Theory Shanks's ultimate role and fate in One Piece

[Fenethor]

I believe Shanks's role and fate were revealed to us in Chapter 1. Currently, the race towards One Piece has reached high heat with all major actors declaring interest in pursuing it, including Shanks.

Shanks is not really after the One Piece. He is guiding Luffy towards it.

Since, hearing Luffy's dream, which was the same as Roger's (“Master Rayleigh... There was a kid who said the same things as Captain Roger! Those words, that the captain once said...!” (Chapter 506), Shanks "put a bet on the new age". All of his actions indicate that he is assisting Luffy to reach his ultimate dream. Specifically:

1. Shanks's crew stole the Hito Hito no Mi Model: Nika and was docked at Foosha Village for over a year (Chapter 1).
2. Possibly he thought that Ace was the one predestined to pursue this dream, however, Zoan devil fruits have a "will of their own" and chose Luffy.
3. Since leaving East Blue, he purposefully rose to a position of power to better be able to guide Luffy when the time comes.
4. Meeting with the Gorosei: Knowing that only through life and death through Joyboy's principles that the Hito Hito no Mi: Nika be awakened, Shanks indirectly taunted them into killing Luffy.

This leads to inferring that Shanks's declaration of pursuit of the One Piece, is another push for Luffy to pursue his aim.

Speculation: Circumstances of the reunion with Luffy.

Shanks is to be reunited with Luffy when the latter becomes a great pirate and subsequently return the Straw Hat (Chapter 1). Luffy has now undoubtedly become a Great Pirate.

However, returning the signature Straw Hat to Shanks is something that probably won't happen. This infers that the reunion might come at a time when Shanks is in his final moments. At this point, Shanks having fulfilled his role, might divulge to Luffy critical information in service of attaining his dream. The question is who might be the killer of Shanks? As One Piece progresses, and the story shifts against the World Government the theory of this thread is that it has to be someone affiliated with the Government (Imu or a Gorosei perhaps). This will serve the story to grow hatred towards the killer. Another possible choice would be Blackbeard, the main antagonist who is already responsible for Ace's death.

Conclusion

A good story turns in circles and what better place to turn back to than the very first Chapter? I prefer putting clues together so I'd love to hear what you think Worstgen community. What is Shanks's role in One Piece and in the event he dies what is the who when, and where of Shanks's death? Thank you for reading my thread and hope you enjoyed it.

 

[Monkey D Monkey]

I don’t really agree, I think Mihawk and Shanks are equivalents in the story. Mihawk is building up Zoro to test his swordsmanship against and likewise Shanks is building up Luffy to test his piracy against. Shanks genuinely wants to see whose the better pirate him or Luffy

 

[AlmightyGunther]

I agree.

It has always been odd that Shanks was someone expected to go for the One Piece since he has been a mentor to Luffy and he likely already believed he was Joyboy before anyone else did.

I believe it will be Blackbeard who faces Shanks and kills him because he has already hinted that he may have a showdown with him in the future when him and his crew are strong enough.

He postponed a fight with Shanks before stating this, did he not? Something along the lines of, "We're not ready to fight him yet!"

To me, that screams he intends to eventually contend with him, and Blackbeard may have suspected this would happen when he reaches Emperor level status.

It may happen in one of Shanks territories when Blackbeard approaches it the same way he did with Whitebeard's crew.

OR it could happen at a place like Raftel.

 

[Herrera95]

Possibly he thought that Ace was the one predestined to pursue this dream, however, Zoan devil fruits have a "will of their own" and chose Luffy.

He never knew about Ace until Ace's execution.

Post automatically merged: Dec 28, 2023

Since leaving East Blue, he purposefully rose to a position of power to better be able to guide Luffy when the time comes.

He took like 6 years to do that. He didn't on purpose he was just becoming stronger and getting this position.

Post automatically merged: Dec 28, 2023

Meeting with the Gorosei: Knowing that only through life and death through Joyboy's principles that the Hito Hito no Mi: Nika be awakened, Shanks indirectly taunted them into killing Luffy.

