Im telling you, Luffy doesnt have to directly invite Carrot onto the ship. She can stowaway just like she did before WCI, and just like Inu/Neko did to Whitebeard/Roger. It seems to be a mink trait at this point lol.
And SHE DOES have qualities to be on the ship, haters gonna hate but:
- She has Pedro's will to carry
- She has a very different female personality than what we've gotten. Super fearless and adventure-heavy.
- She has, whether people like it or not, a unique nimble fighting style even within her Mink clan.
- Allegedly one of the very few Minks who can control her Sulong (I assume Wanda, Pedro, Sicilian, Inu, Neko can too in the least).
- She has an actual position to fill if needed (Lookout). Like Jinbe, we did not KNOW this position could be filled until we saw Jinbe helming the ship. We've seen Carrot being the default Strawhat lookout throughout most of WCI. She and Wanda served both Dukes, meaning they barely sleep and can serve as the 1 shift lookout. She was a lookout on Zou, it was specified as such.
NOW, whether or not Oda decides to elaborate on those qualities is UP to Oda. I can see him showing off other Mink forms and making them impressive, but I can ALSO see Carrots form sticking out in terms of design and power. Inu and Neko can have more impressive forms because they are the leaders of her kingdom.
I'm just stressing, that whether or not Carrot DOES in fact join, people need to remember that she is the CLOSEST non-strawhat with Strawhat-like qualities. THAT is undeniable, regardless of how much this fanbase shits on the idea.