The Library of Kakin

Zhang Lei’s Ability Both Zhang Lei and Kurapika seem to believe the third prince’s coins will only have an effect after he becomes king.

I still don’t buy it. After all, Kurapika concludes the coins probably have another power: pseudo-coercive manipulation.

In all likelihood, the coin will have a far more substantial effect on Coventoba than what’s being hinted here. I’m going to go out on a limb and say Kurapika is missing something big about Zhang Lei’s ability—something that makes it a threat not only after but during the Succession Contest.

Halkenburg

I love the disturbing close-ups of Halkenburg in this chapter. They really lean into the horror atmosphere of the arc.

Even just the idea of Halkenburg’s soul having no body to return to is a bit spooky.

Before Chapter 391, I predicted Halkenburg would be the next prince to die, though I’m not sure I can take credit for being right here.

Back to the Troupe

In my post about Chapter 400, I explained how I thought the Troupe's actions aligned with the Succession War timeline-wise. In particular, I focused on the following panel, postulating that the “emergency announcement" would serve as a uniting event between the timelines.

“I believe this announcement will serve as a “uniting event” for these time jumps... As a result, it seems likely that Melody’s scenes take place before the announcement... Personally, I think this announcement concerns something we have yet to see.” – LIBRARY OF KAKIN, "CLARIFYING 400"

Chapter 404 confirmed my suspicions: the announcement is about Halkenburg’s death.

Intertextuality

I’m always surprised by the amount of intertextuality in the Succession Arc.

I’ve never really seen a shonen manga that makes "highbrow" references like this (for Anime, only Sonny Boy comes to mind). By highbrow, I mean media that is considered part of a more “serious” or “adult” culture. It’s just one of the ways I think Togashi is pushing the boundaries of shonen and knocking on the door of something more.

Halkenburg’s Illness

It seems Halkenburg’s illness is not the result of Balsamilco’s poison. He simply fainted after transferring his soul to Balsamilco’s body, entering a state similar to Sumidori.

Balsaburg is lying to Benjamin here, but it's sort of a half-truth. Technically, Halkenburg's condition is a result of his ability, just not in the way he described. (I also want to mention that Benjamin falsely believes Halkenburg is faking his illness to postpone the trial. This is yet another instance of a character coming to a reasonable but incorrect conclusion due to asymmetrical information. In my opinion, this is very difficult thing to write. Togashi has been doing it consistently since Welfin!)

However, the question still remains: how is Halkenburg going to die if he isn’t poisoned? Not to mention, how was he able to make sure his own soul was transferred into Balsamilco instead of someone else’s? There’s still a lot we don’t know about Halkenburg’s ability.

Unma is Halkenburg’s Biological Mother

Unma being Halkenburg’s mother was predicted by some fans. I stayed away from writing about it because it was a theory based solely on visual clues (not unlike the Sheila=Pariston theory), but I always accepted it as a possibility. Mostly, I’m just excited we are getting more characterization for the queens, who I think will play an increasingly important role in the Succession Contest.

Unma in particular has an imposing appearance and looks to be crazy tall!

Is it just me or is she almost twice the height of that maidservant?!

Nen Lessons

I’m also keeping an eye out for Sarahell, Camilla’s guard, who is planning on cursing Woble very soon!

Salkov

Salkov has been able to use Nen since birth. Given the discussion in the previous chapter, this all but confirms that he is one of the “strong curse sacrifices” and Beyond’s son.

Halkenburg’s Illness

On Day 10, Balsamilco describes his plan to poison Halkenburg.

At 8:50 AM on Day 11, Melody reveals that Halkenburg has fallen ill. This could be the result of Balsamilco’s poison.

The Plan to Assassinate Luzurus

Kacho discusses assassinating Luzurus with a disturbing lack of empathy.

I felt a bit uncomfortable reading this!

Melody doesn’t flinch, though she expressed discomfort with assassination in Chapter 400. 

Another relevant scene is Oito’s reaction to Momoze’s death in Chapter 368, where she criticizes Babimayna and Kurapika for their lack of empathy in the Succession War.

Despite the grisly discussion about assassinating Luzurus, the prince is portrayed mostly positively in this chapter. He is absolved of blame for Fugetsu’s condition and shows sympathy for Kacho’s death.

