Warning: SPOILERS for chapter #1076 of One PieceRed-Haired Shanks makes his return in One Piece, showing the dark and ruthless side of the usually gentle and easy-going pirate. After the arrival of the Kid Pirates in Elbaf, Shanks moves to crush the young pirates and steal their Road Poneglyph, killing their dream of finding the legendary One Piece.
In chapter #1076 of One Piece, the elusive and mysterious Shanks appears again in the manga, marking the second time after the Straw Hats defeated Kaido in Wano. While on that previous occasion Shanks acted to help the young generation of pirates, scaring away the dangerous Marine Admiral Ryokugyu using his Conqueror Haki, this time he acts in his own interest, moving to confront personally the Kid Pirates, who have just arrived near Elbaf. Shanks is after Kid's Road Poneglyph, a piece of the map needed to find the One Piece, and he will not take it easy on the young pirates.
Shanks' Battle Against Kid Will Show His Ruthless Side
One Piece fans are well aware that Shanks is not just the man who inspired Luffy to become a pirate, he is also one of the Yonko, the Four Emperors who rule over the New World, the most dangerous sea. As such, Shanks is one of the most powerful individuals in the world, as he proved when he chased away Ryokugyu just with the pressure of his Haki. Shanks also has many subordinates, who are all pretty powerful on their own, and several allies, including the warrior giants of Elbaf, a country that is likely under Shank's protection as part of his "territory".
While Shanks is usually depicted as an atypical pirate who eschews conflict, he is still a Yonko, one of the most dangerous individuals in the world, as Kid is about to find out in the worst possible way. Shanks and Kid actually have a history together. In their previous meeting, the impulsive and brash captain of the Kid pirates attacked the Red Hair Pirates and, as a result, he lost one arm, without even setting his sights on Shanks himself. However, the man who is about to challenge Shanks in Elbaf is a very different Eustass Kid. During his time in Wano, Kid grew a lot stronger, and he even took down Big Mom, a former Yonko, thanks to the awakened power of his Devil Fruit. Kid is one of the few pirates who actually have a chance to find the One Piece, and that's why he is headed to Elbaf.
The Dreams Of The Kid Pirates Are About To Get Crushed
Despite that, from everything that was shown or hinted about Shanks in the series, it's very unlikely that the Kid Pirates will come out as the winners of this battle. The situation, however, is still pretty intriguing. The country of Elbaf still holds the keys to many mysteries in the series, and it's likely to be the next destination of the Straw Hats too. By going after Kid's Road Poneglyph, Shanks is also confirming his intention of finding the One Piece, as he surprisingly announced not too long ago, which could make him Luffy's next, and strongest, rival.
The latest chapter of One Piece is available from Viz Media.