Shanks is one of the most well-known One Piece characters. He is the only pre-timeskip Yonko that hasn’t been beaten or has died. Despite his popularity, there is still a lot that fans don’t know about Shanks. So they’re always eager for more information to come their way.

In one of the recent One Piece episodes, Buggy shared his disbelief over Shanks’ decision not to pursue the same goal as their captain. Buggy was confident that Shanks would fill the void created by Roger. Even One Piece fans were left flummoxed by this revelation, but what was the reason behind Shanks’ decision?

Shanks’ Early Days As An Apprentice

Shanks Was Close To Gol D. Roger

Shanks was still very young when Roger turned himself in to the Marines. The latter was aware that he did not have much time left, which possibly affected his decision to do it so early. Before disbanding the crew, Roger entrusted his Straw Hat to Shanks, which could be considered a sign of his trust in his young apprentice. Shanks treasured his captain’s memento and wore it all the time.

Unsurprisingly, Shanks was present at the time of Roger’s execution, and watching the light go out of his captain’s eyes was a saddening moment for him. Shanks’ was overwhelmed with grief, and he was in tears. After the execution was over, Shanks and Buggy had a talk with each other. It was during this conversation that Shanks declared his intention of not pursuing Roger’s treasure. Buggy was flabbergasted, and he even rebuked Shanks to a certain extent. Shanks never did properly explain his reason, but he asked Buggy to join his crew, an offer that the latter promptly declined.

​​​​​​Despite his initial decision not to pursue One Piece, Shanks changed his mind somewhere along the way. However, he did not disclose it until the Wano Country arc.

Why Did Shanks Decide Against Becoming The King?

Choosing Another Path For Himself

It is most likely that Shanks wanted to think about his goals. A lot happened in a very short ​​​​​​time, so he needed time to think and assess what his heart truly desired. Shanks’ first course of action was to find crewmates who were reliable and strong. He went looking to different seas to recruit the main members of his crew. This is quite clear from the fact that Yasopp is from the East Blue, Lucky Roo hails from the South Blue, and Ben Beckman comes from the North Blue.

After forming his crew, Shanks set out to sail and started to make a name for himself. By the time he met Luffy, Shanks was already a well-known buccaneer. When Shanks entrusted the Straw Hat to Luffy, it is possible that he still didn’t want to claim the One Piece. Otherwise, he would never have parted ways with his captain’s only memento. Shanks

Why Did Shanks Change His Mind?

Shanks Was Waiting For The Right Opportunity

A pirate of Shanks’ caliber wouldn’t just wait without a purpose. It is possible that Shanks was waiting for the arrival of Joy Boy, as it was tied to the One Piece. Shanks was definitely aware of the true nature of the Gomu Gomu no Mi, which is why he attacked a World Government ship and stole it. Shanks could have eaten the Devil Fruit instantly, but decided against it because he knew how it functioned.

According to the information, the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika has a will of its own. Even the Five Elders stated that the Devil Fruit had been evading them. So, Shanks wanted to test whether he was the right person to eat it. He saw Luffy devour the Devil Fruit, then listened to him say the same things as his captain. Both of these things made Shanks believe that Luffy was Joy Boy. So, he waited for the Devil Fruit’s true power to awaken, and when it did, he made his move.

Will Shanks Claim The One Piece?

He Has The Power To Do The Unthinkable

​​​​​​Shanks is currently the strongest character alive in One Piece. He does not have a Devil Fruit, but his Haki is far superior to everyone else’s. A burst of his Conqueror’s Haki was potent enough to scare an Admiral into fleeing. Shanks’ battle with Kid was yet another demonstration of his strength. He is also a capable swordsman, as evidenced by his duels with Dracule Mihawk. So, there is certainly no doubt that he is capable of claiming the One Piece.

Shanks is also knowledgeable about all sorts of things. He was able to enter Marijoa without raising any kind of alarm. He is closely affiliated with the giants of Elbaf, a race known for living for more than a century. It is extremely unlikely that they wouldn’t have shared some of their secrets with him. Also, if the final Road Poneglyph is on Elbaf, there is no way that Shanks doesn’t have access to it.

While Shanks has the tools necessary to claim the One Piece, his role prevents him from doing so. He will act as its guardian until Luffy claims it.