Summary
Luffy and Shanks’ reunion was one of the most anticipated moments in One Piece, but even though they were both in Wano, it didn’t happen. Bartolomeo burning Shanks’ flag on an island protected by the Red Hair Pirates delayed Shanks and Luffy’s reunion, and the One Piece anime finally explains how it happened. Shanks’ ultimate goal is to find One Piece, not reunite with Luffy, but fans are still eagerly waiting for their meeting and the return of the straw hat.
Warning: Spoilers for One Piece Episode #1081luffy And Shanks were finally able to reunite in Wano, but A piece finally shows why the Red Hair Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates haven’t been able to meet yet. After defeating Kaido and unlocking Gear 5, Luffy officially earned his place as one of the Four Imperial Pirates. While many agree that the Straw Hat Captain made good on his bargain to become a great pirate before returning the hat to Shanks, one of Luffy’s most loyal followers interrupted the meeting. enlightenment after 24 years of formation.
A week after Wano was liberated, the red-haired Pirate Emperor Shanks and his crew arrived at the island’s borders. Luffy and his teammates continue to recover and party after their hard-fought victory against Kaido and Big Mom. Now that he has established himself as the Emperor of the Sea, there are even people in Shanks’ crew who want to see Luffy again.
However, in episode #1081 of One Piece, Shanks explained why he had “no intention of meeting Luffy”. It turns out that Bartolomeo, Luffy’s biggest fan and a member of the Straw Hat Fleet, burned the Red Haired Pirates’ flag on an island protected by Shanks, swapping it with the Straw Hat flag. With this gesture, he has now complicated the Emperor’s longstanding relationship and left any fans excited to see the two finally reunite.
Luffy’s number one fan may have started a war with Shanks
Compared to One Piece fans, most people living across the ocean do not know about the emotional history between Luffy and Shanks. Bartolomeo is currently sailing the seas as captain of the second ship of the Straw Hat Fleet and he knows nothing about the teacher who inspired his idol to become a great pirate. Unfortunately, he caused trouble and led to a situation that would make Shanks’ crew look bad towards many of his followers if he ever met Luffy.
The manga mentions Bartolomeo’s crimes in chapter #1054. However, the anime added a new layer to it, explaining why this happened. It turns out that Bartolomeo is not actively trying to gain new territory for the Straw Hats. He just happened to be on an island protected by Shanks and after seeing the Red Haired Pirate Flag, he exclaimed: “Emperor of the Sea?! I don’t care!”, burning it and replacing it with Luffy’s own flag. While in the manga this seems like a convenient but silly device to delay a much-anticipated reunion, the anime at least explains it a little better by making Bartolomeo’s actions into the result of serendipity (and his hilarious personality).
Shanks’ goal is One Piece, not reuniting with Luffy
Shanks’ surprise appearance in One Piece episode #1081 was the first time viewers saw Luffy’s teacher in the anime series in many years. While the episode mainly focuses on Momonosuke and his Scabbard protecting Wano from Admiral Green Bull, it also makes time for a nice animated flashback of Shank’s fond memories of the lad children to whom he entrusts his most precious possession. However, in the same episode, Shanks also shockingly declared that it was time to go after One Piece, which made him Luffy’s most dangerous opponent.
Bartolomeo’s actions conveniently delayed the series’ most anticipated reunion, but also luffyThe story progresses and fans see the young troublemaker become the Pirate Emperor, his meeting with Shanks will definitely continue to build what will happen, one of the A piecethe most memorable moments.
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