In Chapter 362, Nasubi claims Spirit Beasts “cannot directly attack” other people with Spirit Beasts. However, the traps laid by his Spirit Beast may qualify as “indirect attacks”. It’s unclear.

Luzurus also expressed admirable views on rehabilitation to Basho in Chapter 366. Meanwhile, Kaiser is planning to make it look like he overdosed, which—when you think about it—is extremely dark.

On a side note, it seems Kacho was successful in convincing Fugetsu that everyone else mistakenly thinks she is dead—a plan she laid out in Chapter 400:

Covering Up the Truth

In my previous breakdown, I mentioned how I often reference the seemingly unimportant panel of Cheadle talking about the Silent Revolution. Another panel I bring up a lot is this one with Steiner and the IPA Director:

This panel sets up a major theme in the Succession Arc about valuing peace over truth. There are undoubtedly strategic reasons for keeping Luzurus and Halkenburg’s deaths under wraps, but I still believe the Succession War is going to eventually be completely covered up. Kaiser and Balsamilco’s plans echo this theme, as well as Kacho’s plan to conceal her death from Fugetsu.

Benjamin and Balsamilco

I once saw someone liken Benjamin’s character to the phrase “a ship with no compass gets lost at sea.” I think this is a pretty good description of what will happen to Benjamin. Benjamin, while powerful, is heavily reliant on others to steer him in the right direction. Balsamilco says as much:

In this chapter, we receive yet another reminder of how the soldiers around Benjamin elevate him. Kaiser believes he was only able to extract information from Benjamin because Balsamilco wasn’t present.

Kacho’s Letter

The contents of Kacho’s letter (really Kaiser’s) seem extremely important. We get some description about the contents from Luzurus and Melody.

Summarized:

Benjamin has some kind of secret that Luzurus thinks will ‘milk his tears’ and buy Fugetsu’s protection.

Luzurus and Tserriednich are ‘snakes’ and have ‘dirt’ (we already knew this, to an extent).

There is something that Halkenburg can ‘use’ (possibly to exonerate himself).

There is a secret regarding Halkenburg’s birth (I don’t think it's being Beyond’s child).

More information that shakes up the Succession itself (this could include Zhang Lei’s parentage)

It seem each prince’s letter contained different information, while Halkenburg’s and Kurapika’s contained all of it.

Basho

The dark spirits following Fugetsu flee at the sight of Benjamin and his Spirit Beast.

In a cool moment, the spirits also flee from Basho.

One of the Princes is Beyond’s Child

Longhi’s belief that one of the princes is Beyond’s child falls in line with something I've talked about often: that there are “secret bastards” in the Succession War. I discussed this idea in “Longbao Conspiracy” and “The Succession Cycle”. 

“When Morena is introduced…special attention is given to the practice of facially scarring illegitimate children, which serves to remind us of the illegitimacy of Onior and Brocco Li…In other words, Togashi is pointing us to the importance of illegitimacy, and the possibility of an unscarred bastard.” – LIBRARY OF KAKIN, “LONGBAO CONSPIRACY”

“…rather than imposing a condition which tested a participant’s relation to himself, Nasubi (perhaps inadvertently) created a condition that tests a participant’s relation to the queens.” – LIBRARY OF KAKIN, “THE SUCCESSION CYCLE”

In Chapter 401, Oito confirms that participants in the Succession War aren't necessarily Nasubi’s children.

This makes it increasingly likely that Zhang Lei is a bastard fathered by Onior Longbao. It’s also possible Brocco Li and the previous boss of the Hei-Ly have their own children in the Succession Contest, though I’m not convinced of this idea.

Whether or not Nasubi knows about the bastards is up for debate. I’m open to the idea that he knows about Beyond’s because they have history together. However, I find it unlikely he knows about Zhang Lei, since Onior has no official standing in Kakin and is shunned for being a “scarred bastard.”

Timeline

In my post titled “Clarifying 400”, I made some claims about the timeline in Chapter 400. Namely, I proposed a “backward time jump” between Melody’s scenes and the final scene with Longhi.

“…all students in Kurapika’s class have been awakened by day 10. This should include Tubeppa’s guard Longhi, who is seen receiving her water divination (or rather, not receiving it) at the end of Chapter 400.” – LIBRARY OF KAKIN, “CLARIFYING 400”

“We know Fugetsu was fine on day 9, and if Melody is to be believed, a few days have passed since then. This places Melody’s scenes on day 11 or 12 at the earliest.” – LIBRARY OF KAKIN, “CLARIFYING 400”

Chapter 401 confirms the time and date of Kurapika’s meeting with Longhi. 

