WARNING: The following contains spoilers for One Piece Episode 953, "Hiyori's Confession! A Reunion at Bandit's Bridge!," now streaming on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
As Kaido and Big Mom clash at Onigashima, the Straw Hats and their allies have set their plans in motion across Wano. At the Udon Prison Mine, a recovery is underway following the havoc wreaked by Big Mom and Queen. This recovery, while well-needed, is largely orchestrated by an unlikely trio: Caribou, Tama and the Straw Hats' own Tony Tony Chopper.
These three characters are certainly not ones that One Piece fans would expect to see team-up. Still, it's their efforts that end up making the Prison Mine a safe place for the time being from Kaido's army, and a potential base of operations for the Straw Hats and their allies.
Caribou Cuts Off The Prison Mine's Communications
During Episode 953, Raizo thanks the ever-suspicious Caribou for the role he played in the liberation of the mine. Caribou recounts that he was able to cut off the communication system by using his Swamp-Swamp Devil Fruit ability to absorb the Boss Snail, the main communication hub, effectively cutting off the mine's communications with the outside.
With Queen having left to go to Onigashima in order to bring Big Mom to Kaido, the All-Star's only method of reaching Babanuki and his other subordinates at the mine is via transponder snail, but thanks to Caribou, he has no way of communicating with them at all -- and no way of knowing about the mine being liberated.
Tama's Dango Ability Worked On Babanuki
Viewers will remember Tama's unnamed Devil Fruit ability to create dango from her cheeks. Any animal that eats one becomes subservient to her. It's a rather specific ability, and the fact that it works on animals and not humans makes it seem even less versatile. Kaido's army, however, is made up of a number of SMILE Devil Fruit users, and due to their animal-based abilities, they too can be affected. This is just the case with the Prison Mine warden, Babanuki.
Communications are restored once the mine has been liberated, allowing a successfully tamed Babnuki to deliver a false report to Queen. He tells the All-Star that Luffy, Kid and the other prisoners have secured been behind bars -- a complete fabrication, thanks to Tama's ability. Had it not been for her, the heroes would not have been able to give Queen a legitimate reason not to return to Udon, something that viewers see he is clearly trying to do as Big Mom and Kaido fight.
Chopper's Antivirus Reversed The Effects Of Queen's Excite Bullets
One thing that could have very easily wiped out the entire population of the Prison Mine was Queen's Excite Bullets loaded with the Mummy Virus. Fans saw the effects of this virus as incredibly detrimental even to the Straw Hat captain Luffy, who is notorious in the anime world in general for his strength and stamina.
It was, of course, thanks to the Straw Hat doctor, Chopper, that Luffy and the other prisoners were able to recover. If not for his quick-thinking and medical expertise, it's likely that many would have withered away due to the effects of the virus. The prisoners are thankful to Chopper, with some even offering to repay their debt to him even if it costs them their lives.
While, again, a very unlikely trio of characters, the efforts of Caribou, Tama and Chopper all result in a safe and secure base of operations in Udon away from the prying eyes of Kaido's subordinates. With a base like the Prison Mine, The Straw Hats and their allies have a perfect place to prepare for the coming battle against Orochi and Kaido.
