Warning: Spoilers for One Piece episode #1070After weeks of One Piece anime teases and previews, Luffy's Gear 5th transformation is here, but the show makes a subtle change to that epic moment compared to the manga, giving Luffy's fellow Straw Hat Nami a big role. Gear 5th has been a nearly impossible spoiler to hide from among the One Piece community almost as soon as its debut in the manga in March 2022. Viewers of the anime have gotten the first official look at Luffy's Gear Fifth in the anime's previews, but episode #1070 added a scene that wasn't in the manga, which made Nami much more critical for Luffy's resurrection and ultimate Gear Fifth transformation.
Luffy lays seemingly dead on top of Onigashima's Skull Dome after taking a brutal attack head-on from Kaido. Afterward, Kaido transforms into his Dragon form and descends onto the battlefield to announce his victory. An enraged Nami approaches The World's Strongest Creature calling him names before she is saved from Kaido's attack by Marco the Phoenix. However, later in episode #1070, there is an extra scene that wasn't in the original manga, where the Straw Hat Navigator calls out to Luffy, saying, "Luffy, I know you can hear me! Keep your word as always!" which is immediately followed by Luffy's heartbeat coming back and transforming into the "Drums of Liberation".
Nami's Plea Kickstarts Luffy's Heart And the Drums of Liberation
The Drums of Liberation are the unique sound made by Luffy's heartbeat after he awakens his Devil Fruit during Gear Fifth, heralding the return of One Piece's legendary and mysterious Joy Boy, as fans of the manga know well. However, in the anime, the drums begin playing right after Nami's desperate plea, and this choice makes her seem more pivotal to the transformation than she was in Eiichiro Oda's original manga. It feels appropriate and more compelling to have the bond of one of Luffy's oldest crewmates assist him in coming back.
With Luffy being so far away from Nami, it's unclear if he did hear her voice. Still, the way the anime present's it, Luffy is resurrected and transforms after Nami tells him to keep his word of defeating Kaido. This could be a callback to one of the best, most emotional scenes in the entire series. When a desperate Nami was crying after her tormentor Arlong took away everything she had, Luffy put his hat on her head and promised to save her. After making good on that promise, Luffy welcomed Nami into his crew, and since then he never let her down.
Luffy's Gear Fifth Transformation Is Now Even More Meaningful
Nami was one of the first members of the Straw Hat Crew that Luffy met, and her tearful request for Luffy's help to defeat Arlong solidified her trust in her Captain. Years later, the very same Monkey D. Luffy has pledged to take down the overwhelming foe Kaido for the good of the entire land of Wano. Even if Luffy has fallen many times against Kaido, Nami knows better than everyone else that in the end he would prevail and make good on his promise. With this subtle change, the One Piece anime managed to make the most anticipated moment in its history even better, before fans will get to witness Luffy's Gear 5th in its full glory in the upcoming episode #1071.
Watch the latest episodes of One Piece on Crunchyroll and Funimation.