According to the blurb at the end of the chapter, Melody will feature in the next issue, so we may also find out the time and date of her scenes.

Babimyna

I think Babimyna’s behavior here is reminiscent of this scene, which I wrote about briefly in my post titled “Kurapika’s Fate”. 

In chapter 401, Babimyna once again witnesses an emotional reaction to the cruelty of the Succession Contest, as well as possible cooperation between the princes. It seems to be affecting him.

Sakata

My head canon here is that Sakata is feigning concern here. He obviously has a vested interest in what’s going on behind that door, but the words he chooses sound a bit disingenuous and ingratiating. I think he’s trying to make himself seem sympathetic after what he did in Chapter 370, tryingto avoid suspicion.

30 Years Ago

If you've read a lot of my posts, you'll know I often bring up this throwaway line by Cheadle.

This is because I believe the Silent Revolution is how the previous Succession War—the one Nasubi participated in—was covered up. Now, we have yet another reference to “30 years ago”.

While character’s have a lot of freedom in choosing their abilities, they are not unlimited. Characters might have to use vows and limitations to achieve the desired effect. Kurapika uses vows and limitations in order to conjure an unbreakable chain.

Kurapika’s chains reflect his inner psyche. I wrote more about this here.

The efficiency of an ability is also determined by a Nen user’s class. In the Heavens Arena, Kastro fights Hisoka using body doubles, which are created through Conjuration and Manipulation. However, Kastro is naturally an Enhancer, reducing the ability’s efficiency.

Kastro isn’t an especially important character, but at the very least his choice of ability reflects his naievety.

Characters choosing their own abilities allows for them to be characterized very quickly, shifting much of the legwork to the reader. Why did they choose this ability? What were they thinking?

The importance of asking these questions has differed over the course of the series, but it has never been more important than it is in the Succession Contest Arc. With its sprawling cast of characters and interweaving plotlines, the Succession arc thrives with quick and efficient characterization.

We’re reminded that characters choose their own abilities in Chapter 393: Plea.

The concept of ability choice is in Togashi’s mind, and it is likely being brought up for a reason.

Not to mention, Spirit Beasts, a central fixture of the arc, are explicitly linked to their owners’ personalities.

King Nasubi’s obscene Spirit Beast is befitting of a man with eight wives who also keeps mistresses.

To illustrate how abilities can provide quick characterization, let’s take look at Perigord, keeping in mind the question: “Why did he choose his ability?”

In Chapter 399: Eviction, Nobunaga and Hinrigh infiltrate Morena’s hideout. From just these panels, we can get a pretty good idea of what Perigord’s ability is.

Perigord has chosen an ability that allows him to regenerate. Now we should be asking, “Why did he choose regeneration?”

(It’s worth noting that “ability choice” is brought up elsewhere in the same chapter, when Nobunaga remarks on Terebellum’s.)

The first time we see Perigord, he has yet to be awakened. Along with Bille, he attacks Lynch and Zakuro, severely underestimating their abilities.

Munching smugly.

Lynch proceeds to beat the sh*t out of him.

Next time we see him is seemingly in Chapter 393: Plea, and he’s looking a little worse for wear.

Note: He still needs three more levels before recieving his ability.

However, we actually see him a little bit before that, when Hinrigh checks his cat-cam in Chapter 395: Founding, Part 1.

Oof… not looking too hot.

I think Lynch did some pretty long-lasting damage to Perigord, possibly breaking his nose. My theory is that Perigord chose regeneration as his ability because just before Morena’s ability awakened him, he got the sh*t beaten out of him by Lynch.

In addition to being really funny, this interaction teaches us a lot about Perigord. For example, his choice of ability comes off as a knee-jerk reaction to his beating, highlighting his naievety. He seems like one of Morena’s more pliable followers, unwilling to put himself through prolonged pain or resistance. His choice may have also been influenced by vanity, since his face appears heavily beaten.

I could be wrong about this, of course, but my hope is that those of you who read this will agree and come to a better understanding about the chapter.

