For Luffy, facing off against Shanks may be necessary for becoming Pirate King. If it is, then their confrontation could be the biggest in the series.
There’s a lot of debate about what the endgame of One Piece will look like, especially how Straw Hat Luffy’s reunion with Red-Haired Shanks might turn out. A lot has changed between them in the 12 years since they last interacted, so there are many things to consider. On the one hand, Luffy and Shanks have a strong bond and a promise to meet again when the former becomes a great pirate, which he has. On the other hand, Shanks is an Emperor of the sea and will probably have to defend that title if Luffy comes to confront him.
In all likelihood, a meeting between Shanks and Luffy will inevitably lead to an intense conflict. The precise nature of the conflict is difficult to pin down as much of Shanks’ true motives remain shrouded in mystery. Regardless, information from Chapter 1054, “Flame Emperor,” has dropped a couple more hints regarding Shanks and reignited discussion about his reunion with Luffy.
Shanks and his crew were shown close to the outside of Wano, discussing Luffy’s recent ascension to Emperor status. They agreed that Luffy had fulfilled the promise between him and Shanks, though Shanks wasn’t ready to meet up with the boy again. In any case, they were getting this idea of what Shanks’ criteria for a “great pirate” could say a lot about what he’s thinking. However, more information is needed before drawing any conclusions.
Another big thing shown in this chapter was a flashback to the day the Red Hair Pirates stole the Gum-Gum Fruit. This seems to suggest, as many have guessed, that Shanks understood the true nature and value of this Devil Fruit. If Shanks wanted something so important and was willing to steal from a World Government to get it, that could be another hint towards his true ambitions.
The idea that Shanks knew the truth about the Gum-Gum Fruit also brings into question his personal interest in Luffy, the boy who ate it. He developed a fondness for the boy not only from his year in Foosha Village but also because he sees some of himself and his old captain Gol D Roger in him. In this regard, his bond with Luffy comes off as entirely genuine.
However, Shanks understanding that one of the most valuable Devil Fruits in the world was eaten by Luffy could further explain why he’s put so much stock in him. Not only did he sacrifice his arm to save him, but he also entrusted him with the straw hat that Roger had passed down to him. He probably understood that this seven-year-old boy from East Blue had the potential to change the world and become the future of piracy. Maybe he hopes to use Luffy for whatever he originally planned for the Fruit, though that remains to be seen.
Of course, the idea that Shanks has some grand ambitions seems a little hard to believe. Even as an Emperor, he’s so far taken a relatively passive approach to piracy. He’s a happy-go-lucky pacifist who only really fights or gets serious when he or those close to him are threatened with violence; much of Luffy’s piracy seems to be based on Shanks’ style, so it could be taken as an idea of what Shanks is like off-screen. Even the World Government doesn’t try to do anything to him, not because of what he’s done, but because of what he hasn’t done. His apparent lack of aspirations has been a big part of why it’s hard to imagine him and Luffy ever coming to blows.
With that said, it is essential to remember Luffy and Shanks’ standing in the world. As the aspiring King of the Pirates, Luffy has committed himself to defeating all of the Emperors, Shanks included; of course, he’d prefer to confront Shanks later rather than sooner if he can help. As for Shanks, he must maintain the respect that comes with being an Emperor; he proved this in Chapter 1054 by prioritizing stopping Bartolomeo from encroaching on his territory over seeing Luffy again. At the very least, it’s apparent how the ambitions and duties of these two captains will inevitably force them into a confrontation.
However, there is one more thing Chapter 1054 established about Shanks that could put him at odds with Luffy. In his final scene, he asserts that it’s time for the Red Hair Pirates to “make their move” and claim the One Piece. It’s unclear what Shanks hopes to accomplish by obtaining the One Piece, but if it’s anything like his desire for the world-shaking Nika Devil Fruit, he probably has something big in mind. Luffy intends to get to the treasure first to establish himself as the King of the Pirates. This shared desire for the eponymous central plot point will likely lead to the conflict between Shanks and Luffy.
As for how a confrontation between the Straw Hat Pirates and the Red hair Pirates would go down, that’s anyone’s guess. Most believe that it will be more like a friendly competition rather than a harsh battle over ideals or a nation’s freedom like most One Piece arcs; it would be like the friendly bouts the Whitebeard Pirates used to have with the Roger Pirates. Many fans have also theorized that the Straw Hats and the Red Hairs will end up in a traditional Davy Back Fight to settle their differences in a mostly nonviolent manner. However it happens, this confrontation would be less of a high-stakes battle and more of a fun match to gauge how far the Straw Hats have come along as a crew.
However, both crews still have something important to fight over, even if it’s not about a nation or ideals. With that in mind, each side could end up having to resort to force to get what they want. If either the Read Hairs or the Straw Hats want to win, they’ll probably have to take each other seriously.
Assuming the Straw Hats and the Red Hairs came to blows soon, it’s hard to say how well the Straw Hats would fare. Luffy still has a weakness to cutting attacks, so he’s at a natural disadvantage against Shanks’ top-class swordsmanship. The lower-level Straw Hats may also struggle against the well-rounded, high-bounty Red Hairs. The Straw Hats might be able to eke out a win, but it might be more believable if they had a little more time to get stronger.
The Red Hairs have also proven themselves to be brutal in combat. In the very first chapter, “Romance Dawn – The Dawn of the Adventure,” Lucky Roux shot a man dead while the whole crew had smiles on their faces. Eustass Kid might also be able to attest to Shanks’ cruelty by referring to the arm he lost fighting him. The Red Hairs may be pacifists, but when they fight, they’ll fight harder than most can handle, be it the Straw Hats, Blackbeard, or the World Government.
All this is to say nothing of the theory that Shanks is some grand antagonist. Many fans have theorized that he has some master plan in mind that’s been in the works for all these years. His desire for things like the Joy Boy’s old Devil Fruit and the One Piece certainly points to him wanting far more than he lets on. If this is true, then not only does it justify all his uncharacteristically menacing faces throughout the series, but it also means Luffy is in for the fight of his life.
However, things turn out between Luffy and Shanks, they promise to be significant. Each of them has ambitions that could lead them to bring about great change in the world. Whether the Straw Hats and the Red Hairs fight in friendly competition or for something greater, it will be unlike anything in the series thus far. It will be an intense interaction full of emotion, nostalgia, and maybe even some drama.
