Luffy being the guy who liberate people was foreshadow ok, but the Nika/Hito Hito/Sun God fruit wasnt.
The Gorosei know he was a D. and had the Gomu Gomu since Alabasta, Oda could easily put one of them saying a line like "an on top of it, this strawhat boy having this fruit" and that the other responding "No, its impossible" when they are talking about Luffy beating Croco and that would set the idea that Luffy fruit was something different, that the Gorosei but didnt believe could be real.
Because they not reacting tô Heitor being a potencial Nika after in sequecence Luffy attacked Ennies Lobby, defeated Moria, punched Charloss, invaded Impel Down, fighted and survived Marineford and showed up with Rayleigh, was totally nonsense.
This is my last response to this thread, I think
Luffy had been under the protection of Shanks from the WG most of the series, IMO. The Gorosei clearly aren't in a position to stop Shanks, or... you know, they would. Just like Doflamingo before him, there's a reason they can't touch Shanks.
It was only once Luffy was near Awakening that the Gorosei decided they were ready to incur Shanks' anger by attacking Luffy. By the time Luffy set sail, and the government would learn about him, Shanks was a Yonkou Whitebeard respected.
Who shut down Marineford? Yep, Shanks.
What's more likely? That Oda retconned this shit?
Or that the character, Shanks, whom Oda dressed up at parties and says he identifies with, is the mentor of the main character, and WHO INSPIRED LUFFY TO BECOME A PIRATE, has been protecting Luffy?
Let's look at who Shanks is friends with:
-Rayleigh
-All the other Roger Pirates we haven't seen yet
-Multiple other Pirate crews
And who Luffy is allied with:
-Dragon (I believe the Gorosei knew of their connection once Luffy's existence was made known when he beat Arlong). + the Revs, which includes multiple hundred million dollar bounties, and Sabo
-Obviously Shanks
Oh, yeah.
Let's just ally:
Prime Shanks
Prime Dragon
Rayleigh who pushed Prime Kizaru
All of Shanks' other allies (including GIANTS)
And all the Roger Pirate remnants
Yeah no shit the Gorosei didn't start shit, they'd have to be real fucking stupid to try. The Gorosei were scared of dying Whitebeard and Prime Shanks from allying. They'd be crapping their trousers if they had to fight what Shanks could bring. Keep in mind that if pre-Wano Kaido heard about this fight happening over the WG either killing or capturing Luffy, he would join in, too, as shown in Marineford (another moment two Yonkou meeting scared the crap out of the Gorosei).
Shanks told them: "Hey, leave Luffy alone, or everyone I know will fuck you up, and even if you do win, you'll lose so much it will set you back centuries. You know who I am, don't fuck with me. Luffy will run into plenty of Marines on his own, but, if you ever send your people specifically after him, then I'll come for you." This fits Shanks wanting Luffy to grow into a great pirate, by Luffy having his own adventure.
It took Luffy literally nearing Yonkou status for the Gorosei to bite the bullet and go "fuck it, we'd rather fight Shanks and Frens than Joy Boy again."
That's how stupid of an idea it is to go after some giggling shithead kid who can stretch himself. The Gorosei thought he would never get past Smoker, and Luffy WOULD have lost to Smoker, but, Dragon.
A lot of people have been protecting Luffy over the years. Why is Crocus stationed where he is? Who could have asked him to do that?
For one more night and one more time, Shanks for the memories
Even if Devil Fruit's aren't sweet
Makino tastes like sake but sweeteeeeeer oh oh oh oh ohhhhhhhhh
