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This Article Contains Spoilers -
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| “ | I wish to use...Vegapunk's creation. The Mother Flame!!! | „ |
| ~ Imu giving the order for the destruction of a nearby kingdom. |
| “ | Retrieve Vivi. | „ |
| ~ Imu permitting the Five Elders to hunt down and bring Vivi to them. |
Imu, also known as The Creator, is the overarching antagonist of the One Piece franchise.
They are the true ruler of the World Government and occupies the Empty Throne in secret, with the Five Elders being the public face of the organization who in truth serve their every whim. Due to their influence, they are accountable for the horrific actions from both the Five Elders and the World Government as a whole. Imu also seeks to hunt down those who possess the "Will of D" and kill them, with the notable ones being Monkey D. Luffy and Marshall D. Teach, but mysteriously only wants to capture Nefertari Vivi.
They are voiced by two currently anonymous actors in Japanese and English.
Appearance
To date, Imu has always been seen in silhouette, their physical age, race, and nationality concealed. Even Imu's gender is a mystery. Their first-person pronoun in Japanese lacks any gender because it's a word not normally used as a pronoun. While both Ivankov and Vegapunk refer to Imu as male, this may simply be what they believe them to be; Vegapunk admits he doesn't know enough about Imu to make such an assessment.
Given what is known, Imu is incredibly tall, towering over the Five Elders, who are themselves about twice as big as the average human. They are also thin, and seem to wear a long, flowing robe and a very tall crown with sharp spires. Their eyes are red and unusually ringed, and their voice is deep, menacing, and otherworldly.
Personality
An enigmatic and private individual, Imu tends to showcase a detached aloofness, silently listening in while alone in a flower garden and listening in on topics that may peak their interest, including Vegapunk's dying message broadcast, and the Levely.
Imu's secrecy could suggest a detachment from humanity, however, it could imply cowardice, since they hide behind the Five Elders, who are in turn hidden from the world and only known by high ranking Government officials and possibly Celestial Dragons. Thus they allow the World Government and Celestial Dragons to receive the resentment from the oppressed people of the world. It should be noted however, that Imu's own hand in the current stagnancy and corruption of the world is unclear given that most important decisions appear to be the result of the Five Elders while Imu, remains an unseen figure behind the scenes.
Nevertheless this showcases a detachment that is often excessively cruel in it's capacity to disregard other's lives and freedom, as perhaps best shown by having Lulusia Kingdom destroyed, despite their being other candidates less (or perhaps even unpopulated) to test the Mother Flame on, with Imu choosing the location due to convenience of location. And desired more of this powerful resource to the point that the Five Elders were willing to overlook Vegapunk's dabbling into the forbidden Void Century if it meant producing more.
Imu has an as-of-yet uncertain connection to the Void Century, recognizing and being enraged by Joyboy's Haki, ordering the scrapping of the Iron Giant Emet, and remenising while staring at a photo of Nefertari D. Lili and a giant straw hat, while comparing it to a picture of Monkey D. Luffy. Imu appears to hold anymosity towards the Will of the D, but believes that the current generation to be a faint echo that is of no real threat, as those who carry it no longer remember it's significance. However, they have taken a personal interest in Monkey D. Luffy, and Marshall D. Teach - two modern day carriers who have left great destruction in their respective wakes - personally slashing up their wanted posters demonstrating animosity that others have yet to receive. Upon learning that Lili, and her descendant Nefertari Vivi are also carriers of the D, Imu decided to have the princess of Arabasta captured and delivered to them personally, showing a personal vendetta (or at least interest) in handling the legacy of a member of the First Twenty's connection to their ancient enemy themselves. For reasons as of yet unclear as well, Shirahoshi, is also subject to Imu's silent rage, as they pinned a photo of her as they had torn apart the wanted posts of the aforementioned pirates.
While Imu keeps their identity a secret to the world at large besides the Five Elders and an unknown servant, Imu will in some cases choose to willingly reveal themselves to certain people, as they did with Nefertari Cobra when he inquired about the lost records of his ancestor, Nefertari D. Lily.
