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One Piece fans have been waiting for years to see "Red Hair" Shanks in action, and author Eiichiro Oda didn't disappoint them. In recent chapters, Shanks showcased his might by single-handedly annihilating Eustass Kid and his right-hand man, Killer, two major members of the Worst Generation.
Although Shanks doesn't seem to be among the characters featured in One Piece 1083, the chapter may indirectly reinforce a shocking theory concerning the captain of the Red Hair Pirates.
Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers from the One Piece manga up to Chapter 1083.
The first spoilers for One Piece 1083 may corroborate the shocking theory claiming Shanks has a clone
Shanks is an iconic One Piece character
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Shanks recently declared to his right-hand man, Benn Beckman, his intent to partake in the rush for the One Piece. However, despite being introduced at the very beginning of the series, Shanks is one of the characters of which readers know less, especially with regard to his true motivations.
The mentor and role model of Monkey D. Luffy, Shanks is the sworn enemy of the vicious Marshall D. Teach. A testament to his power, he is one of the very few characters able to fight on equal grounds with Dracule Mihawk, the World's Strongest Swordsman.
Given his fighting style, as well as the mysterious words that the Pirate King personally whispered to him after visiting Laugh Tale, Shanks seems to be sort of an apprentice to the late Gol D. Roger. Even his childhood comrade and friend, Buggy, considered him the destined heir to Roger.
So far, Shanks has maintained a neutral position. He has promoted a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of conflicts, never resorting to violence unless left with no other choice. Despite being the youngest of the Emperors, he seems to be the most influential among them.
Possessing an exceptional reputation for strength, Shanks is a charismatic individual whose mere presence is enough to command others. Always surrounded by an intriguing yet charming aura, he is a fan favorite, as well as one of the most mysterious characters in the series.
The relationship between Shanks and the World Government is very ambiguous. The mutual respectful terms he has with the Five Elders and the former Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku are indeed very uncommon for a pirate.
As shown in chapter 907 of One Piece, Shanks met the Five Elders in their very home, the sacred soil of Mary Geoise, to tell them about "a certain pirate" whose identity is yet to be explained. On top of all the other questions raised by such a shocking event, this chapter marked the birth of a theory that postulated the "Red Hair" has either a twin or a clone.
Why some fans believe that there are "two Shanks"
Although apparently crazy, the theory soon became popular within the fandom due to a detail featured in the chapter. Shanks was depicted with a close-up of the right half of his head, and no trace of the big scar present on the left side of his face was shown.
This seemed weird given that when Shanks met Whitebeard in chapter 434, there was a panel where he was drawn with the same exact right side, but his scar on the left half was clearly visible.
On the cover story for One Piece chapter 875, which featured Bartolomeo burning the flag of the Red Hair Pirates, fans reported that upon looking at the Jolly Roger drawn on the flag, the mouth of the skull is not open. It has always been open in its other appearances.
Admittedly, all of these details may be nothing more than minor drawing mistakes. One Piece author Eiichiro Oda declared that he sometimes forgets to draw scars and other particulars. With the release of volume 90, the aforementioned panel was indeed corrected.
However, many readers have continued supporting the idea and, on the basis of several conjectures, have never stopped claiming that there are two Shanks. The first would be the one who saved Luffy at the beginning of the series, while the second one is a mysterious individual.
According to the supporters of this theory, this second Shanks would be born due to the time paradoxes generated by Toki's Time-Time Fruit. However, it must be remembered that this Devil Fruit only allows its users to send themselves or others in the future, but not in the past.
The Holy Knights and the "two Shanks" in One Piece 1083
The official release of One Piece 1083, the latest installment of the manga, is scheduled for May 14, 2023, but some leaks are already circulating. However, these spoilers must be accepted cautiously, as the most reliable leaker, Redon, is yet to confirm them.
According to these first leaks, the chapter will show the silhouettes of the Holy Knights of Mary Geoise, mighty individuals whom the World Government sent to deal with the few kingdoms who refused to pay their tributes and taxes.
These intriguing new enemies are only shown in the form of shadows. Shockingly enough, one of the Holy Knights looks like Shanks in every possible way. His body and clothing appear the same as Shanks, and he owns a sword seemingly identical to that of "Red Hair," even carried with the same posture and on the same side.
If someone were to compare Shanks' darkened figure with the shadow of the mysterious new character, it would be impossible to tell the difference. Thus, many fans started suggesting that this person could be Shanks himself or his clone.
Final Thoughts
Until the raws of One Piece 1083 will be available, it is only possible to speculate, and even the actual chapter may not be enough to shed light on the subject. For now, many fans think that Shanks is a member of the Holy Knights, as that would explain his opportunity to meet with the Five Elders in Mary Geoise.
Granted, there are countless theories on the enigmatic connection between Shanks and the World Government, including the one assuming that the "Red Hair" is a former Celestial Dragon native to the Figarland Family.
What is certain is that, according to the leakers, one of the nine silhouettes of the Holy Knights is identical to that of Shanks, from his appearance to various details. However, One Piece author Eiichiro Oda is no stranger to teasing his readers with similar red herrings. Thus, it would be better not to jump to conclusions.
