User blog comment:Chopper4PirateKing/Shanks to be Pirate King?/@comment-4132693-20110821080235

I disagree with your theory. Although shanks makes a good candidate, i think he is more like a messenger (not in a bad way). Shanks is the one luffy looks up to and wants to surpass. As a result, shanks gave him the straw hat indicating he will when take it back if luffy surpasses him. Since the straw hat, which was worn by Roger the Pirate King and luffy is on his way to becoming the pirate king, it makes sense to state that shanks is the motivating factor for luffy.