As One Piece’s Wano Country arc draws to a close, a new theory sows doubt: Was Monkey D. Luffy’s famous Devil Fruit actually intended for…? Find out why this question could change the fate of the Grand Line forever!
© One Piece – LUFFY
For years, the Straw Hat Pirate has been considered the holder of the Gomu-Gomu Fruit, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit which gives him the ability to transform his body into rubber. But a major twist occurred: Who’s Who, a former CP9 agent, revealed that Luffy actually possesses a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit known as the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika. This revelation, which occurred during his epic battle against Kaido, leaves many questions unanswered, including that concerning the original intentions of Red Shanks with regard to this legendary Devil Fruit.
According to the Five Elders , the supreme council of the World Government, the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, has existed since the Forgotten Century . According to them, the World Government spent hundreds of years searching for this Devil Fruit before finally erasing it from the history books to limit its immense power. Information about what happened to this Devil Fruit during this time remains murky, as does its connection to the enigmatic figure known as Sun God Nika. However, thanks to revelations from Who’s Who, we gain insight into the circumstances surrounding Shanks’ acquisition of the Fruit.
The Role of Red Shanks
Eleven years before the events of the main story of One Piece, the World Government managed to get their hands on the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika. They entrust Who’s Who and CP9 with the mission of transporting this Devil Fruit to an unknown location across the Grand Line . However, they are attacked by the Roux Pirates. After a struggle, Shanks manages to escape with the Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit. Shortly after, he arrives at Foosha Village where Luffy consumes him by accident. Despite these events, several clues suggest that Shanks knew the importance of this Fruit well.
When Luffy eats the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, Shanks’ crew becomes agitated, making it clear that they did not intend to give this Fruit to Luffy. It is therefore plausible that they had planned to offer it to another boy arriving soon in the village of Foosha: Portgas D. Ace. Shanks having literally been raised by Roger’s Pirates , it is very likely that the Pirate King spoke to him about the importance of this Fruit. This plan is disrupted, however, when Luffy naively intervenes, forcing Shanks to quickly change his plans. He sacrifices his left arm to save Luffy from a nearby Sea King and soon after gives him his iconic straw hat, indicating that he now sees Luffy as the rightful successor to the legacy of Sun God Nika.
Questions Remain Unanswered
The theory that Shanks originally intended to give the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika to Ace has not yet been confirmed. However, the timing of Shanks, Luffy and Ace’s arrival at Foosha Village raises many questions. Given Shanks’ extensive knowledge of the Grand Line ‘s greatest secrets , it is entirely possible that he had a concrete plan for this Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit. One Piece still has many questions to resolve in its final saga, but it will especially be necessary to clarify the stories of Sun God Nika , Shanks and Luffy before its conclusion. Their connection could very well become the greatest threat to the World Government since Gol D. Roger himself.
