One Piece's anime has entered full swing into intense, action-packed scenes after returning from a long hiatus with the fight of Sentomaru against Kizaru. However, in the episode, Luffy will finally settle an old grudge, putting his new strength to the test with a long-awaited rematch that fans have been waiting for more than 15 years.

The last time Luffy had to face Kizaru was in One Piece episode #404, which premiered in June 2009 during the Sabaody Archipelago Arc. This fight reflected the weakness of the Straw Hats and marked their separation before the two-year time skip, which makes Luffy’s declaration even more exciting for fans who have been looking forward to this moment for more than 700 episodes.

One Piece Sets up an Old Rivalry with Luffy vs. Kizaru

Luffy Will Avenge His Defeat in the Sabaody Archipelago

In One Piece episode 1125, which adapted chapter 1091 of the manga, the focus is on Kizaru's fight against Sentomaru, with the latter being defeated relatively quickly due to the difference in strength. However, the one stealing the spotlight in the end is the Straw Hats Captain, as when the Marine iral was preparing to attack Vegaforce-01 and Thousand Sunny, Luffy jumped into action to stop Kizaru.

Luffy launched a kick at Kizaru so fast that he took him by surprise, interrupting him while he was talking. Kizaru blocked him with his arm, ending on a cliffhanger that served to pump the blood of the viewers by showcasing an incredible animation and anticipating an exciting battle for the next episode. Moreover, this short sequence serves to highlight how Luffy isn’t the same he was in Sabaody and will have his rematch now as one of the Emperors of the Sea.

One Piece Cliffhanger Is A Great Parallel to Luffy's Old Master

Luffy's Growth is Highlighted in his Words to Kizaru

After attacking him, Luffy tells Kizaru that the Straw Hats have become a hundred times stronger than what they were two years ago during their encounter in the Sabaody Archipelago, which ended in a crushing defeat for them. This isn't only a cool line for Luffy but also highlights a parallel to Shakky's words to Luffy in One Piece episode #392. When Kizaru was about to kill Zoro, Rayleigh came to their aid and allowed them to escape before being scattered by Kuma.

At the moment, Rayleigh's strength was on par with Kizaru. This way, as stated by Shakky before that Rayleigh was "100 times stronger" than all the Eleven Supernovas when they arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago, Luffy's words to Kizaru directly remark that he is now on his level and has overcome the immense gap in strength. Furthermore, Luffy's kick resembles the way Rayleigh stopped Kizaru before, which means that Luffy has come a long way and can stand on equal with his master, who taught him to use Haki.