Shanks has no way to know anything about that if Buggy doesn't also know.

Post automatically merged: Dec 28, 2023

This leads to inferring that Shanks's declaration of pursuit of the One Piece, is another push for Luffy to pursue his aim.

This is just a bullshit from Oda since almost no one in One Piece is actually interested in One Piece.

 

[Fenethor]

I don’t really agree, I think Mihawk and Shanks are equivalents in the story. Mihawk is building up Zoro to test his swordsmanship against and likewise Shanks is building up Luffy to test his piracy against. Shanks genuinely wants to see whose the better pirate him or Luffy

The theory suggestion does not preclude Shanks from fighting Luffy. However, it does disagree on the reason. I do not believe Shanks wishes to genuinely see who is the better pirate - he knew since the beginning that Luffy would rise to surpass him. On the contrary, the purpose of the fight would be Shanks's belief that Luffy must defeat him in preparation perhaps for future events.

Your suggestion hints that Shanks will be the "final" step for Luffy, and would transcend the World Government storyline where Shanks has played a major role thus far. A fight between the two, to see who is the better pirate, in my opinion, voids its service to the story.

 

[vikas]

To get killed like a rat...

 

[Fenethor]

I agree.

It has always been odd that Shanks was someone expected to go for the One Piece since he has been a mentor to Luffy and he likely already believed he was Joyboy before anyone else did.

I believe it will be Blackbeard who faces Shanks and kills him because he has already hinted that he may have a showdown with him in the future when him and his crew are strong enough.

He postponed a fight with Shanks before stating this, did he not? Something along the lines of, "We're not ready to fight him yet!"

To me, that screams he intends to eventually contend with him, and Blackbeard may have suspected this would happen when he reaches Emperor level status.

It may happen in one of Shanks territories when Blackbeard approaches it the same way he did with Whitebeard's crew.

OR it could happen at a place like Raftel.

It makes sense! I can see the Raftel option happening, meaning that Luffy won't be the only one reaching it (granted since so many pirates currently hold 3/4 poneglyphs).

Post automatically merged: Jan 19, 2024

To get killed like a rat...

Haha, however as this theory suggests, if it was indeed Luffy the pirate he talked to them about, it might have served a long-term purpose.

Post automatically merged: Jan 19, 2024

He never knew about Ace until Ace's execution.

Post automatically merged: Dec 28, 2023

He took like 6 years to do that. He didn't on purpose he was just becoming stronger and getting this position.

Post automatically merged: Dec 28, 2023

Shanks has no way to know anything about that if Buggy doesn't also know.

Post automatically merged: Dec 28, 2023

This is just a bullshit from Oda since almost no one in One Piece is actually interested in One Piece.

I understand that the devil fruit choosing Luffy, and the reason (or better yet - one of them) for Shanks rising to a position of power, are pure speculation. However, Shanks had actively been pursuing the Hito Hito no Mi: Nika, with the manga hinting that he knew it was a special devil fruit. Thus, while still theory, I believe Shanks must have known about the fruit. The source he knew about it from, I can't fathom.

 

[Kizaruber Eats]

I believe Shanks's role and fate were revealed to us in Chapter 1. Currently, the race towards One Piece has reached high heat with all major actors declaring interest in pursuing it, including Shanks.

Shanks is not really after the One Piece. He is guiding Luffy towards it.

Since, hearing Luffy's dream, which was the same as Roger's (“Master Rayleigh... There was a kid who said the same things as Captain Roger! Those words, that the captain once said...!” (Chapter 506), Shanks "put a bet on the new age". All of his actions indicate that he is assisting Luffy to reach his ultimate dream. Specifically:

1. Shanks's crew stole the Hito Hito no Mi Model: Nika and was docked at Foosha Village for over a year (Chapter 1).
2. Possibly he thought that Ace was the one predestined to pursue this dream, however, Zoan devil fruits have a "will of their own" and chose Luffy.
3. Since leaving East Blue, he purposefully rose to a position of power to better be able to guide Luffy when the time comes.
4. Meeting with the Gorosei: Knowing that only through life and death through Joyboy's principles that the Hito Hito no Mi: Nika be awakened, Shanks indirectly taunted them into killing Luffy.

