Few powers in anime are as iconic as Luffy’s Gomu Gomu no Mi — now revealed as the mythical Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. From the earliest chapters, the rubber abilities defined Luffy’s fighting style, humor, and personality. But in a recent revelation that stunned the fandom, Eiichiro Oda suggested that Luffy was never originally meant to be the one who inherited the fruit at all.
And the person he named instantly ignited debates across the community.
This comment arrives right as the God Valley Arc dominates the series. The flashback not only rewrites the history of the world but reframes how devil fruits have moved from hand to hand across generations. In that context, Oda’s statement feels less like trivia — and more like a missing piece of One Piece’s grand design.
The God Valley Arc Has Taken Over the Fandom
Right now, One Piece is living in its past.
The God Valley Incident has become one of the most captivating storylines in the series’ history, and many fans aren’t ready for it to end. Eiichiro Oda’s exploration of this long-mysterious event has brought together an all-star cast of legends — Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, and even Imu. What was once a rumor whispered by Sengoku has now exploded into a sprawling historical saga.
The arc dives deep into:
- the brutality of Celestial Dragon rule
- the secrets behind disappearing islands
- the uneasy alliances between pirates and marines
- the moment the balance of power in the world shifted forever
For many fans, this arc is the closest glimpse they’ve had into the “true history” that the World Government has desperately tried to erase.
And now, with Oda’s revelation about the fruit, God Valley takes on a whole new meaning.
Who Was Supposed To Wield The Gomu Gomu no Mi?
In discussions around the arc and its broader implications, Oda revealed that another major character — tied deeply to the events of the past — was originally envisioned as the true candidate to wield the fruit that would later transform into Nika’s power.
This character is not a Straw Hat and predates Luffy’s generation entirely.
According to Oda’s explanation, the fruit was meant for someone who:
- stood at the crossroads of pirate and marine history
- was present during the world-changing conflicts of the old era
- symbolized rebellion against tyrannical power
- carried the will that would eventually pass down to the next generation
The identity immediately sparked intense debates because fans can see how easily the story still works if that character had awakened Nika instead.
Yet fate — and a certain red-haired pirate crew intercepting a government ship — caused history to veer onto a different path.
That unexpected twist is what ultimately led the fruit into Luffy’s hands.
And Oda emphasized something very important: just because someone was intended to wield it does not mean they were destined to. Destiny in One Piece is not about prophecy alone — it is about will.
Luffy did not receive the fruit because it was “chosen” for him.
He became “chosen” because of what he did after eating it.
Fans Don’t Want to Return to the Straw Hats Yet
This revelation landed during a strange moment in the fandom.
Surprisingly, many readers say they don’t want to go back to the Straw Hat Pirates just yet. Social media platforms are full of fans expressing that this arc feels like the most thrilling part of One Piece in years — with its darker tone, intense storytelling, and lore-heavy revelations.
The God Valley storyline focuses less on friendship and adventure and more on legacy, violence, and buried truth. Seeing giants of history walk the stage has created a gravity that even Luffy’s charisma temporarily steps aside for.
One fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“If we return to the Straw Hats now, it’ll feel like waking up from a dream.”
That statement captures the mood perfectly. The past is no longer just backstory — it is competing with the present narrative for emotional dominance.
And now, knowing that the Gomu Gomu no Mi could have belonged to someone else entirely, fans are rereading scenes with new eyes:
- What would the world have looked like if the fruit awakened decades earlier?
- Would the Great Pirate Era even exist?
- Would Roger’s journey have changed?
- Would Joy Boy’s return have been delayed… or accelerated?
The thought that Nika’s power almost belonged to a different icon of history is both thrilling and unsettling.
A Testament to Oda’s Storytelling and Legacy
What stands out most about this reveal is how cleanly it fits the story without breaking anything.
After more than two decades, Oda continues to surprise fans not by adding random twists, but by showing how long-standing pieces of the puzzle were always connected. This is the essence of his writing style:
- a joke in chapter 50 becomes a revelation in chapter 1050
- a rumor becomes a revolution
- a fruit stolen by pirates becomes the most important ability in the world
The God Valley flashback and the alternate intended user of the Gomu Gomu no Mi highlight the same theme:
power does not define the person — the person defines the power.
Even if someone else had awakened Nika, they would not have become Luffy. The laughter, stubborn optimism, and absolute refusal to bow — those are not side effects of the fruit. They are who he already was.
Another user would have created another legend entirely.
And it is precisely that possibility that makes the story feel alive.
What This Means for One Piece Going Forward
Oda’s reveal doesn’t undermine Luffy’s role. In fact, it strengthens it.
It proves he did not become special because the world intended him to be. He simply grabbed destiny with his own hands, like he always has.
It also reframes God Valley as more than a historical event. It becomes the moment where:
- powers were misplaced
- history fractured
- inheritances shifted to the wrong — or right — people
Someone else should have become Nika.
But someone else did not.
A hungry boy from East Blue did.
And the world had to adapt.
As One Piece races toward its final saga, one truth becomes clearer than ever: the story is no longer about whether Luffy was destined to become Joy Boy. It is about the fact that he chose to be — simply by being himself.
And in classic Oda fashion, the greatest twists are not those that change the past.
They are the ones that make us look at everything again
and realize the clues were always there.
