Momonosuke Got Older and Became an Adult in the War- One Piece Explanation

Momo has one of the best glow-ups in the realm of anime, he went from being a whiny little brat to a tall, confident, rather handsome Shogun.

Momonosuke got “older” to help Luffy defeat Kaido by achieving a bigger Dragon form during the end of Wano Kuni arc.

1. How Did Momonosuke Get Older in One Piece?

Momonosuke’s mom sent him 20 years into the future when he was 8, so he didn’t age during that time. In One Piece’s Wano arc, Momonosuke got older when Shinobu used her Ripe-Ripe fruit to make him look 28, but his mind and personality stayed the same.

Everyone was appalled to see Momo and mistook it to be Kaido because of his appearance, as he had eaten an artificial devil fruit that resembled that of Kaido’s.

However, Luffy sensed that it was Momo himself, and then Momo used his flame clouds to fly back to Onigashima.

He was a big fraidy cat of heights and refused to even open his eyes and that is how they made their grand appearance by crashing into the Skull Dome.

Momo even bit Kaido in his dragon form until Kaido was distracted enough to be struck by Luffy. This battle intensified to the point where Luffy almost “died”.

That’s the most epic part of the battle, Luffy’s Devil fruit truly awoke and he was like the reincarnation of the Joy Boy.

2. How old is Momonosuke now?

Kozuki Momonosuke is 28 years old physically and 8 years old mentally. He was actually born 28 years ago than the current timeline to the legendary swordsman Kozuki Oden and Toki, who were settled in the Wano country.

Oden would often accompany the Whitebeard Pirates on their journeys and once when Toki was ill she stayed behind in the Wano country.

During this time Kurozumi Oroch, Kaido, and the Beast pirates attacked the Kuri province to kill Momo as he was the next heir.

However, once Oden came back he was in flaming wrath and went after Kurozumi Oroch, to whom he unfortunately lost.

Then Toki sent Momonosuke, Hiyori, and four of the Nine Red Scabbards 20 years into the future using her devil fruit Toki Toki no Mi or Time-Time fruit.

Toki sent them to protect them from their current situation as they would have been murdered and also to fulfill Oden’s dream of opening the Wano country’s borders.

3. The Emotional Reveal of Momo’s Adult Form

Oda cleverly withheld Momo’s adult form from us in chapter 1023. He reveals the grown-up Momo after Kaido is defeated, Orochi is dethroned, and Momo is able to create his own Flame Clouds.

This indicates that Momo has matured mentally as well. He proves himself throughout the war and lives up to the Kozuki name.

Despite still being a child, Momo takes on the mantle of the shogun and addresses the citizens of Wano in his adult form.

Oda’s impeccable timing is what makes the moment so emotionally impactful. Most fans found themselves in tears as Momonosuke addressed the people.

4. The Birth of the Great Shogun: Kozuki Momonosuke

The title of chapter 1051 is “The Shogun of Wano–Kozuki Momonosuke.”

 Indeed, this is when he goes from Momo to Kozuki Momonosuke, from a kid to a full-grown adult.

He returns to the monumental castle, shrouded in smoke, and says:

It has been 20 long years since my father died! You have all done exceptionally well to have survived this protracted winter!

These are the words of someone who knows what they’re talking about, the words of a shogun.

The freedoms of the Fire Festival shall not end tonight! Starting tomorrow, all of you will be able to live as you wish!

He tells the people how Wano is going to turn over a new leaf. They can drink clean water without paying for it, and stop working as slaves in the factories.

He promises to demolish the toxic factories that have been destroying Wano’s lands.

This kind of authority and sureness has been missing from whatever we’ve seen of Momo thus far. He gives the people the information they most want to know:

Orochi’s tyrannical regime and the menace of Kaido are gone for good […] The monsters that have kept you living in fear have all been vanquished!

Fans have never been so proud of young Momo. He truly is Oden’s son. He reminds us that his name was given by his father and it means “second to none.”

From this moment on, Wano will be led by me, Kozuki Momonosuke!

Only after he asserts himself in this manner does Oda reveal what Momo’s grown-up form looks like. This was crucial so we could see how long of a journey Momo actually had to take to take on his clan’s name.

Momonosuke might be just 8 years of age, he might also lack physical strength, but “he compensates with his devotion to duty and boundless compassion.”

The narrator ends the chapter by telling us that one day, Momonosuke will be known as one of Wano’s greatest leaders.

We have just borne witness to the birth of the great shogun, Kozuki Momonosuke!

5. About One Piece

One Piece is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since July 22, 1997.

The man who had acquired everything in this world, the Pirate King, is Gol D. Roger. The final words he said at the execution tower were “My treasures? If you want it, I’ll let you have it. Look for it; I left all of it at that place.” These words sent many to the seas, chasing their dreams, headed toward the Grand Line, in search of One Piece. Thus began a new age!

Seeking to be the greatest pirate in the world, young Monkey D. Luffy also heads toward the Grand Line in search of One Piece. His diverse crew is joining him along the way, consisting of a swordsman, marksman, navigator, cook, doctor, archaeologist, and cyborg-shipwright, this will be one memorable adventure.