One Piece Fans May Not Be Familiar with Imu’s Devil Fruit Abilities, But They Have Already Seen Its Design

The pacing and numerous anime-original scenes of the One Piece anime have sparked discussions among the fandom, making it a major point of interest, and leading to theories that are not related to the manga.

Some scenes from the first few episodes of the anime, which discuss the concept of Devil Fruits, have recently come to light. This suggests that one of the key Devil Fruits in the series may have been introduced at the start of the anime.

This article includes spoilers for the series One Piece.

Possible revision: Possible Hints at Imu’s Devil Fruit Powers in Early Episodes of One Piece

Axe-Hand Morgan's description of the Devil Fruits (Image via Toei Animation) — Axe-Hand Morgan’s description of the Devil Fruits (Image via Toei Animation)

Prior to Chapter 1085, the fandom extensively discussed the theories surrounding Imu, the Gorosei, and their Devil Fruits. Many believed that their power stemmed solely from their mastery of Haki and advanced technology. However, the most recent chapter revealed that all of them possessed the ability to transform through the use of Devil Fruits.

Despite the fact that Imu’s actual transformations were not revealed until the Egghead Island arc, their Devil Fruit and overall abilities remain a mystery. While Chapter 1085 of the manga provided the first clue to Imu’s Devil Fruit, the anime may have portrayed it differently due to an original scene. In an early episode of the anime, Axe-Hand Morgan is seen describing the existence of Devil Fruits in a traditional cross formation.

Luffy after his devil fruit transformation (Image via Toei Animation)

Despite the majority of fruits being arranged in a repetitive manner, there are two fruits in the middle that stand out. One of these fruits is easily identifiable as Luffy’s Gum Gum Fruit. Despite being initially dismissed as a regular fruit, its true value was later uncovered when it was determined to be the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika – a highly influential and significant fruit in the eyes of the World Government.

Considering that the World Government’s emblem has a similar appearance to a cross, it is plausible that the symbolism used in Axe-Hand Morgan’s speech foreshadowed a deeper meaning. The fruit situated at the heart of the cross bears a resemblance to a pineapple, leading some fans to theorize that it may be Buggy’s Bara Bara no Mi. However, upon further examination, it becomes evident that the design of the Bara Bara no Mi is significantly smaller. It is possible that the fruit at the center actually belongs to Imu, considering their pivotal role in the world and immense power.

Saint Ju Peter as shown in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Despite not having been fully unveiled, Imu’s true abilities and fruit remain a mystery. However, in Chapter 1085, a glimpse of Imu’s transformed form is shown in the form of a silhouette. This transformation greatly surpasses the size of the majority of the Gorosei and can be identified by its unique arms.

Despite fans’ confusion, it should be noted that Saint Ju Peter’s transformation into a large sandworm with no arms is separate from the silhouette, which actually belongs to Imu.

The depiction of Devil Fruits by Axe-Hand Morgan in the anime is not based on the original source material, making its accuracy questionable. Although the scene is not considered canon, it may hold significance, which could potentially be revealed in Studio Wit’s One Piece remake.

If the remake includes this imagery, Studio Wit could solidify its significance to the overarching series instead of disregarding it as a simple anime-original scene.

Final Thoughts

Currently, the story is in its concluding saga as the Straw Hat Crew continues their journey to Elbaf after successfully rescuing Lilith from the clutches of the World Government. Although the identities of the Gorosei and Imu remain unknown, the upcoming Elbaf arc is expected to uncover valuable information about them, as it is intricately linked to the giants, one of the oldest and most significant beings in the narrative.

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