In the presence of another king like Nefertari Cobra, Imu is shown to be open to answering Cobra's questions and asking the latter to answer one of their questions. Despite their patience with Cobra, Imu shows that they are not willing to engage in certain questions about their identity and background, choosing to swiftly decline any attempt to answer Cobra's inquiries about who they are. In the face of an attack from Revolutionary Army staff member, Sabo, Imu does not hesitate to negate his attack and go on the offensive to kill him and Cobra.
Imu is shown to be very intolerant of their subordinates' failure and disobey the direct order that Imu given, when they are more than willing to dispose of those that do not do what they are expected from. Despite Jaygarcia Saturn loyally serving for at least 200 years, Imu immediately stripped him from his position as one of the Five Elders, for allowing Luffy to escape from his grasp and disobeyed his master's direct order to destroy Emet 200 years ago, which effectively killed him. Imu even coldly ignored Saturn's pleas to have mercy which is nothing more than excuses.
Relationships
Five Elders
As their ruler, the Five Elders have respect for their master, Imu when they are in their presence. The men refer to Imu in the honorifics as "Imu-sama" showing respect. Despite commanding high-level authority in the government, the group also looks up to Imu and kneel before the individual. They ask Imu if they decided what light should get extinguished from history. The men are also shown to be protective of Imu's identity and prefer to keep their conspiracy with Imu a secret to everyone else. This is demonstrated by one of the elder's, Topman Warcury, informing Cobra that he will not leave the Empty Throne Room alive after seeing Imu. They are also swift to defend in Imu in combat as they transform into shadowy forms in an attempt to kill Sabo and Cobra. When Vivi escaped, Imu ordered the Elders to find the Arabasta princess and deliver her to them, which they agreed.
In spite of their loyalties, Imu views the Five Elders as expendable pawns and was more than willing to kill and replace one of them, should they ever fail Imu or disobey their master's direct orders as it shown they promptly stripped Saturn of his immortality and for not only did Saturn disobeyed Imu's direct order to destroy Emet 200 years ago, but also letting Luffy escape from their grasps and coldly ignored his pleadings of sparing his life which is nothing more than excuses to Imu, before killing him. In other words, those who have failed Imu shall die from their wrath when either the Five Elders get the job done or else they wished their master, Imu will kill them as they did to Saturn. Imu shows the remaining elders how replaceable they are by having Figarland Garling assume Saturn's position, without even notifying the elders of this new choice.
Monkey D. Luffy
Due to being a powerful pirate and a major threat towards the World Government, Imu sees Luffy as an extreme threat to them, mostly being a member of the D. clan and having the legendary Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, which contains the power of the Sun God himself like Joy Boy once had. Although they had no problem tearing apart the wanted poster of him, along with Blackbeard's and Shirahoshi's.
After the events of Eggehead, Imu begins to see Luffy as Joy Boy and was angry with Saturn and kills him for letting him and his crew escape.
Marshall D. Teach
Due to being one of the most dangerous pirates toward the World Government, Imu sees Blackbeard as a major threat to them, mostly due to being a member of the D. clan along with having two powerful Devil Fruits, Yami Yami no Mi and Gura Gura no Mi. As such, they had no problem tearing apart the wanted poster of him, along with Luffy's and Shirahoshi's.
Shirahoshi
Imu seems to detest Shirahoshi for unknown reasons, evident by them stabbing a portrait of her with saber, It is currently unknown if Imu is aware that Shirahoshi has the Poseidon ability to control the Neptunian's.
Nefetari Vivi
Imu had shown interest in Vivi as they kept an undamaged picture of her while they had no problem tearing apart, Blackbeard's, Luffy's and Shirahoshi's. It seems shortly before her father met with the Five Elders and his subsequent end at Imu’s hand, Vivi had already been targeted by Imu from the start. From the events she was followed and captured by Rob Lucci at the Levely and taken into custody of CPO. The agents didn’t appear to be aware of the real reason for her capture only that she was to “disappear” and possibly made into a slave to Imu. With the revelation of Vivi being a member of the D. clan and being a descendant of Lili, this can possibly explain Imu's fixation on her. After Vivi escaped from Mary Geoise and went into hiding, effectively becoming a fugitive, Imu ordered the entire Government to retrieve Vivi and bring her to them at all costs, possibly wanting the princess as their slave.
