This article contains spoilers from Hunter X Hunter Chapter 401.
Summary
Hunter x Huntermade its long-awaited return from its 2-year-long Hiatus on October 6th, 2024. The manga returned with chapter 401, which turned out to be incredible, to say the least. This chapter takes into focus Kurapika and his discussion with Longhi, as was teased at the end of chapter 400, 2 years ago.
Hunter X Hunterchapter 401 also shed a lot of light on a character who will play an essential role in the story to come, Beyond Netero, the son of Isaac Netero.
Kurapika Returns to the Story
Kurapika has been, since the beginning of the Succession Contest arc, a major player as he is currently employed as the bodyguard of the 14th Prince of the Kakin Empire, Prince Woble.Kurapika was seen on the last page of the previous HxH chapterthat came out 2 years ago, chapter 400. His last appearance teased what would unfold in this chapter.
Chapter 400 of HxH showed Kurapika with Longhi, as they discussed an alliance with the Fifth Prince Tubeppa. Hunter X Hunter Chapter 401 greatly elaborates on what unfolded.
Longhi’s Nen Ability and Contract
As teased in chapter 400 two years ago, Longhi and Kurapika would enter negotiations, although the details of that were unknown until now.
Longhi, as was already known thanks to the tease, can already use Nen, something that came as a shocker to characters like Kurapika. Immediately, she showcased her intriguing Nen ability, known as Transparent World - Moonlight Act. This ability falls under the Manipulation type. Specifically, this ability allows her to create contracts that can give or take away powers from whoever signs her contract, depending on whether they follow the contract or not. The person signing it has to be willing to sign it as well for this ability to work. Longhi also has to disclose the whole truth when making a contract, as it is one of her ability’s conditions, so deceiving someone isn’t an option for her and what she says can be trusted, as further proved when Kurapika used his Dowsing Chain to determine if she was lying or not. The Prince she guards, Prince Tubeppa Hui Guo Rou, is, however, unaware of Longhi being a Nen user.
I don’t have time for half-truths. So, if I determine you’re lying, I’ll shoot - Kurapika
Longhi wants to sign a contract that would result in Prince Woble and Prince Tubeppa not harming each other. Her end goal, however, goes deeper than that, and to achieve that, she will have to grant Kurapika more power.
The Reveal About Beyond Netero’s Biological Children
Longhi is one of many biological children of Beyond
In a shocking reveal, Togashi reminds readers of the importance of Beyond Netero,the son of Isaac Netero. Beyond is a character that might have been overlooked by fans as a more obvious villain in the form of Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou was present. But, that certainly wasn’t smart.
Longhi revealed inHxHchapter 401 that she is the biological daughter of Beyond Netero – a reveal that left all her listers in shock. Specifically, she is one of many of Beyond’s children that he had with high-ranking Kakin soldiers. Those children Beyond had were born with nen at birth, which made them quite special. Having awakened nen at birth, these infants quickly gainedthe ability to learn Ten and Zetsu, making them quite powerful fighters as they aged.
The children of Beyond were raised by those Kakin soldiers before enlisting in the royal military school. Thanks to them having awakened their nen at birth, the military tests were no big challenge for them.
The amazing abilities of these children to unlock Nen at birth was only a side effect of something evil Beyond was brewing, however. Indeed, Beyond had placed a curse on his own children. This dark nen they’ve been cursed with activates after death, and on Longhi, this manifests as an eye under her tongue.
She was able to discover all of this when her half Sister Mahaka first caught on that something weird was going on after dropping out and reaching out to Longhi.
All in all, Longhi discovered that the purpose of her birth was so that she could assassinate a target, and that there must be more like her out there who were bred to be living sacrifices for Beyond’s goal. Longhi, as well as her siblings, have no current way to remove this curse, as it is quite a powerful one.
What this curse does, and who it will target is, as of now, unknown. However, whatever that might be, the end goal will be for it to curse the person it targets to death. The target of their curse is most likely a prince, although it doesn’t have to be the prince they’re assigned to. Beyond’s end goal seems to be ending the Succession War swiftly and installingat the head of the Kakin Empire, the prince of his choosing.
One of the princes is Beyond’s child! -Longhi
Kurapika believes it to be the first Prince Benjamin. However, Longhi revealed some information that proved otherwise. She revealed that she highly believes that one of the Princes of the Kakin Empire is actually the child of Beyond Netero and the one Beyond wants to ascend the throne. Who that might be, remains a mystery.
Prince Tubeppa’s Contract
A Peace Treaty with Prince Woble
With this massive reveal about Beyond Netero, Longhi and Kurapika continued onto the main goal that brought Longhi there, and that was to sign a peace treaty between her Prince, Tubeppa, and Prince Woble, with her mother Queen Oito. The main point of the contract is as follows:
The respective princes, their Queen mothers, and their guards, can’t harm each other.
Longhi continued to state that this contract would have to be renewed weekly in the room they’re currently in on Sunday, at 9 am.
Anyone who disobeys the contract will receive a hearty penalty. They would be forced into a state of Zetsu for one whole week. Being in a state of Zetsu would mean that the individual would not have access to their aura, hence they wouldn’t be able to use their nen abilities.
If Kurapika agrees to this contract and continues through, Longhi will start a new contract with Kurapika that will bestow a boon on him, allowing him to use her Nen ability once. Her ability would beof great use to Kurapika, as it is quite an intriguing and powerful one if used correctly.
Her true desire is revealed here, and she wishes to kill the Prince who happens to be Beyond’s child herself.
Lastly, fans also got a glimpse of Beyond Netero, chained and under the supervisionof one of the Zodiacs, Kanzai. It seems that Beyond has someone he wishes to speak to, although it remains to be seen as to who that is.
Hunter x Hunter is available to read via Viz Media. The series can be read by the fans officially and for free on the Shonen Jump and theManga Plusapp. The release date for the next chapter of Hunter x Hunter, Hunter x Hunter chapter 402, is set to be July 31, 2025.
