One of the most mysterious characters of One Piece, Red-Haired Shanks, has been known to keep a big secret for a long time. While fans have been trying to figure out what it actually is, it is safe to assume that this secret is connected to the One Piece treasure and the Nika fruit that he retrieved from the World Government long ago.
Considering its connection to the One Piece treasure, there is a big possibility that this secret is some kind of mission from his former mentor, Gol D. Roger, entrusted to him as Shanks never made it to Laugh Tale, but he did meet Roger before his execution. As Shanks has a significant link to Elbaph, it would make sense for Eiichiro Oda to reveal this mission by the end of Elbaph arc.
According to speculations, the mission involves Ace, Luffy, and the destiny that awaited Luffy as the protagonist of One Piece. This way, Oda killed two birds with one stone and also created an enticing storyline with a twist that is going to shock the entire world by the time One Piece reaches its conclusion.
Gol D. Roger’s mission for Shanks in One Piece
Roger and Shanks’ bond as mentor and apprentice is one of the most highlighted aspects of both characters in One Piece. Roger shaping up the future of the pirate world and Shanks following in the footsteps of his former Captain, who was also the King of Pirates, served as great character development within the storyline.
Their bond was so unique that even Oda once revealed that Shanks was the only one who could copy Roger’s style and his attacks out of his entire crew. This means that Shanks had a lot of potential as a One Piece character, and Roger was aware of it, which is why he most likely assigned a mission to him that carried his biggest secret in the form of his son, Portgas D. Ace.
As Roger knew that he was too early for the One Piece treasure, and he didn’t have the Nika fruit at the time, he probably asked Shanks to find the Nika fruit and give it to Ace so that he can fulfill his father’s dream. This might also be the reason why Shanks went to Foosha Village after stealing the fruit from the World Government, but destiny had different plans.
Eiichiro Oda killed two birds with one stone
If the theory about Roger’s mission for Shanks turns out to be true, it would accomplish two things at once for the One Piece storyline. As One Piece fans know, the Nika fruit chose Luffy and gave him the power to liberate the world from the tyranny of the World Government. Therefore, this secret mission would confirm that Oda not only introduced the hero destiny trope but also rejected the bloodline trope of the Shonen genre.
The Nika fruit choosing Luffy would cover the hero’s awaited destiny and his final goal in the series, and the fruit rejecting Ace despite him being Roger’s son would negate the bloodline trope that is quite common with the Shonen anime and manga world. Thus, it would add more depth and density to the One Piece storyline.
If the story had followed the stereotypical Shonen route, it would have chosen Ace as the character with the Nika fruit and given him the responsibility of being the liberator. But by rejecting the ideal route, Eiichiro Oda has added a unique element that not only enhances the essence of the story but also adds more development in Luffy’s character in One Piece.
One Piece is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
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