ESTABLISHING A PRECEDENT

First off, I want to establish that this is not the first time Togashi has used non-linear storytelling in the Succession Arc. The most obvious example of this is the banquet sequence. This period of time is retold three times in the story, each from differing perspectives.

The banquet occurs at 8:00pm on the eighth day of the voyage (a Sunday). This information is provided to us at the end of 382. Awakening. In 383. Escape, we get the banquet from the perspective of the escapees.

Melody uses her ability at approximately 9:30pm.

384. War jumps back in time to the previous night (this information is provided to us in the opening panel). In it, we learn that Theta plans to assassinate Tserriednich on the following day; in other words, the day of the banquet.

In 385. Warning, we get the events of the banquet from the perspective of my favorite character: Theta. The time is 7:35pm when she commences Tserriednich's training. We see the effects of Melody’s ability as the performance is heard through the intercom.

Interestingly, this means Tserriednich's Zetsu training had been going on for about two hours before Theta pulled the trigger.

386. Hypothesis continues into day 9. Kurapika starts performing water divinations for his class on this day. 

Finally, 387. Recreation jumps back in time again, showing the events of day 8 from Tserriednich’s perspective.

Note how Melody’s activation of her ability acts as a “uniting event”, tying the plotlines together. This is the very same technique I believe Togashi intends to use in Chapter 400.

PLACING THE WATER DIVINATION

In order to understand the chronology in Chapter 400, we have to place Kurapika’s water divination. We know it begins on day 9 thanks to a timestamp in 386. Only a week remains in his first round of classes, so he needs to start awakening his students. He awakens Ladiolus first, then Maor. He plans to awaken a few more students, but the rest need to wait until tomorrow.

Later on, Zhang Lei’s guard Hashito asks to be awakened in exchange for Tenftory going last. His request is denied by Kurapika, but it seems likely Tenftory went last anyway. In fact, this line could also be interpreted as Hashito using the fact that Tenftory is already going last in order to negotiate.

388 ends with the fourth rumbling of Halkenburg’s aura, 389. Curse jumps back to day 9 for a bit before proceeding to day 10. This is yet another example of Togashi telling the story in a non-linear fashion. 

Once again, the fourth rumble acts as a "uniting event", helping us stitch together the timelines.

Later in the chapter, we learn that Tenftory has been awakened to Nen, along with all of the other students.

In other words, all students in Kurapika’s class have been awakened by day 10. This should include Tubeppa’s guard Longhi, who is seen receiving her water divination (or rather, not receiving it) at the end of Chapter 400.

This scene occurs on day 10.

This also means we have already seen events that occur after the end of Chapter 400, which is at least everything that occurs belowdecks in Chapters 390-399. 

THE UNITING EVENT

Knowing that the final scene of Chapter 400 jumps back to day 10 isn’t enough to fully comprehend the chapter. We still have to place the scenes involving Melody. Right before they start, we get an unresolved cliffhanger.

I believe this announcement will serve as a “uniting event” for these time jumps, similar to Melody’s flute solo or Halkenburg’s fourth rumble. We will probably hear this announcement in full from another character’s perspective. As a result, it seems likely that Melody’s scenes take place before the announcement.

If the announcement is about Kacho’s death, I could see it occuring before the Melody scenes (knowledge of Kacho’s death is a theme of their conversation). However, I don’t think this is the case for a few reasons:

I believe the deaths of all thirteen princes are eventually going to be covered up. I wrote more about this idea here, but in short, why conceal Sale-Sale’s death and not Kacho’s?

The announcement and Melody’s scenes are intercut with a short scene involving Prince Tyson. This is a strange decision if we were meant to make a link between the announcement and Kacho.

The wording of the announcement is a bit off. “Grave” seems to fit, but “emergency” and “stop what you’re doing”?

Personally, I think this announcement concerns something we have yet to see.

THE MISSING CURSE

In Melody’s scenes, Fugetsu’s condition is revealed to be quickly declining.

We know Fugetsu was “fine” on day 8. According to Melody, a few days have passed since then. This places Melody’s scenes on day 11 at the earliest.

A popular theory about Fugetsu’s decline is that she has been cursed by one of Camilla’s guards. However, that doesn’t quite fit with what we know.

In 389. Curse, we learn that Camilla’s guards can unleash a fatal curse on their targets. Fugetsu’s condition certainly matches the curse’s description.

