The Next Crewmate Power-Up: A Devil Fruit Confirmed by Cryptic Clues

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The One Piece fandom is perpetually ablaze with theories on the next permanent member of the Straw Hat Pirates. However, a deeper, more intriguing puzzle has emerged: which existing crew member, if any, will be the next to gain a Devil Fruit ability, and what will that ability be? Expert analysis of author Eiichiro Oda’s famous penchant for Goroawase (Japanese number-play) suggests that the answer has been hidden in plain sight for years, an incredible testament to the series’ long-term planning and high-value lore depth.

This theory, which carries significant CPC (Cost Per Click) value due to its direct link to fan-favorite characters and major power-up speculation, posits that Oda intentionally left two critical numbers missing from the current Straw Hat Devil Fruit roster. These missing numbers directly correspond to one of the most powerful and tragically significant Paramecia-type Devil Fruits in the series: the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi, or the Paw-Paw Fruit, currently wielded by the former Warlord Bartholomew Kuma.

Decoding Oda’s Goroawase: The Missing Links (2 & 9)

Oda’s number-play is well-documented in the series, often used to assign birthdays or to cryptically name abilities. A dedicated fan, as highlighted in a past SBS (Shitsumon o Boshū Suru or ‘Questions I’m Taking’), noticed a striking pattern in the Devil Fruits already possessed by the Straw Hat crew. When assigning numerical values to the Japanese pronunciation of the fruits’ names, the numbers 1 through 10 are largely accounted for:

  • Monkey D. Luffy: Gomu Gomu no Mi (Go=5, Mu=6) → 5 & 6
  • Tony Tony Chopper: Hito Hito no Mi (Hi=1, To=10) → 1 & 10
  • Nico Robin: Hana Hana no Mi (Ha=8, Na=7) → 8 & 7
  • Brook: Yomi Yomi no Mi (Yo=4, Mi=3) → 4 & 3

The numbers used so far are 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10. The numbers conspicuously absent from this pattern are 2 (Ni) and 9 (Kyu). In Japanese, combining these sounds results in Ni-Kyu, which is the core sound of the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi (Paw-Paw Fruit).

When questioned about this incredible coincidence in SBS Volume 59, Oda reacted with mock-shock and a definitive “NO COMMENTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!”—a response often interpreted by the fandom as a clear confirmation of an intentional, hidden plot point. This hidden numerical structure strongly suggests that the next Straw Hat member to become a Devil Fruit user will gain the powers of the Paw-Paw Fruit, completing the intended ‘1 to 10’ numerical sequence and providing a massive SEO (Search Engine Optimization) hook for future content creators.

The Prime Candidate: Why Usopp Needs the Paw-Paw Fruit Upgrade

The next logical step in this high-profile theory is identifying which non-Devil Fruit user on the crew is destined to inherit the Paw-Paw Fruit. While candidates like Franky (due to his bond with Kuma over the Thousand Sunny) and even Nami have been suggested, the overwhelming fan consensus and logical narrative necessity point to the crew’s sniper, “God” Usopp.

Usopp has long been due for a significant, endgame-level power-up to prepare him for his inevitable final confrontation against Van Augur, the teleporting sniper of the Blackbeard Pirates. The Paw-Paw Fruit offers a compelling, high-utility ability that perfectly complements Usopp’s unique fighting style:

  • The Ultimate Sniping Platform: The ability to repel anything, including air and intangible concepts like pain and fatigue, can be adapted for sniping. Usopp could use the repelling power to launch himself or his enormous projectiles (Pop Greens) across vast, unprecedented distances, or even bounce shots off the repelled air to create impossible-to-predict trajectories. This grants him both offensive and supreme mobility upgrades.
  • Defensive Utility and Mobility: The Paw-Paw Fruit allows the user to instantly send opponents (or himself) flying at light speed. For a character whose main fighting tactic is evasion and distance, this ability would be game-changing. He could instantaneously escape a close-quarters situation, or ‘repel’ incoming attacks without breaking his focus on sniping.
  • Narrative and Character Connection: In the current arc, Usopp is deeply involved in the events surrounding Kuma and Bonney. If the tragic events of Kuma’s life culminate in the Devil Fruit’s reappearance, Usopp—known for taking on the wills and burdens of others (e.g., his desire to be a brave warrior for Kaya)—would be the perfect emotional successor to carry on Kuma’s power and legacy into the final war.

This potential power-up transforms Usopp from an underdog into a top-tier threat, providing the narrative “leveling up” that fans have been demanding for years. The addition of a legendary Devil Fruit to Usopp’s arsenal would not only complete Oda’s hidden numerical code but also satisfy the intense “Usopp Power Up” search trend dominating discussions around the Final Saga.

Final Verdict: A Twist Confirmed by the Creator?

While an official, direct confirmation is still pending in the manga, the evidence is substantial. Oda’s careful setup of the numerical code, the conspicuous absence of the “2” and “9” in the Straw Hats’ Devil Fruit list, and the impending fate of the current Paw-Paw Fruit user, Kuma, all converge on a single, brilliant prediction. The revelation that the Paw-Paw Fruit is the missing piece to the Straw Hat puzzle isn’t just fan speculation—it is a sophisticated, code-breaking theory that showcases Oda’s meticulous genius. The next Straw Hat Devil Fruit user will likely be Usopp, armed with the incredible power of the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi, finally fulfilling his dream of becoming a truly brave warrior of the sea and solidifying the crew’s endgame roster. This is the high-value content reveal that will define a new era of One Piece lore.

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