Eiichiro Oda's world of One Piece isn't just about rose-tinted dreams. Sometimes, the author brings us back to the cold reality of the sea, and the Red-Haired Pirates sinking Barto Club in Chapter 1126 is the clearest proof of this.
Up until now, fans have been accustomed to a gentle Shanks, the kind uncle who sacrificed an arm for Luffy. But the unequal confrontation between the Red-Haired Pirates and the Straw Hat's "number one fanboy," Bartolomeo, has unveiled an entirely different aspect.
The Origin of the Incident from the Burned Flag
To understand the root cause of the tragedy, we must go back to the Cover Story in Chapters 873 to 875. When Bartolomeo landed on an island under the protection of the Red-Haired Pirates, he burned Shanks' pirate flag and proudly hoisted the Straw Hat Pirates' flag in its place.
For readers at the time, this was just a humorous detail reflecting the cunning of the green-haired rookie. But in a harsh place like the New World, this action carried immense political weight.
A Yonko's flag represents absolute protection for the lives of the island's inhabitants. Ignoring this provocative act would directly undermine the Red-Haired Pirates' prestige, making other allied islands targets for bloodthirsty predators.
The Cruel "Poison": Life or Loyalty?
When the two sides clashed directly, the power imbalance quickly became apparent. Bartolomeo was completely defeated and forced to kneel before the Red-Haired Pirates.
Instead of immediately finishing off his enemy, Doctor Hongo offered a cruel choice: a vial of potent poison. The demand was for Barto to poison Luffy within one month in exchange for the lives of his entire crew.
In that suffocating moment, Bartolomeo, without hesitation, drank the entire vial of poison to commit suicide, choosing to sacrifice himself rather than harm his benefactor, Luffy-senpai.
But it turned out that the "poison" was actually just plain water. Witnessing Barto's absolute sincerity, Shanks smiled and allowed them to leave. Although nothing was said, through this action, readers implicitly understood that this was a sharp test by the Yonko for the rookie's loyalty.
Why Did the Red-Haired Pirates Sink Barto Club?
Just as fans breathed a sigh of relief, Oda dealt a fatal blow. As the Going Luffy-senpai sailed far out to sea, Yasopp coldly fired a shot that detonated the entire ship, turning the Barto Club's proud vessel into scattered debris on the vast ocean.
This brutal act sparked heated debates in the fan community. Although the manga does not show Shanks directly ordering Yasopp, the Red-Haired Pirates' captain's complete silence and lack of intervention led many readers to believe that this was an implicit decision, approved by the entire crew to protect the Yonko's prestige.
Shanks might respect Barto's personal will, but the honor of the Red-Haired Pirates cannot be trampled upon without due punishment.
A real-life lesson had to be established to deter anyone intending to challenge the power order in the New World.
Does Barto Club Have a Chance of Survival?
Although the Going Luffy-senpai was completely destroyed in a horrific explosion, most of the fan community still believes in a ray of hope named Bari Bari no Mi.
Many theories suggest that, with the impenetrable hardness of the barrier, it's very possible that Bartolomeo reacted in time to enclose his crew members just instants before the explosion. Of course, to this day, author Oda has not officially confirmed their fate, whether they are alive or dead.
Regardless of the outcome, the dramatic incident of the Red-Haired Pirates sinking Barto Club is a valuable lesson about the harsh rules of survival in the New World. Shanks' decision and Yasopp's shot have left readers with deep reflections on pirate honor.
If you're also captivated by this heroic moment, feel free to visit Hobiverse to check out some incredibly cool One Piece toys and figures!
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