Although he was once a crew member on Roger’s ship, Shanks did not become the Pirate King in One Piece.
Among the characters who became the Yonko in One Piece, Shanks is the only one to have been a member of Gol D. Roger’s crew. He even joined the Pirate King’s final adventure, though he didn’t set foot on Laugh Tale because he had to take care of the sick Buggy.
This, of course, makes for an interesting question. Why didn’t Shanks become the Pirate King in One Piece? Whitebeard refused when informed by Roger, and Kaido and Big Mom were unable to go to Laugh Tale due to lack of information, while Shanks already knew how to get to the island.
1. Shanks should be someone who knows where all the Road Poneglyphs are and even knows how to get to Laugh Tale
As a crew member of the Roger Pirates, Shanks should have seen all of the Road Poneglyph locations, the Road Poneglyph that he might have had a hard time reaching was in Zou, as Shanks doesn’t seem to have a Vivre card to get onto the island.
Since Shanks was with Roger, he should have seen all of the Road Poneglyph locations. Including on Fish-Man Island, but has since disappeared and its location is unknown.
The Road Poneglyph that Shanks can be difficult to access is at Zou, as he doesn’t seem to have a Vivre card to get onto the island. Even so, Shanks should have had a good relationship with Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, and even the Mink clan. So if he met Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, they would probably be happy to lead Shanks back to Zou.
Aside from the Road Poneglyph, he should have known about how to get to Laugh Tale since the captain had already arrived on the island.
2. Shanks is determined to get to Laugh Tale by himself
When the crew arrived at Laugh Tale, Shanks determined that he and Buggy would one day head to Laugh Tale on their own ship, later becoming a Yonko, he should have made this dream come true.
In chapter 967, Shanks determines that he and Buggy will one day head to Laugh Tale on their own ship. Shanks later became a Yonko, having a powerful pirate crew, he should have realized this dream even before Luffy’s adventure.
Shanks became Yonko 6 years after he left Foosha village, and that means he could really be the Pirate King before Luffy left the village.
Even so, Shanks failed to do so.
3. There are signs that Shanks has given up on his dream
When Shanks was in Foosha Village, maybe having heard Luffy say the same things as Roger had said in the past, maybe he saw that he was more worthy to be the Pirate King than himself?
This is just a theory, but it looks like Shanks gave up his dream for Luffy. Whitebeard asked Shanks in chapter 434 about how he lost his arm.
Shanks said he left it for a new age. Then, in chapter 506, there’s a flashback of Shanks, where he excitedly tells Rayleigh that East Blue has a kid who says the exact same thing as Roger.
This makes me feel that while in Foosha village, Shanks heard Luffy say the same thing as Roger said in the past, maybe he sees that he is more worthy to become the Pirate King than himself. Therefore, Shanks was willing to lose his arm in order for Luffy to survive.
It should also be noted that Shanks is always excited to see Luffy’s bounty change.
4. Another thing that could hinder Shanks is that it seems the treasure in Laugh Tale is not always accessible, and it seems to have something to do with the appearance of the 2 kings.
Yonko Shanks did not attempt to find Laugh Tale right away because he already knew about the conditions for obtaining the One Piece treasure, or may have known about the ideal time to get to Laugh Tale.
In chapter 968, there is a saying that the Pirate King’s crew arrived at Laugh Tale too soon. Rayleigh even asked Roger “One Piece, who do you think will find it?”.
This is like a sign that even Roger’s crew hasn’t actually received One Piece yet. There are indications that this treasure was accessed only after the birth of Poseidon and a king from the far seas. This is a prophecy about the meeting of the two kings, which Roger and Oden heard from the Sea King’s conversation.
So Roger asked when Poseidon was born. These two kings (Poseidon and another) according to the Sea King that Oden and Roger heard about will only be born about 10 years after that, and grow up about 15 years.
So don’t be surprised if Shanks, for example, doesn’t try to find Laugh Tale right away, because he already knows about the conditions for obtaining the One Piece treasure. That’s my theory as to why Shanks didn’t become the Pirate King in One Piece.
Maybe he already knew about the ideal time to get to Laugh Tale, it also seemed that 2 kings were needed. Therefore, Shanks did not go directly to Laugh Tale.
Alternatively, it’s also possible that he really felt that Luffy deserved to get there, so he left his dream to him. Why do you think Shanks doesn’t become the Pirate King in One Piece? Please write comments!
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