HAWK EYES & RED HAIR

Dracule Mihawk “Hawk Eyes” and Shanks “Red Hair”, have a very interesting relationship. We know they used to duel in the past, and their Deep Blue data book pages state that they’re each other’s respective rivals. I wish to explore their relationship, to the best of my ability, and clear some possible misunderstandings, that many people have developed. I’ll start, by listing some manga facts we know concerning their mutual relationship, before I make my inferences, deductions and conclusions on this.

Facts

Up to ten years, from before Luffy set out from East Blue, Shanks and Mihawk had been having duels.

Mihawk sought out Shanks for these duels.

When Mihawk approached the Island, he commented on the mediocrity of the island and stated that it was something typical of him.

When Mihawk visited Shanks on an island he was chilling on to deliver him Luffy’s bounty, Shanks asked him “come for a duel? I am not feeling to good right now.” To which Mihawk Replied “I have not come to settle things with a one-armed man”. Shanks subsequently invited Mihawk to a party, he even insisted coercing him into celebrating with him.

During this visit, when some members of Shanks’ crew saw Mihawk they were visibly petrified and scurrying away. Mihawk told them to take him to their Captain. The top ten of Shanks crew did not react, seemingly accustomed to Mihawk’s presence.

At the time of the visit, Shanks was already a Yonkou.

Back in East Blue, on the day Shanks lost his arm the mountain bandits did not recognise Shanks.

Oda Stated that Shanks hasn’t lost any power since he lost his arm.

Shanks could voluntarily control his conqueror’s Haki at this point in time, as he used it to chase away the “Lord of The Coast”. The sea king who took his arm.

When Shanks visited Whitebeard, Whitebeard was very curious about Shanks missing arm. He said “Your duels with Hawk Eye were legendary, echoing throughout the entire Grand line. Thus it came as a surprise to us when you came back from the East Blue short an Arm”

He asked him “What kind of monster did you lose it to?” To which Shanks replied “I bet it on the new age.”

At Marineford, when Mihawk decided to move against Luffy, he made a mental apology to Shanks “I am sorry Red Hair, but I won’t hold back against this child…….or will the child of fate die at this black sword”.

At Marineford, When Shanks appeared, Mihawk left the battle. When he was asked to come back, he replied; “I agreed to assist the World Government, in their war with Whitebeard. But fighting Red Hair was not part of the agreement”.

A few years before the Marineford war, Mihawk settled down at Kuraigana Island in Paradise.

We do not know when Shanks became a Yonkou, Mihawk became the World’s Greatest Swordsman, or when he became a Schichibukai. His Deep Blue Data Book page says:

“He’s the World’s Greatest Swordsman, who has been reigning over the path of the sword, for many long years.”

Deduction, Inferences and Conclusions

At the time Shanks lost his arm he was already a Very famous pirate, and/or a Yonkou.

We know that Mihawk and Shanks duels echoed throughout the Grand Line. This is according to Whitebeard. Whitebeard, who is one of the most condescending people in the series. E.g calling Akainu a magma brat, or calling Shanks a squirt. For Whitebeard, to state that they echoed throughout the Grand Line and were legendary, then these duels must have been epic. Something similar to Akainu and Aokiji’s duel that lasted ten days and changed the climate and topology of an entire Island. Of course both Mihawk and Shanks likely didn’t have a devil fruit, so there was likely just damage to the vegetation and such slicing mountains etc.

Let’s not forget, that Whitebeard was acknowledging Shanks strength on the basis of his duels with Mihawk. Basically; someone strong enough to duel Hawk Eyes, and have him seek you out came back from east blue short an arm. “It came as a surprise when you came back from East Blue short an arm”. “What kind of monster did you lose it to?” He’d already acknowledged Shanks strength, he was asking what kind of monster was strong enough to take Shanks arm. And calling someone or somebody a monster from someone as condescending as Whitebeard, is a feat. That is whoever/whatever took Shanks arm was a monster by Whitebeard’s own standards. This was all alluding to Shanks strength, and meant that Shanks was a very powerful pirate whom Whitebeard acknowledged his strength.

“Came back from East Blue”. Whitebeard had been a New World Pirate, from before Roger died. Saying came back, means that Shanks returned from the East Blue to the New World. This means Shanks was a new World pirate, which reinforces my belief that Shanks and Mihawk had been duelling in the New World. Whitebeard also stated “to us”. This may have referred to the other Yonkou, or at least the other Pirates of Whitebeard’s crew

Now a lot of people believed Shanks wasn’t a Yonkou yet, and that he grew exponentially over the ten years since he lost his arm. Well, we now know that before he lost his arm, he was strong enough that Whitebeard recognised his strength, and stated that whatever had took his arm must have been a monster. Oda stated: “Shanks hasn’t lost any power since losing his arm”. This means that he hasn’t become any weaker since his arm loss. It doesn’t mean, that he has become stronger. Oda never stated that. If Shanks did indeed grow exponentially over the ten years, then He wouldn’t even be at Whitebeard’s level, he’d have been much stronger. Whitebeard was already past his prime, and only growing weaker, while Shanks most likely grew stronger. Why Oda needed to make that statement, was because Shanks lost his sword arm. He was a swordsman, who lost his sword arm. He’d have had to relearn the sword with his other arm. Oda’s statement, that Shanks didn’t lose any power, means that Shanks is at least at pre arm loss levels. Now I know Whitebeard didn’t call Shanks a Yonkou, but he did call him a Great Pirate. Such acknowledgement from Whitebeard is incredible, seeing as Whitebeard never even used the term Yonkou. He never even called Roger the Pirate King. Whitebeard’s acknowledgement, of Great Pirate, screams Yonkou to me. Thus the belief that Shanks grew exponentially over the ten years strong enough to be a Yonkou, when he had already reached his prime {he was 27, when he lost his arm} is very baseless.

Now you’re all going to tell me, that If Shanks was a Yonkou, that the Bandits would have recognised him. That’s baseless, as virtually NO ONE outside the Grand Line knew what the Yonkou were. Look at Don Krieg, he dreamed of conquering the Grand Line. His arrogance, screams that he had no Idea of the Yonkou. What about Arlong, thinking of conquering the World. A similar situation. None of them had shown ideas of knowing about the Yonkou. What about Usopp, all he knew was that his father was a Pirate. He didn’t know, that he was a Yonkou’s crewman, and second ate. {Shanks data book page stated he founded the Red Hair pirates, with Yasopp and Benn Beckam). Even if Pirate scum like Krieg and Arlong had no idea what the Yonkou were, at least Usopp should have known. This suggests to me, that knowledge of the Yonkou was restricted to the Grand Line. It further reinforces my belief that Shanks was a Yonkou (Or at least one of the 4 strongest Pirates of the New World when he lost his arm).

After Shanks Lost His Arm.

I think, that after Shanks went back to the New World, Mihawk sought him out for a duel. He then found out that Shanks had lost an arm. Either he refused to battle Shanks again, knowing it was his sword arm that he lost, or they duelled, and Mihawk won. He was surprised at the ease, with which he defeated Shanks. Either way, Shanks sat him down and told him a story, or Mihawk inquired about his signature Straw hat, which was missing from his head. Shanks then told him about Luffy, and how he lost his arm saving Luffy. He also mentioned the promise that he had made with Luffy.

I based the above, on the fact that it was Mihawk who went to deliver Shanks his bounty. Probably while he was in the New World. The 30 million bounty, of an East Blue rookie, may not make New World news. This indicates that Mihawk knew about the relationship between Shanks and Luffy, he even commented on it, when he met Shanks. Mihawk had previously encountered Luffy, back in East Blue, he even asked him about his dream. Maybe to find out if he was truly the one, that Shanks had told him about. Or to test his conviction.

After Mihawk lost his rival in Shanks, He became the World’s Greatest Swordsman. To this end, I believe he either defeated Silvers Rayleigh, or the Gorosei swordsman. My reason, being that when we saw Mihawk at Roger’s execution when he was 19, he didn’t have his trademark coat/cloak. During the Edd war, we saw Rayleigh with a cloak that looks uncannily like Mihawk’s current cloak. This kind of subtle hint, is the type Oda uses. He may have been foreshadowing, that that cloak is the cloak of the World’s Greatest Swordsman, and Mihawk may have won it from Rayleigh. Art any rate even the Gorosei swordsman, acknowledges Mihawk as the greatest. We know Mihawk had been a swordsman, for a very long time as When Oda drew the Schichibukai as kids Mihawk was drawn in a kendo outfit, holding that wooden practice sword they use. He likely aspired to be the World’s Greatest. We also know Rayleigh taught Shanks. {In Rayleigh’s flashback when he saw Shanks and told him about Luffy, Shanks called him teacher}. After achieving his goal, Mihawk stayed for a while in the New World, but grew quickly bored. Swordsmen challenged him for his title, but none were strong enough.

Shortly after, he was approached by the Government, to become a Warlord. Seeing it as an opportunity to kill his boredom, and find some worthy enemies he accepted their invitation. Now I know that we were told, that the warlords, were all former pirates, but it was Yossaku and Johnny, who said that. Don Krieg said that Mihawk gains his sword skills form a devil fruit. I don’t hear anyone, saying that he has a swordsman swordsman fruit or anything. My point is that those two bounty hunters, aren’t exactly very reliable. I don’t think he was a pirate. I believe he was a privateer: He has no crew, no ship and NO JOLLY ROGER. The most important characteristic of a pirate. He sails around in a one seater coffin of a boat. I believe, that’s the boat he has been using since he became a reputable swordsman.

I believe he then went back to paradise and settled on Kuraigana Island. He had no reason to stick around in the New World anymore. I have a theory, regarding that, but there is not much evidence to support it so I won’t mention it here. I hate theories that aren’t based on enough evidence, but things people think will be cool or like. E.g Shilliew Killing Mihawk, and becoming Zoro’s EOS opponent.

Their Present Relationship

It seems doubtful, that Mihawk still met Shanks after the occasion in which he told him about Luffy, because Shanks asked him if he came for a duel when he saw him. This either indicates that they continued duelling regularly, after he lost his arm. Or that they haven’t duelled since, and Shanks thought that Mihawk may have come for a match after all these years. Maybe he feels, I’m now good enough to face him off in combat, or has come to see how much my skill has recovered. Hah no one knows what Shanks was thinking. However, when Mihawk attacked Luffy, he apologised to Shanks. This was because, he knew how much Luffy meant to Shanks. It makes me think, that to some extent the duo have an amiable relationship. When Shanks appeared at Marineford, Mihawk refrained from fighting him. This is likely due to their mutual respect. Though they’re official enemies, with one a war lord, and the other a Yonkou, it doesn’t stop them from drinking together, as occurred when Shanks celebrated Luffy’s venture into piracy. It is likely that a conflict between the two of them, will never ensue.

Whether Mihawk really considers Shanks a “one armed has been”, or feels that battling him with the unfair advantage he has, is below him, I can’t say for sure. I am however leaning towards the latter option. This is seeing as he appears to be someone with a high sense of honour. I highly doubt that he’ll strike a swordsman on their back. With his sense of honour, he refuses any advantage in battle. Think of the Elbaf giants who duked it out on Little Garden. The attitude one had, when he found out that he won, because the other was internally wounded. Mihawk, won’t want to win against Shanks like that, this may stain the memory of the legendary duels they had in the New World. Furthermore, fighting with Shanks, anywhere outside their duels, not on their own terms may be abhorrent to Hawk Eyes. I feel, that there is a sort of parallel between Luffy – Shanks and Zoro – Mihawk. Shanks sees his Captain, the late Roger in Luffy, while Mihawk has hope, that Zoro will be the one to surpass him and bring an end to the days of his boredom.

*Theory S1R_L