Shanks, a character from One Piece, remains shrouded in mystery, making him one of anime’s enigmatic figures. Apart from his time on Gol D. Roger’s ship, Eiichiro Oda has chosen to keep much of Shanks’ past concealed. This suggests that Shanks will play a significant role in the final chapters of One Piece.
Fans often ponder whether Shanks is a force for good or evil. While he appears to be a positive influence and mentor to Luffy, recent developments in the series suggest that Shanks might have undisclosed ties to the World Government or his own agenda.
A prevailing theory suggests that Shanks may have been aware of Luffy’s destiny from the outset, explaining why he allowed him to consume the Devil Fruit. Furthermore, speculation suggests that Shanks might have shared Luffy’s secret with Mihawk, his rival in the series.
This implies a deeper connection between Shanks and Mihawk beyond mere rivalry.
The Rivalry Between Shanks and Mihawk
As one of the Emperors of the Sea, Shanks holds considerable power in the One Piece world, while Mihawk stands as the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
The history between these two formidable figures gradually unfolded, revealing their rivalry as one of the most intense in the series. Their clashes ended abruptly when Shanks lost his arm in a battle.
Both Shanks and Mihawk had modest beginnings before rising to their current status. Shanks started as a rookie on Gol D. Roger’s crew, where he gained valuable experience under the tutelage of the former Pirate King.
Mihawk’s past remains largely veiled, though fans know he underwent rigorous training and defeated numerous skilled swordsmen to claim the title of the world’s greatest swordsman. Despite their fierce rivalry and countless duels, there seems to be more to their relationship than mere combat.
Theory Suggests Mihawk Already Knows About Luffy’s Secret
According to a theory proposed by thatonepiecetalk, the rivalry between Shanks and Mihawk runs deeper than it appears. Allegedly, when Mihawk visited Shanks after encountering Luffy for the first time, Shanks divulged Luffy’s secret to him.
This led Mihawk to test Luffy during the Marineford War.
During their confrontation at Marineford, Mihawk remarked that his power knows no bounds and expressed a desire to see how Luffy’s fate would withstand the might of his black blade.
This indicates his interest in assessing whether Luffy is worthy of Shanks’ trust and capable of fulfilling whatever role Shanks has planned for him.
Later, after witnessing Luffy’s abilities, Mihawk acknowledged that it wasn’t just Luffy’s strength or technique but a certain quality that inspired others to support him.
Moreover, when Luffy unintentionally demonstrated Conqueror’s Haki, Mihawk reacted strongly and resumed his attack on Luffy. All these instances suggest that Mihawk is privy to Luffy’s secret, with Shanks being the likely source of this information.