The Marineford Arc

The Marineford Arc (known as the Paramount War in the Viz Manga translation and the War of the Best in the FUNimation sub) is the twenty-second story arc in the series, and the fourth in the Summit War Saga of the One Piece series, continuing on from Impel Down Arc. Having failed to reach Ace before he was transferred to Marineford, Luffy and the other escapees from Impel Down (which include Jinbe, Emporio Ivankov, Crocodile, Mr. 1, Mr. 3, Buggy and Inazuma), instead follow his brother to Marineford, the base of Marine Headquarters.

With the odds stacked high against him, the coming threat of Whitebeard, and the ulterior motives of pirates that wish to overthrow the Yonko, Luffy struggles to hold his own in this titanic clash of powers. Buggy yells at Shanks for lying about the treasure map, Shanks justifying his lie that it was a spur of the moment, while Buggy continues to yell at Shanks, clearly holding his grudge. Buggy's followers comically admire Buggy's attitude towards Shanks, continuing to swear loyalty to him. Buggy then thinks that if he stays with the Red Hair Pirates, he will be able to get off the island safely. Shanks then orders Marco to withdraw in order to stop encouraging the battle. While this happens, Mihawk walks away, telling the Marines that he was only told to participate in the war against Whitebeard, and that fighting Shanks not being part of the agreement.

Shanks threatens the Marines that if there are any others who wish to fight, then he and his crew will fight them. Upon asking Blackbeard, Teach quickly decides to postpone their battle, satisfied with getting what he wanted already, leaving shortly there after. Shanks then tells the remaining Whitebeard Pirates and the Marines to save face for him, the Whitebeard Pirates mourning over the loss of Ace and Whitebeard, the Marines appearing indifferent. The Pacifistas stop, as well as the Shichibukai and the Marines halting in their actions. Shanks then tells the Marines that they will take their bodies, as he does not want their deaths to be exploited to the world due to the broadcast. In rebuttal, the Marines ask Sengoku on what to do, Sengoku quietly deciding to take responsibility for their actions, ordering for the Marines to tend to the wounded, following with Shanks' apology. With this, the "War on the Summit of Marineford", known as the greatest war since the Great Age of Pirates, has ended.