquista/051.jpg

I like Zoro just the way he is: serious when he needs to be serious, funny when he needs to be funny and kickin' butt when he needs to kick some butt.

His sarcastic sense of humour is right for his type of character. I can't imagine him dancing around like Luffy or Usopp cuz that's just Zoro.

I agree, it has been a while since we've seen Zoro laugh heartily. I would really love to see that. He really is cute when he laughs or smiles without that I-am-going-to-kill-you look.