135: One Piece Episode

The "present-day" framing of this flashback is where the episode’s depth truly shines. It takes place on the Going Merry as the crew adjusts to their new member, Nico Robin.

Zoro wasn't hunting for justice; he was hunting for his next meal. One Piece Episode 135

Is Episode 135 essential to the plot? No. Is it essential to the character? Absolutely. It reminds us that even the man who will eventually "cut through anything" once struggled just to find his way to the next town—literally and figuratively. The "present-day" framing of this flashback is where

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