The episode introduces the protagonist, , a young man who dreams of finding the legendary treasure known as the "One Piece".

: The story begins with a barrel drifting at sea being brought aboard a cruise ship by its crew.

: Luffy’s childhood and his meeting with Shanks are not shown in the first episode but are covered later in Episode 4 .

: In the ship's storage, Luffy bursts out of the barrel and meets Koby , a timid chore boy forced into service by Alvida.

: Luffy reveals he ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi (Gum-Gum Fruit), which turned his body into rubber. He defeats Alvida with his "Gum-Gum Pistol" technique, launching her off the ship.