One Piece's Wano Country arc revealed quite a lot to the fans about the story of Joy Boy and, at the same time, added a lot of depth to Luffy's character. One of the most important things for Luffy in the arc was "becoming Joy Boy," which meant finally defeating Yonko Kaido and taking the next big step on the grand stage.
In doing so, Luffy also awakened his Devil Fruit. It was revealed to the fans that the Devil Fruit's true name wasn't the Gomu Gomu no Mi, but the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, and it is hugely important to the overarching plot of the series.
Updated on February 2, 2023, by Rei Penber: The Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika was one of the biggest reveals of One Piece's Wano Country arc. This power ended up awakening towards the end of Luffy's fight against Kaido and played a massive role in the liberation of the Wano country. Since some time has passed since Luffy displayed its powers in Wano, fans have had time to carefully observe this fruit and its applications. At the same time, the Egghead Island arc has revealed many secrets about Devil Fruits themselves. As such, fans also know quite a bit more about the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. With that, more information about the fruit has been added to the list.
13 Exists Because Someone Wished It
As revealed by Dr. Vegapunk recently, all Devil Fruits exist because someone wished them into existence, in a way. Devil Fruit powers are what humans have always longed for. At times, a particular person wished for something that he didn't have and this led to the manifestation of the Devil Fruit through an unknown process.
The same logic applies to the Nika fruit as well. At some point in history, someone wished for the existence of a warrior of Liberation, or Nika. As such, the Hito Hito No Mi, Model: Nika was born. This Devil Fruit became the epitome of human freedom and whoever eats it ends up becoming a warrior who fights for the liberation and joy of people.
12 Can Take Over The Person
Zoan Devil Fruits are known to be quite intriguing. It was mentioned and One Piece chapter 1044 that Zoan fruits possess a will of their own. As such, they have quite a huge say in who ends up eating them as they try everything to be eaten by a person who they resonate with the most. This is especially why Luffy, the embodiment of freedom, ended up eating the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. Similarly, Lucci, who was a cold-blooded assassin, trained by the World Government, ended up eating the Neko Neko no Mi, model: Leopard because it resonated with his personality.
Now, fans also know that these Devil Fruits have the power to take over the personality of the user. In the case of Luffy and Lucci, however, their willpower is strong enough to resist this and maintain full control of their own body and actions.
11 Searched For Luffy
The Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika is a special Devil Fruit in more ways than one. It is believed to have been eaten by someone long ago in the Void Century. After the fall of the Ancient Kingdom, however, this fruit ended up being reincarnated and it started evading the World Government, no matter how hard they tried to get their hands on it. It reached a point where the current generation of the Gorosei believed the Nika fruit to be nothing more than a myth.
However, the fruit is very real and has been evading the World Government for years. This fruit only allowed itself to be stolen by Shanks because it knew that eventually, that would lead it to Luffy. It only allowed Luffy to eat it because it knew that Luffy is the embodiment of freedom itself and resonates with his personality perfectly. The fruit ended up choosing Luffy, just as Blackbeard mentioned the Yami Yami no Mi chose him.
10 Stolen By Shanks
The Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika was first revealed to the fans in the very first chapter of the story. Luffy ate the fruit thinking it was dessert and gained the power of rubber ever since. The fruit was actually in possession of Shanks and according to his crew, they stole it from an enemy ship.
In the Wano Country arc, fans got to know that the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika was stolen by Shanks from a Government vessel and even had the CP9 guarding it.
9 Coveted By The World Government
The World Government considered Nika, or the former user of the Nika fruit, to be an enemy of theirs. This fruit held great importance and significance for the Ancient Kingdom and for that reason, ever since the Void Century, the World Government had been trying to get their hands on it.
Surprisingly, according to the Gorosei, they never succeeded in doing so and this was attributed to the fact that Zoan fruits have a will of their own, and this fruit in particular was evading them on purpose.
8 A Mythical Zoan
For the longest time, fans considered Luffy to be a user of a Paramecia type of Devil Fruit. It was believed that Luffy's fruit turned him into rubber and gave him the power to stretch.
However, the Wano Country arc revealed that the "Gomu Gomu no Mi" was only a name used by the World Government to hide the Devil Fruit's real name. In reality, the fruit's name is the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika and it belongs to the Mythical Zoan class.
7 Power Of A God
The Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika is quite an incredible Devil Fruit. While it certainly isn't the strongest one out there in One Piece, like Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi, it is an amazing power nonetheless.
According to the Gorosei, Luffy's fruit, Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, carries the name of a god who might have existed long ago. Whether Joy Boy was the person revered as that god or if he existed even before Joy Boy is something that remains to be seen, however.
6 Limited By Imagination
While the Mythical Zoan ability of Luffy's fruit is quite simple, that is, turning his body into rubber, its actual power is quite amazing. Luffy's Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika gives him the ability to fight with tremendous freedom.
What the user can do with its power is only limited by their imagination, which is a staggering ability. What's more, the fruit allows the user to spread laughter and joy wherever they go, making it quite a tremendous ability.
5 A Rubber Body
Originally, turning the body of the user into rubber was thought to be the true power of the Gomu Gomu no Mi. However, after the revelation that the fruit is actually a Mythical Zoan, it was made quite clear that granting a rubber body isn't the actual ability of the fruit.
Instead, just like all Mythical Zoans, Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika has a special ability. Just like Marco can use the Blue Flames of Resurrection, Luffy can use the powers of rubber.
4 Awakening
As with all Devil Fruits, the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika can also be awakened. The awakening of this fruit holds its true power and grants Luffy what is called Gear 5.
Thanks to it, Luffy gets stronger and can fight with even more freedom. His ability to bring laughter and joy to others increases as well. At the same time, he gains an all-white transformation and the ability to turn anything around him into rubber.
3 Warrior Of Liberation
The greatest ability of Luffy's fruit is bringing laughter and freedom to all those around him. This has consistently been seen ever since the first few arcs of the story. With time, Luffy has gone on to help countless people and liberate them from their misery.
With awakening, this power of his grows even stronger and he continues to bring even more joy to people. According to Gorosei, this has earned Joy Boy and now Luffy, the title of "The Warrior of Liberation."
2 Drums of Liberation
By the looks of it, a very particular sound is associated with the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. First mentioned by Zunesha, the fruit, when awakened, brings forth the "Drums of Liberation" from Luffy's heart. Every living being in the One Piece world has a voice that can be heard or sensed.
When in Gear Fifth, Luffy's voice turns into the Drums of Liberation. According to him, his heart starts beating funny and sounds as if actual drums of freedom were ringing inside him. Incredibly, these drums sound the same as when the Straw Hat Pirates partied in the Upper Yard on Skypiea.
1 The Most Ridiculous Power
Although the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika isn't the strongest ability, it is definitely one that the World Government still fears.
When awakened, this Devil Fruit grants the user even more strength and unlimited freedom and this is what makes it the most ridiculous power to exist in the entire world. The bigger the user's imagination, the greater the power of this fruit – making it one of a kind.