Shanks Rejected by Gomu Gomu no Mi: The Hidden Truth in One Piece

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This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Elbaf arc.

Summary

  • The Gomu Gomu no Mi is a Mythical Zoan with its true power being the Warrior of Liberation, Sun God Nika.
  • The fruit has a will, finding worthy users, explaining why Shanks didn’t eat it despite stealing it from the Government.
  • Shanks knew the fruit wasn’t meant for him, as he wasn’t the candidate fulfillng the Will of D like Roger.

One of the beloved characters from “One Piece” is Shanks, who plays a pivotal role as he was the one who inspired Luffy to embark on his quest to become the Pirate King. It’s hard to imagine “One Piece” without him, and his potential significance extends beyond just the storyline – some fans speculate that Shanks could have a more profound connection to the actual plot involving the World Government and the era known as the Void Century.

In essence, Shanks managed to secure the Nika Fruit, which is famously called the Gomu Gomu no Mi in other parts of the world following its rechristening. Interestingly, Shanks didn’t consume the fruit himself, and it seemed as if the Gomu Gomu no Mi was somehow aware that Shanks wasn’t destined to be its wielder. There appears to be a more profound mystery surrounding this event hinted at by Oda within the narrative itself.

The True Will Of The Gomu Gomu no Mi

  • The Nika Fruit Is A Mythical Zoan
  • Zoans Have A Will Of Their Own

The Gomu Gomu no Mi, or the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, is famously recognized as a Devil Fruit that bestows rubbery physical form upon its consumer. But this is merely a fraction of its abilities. The true strength of the fruit reveals itself post-awakening, transforming the user into the Liberation Warrior, also known as the Sun God Nika. This individual radiates laughter and happiness wherever they go, and more importantly, liberates those suffering from their hardships. The boundless powers of the Sun God Nika are unparalleled. Imagination serves as the primary tool for the user, granting them limitless potential to accomplish anything they can envision. This is the true might of this Devil Fruit.

It was to hide the true nature of the fruit from the annals of history, wasn’t it! — Gorosei

The Nika Fruit, although officially reclassified as a Paramecia, possesses the characteristics of a Mythical Zoan in essence. To conceal its true potential and real identity, the World Government altered its classification. Since no one had awakened the fruit for 800 years, its true nature remained hidden, particularly with regards to Luffy’s Nika Fruit.

The intriguing aspect is that all Zoan fruits exhibit an independent will. This means they select their users in a unique manner and employ the world itself as a tool to seek out and approach those deemed worthy by them. This is one of the main reasons why the World Government has never managed to seize the fruit, and it continues to elude their grasp.

Why Shanks Never Ate The Gomu Gomu no Mi

Shanks Never Wanted To Eat The Gomu Gomu no Mi

13 years ago, the World Government acquired the Gomu Gomu no Mi. They intended to move it to prevent Nika’s return. But it was Shanks who managed to snatch the Devil Fruit from the Government. Remarkably, Shanks had been seeking this specific Devil Fruit and had traced it to its location. He ambushed the ship of the World Government, which was under the protection of CP9, and made off with the Devil Fruit, as if he already knew what the fruit was capable of.

I’ve changed my mind. I’m not going to go for the One Piece. At least not yet. — Shanks

It isn’t unreasonable to suppose that Shanks was aware that the Devil Fruit he took was indeed the Nika Fruit. He intentionally grabbed it, yet he still chose not to consume it. This could be due to Shanks understanding that the Gomu Gomu no Mi wasn’t suited for him. The fruit seems to have its own volition and went with Shanks only because it knew it would be taken away from the Government. The Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika was using Shanks as a means to transport it to its ideal recipient, who eventually turned out to be Luffy.

Shanks Was Not A Candidate For The Fruit

In simpler terms, it can be said that Shanks, much like Roger, came too early to take on the role that many were expecting. By the time of the events in One Piece chapter 968, the two rulers mentioned by the Sea Kings were already born, and thus, Shanks was unable to carry out D’s will at that point in time.

Shanks had this knowledge and was probably requested by Roger to escort the future ruler, who would emerge 10 years following the dissolution of the Roger Pirates. This individual was who Shanks was keeping an eye out for, and it’s also the reason he halted his pursuit of the One Piece treasure.

One Piece Chapter 1145 will be released in just a few days, specifically on Sunday (April 6) for most readers around the world. In Japan, the manga is published at midnight JST on Monday, but internationally, it becomes available on April 6. Keep an eye out, as you can read it for free on Manga Plus!

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2025-04-03 01:04