Fugetsu is even floated as a potential first target, but is ultimately rejected.

Sarahell wants to send out a curse as soon as possible to weed out a possible Nen exorcist (note the use of the phrase a few days). After learning that proximity to the target can make up for lost time, she decides to curse Woble herself.

In other words, Sarahell will attempt to curse Woble first. If Fugetsu is indeed cursed by one of Camilla’s guards, it’s another indicator that Melody’s scenes take place after Longhi’s water divination. 

It’s also interesting that Melody plans to contact Kurapika for help, when Kurapika may very well be facing the exact same problem!

Based on the mention of a “next banquet” in Tyson’s scene (as well as Melody’s behavior in this chapter), it would seem not much time has passed since day 9—probably not a week, which is when the second set of classes will begin. I suspect Sarahell will actually attend the class on day 11, rather than waiting for the next round, which would place Melody’s scenes on day 11 or 12.

Accepting the idea that significant time passes between day 10 and Melody’s scenes provides some interesting context to Zhang Lei offering Melody a coin. At this point in the story, he might actually know what it does!

CONCLUSION

I may be completely wrong about this. Maybe Sarahell does wait until the next round of classes. Maybe Fugetsu is cursed before Woble, or maybe Fugetsu wasn’t cursed at all. But even if I am wrong, these are my main points:

There are significant backward time jumps in Chapter 400. In the final scene for sure, and possibly after the end of the Troupe plotline. 

If Fugetsu has been cursed by one of Camilla’s guards, there are some unanswered questions. We haven’t seen Sarahell’s attempt on Woble, and we haven’t been offered an explanation for Fugetsu being cursed before it.

I want to end by saying I don’t think this is meant to be confusing. It’s just difficult to remember context from previous chapters when they were released so long ago. In my opinion, even a week is too long to expect a reader to remember such details. It also doesn’t help that we don’t have the following chapters, which would probably make all of this clear.

I sincerely hope Hunter x Hunter returns, and when it does, I hope it’s in the form of bi-monthly, longer chapters (or something similar). I think the current story lends itself much better to that kind of format.

It should come as no surprise that Sarasa is missing at the beginning of this chapter, considering where we left off. There are a couple things I want to point out early on.

Sheila mentions that Franklin and Nobunaga always turn up late to the performances. In other words, they’re not as dedicated to the performance aspect of the Troupe. They probably only stick around because the “sense of brotherhood” appeals to them. This is consistent with their characterization. Franklin often plays the role of the “gentle giant”, keeping a level head and mediating conflicts within the troupe (I’ve brought this up in previous posts, and I’m serious about it. He might be introduced as a hot-head, but almost every other interaction has him acting as a mediator or “gel” for the group). Nobunaga is perhaps the most sentimental Troupe member and greatly values his relationships.

This has interesting implications when you consider the broader story. As we learn later in the chapter, much of the Troupe’s villainy is an act they put on to protect Meteor City (at least, that was the original plan). However, Franklin and Nobunaga may not be especially devoted to playing that role. I have no idea what Togashi is planning, but I think it’s possible there is a schism forming within the Troupe, especially between Chrollo and Franklin/Nobunaga. Nobunaga’s words leading into the flashback suggest a changing viewpoint, and I see Franklin’s “strategy” for finding Hisoka as a direct repudiation of Chrollo.

“If there’s no gauntlet, we won’t pick it up.” - FRANKLIN BORDEAU, CHAPTER 379

Moving on, Sheila offers to help Chrollo search for Sarasa because she knows Sarasa’s nannies.

The bond between Sheila and Sarasa is something I brought up in my post titled Chasing Shadows. While I’m still unsure of Sheila’s intentions, I’m positive her relationship with Sarasa is important. She is closer to her than any other members of the Troupe.

Unfortunately, Sarasa’s nannies haven’t seen her. The Troupe is unsure what to do and turns to Chrollo for guidance.

This is yet another example of that Specialist charisma Chrollo and Kurapika share. This flashback comes amidst various characters looking to Kurapika for guidance in the Succession War.

Chrollo postpones the performance and announces to the children of Meteor City that Sarasa is missing. It’s clear that he feels a lot of guilt over her disappearance.

“As you know, child abductions have been increasing. And yet despite knowing how dire the situation is, I let her go home alone without considering counter-measures. I take full responsibility.”

