Shanks had sailed with the Roger Pirates since he was an infant, beginning his pirate career as an apprentice alongside Buggy before forming his own crew after Roger's death . Notably, Shanks is the pirate who inspired Monkey D. Luffy to embark on his own pirate adventure, and his crewmate Lucky Roux discovered the Gomu Gomu no Mi that Luffy accidentally ate. He also owned the Straw Hat that has become Luffy's signature accessory, having gifted it to the boy as part of a promise to meet again someday.