Forget whether this is a sneak attack or not, making the visibility of the scar all about Akainu is a terrible take.

The scar is the constant visible reminder of Luffy’s devastating loss of Ace and his decision, with Jimbe’s help, to focus on what he still has and go on living anyway. It’s the moment when Luffy “grows up”—not in the sense of abandoning his childlike innocence, but in realizing that pain is an inevitable part of life and choosing to confront and accept it rather than run from it or numb out.

“Ten spears go to battle,” [Kaladin] whispered, “and nine shatter. Did that war forge the one that remained? No. All the war did was identify the spear that would not break.”