One Piece Already Has A Second Protagonist, And It’s Not Zoro

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This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Elbaf arc.

One Piece is now in its final arc, and the creator, Eiichiro Oda, promises it will be the most thrilling part of the entire story. Oda has been eager to reach this point and draw these final battles for years. After a long wait, he’s finally able to reveal secrets he’s kept hidden and focus on the key characters he’s been developing throughout the series.

Early on, the creator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, told fans to watch for the red-haired character Shanks. He said that when Shanks began appearing more often in the manga, it would signal the start of the story’s final arc. Oda considers Shanks a crucial character, even calling him a figure of destiny. Adding to this, director Goro Taniguchi, who Oda confided in about the ending of One Piece, revealed that Shanks is just as important to the story as Luffy, essentially making him a second main character, especially during the Final Saga.

Shanks Is As Important To One Piece As The Protagonist Luffy

Goro Taniguchi Confirms His Importance To The Plot

  • Oda has a special role for Red Haired Shanks
  • Shanks is the Child of Destiny

It might seem strange to think of Shanks as being just as crucial to the story of One Piece as Luffy himself, but it actually makes a lot of sense. Shanks is the one who inspired Luffy to become a pirate and set him on the path to becoming King of the Pirates. He was, and remains, Luffy’s hero. Without Shanks, Luffy wouldn’t be on this adventure. However, Shanks’ importance goes beyond simply starting the story.

According to the author, Oda, if you see Shanks showing up often in the story, it’s a good sign you’re in the final arc.

Shanks secretly took the Gomu Gomu no Mi from the World Government and was searching for the person destined to become Nika. He patiently waited throughout the Great Pirate Era for Nika to appear. It’s becoming clear that Shanks plays a crucial role in freeing the world of One Piece from the control of Imu and the World Government.

However, the story goes much deeper. The recent flashbacks to the God Valley Incident reveal just how important Shanks is to the overall story of One Piece. He was born on the same island as the Davy Clan, a group destined to fight against the World Government, and is the son of Garling Figarland, a Celestial Dragon – he may even have some Davy Clan ancestry. Like Blackbeard, Shanks was saved by chance on this pivotal island. This makes Shanks a key figure, practically ‘the Child of Destiny,’ and his future actions will significantly impact everything that happens in the world of One Piece.

Remember, you’re the Child of Destiny. — Scopper Gaban to Shanks

Each One Piece Arc Has Its Own Deuteragonist

Oda Switches Deuteragonist Based on Arcs

Looking at the overall story of One Piece, Shanks is a hugely important character in the final part, even more so than most of Luffy’s crew. It’s important to note this isn’t the same as being the second-in-command of a particular story arc – Eiichiro Oda changes who that is with each arc. One Piece doesn’t have one consistent second lead; each arc focuses on different characters. However, in the final saga, if any character rivals Luffy in importance, it’s Shanks, and he’s someone fans should pay close attention to.

One Piece Chapter 1163 is scheduled for release this week, as usual on Sundays. While it will be available in Japan at midnight on Monday, most international fans can expect to read it on October 26th, 2025. The chapter will be available for free on Manga Plus.

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2025-10-24 23:34