One Piece might have revealed how Luffy freed Shanks from Imu

Since Shanks entered Luffy’s life, One Piece, they have had a strong connection. Shanks was the one who inspired Monkey D. Luffy to become a pirate and follow in his footsteps. Whenever Shanks would visit Luffy as a kid, it was pure excitement because he was Luffy’s hero. He was the man whose hat he inherited and whose freedom he idolized.

However, with chapter 1152 released recently, there’s new info about their relationship that changes everything. Fans are now wondering if, in a twist of fate, Luffy saved Shanks instead? We all know the famous scene where Shanks lost his arm to a sea monster to save Luffy from drowning.

That moment held raw emotions and signified a pure form of sacrifice. Shanks was almost a Yonko-level pirate who gave up his arm to save a child, and because the scene was so emotional, fans did not question if there was more to it than what met the eye.

Now, Chapter 1152 may finally have the answer. According to the spoilers, Shanks had a mysterious tattoo on his left arm, the same arm he later lost. This mark closely resembles the "mark of the abyss" seen on Saint Sommers, one of the Holy Knights, and someone potentially under Imu's control. If true, Shanks was bound or cursed by Imu’s influence, and the loss of his arm was not just an act of protection but a liberation.

Eiichiro Oda has always kept a mystery around his character. So, whenever he is given on-screen time, especially

when new information about him is revealed, it is always a welcome treat. And this revelation ties into a much broader mystery about Shanks.In One Piece, we already know he has a twin brother, Shamrock, and with his introduction, it was clear that even Shanks is related to the celestial dragons. Chapter 1152 heavily implies this, showing Shanks with the mark of the abyss and establishing his possible role within the World Government hierarchy. Yet, Shanks rejected this role.

Also, Gaban referred to him as the “destined boy” in One Piece manga, Chapter 1152. That simple phrase carries enormous weight. When Gol D. Roger reached Laugh Tale and discovered the truth of the world, he cried. He was too early. Someone else had to finish the job.

Did Shanks plan everything in One Piece?

We might not have seen a lot of Shanks on-screen, but enough to know that he never acts out of pure self-interest. His decision to let Luffy eat the Nika Fruit, his neutral stance as a Yonko, and his constant presence near key political shifts - all may be part of a larger design. Roger may have told him that the world needed Joy Boy to emerge naturally, not by force.

This would also explain his apparent distance from Luffy's journey. He watches but doesn't interfere. Not because he doesn't care but because he must wait. He’s guiding from afar, fulfilling Roger’s last request. For now, even if we know events about his past, it does not mean we know where he stands, and with Final Saga ongoing, it would not take long for us to get more clarity about him, and we can just hope that he chooses to side with the protagonists.

Final thoughts

Trending

As the One Piece manga is heading toward its final saga, fans are eagerly waiting for the reunion between Shanks and Luffy. If all these theories are true, their next meeting won't just be emotional; it will be monumental. One Piece Chapter 1152 may have rewritten a fundamental moment in the series, and the beauty of the series is how it layers meaning across decades of storytelling.

And if this twist holds, it may become one of the most poetic reversals in all of anime. Luffy didn’t just get saved that day on the beach. He saved the man who would help save the world.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback