Summary
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Dracule Mihawk, the World’s Greatest Swordsman, is quite easily an important character in the Final Saga. Given that he’s the goal for Zoro to surpass,Mihawk is a very special figure who possesses strength of the highest order. While Mihawk is clearly strong, his life still remains a mystery to this day.
Very little is known about how Mihawk became the World’s Greatest Swordsman, and even less is known about his life, his connections to various people from his past, why he doesn’t trust people, and his grudge against the Navy in the past. But, as always, Oda most certainly has left behind some hints here and there in the story, and this could very well suggest that Dracule Mihawk, the World’s Greatest Swordsman was a Celestial Dragon long ago.
Mihawk’s Elusive Past In One Piece
While not much has been revealed about Dracule Mihawk in the story just yet, fans do know bits and pieces. For instance, Oda has revealed recently in the story that Mihawk is very much like Crocodile in that he doesn’t trust people. Fans have always wondered as to why Mihawk is a solo pirate and why doesn’t often take a companion or start a crew. The truth of the fact is that Mihawk doesn’t trust anyone enough. This likely stems from the fact that Mihawk trusted someone long ago in the past and they broke his trust, as is the case with Crocodile. Then, one also knows the fact that Mihawk was called the Marine Hunter. Clearly, this means that Mihawk used to go after the Marines of theOne Pieceworld, for one reason or another. Something most certainly happened between him and the Navy long ago and that led to Mihawk’s betrayal, which is why he hunted the Navy, until he waseventually made a Shichibukai, which is when he officially allied with the World Government for good.
I don’t go around hunting rabbits with cannons. — Dracule Mihawk
The only other thing that fans know about Mihawk’s past is that he’s also connected to Red-haired Shanks. Shanks, as fans know, was a former Celestial Dragon. However, on the day of the God Valley Incident, Shanks ended up being mistakenly taken by the Roger Pirates. Since then, he was raised among the Roger crew and became a part of the family. It is quite clear that the time Shanks spent with Roger was way before he met Mihawk. However, after the Roger Pirates disbanded, Shanks likely met with Mihawk, although, it is unclear exactly how and where they ended up meeting for the first place.
While Oda can clearly make them separate issues in the story, it is also possible for all of them to be connected, meaning that Mihawk’s navy betrayal, and the meeting with Shanks could have something to do with each other.
Why Mihawk’s Rivalry With Shanks Hints At A Marijoa Union
Shanks Could’ve Met Mihawk In Marijoa
As mentioned earlier, it is unclear in the story when exactly Mihawk and Shanks met for the first time. But, piecing together some clues, it might become apparent. First things first, Mihawk is 4 years older than Shanks, meaning he was born 43 years ago. By the time of the God Valley Incident, which is when Shanks was almost a year old, Mihawk was already 5. Whereas Shanks was a Celestial Dragon baby at the time, Mihawk’s past was rather unknown. But, he had likely taken some interest in swordplay anyway.
Then, Mihawk and Shanks most certainly didn’t meet while Roger was alive. This means they met at least 25 years ago in theOne Piece.25 years ago, Roger was crowned the Pirate King, and shortly after, Roger disbanded the crew. Shanks and Buggy went their own way, presumably, or it is also possible that they stuck together for a while.
I agreed to fight Whitebeard. Fighting red-haired was not part of the agreement. — Mihawk
Roger was executed a year later, 24 years ago in the One Piece world. By this time,Mihawk was already an up-and-coming pirate, meaning whatever business happened between him and the Marines had already happened. It is also possible that Mihawk and Shanks had already met for the first time around here.
Curiously enough, fans recently found out through Shamrock Figarland that Shanks came back to Marijoa once. Of course, this was likely before Shanks became a pirate, which also suggests that this happened during the 1 year between the disbandment of the Roger Pirates and the execution of Gol D. Roger. Could it be possible that Shanks and Mihawk met in Marijoa? It is very likely, because these two most definitely met after Roger’s death and likely went their own ways.
Could Mihawk Be A Former Celestial Dragon?
Mihawk Carries A Mark Tying Him To The World Government
Of course, there doesn’t seem to be anything linking Mihawkto the World Government, at least not on the surface. But, one simply needs to look at the many Mihawk illustrations. On his left arm, Mihawk carries a strange cross-band mark, for some reason. Mihawk isn’t the only one with this band. There are other characters who have shown this mark, and they are Blueno, and also Donquixote Doflamingo. Both of them worked for the Government, and at least one was a former Celestial Dragon. For Blueno, fans know that he comes from the North Blue, so he cannot be a Celestial Dragon. But, he was clearly found by the Government somehow, given that he became a member of the CP9. For Doflamingo, it is clear that he’s a former Celestial Dragon, so for him to carry this mark isn’t strange at all. Similarly,Mihawk carries this mark as well, which means he’s linked to the Government too.
Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean thatMihawk was a natural-born Celestial Dragon. Mihawk may carry the blood of the Celestial Dragons, like Bonney, which is why special consideration was given to him. Perhaps, he was taken to Marijoa due to his immense talent at a very young age and trained there. It is possible that he could’ve been promised high status, just like Loki was recently in the manga. But, Mihawk was clearly betrayed by the Government, which is why he started hunting the Navy.
If Shanks came to Marijoa around the same time, it would explain why these two formed a great rivalry and it could also explain how they escaped Marijoa together, and then went their separate ways.
One Piece is available to read via Viz Media. The series can be read by the fans officially and for free on the Shonen Jump and theManga Plusapps. The release date for the next chapter of One Piece, One Piece 1140, is set to be June 17, 2025.
