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 long-awaited deep dive into this erased island has brought together legendary figures like Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, and even the shadowy Imu, turning what was once a mysterious “incident” into a sprawling historical epic.
Instead of feeling like a simple flashback, God Valley reads like a full, self-contained saga that quietly rewrites everything we thought we knew about the world. The story reaches into the very roots of the Celestial Dragons’ power, the origins of pirate legends, and the hidden mechanisms behind the “balance” that has ruled the seas for decades. For many readers, this is the closest Oda has come to showing the “true history” without outright revealing the full Void Century.
It’s no surprise that every new chapter of this arc instantly dominates social media, theory channels, and discussion boards. Fans analyze every panel, every look, every single line of dialogue—searching for clues about how these events will echo into the present timeline.
Fans Don’t Want to Return to the Straw Hats… Yet
In a rare twist for a shonen series, a huge part of the fandom is openly saying they don’t want to go back to the main cast right now.
Platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and TikTok are filled with readers admitting that the God Valley narrative is so gripping that a sudden cut back to Luffy’s crew might feel almost jarring. The darker tone, the high-stakes political intrigue, and the mythic aura around figures like Rocks and young Roger make the arc feel unlike anything we’ve seen before.
One fan summed it up perfectly:
“If we return to the Straw Hats now, it’ll feel like waking up from a dream.”
That comment captures the strange magic of this moment in One Piece. For once, the past is more addicting than the present. Yet, as powerful as this flashback is, everyone also knows one thing for sure: when God Valley ends, Oda isn’t taking us anywhere small. And that’s exactly why all eyes are now on the next destination we’ve been teased for years—Elbaf.
From God Valley to Elbaf: The Calm Before a New Era
Once the dust from God Valley settles, the Straw Hats are almost certain to head toward the island that has been hyped since the earliest days of the series: Elbaf, land of the giants.
Elbaf is more than just another location on the map. It’s tied to Usopp’s dreams, the legends of Dorry and Brogy, Big Mom’s twisted childhood, and hints of ancient history lurking in the shadows. In other words, Elbaf feels like the perfect place for Oda to do three things at once:
- Push the story deeper into the mysteries of the world
- Pay off decades of foreshadowing
- And—if fan theories are right—welcome new members into the Straw Hat crew
For years, fans have debated whether the crew is “full” or if Luffy still has room for more nakama. But with the story officially in its Final Saga and the stakes higher than ever, the idea that Oda might add not just one, but two new Straw Hats during the Elbaf arc has become one of the hottest topics in the community.
Why Two New Straw Hats Make More Sense Than Ever
On paper, the Straw Hat Pirates already feel complete. They have a captain, first mate, navigator, cook, doctor, shipwright, sniper, archaeologist, musician, helmsman, and a recent ally in Jinbe solidifying their power. So why are people convinced Oda might add two more?
Fans point to a few key reasons:
- The Final Saga Needs Every Piece on the Board
The battles ahead aren’t just against powerful pirates; they’re against the World Government, the Marines’ strongest forces, and ancient weapons hinted at since Alabasta. It makes sense for the crew to gain final, crucial specialists before the endgame. - Oda’s Pattern of “Completing” Themes
Oda loves symmetry, parallels, and completing sets. Just as the story is tying up decades-old mysteries, expanding the crew slightly for the last time would symbolically “finish” the Straw Hats as a legendary pirate crew. - Elbaf Is Too Important To Be Just Another Stop
A simple adventure on a giant island wouldn’t justify the years of hype. Adding permanent crewmates from this arc would instantly elevate Elbaf into a turning point comparable to Enies Lobby or Whole Cake Island.
Taken together, these points fuel the growing belief: the Elbaf arc won’t just give us answers—it’ll give us two new nakama.
The Top Candidates for Straw Hat #11 and #12
While nothing is confirmed in the manga, fans have formed a rough “shortlist” of who these potential Elbaf Straw Hats could be. The most popular theories tend to circle around characters who check the traditional Straw Hat boxes: a strong personal dream, a tragic or meaningful backstory, and a role that fills a gap in the crew.
Some popular candidate archetypes include:
- A Giant Warrior With Ties to Dorry & Brogy
Many fans expect a young giant who grew up hearing legends of the “weird little human pirates” Dorry and Brogy once befriended. This character could see Luffy’s crew as the continuation of that story and decide to follow them into the new era. - A Royal from Elbaf With a Hidden Burden
The long-mentioned Prince of Elbaf—Loki—has been a figure of mystery for years. A twist where Loki turns out to be at odds with Elbaf’s current leadership, or burdened by ancient promises tied to the Void Century, could make him a perfect candidate: a ruler who abandons the throne to sail under the Pirate King. - A Strategist or Seer Connected to Ancient Lore
While Robin handles archaeology, fans speculate about someone who can interpret ancient prophecies, battle formations, or Elbaf’s warrior traditions—someone who doesn’t just fight, but changes how the crew approaches war itself.
Whether the final choices end up being a prince, a warrior, or someone entirely unexpected, the most common fan theory is simple:
One new Straw Hat will be a giant, and the other will be someone deeply connected to Elbaf’s secrets and the world’s true history.
What Two New Straw Hats Would Mean for the Final Saga
If Oda truly decides to add two more crewmates in Elbaf, it won’t just be fanservice. It would reframe the entire end of One Piece in a few powerful ways:
- The Straw Hats Become a Symbolic “World Crew”
With members from Fishman Island, the Grand Line, the West Blue, Wano, and possibly Elbaf, Luffy’s crew would represent almost every corner of the world. That fits perfectly with his role as the man bringing down the old order. - The Final Battles Get Even Bigger
More crewmates means more matchups. Fans are already imagining Elbaf giants clashing with Admirals, Holy Knights, or even forces controlled by Imu. Two new Straw Hats would make future war arcs feel even more massive. - Emotional Stakes Go Through the Roof
Oda is known for making readers fall in love with new characters and then throwing them into heartbreaking situations. Two new nakama joining this late in the story practically guarantees that the Final Saga’s emotional highs—and lows—will be even more intense.
A Testament to Oda’s Storytelling and Legacy
The wildest part of all this? None of it would feel out of place. That’s the strength of Eiichiro Oda’s writing.
The excitement around the God Valley flashback has reminded everyone why One Piece has stayed on top for over two decades. Oda can introduce ancient legends, rewrite history, shift tonally into something darker and more political—and then seamlessly steer us back to a rubber man with a big smile and an even bigger dream.
As fans eagerly follow the chaos of God Valley while already theorizing about Elbaf and the possibility of two new Straw Hats, one thing is crystal clear:
Even this deep into the Final Saga, Oda still has room to surprise everyone.
Whether or not we truly welcome two new nakama in Elbaf, the very fact that the idea feels believable is proof of how rich, layered, and alive the world of One Piece has become. And when the Straw Hat Pirates finally set sail for the land of giants, the entire fandom will be watching—ready to see who steps onto the Sunny and says, at long last:
“From today on… I’m your crewmate.”