Nefetari Cobra
When Cobra was speaking to the five elders, Imu eavesdropped on the conversation through a transponder. When Cobra brought up Nefertari D. Lili and the D. Clan, Imu became surprised and walked to the Empty Throne in front of Cobra and the Five Elders to have a direct conversation. While speaking to Cobra, Imu refused to acknowledge any observation Cobra made of them. However, Imu was willing to answer two pertinent questions Cobra asked before and asked Cobra a question in return. When Cobra realized he was a dead man after realizing the elders had surrounded for learning about Imu, he revealed that Lili's name is Nefertari D. Lili and that Sabo attempted to save his life from Imu and the Five Elders. Despite Sabo's efforts, Imu successfully murdered Cobra to keep him from leaving the throne room and is hunting Cobra's daughter.
Sabo
They met when Sabo attacked the Five Elders and attempted to attack Imu, Imu was furious that Sabo was in the room. Imu immediately went on the offensive against Sabo by negating his attack and engaging in battle against him. When Sabo saw that Imu was sitting on the Empty Throne and had attempted to kill them and the Five Elders, Imu wanted to kill Sabo alongside Cobra to prevent them from leaking their secret but only succeeded in injuring him. Imu and the elders conspired to frame Sabo for the murder of Cobra.
After the destruction of Lulusia Kingdom, Sabo survived the devastation and was able to inform the truth of Imu’s existence to Dragon and the Revolutionary Army.
Wapol
Despite being a former pirate and the king of the Black Drum Kingdom, Wapol witnessed Cobra being killed by Imu and the Five Elders by peeking through the hole in the wall. Frightened of what just happened, Wapol makes his escape and Vivi tags along with him.
Like Sabo, Wapol is one of the two people who know the truth of Imu's existence and the incident.
Nefertari D. Lili
Imu is familiar of the late Queen Lili. They know she left Arabasta and never coming back. They considered her and her family as "traitors" for refusing to move into Mary Geoise. Imu soon learned that Lili is a D. which they takes action to eliminate her remaining descendants like King Cobra but wanted to take Vivi alive for themselves, possibly as their slave. Imu has a portrait of Lili in the Flower Room.
Powers and Abilities
Imu is shown to hold high power and authority inside the World Government such as getting the Gorosei to answer to them. In addition to the leadership skills, Imu is shown to be capable of wielding a sword. They are able to use it to slice apart Luffy and Blackbeard's bounty poster with precision.
Imu has shown the ability to shapeshift (though it is unknown if it is due to a Mythical Zoan type devil fruit), transforming into a shadowy large mass and eating Sabo's flame attack, while also manipulating a shadowy arrow appendage to strike Cobra. Imu is also shown to engage in combat while in this form while they were fighting Sabo. In this form, they have a bladed tail-like appendage that was able to injure Sabo badly, despite Sabo having a Logia Devil Fruit power.
Despite this, Imu is not indestructible. At the climax of the Egghead Arc, the Five Elders were blasted by the full force of Joy Boy's preserved Haki. This assault seemed to cause Imu pain, causing them to fall to their knees due to the link they had with them, despite being hundreds of miles away, seemingly reacting to the same attack.
As revealed in Vegapunk's recording, the World Government stole a piece of the Mother Flame, an extremely strong limitless fuel, which he claimed could also serve as a key power source for the Ancient Weapons, and it is implied he used one of them to obliterate Lulusia. Due to the attack coming from the sky, it leads credence to the Ancient Weapon known as Uranus, which is named after the Greek primordial deity of the sky.