This leads to inferring that Shanks's declaration of pursuit of the One Piece, is another push for Luffy to pursue his aim.

Speculation: Circumstances of the reunion with Luffy.

Shanks is to be reunited with Luffy when the latter becomes a great pirate and subsequently return the Straw Hat (Chapter 1). Luffy has now undoubtedly become a Great Pirate.

However, returning the signature Straw Hat to Shanks is something that probably won't happen. This infers that the reunion might come at a time when Shanks is in his final moments. At this point, Shanks having fulfilled his role, might divulge to Luffy critical information in service of attaining his dream. The question is who might be the killer of Shanks? As One Piece progresses, and the story shifts against the World Government the theory of this thread is that it has to be someone affiliated with the Government (Imu or a Gorosei perhaps). This will serve the story to grow hatred towards the killer. Another possible choice would be Blackbeard, the main antagonist who is already responsible for Ace's death.

Conclusion

A good story turns in circles and what better place to turn back to than the very first Chapter? I prefer putting clues together so I'd love to hear what you think Worstgen community. What is Shanks's role in One Piece and in the event he dies what is the who when, and where of Shanks's death? Thank you for reading my thread and hope you enjoyed it.

Excellent post, I'd really love this to be true but if Shanks actually dies, my heart will break regardless, I'll never be ready for that lol.
Ironically I do feel "red flags" on him.

This feels more in tune with Shanks actual personality and actions and it could thus be what Roger's final words were to Shanks somehow. Burdening Shanks with this responsibility and duty, to help fulfil the prophecy that he and Oden couldn't accomplish at the time and would not be alive especially as he knew he was dying ofc and thus needed someone to bear the torch for him, to inherit his will.

Nobody is more appropriate and perfect for testing Luffy to becoming the Pirate King than Rayleigh or Shanks. Given Shanks is much more in his prime and younger, healthier and thus a yonko haki God, who better to challenge and test Luffy too?

I really like the arguments you presented too.

Shanks should be Luffy's final obstacle to the One Piece and Pirate King-ship. It would truly be most full circle storyline and outcome.

 

[Monkey D Monkey]

The theory suggestion does not preclude Shanks from fighting Luffy. However, it does disagree on the reason. I do not believe Shanks wishes to genuinely see who is the better pirate - he knew since the beginning that Luffy would rise to surpass him. On the contrary, the purpose of the fight would be Shanks's belief that Luffy must defeat him in preparation perhaps for future events.

When does Shanks say he knows Luffy will surpass him? He certainly thinks Luffy has the potential to be a rival to him as a Pirate, just like Mihawk believes Zoro can rival him as a swordsman, but in nether case do I get the impression that Shanks or Mihawk are just waiting around to loose, they want a challenge.

Your suggestion hints that Shanks will be the "final" step for Luffy, and would transcend the World Government storyline where Shanks has played a major role thus far. A fight between the two, to see who is the better pirate, in my opinion, voids its service to the story.

I don’t think they will transcend the WG. Venus will be the Sword God and Zoro’s Final enemy. IMU will be World’s Strongest God and Luffy’s final enemy. At the point Luffy beats Shanks he’ll be recognized as World’s Strongest Pirate, and Zoro as World’s Strongest Swordsman though. However the trick here is that IMU isn’t a Pirate and Venus isn’t a man, he’s a God.

 

[Fenethor]

Excellent post, I'd really love this to be true but if Shanks actually dies, my heart will break regardless, I'll never be ready for that lol.
Ironically I do feel "red flags" on him.

