As One Piece barrels through its Final Saga, one question has started echoing louder across forums, reaction videos, and X threads: are we actually heading toward another timeskip after Elbaf?
With the story juggling ancient history, global war, and the fate of multiple generations, many fans believe Eiichiro Oda might be quietly setting the stage for one last time jump before the true endgame. Nothing has been confirmed in the manga, of course—but the way the current arcs are unfolding has sparked some very specific and compelling theories.
The God Valley Arc Has Taken Over the Fandom
The God Valley Incident has become one of the most captivating storylines in One Piece history, and many fans aren’t ready for it to end. Eiichiro Oda’s exploration of this long-mysterious event has brought together legendary figures like Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, and even the enigmatic Imu — creating a flashback that feels more like a grand historical epic than a side story.
The arc dives deep into the power struggles that shaped the modern world of One Piece, revealing long-hidden secrets about the Celestial Dragons and the early days of piracy. For many, it’s a rare glimpse into the “true history” of the world, something fans have been waiting for since the manga’s earliest chapters.
What makes this especially important to the timeskip discussion is how heavily God Valley leans into transition: from one era of pirates to another, from one balance of power to a completely different one. If Oda is using the past to show how one generation’s saga ended and another began, fans can’t help but wonder if he’s planning to mirror that same shift in the present — potentially through another timeskip.
Fans Don’t Want to Return to the Straw Hats Yet
Surprisingly, many readers say they don’t want to go back to the Straw Hat Pirates just yet. Social media platforms are full of fans expressing that this arc feels like the most thrilling part of One Piece in years — with its dark tone, intense storytelling, and lore-heavy revelations.
While Luffy and his crew are the heart of the series, the God Valley storyline offers something entirely different: a look at the legends and events that shaped everything we know. One fan summed it up best on X (formerly Twitter): “If we return to the Straw Hats now, it’ll feel like waking up from a dream.”
This reaction is telling. The fandom is currently obsessed with the mechanics of eras: how one pirate generation rises while another falls, how the world reshapes itself after massive conflicts. That’s exactly the kind of thematic groundwork that makes a timeskip feel not just possible, but earned—especially after a major post-Elbaf conflict.
Why Another Timeskip After Elbaf Actually Makes Sense
The idea of a second timeskip used to sound absurd to many fans. After all, One Piece has already had its iconic two-year jump, with Luffy and his crew training and returning stronger than ever. But the Final Saga has shifted expectations.
Here are a few reasons fans think another timeskip after Elbaf could fit perfectly into the story:
- Power Scaling and Endgame Threats
The enemies Luffy is now up against—Imu, the full might of the World Government, and potentially awakened ancient weapons—make even Yonko-level battles feel like stepping stones. Some believe the Straw Hats may need one last leap in strength and experience to believably stand at the absolute pinnacle of the world.
- A World That Needs Time to Change
If Elbaf and the following arcs trigger massive world-shaking events—revolutions, the fall of the World Government, or the reveal of the Void Century—those changes wouldn’t realistically settle in a matter of weeks. A timeskip could show the results of that chaos: new borders, new empires, and a world that looks truly unlike the one we started with.
- Passing the Torch to the Next Generation
Oda has spent years building up younger pirates and future leaders: characters like Coby, the Worst Generation, and even kids growing up under the shadow of the current era. A final timeskip could let us see them step into their roles in a fully reshaped world, with Luffy and his crew as true “legends of the previous age.”
How a Second Timeskip Could Work
If Oda ever decided to introduce another timeskip, it likely wouldn’t be a simple repeat of the post-Marineford gap. Fans have already started imagining how a post-Elbaf jump might play out:
- A Shorter, Sharper Time Jump
Instead of another two years, some fans imagine a shorter skip—perhaps a few months to a year—after an arc where everything falls apart. The Straw Hats could be scattered, the world plunged into chaos, and the timeskip would pick up with the aftermath of a major war.
- Luffy as a Fully Realized Emperor of the Sea
Another timeskip could show Luffy in a new role—not just as a free-spirited captain, but as a pirate whose name has truly shaken the world. We might see territories under his protection, old enemies turned uneasy allies, and a version of the Straw Hats that feels like a fully matured legend.
- A World on the Edge of the Final Discovery
The first timeskip prepared the crew for the New World. A second could position them right at the brink of Laugh Tale, with all pieces finally in place: Poneglyphs decoded, alliances solidified, and the true history waiting to be confronted.
Of course, there’s a real chance Oda chooses to keep the story continuous from here to the end—with no more gaps. But the current structure of the Final Saga leaves just enough room for a time jump that would feel organic rather than forced.
The Risk of “Too Much Distance” From the Straw Hats
Not everyone is on board with the idea of another timeskip. Some fans worry that jumping forward again might create too much distance from the characters they’ve grown up with. One of One Piece’s greatest strengths is how intimately we experience each step of the crew’s journey.
Skipping more time could mean losing important emotional beats: key conversations, smaller adventures, and quiet moments of growth that happen in between world-shattering events. There’s also the concern that another timeskip might rush the conclusion, turning the final stretch into more of a summary than a lived experience.
For these fans, the ideal ending is one where we don’t skip anything—from the final battles to the last laughs shared on the Sunny’s deck.
A Testament to Oda’s Storytelling and Legacy
Whatever happens after Elbaf, the current conversation itself is a testament to Eiichiro Oda’s enduring genius as a storyteller. After more than two decades, he continues to surprise fans by revealing layers of history that connect generations of pirates, marines, and rulers.
The God Valley arc’s pacing, emotion, and scope have reminded readers of One Piece’s golden era — a blend of mystery, world-building, and drama that few series can match. Even as some fans fear that returning to the Straw Hats will slow the story’s momentum, others believe this balance between past and present, legend and journey, is exactly what makes One Piece timeless.
In the end, the question “Is it possible that we might have another timeskip after Elbaf?” doesn’t have a definitive answer — at least not yet. But the fact that the idea feels plausible, exciting, and even thematically fitting shows just how carefully Oda has built this final stretch.
Whether we experience every moment in real time or jump ahead into a world forever changed, one thing is clear: we’re heading toward an ending where eras collide, legends are rewritten, and Luffy’s story will be remembered as the bridge between them.
