User blog comment:Cmreed21410/Shanks/@comment-4623405-20200814153829

Shanks will play a larger role later on, there are so many things foreshadowing that. But not as a villain. A pirate who can enter Mariejois without a problem does not need the help of rookie pirate. If he had a plan like that, he would've visited him during the 2 year time skip to assist his training. After all he just barely lived after all of the mess before that. Luffy was within his reach in Marineford, but decided to not do anything. He is not waiting for a pawn, he is waiting for his friend to fulfill his dream.