My heart would follow yours in that regard. I love Shanks, he is a strong character introduced at the beginning to whom we readers relate (always a bar to compare along the journey in terms of strength).

This feels more in tune with Shanks actual personality and actions and it could thus be what Roger's final words were to Shanks somehow. Burdening Shanks with this responsibility and duty, to help fulfil the prophecy that he and Oden couldn't accomplish at the time and would not be alive especially as he knew he was dying ofc and thus needed someone to bear the torch for him, to inherit his will.

Nobody is more appropriate and perfect for testing Luffy to becoming the Pirate King than Rayleigh or Shanks. Given Shanks is much more in his prime and younger, healthier and thus a yonko haki God, who better to challenge and test Luffy too?

That's exactly how I perceive it too, in concert with Shanks's character. I believe Shanks is presented as a "mature" character, one who would have wise motivations - one from whom you can learn if you will. I love the addition that this purpose might be fueled by Roger.

I really like the arguments you presented too.

Thank you very much, I'm very happy you liked it.

Post automatically merged: Feb 2, 2024

When does Shanks say he knows Luffy will surpass him? He certainly thinks Luffy has the potential to be a rival to him as a Pirate, just like Mihawk believes Zoro can rival him as a swordsman, but in nether case do I get the impression that Shanks or Mihawk are just waiting around to loose, they want a challenge.

The thread does not insinuate that Shanks does not want a challenge. The thread focuses on what lies underneath that challenge, the aim of Shanks. Specifically, for Luffy to achieve his dream -the one he shares with Roger- he has to surpass him. The pure challenge is closer in my opinion with Mihawk and Zoro, where indeed the title of "Greatest Swordsman" is the aim.

As for Luffy surpassing Shanks, the post builds this theory, by following hints given by the manga. Shanks knew what the Devil fruit was, and Shanks recognized that Luffy was the only person to mention the same exact words as Gol D. Roger. The hints given by the manga lead me to believe that Shanks has a greater role in Luffy's journey than that of an ultimate rival.

I don’t think they will transcend the WG. Venus will be the Sword God and Zoro’s Final enemy. IMU will be the World’s Strongest God and Luffy’s final enemy. At the point Luffy beats Shanks he’ll be recognized as the World’s Strongest Pirate, and Zoro as World’s Strongest Swordsman though. However the trick here is that IMU isn’t a Pirate and Venus isn’t a man, he’s a God.

That may very well be the case, the theory I'm building is that Shanks knows that Luffy will have to face them and knows that he has to be stronger than him to beat them.

 

[Djordje]

Really nice theory and I think its everything but confirmed . Of course I dont throw away option of things turning out completely different but still this one seems most reasonable one.

What we know is that at laugh tale Roger not only learned about history but also about future events somehow. They are waiting for someone who will arrive from next generation, someone who will most likely be the one who will fight and end corrupted reign of world gov. Roger knows about this , Oden too , Rayleigh , Pedro. Even Kaido knew Joyboy was one who will defeat him.

I am pretty sure Shanks knows it too. Big question is what exactly Shanks asked Roger after he returned from laugh tale that made him cry ???

Did he had some great dream / motivation for revenge against WG and Roger ruined his hopes by telling him he is not the chosen one for that. Or maybe did he simply reveal to him his true origin when Shanks maybe wanted to go with him , maybe this caused Shanks to cry. Finally maybe Roger just revealed he is dying to him too and they cant continue their voyage together as pirates.

Shanks being near Wano at same time as Luffy and deciding to go after one piece after all that time matches perfectly well with your theory that he is just guiding Luffy there with no interest in himself obtaining it. Even in Egghead we saw Dorry and Brogy arriving to help Luffy so maybe even this help is related to Shanks.

What will Shanks fate be ???

Probably defeat by Blackbeard before one piece is found, but who knows maybe before that Shanks could somehow fight Luffy maybe testing him is he worthy of one piece . Maybe Blackbeard will come too late for one piece and beat Shanks instead.