Imu also displayed a power that allowed him to bestow immortality to anyone he chooses, although since only Five Elders can exist, it could be concluded that it may be a finite ability. Even after granting this eternal life, Imu could cause them immense pain and then turn flesh to dust, leaving Jaygarcia Saturn dead with just bones remaining, despite doing it from a distance approximately across a quarter of the world's diameter. It isn't yet clear if Imu can use this ability on anyone, or if it was tied to membership of the Five Elders, as Imu noted he was taking back the gift of immortality, so the discarded Elder's age may have just caught up with him.
Biography
Past
Much of Imu's past and identity currently remains in mystery. According to Ivankov, Imu may possibly be Saint Nerona Imu, a member of the Nerona Family that served as one of the First Twenty monarchs that founded the World Government, 800 years ago. It is believed that Imu may have obtained immortality to live for so long, should this be the case, though how they did so is unclear. At some point in the past, Imu ended up becoming a high authority figure in the World Government and commanding some degree of power over both the Five Elders and the World Government in the background. Imu also possessed a giant straw hat that is left frozen within a chamber of Pangaea castle which according to Doflamingo may possibly be the national treasure that has the power to shake the world.
Levely Arc
Imu walks through an area within Pangaea castle holding Luffy's and another person's bounty poster in their possession. Imu made their way to a giant Straw Hat where the latter observes it. Imu appears in the Room of Flowers where they sliced up Luffy's and Blackbeard's bounty posters and stabbed Shirahoshi's photo with a sword. The latter is shown handling a butterfly by themselves until an unknown servant reminded Imu that the Reverie began. Imu left the Room of Flowers to go to the Empty Throne with Vivi's photo in their possession. The Five Elders appears in the room of the Empty Throne and kneel before Imu as the latter sits on the Empty Throne. They ask Imu who should be extinguished from history.
Wano Arc
| “ | Lili... | „ |
| ~ Imu's first line. |
Some time after the Levely, Imu revealed themself to Nefertari Cobra when he questions why the records of his ancestor, Nefertari Lili, in history were left blank. When he questions the meaning of the "D", Imu begins to answer him before sitting on the throne.
Imu reveals to Cobra that Lili was responsible for making the Poneglyph spread across the world suggesting that she may have done it intentionally and questions why Cobra hasn't revealed Lili's full name as the Five Elders hold him at gunpoint, prompting him to reveal Lili too has the "D." moniker. Imu then attacks Cobra with an Arrow with the intent to kill but Sabo intervenes and launches a Fire Fist at the Five Elders and another flame attack at Imu. Imu transforms into a large creature and eats the flame, the Five Elders also transform as well and tower over the two.
As Sabo attempts to flee with Cobra, he is stricken by an arrow causing the two to fall but not before Cobra tells Sabo to find and tell Luffy and Vivi that they bare the Will of "D.". Imu and the elders proceed to kill Cobra as the latter tried to shield Sabo. Imu and the Five Elders halted their attack when they noticed Wapol peaking through a hole at them, who had seen everything. After this incident, Imu and the elders framed Sabo as the culprit behind assassinating Cobra during the Levely. Imu ordered the Five Elders to find and retrieve Cobra's daughter, Vivi as well deliver the Arabasta Princess to them.
Egghead Arc
After the events of the Levely, Imu targets Lulusia Kingdom by crossing its location off the map and having a giant unknown object destroy the island and killing multiple people. After Sabo escaped to Lulusia Kingdom, government officials who were looking for Sabo located a transmission on Lulusia Kingdom. After the mass destruction, it was noted that Lulusia never existed. However, with Sabo still alive, he is able to inform Dragon and the Revolutionary Army the truth about Imu’s existence. After the aftermath of Lulusia's destruction, Imu silently watches on as the tides rise following its destruction.
Later Imu witnessed Vegapunk's message recording and exposed the truth of the World Government's corruption. Imu is then seen in the Room of Flowers as they stare at a photo portrait which look like Nefertari D. Lili.
Vegapunk exposed that the war from 800 years ago never truly ended, and is still continuing in present day; he also revealed that during the Void Century, the oceans rose 200 metres, which engulfed much of the world's land mass. Vegapunk explained that he had harnessed a power known as the Mother Flame, which he intended to use to fuel a new revolutionary technology that would improve the lives of all. However, a piece of the Mother Flame had been stolen, which he deduced was used to power one of the Ancient Weapons, recently used to destroy Lulusia.
After Vegapunk message concludes, Imu is seen in the Room of Flowers screaming and kneeling down. A servant immediately comes to Imu, worried. They are seemingly angry thinking of Joyboy. Soon later, Imu was screaming in pain by Emet (when using Joy Boy's Conqueror's Haki) and cursed Joy Boy.
In Marijoa, after Figarland Garling replaces Saturn's position as an Elder, Imu communicates telepathically to Saturn who was near Egghead to tell him that because of him, Joy Boy was behind the escape and he allowed it. Imu begins the process of stripping Saturn of his immortality and powers which causes Saturn's body to burn and rapidly age. Saturn begs Imu to have mercy asking how he could have predicted the power stored inside the Iron Giant could thwart the mission. Saturn's pleas are ignored as Imu strips him of his immortality for his failure of letting Luffy escaped and disobeying Imu when Saturn didn't destroy Emeth 200 years ago.
Quotes
| “ | Joy Boy! | „ |
| ~ Imu angry when inflicted pain by Joy Boy's Conqueror Haki which was released by Emet. |
| “ | Saturn... Joy Boy was behind that escape, and you allowed it to happen. | „ |
| ~ Imu's fury towards Jaygarcia Saturn for failing them of allowing Luffy escape. |
Trivia
- Imu's name contain the characters イム in katakan, whic spells the kanji for "Buddha," 仏.
- Imu's position of the "King of the World" was a title that Rocks D. Xebec wanted to achieve when he was still alive. It is unknown if Xebec had any knowledge of Imu being the true ruler of the world.
- Another theory implies that Imu is actually a possessed Lilli who somehow survived her supposed death with her body being taken over by a demonic being or the spirit of the original Imu.
- "Imu" spelled backwards is "umi", which is Japanese for "ocean"; naturally, the ocean is essential part of the One Piece world and the overall plot of the franchise. This could mean Imu is the literal embodiment of the sea or the enemy of it, possibly even the Sea Devil, a being mentioned as a possible source of Devil Fruits.
- Despite Imu debuting late in the series, their influence was foreshadowed as far back as the Marineford arc where, upon Donquixote Doflamingo's attempted execution of Gecko Moriah, the former suggested someone "higher" than the Fleet Admiral gave the order to terminate Moriah, who at the time was implied to be the Five Elders. Imu's influence was foreshadowed again during the events of the Dressrosa Saga where Akainu angrily confronted the Five Elders due to someone "higher" than them ordering the fake news of Doflamingo's resignation from the Warlords.
- Interestingly, both incidents involved Doflamingo in some way, suggesting a connection between him and Imu that goes beyond their shared heritage.
- Imu's obsession with Vivi seems significantly inspired by her being identical to her ancestor Lili, but what Imu is actually planning to do with Vivi is unknown.
- Imu’s gender has been a topic of debate amongst the One Piece fandom, as their entire body is covered by a cloak. Despite this, many theories lean towards Imu being female because while their voice may be distorted, it mostly sounds feminine with a male voice added (particularly the English dub, where the female voice is prominent while the male voice comes out as whispers).
- Imu is believed to be related to (or BE) a member of the First Twenty, Saint Nerona Imu, as both Cobra and Ivanov are familiar with the name, along with Imu's knowledge of Cobra's ancestor, Nefertari D. Lili.
- In Chapter 1138 of the manga, which displays the Elbaf mural, Imu is theorized to be the winged monster that Nika directly fought against, although a figure wearing a crown like Imu's is also displayed as well, suggesting a connection between the two figures.
External Links
- Imu on the One Piece Wiki
 Villains
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