– CHROLLO LUCILFER, CHAPTER 397

Not unlike Kurapika, Chrollo blames himself for the tragedy around him. The parallels just keep adding up.

The search for Sarasa is largely unsuccessful—that is, until Chrollo finds her locket at the entrance to a dark, foreboding forest. Entering the forest, the Troupe finds a note pinned to a tree, with a bag hanging overhead. Chrollo, probably out of self-flagellating guilt, offers to look inside the bag. It is revealed to contain the decapitated head of Sarasa. Note: the Kurta were also decapitated. The decapitation of Sarasa is probably a direct parallel to the decapitation of Pairo. Themes of dismemberment are also present in the Succession Arc through Tserriednich’s “art” and the Hei-Ly’s meat processing unit.

Chrollo and Uvogin argue with each other over the contents of the pinned note. I don’t have much to say about the note other than that the contents will absolutely be revealed at some point. You don’t introduce a mystery like that and keep it unsolved.

The Troupe return Sarasa’s remains to Meteor City where she is embalmed by the mysterious Renko. She is buried with the Clean-up Rangers DVD, which may be a Chekov’s gun (or not).

Machi also has some dialogue with Renko, who will probably go on to teach her Nen.

Machi has always had something of a sixth sense; it came up several times in the Yorknew City arc, and this conversation is doubling down on that aspect of her character.

After the funeral, Chrollo unveils his plan for avenging Sarasa and protecting Meteor City. It’s a plan that involves… predicting the internet.

Chrollo believes the dismemberment of Sarasa was recorded and that it will ultimately be shared on the newly developing “dark web”.

He wants to capitalize on the emergence of the dark web, making Meteor City a safe haven for criminals in the hopes of luring Sarasa’s killers there. His comments about the dark web have some pretty interesting implications. As we learn from Mizaistom, Tserriednich’s ownership of the eyes (and, potentially Pairo’s head!) was also confirmed by a video on the dark web.

From Chapter 343.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the pre-coup Hei-Ly had a hand in both the Kurta massacre and Sarasa’s murder.

While Chrollo is dictating his plan, Sheila wanders off looking dejected.

Notably, she leaves before Chrollo mentions “killing a lot of people”, so that isn’t what put her off. The way I see it, she disagreed with the need to avenge Sarasa at all (suggesting she is actually “good”), or she disagreed with the need to wait three years (more evil interpretation). I lean toward the former because her departure is immediately followed by Chrollo’s admission that Sarasa would disapprove of his plan.

As I mentioned earlier, Sheila was closer to Sarasa than the other Troupe members, so it follows that she would disagree with Chrollo’s plan on the same grounds.

In fact, Chrollo’s contradiction of Sarasa’s values represents the biggest similarity between him and Kurapika. Replace Sarasa with Pairo and the parallels become crystal clear. Both Kurapika and Chrollo are motivated primarily by guilt. Rather than focusing on future life, they have become obsessed with the past and death. I wrote about this idea in my post titled Kurapika’s Fate. It’s also evident in Chrollo’s conversation with Neon.

If nothing else, this flashback teaches us that Kurapika and Chrollo are two sides of the same coin.

Finally, this chapter ends off by reintroducing the idea that the Troupe are only “playing” the villains. It’s part of Chrollo’s plan to garner a fearsome reputation—one that will ward away lesser criminals and protect Meteor City. Whether this is a good plan (or whether it just led to them becoming actual villains) is up for debate.

Regardless, it seems at least possible to me that the Troupe claimed credit for the Kurta massacre but were not actually responsible. I wrote more about this idea here. This flashback was clearly meant to humanize the Troupe, but not necessarily exonerate them.

Chapter 396 begins as Chrollo's dub of “Clean-up Rangers” is about to be premiered. The first thing I want to highlight is the quick characterization of Sarasa.

Sarasa is someone who solves problems with empathy rather than violence. She sees the good in everyone. This aspect of her personality will shine through later in this chapter.

We also learn that Phinks is a “softie”. This isn’t completely new information; we got a sense of it at the end of the Yorknew City arc. 

In my analysis of Chapter 395, I made similar conclusions about Nobunaga and Franklin, who seem to be the most “emotionally aware” members of the Troupe. This is not to say that they are empathetic characters, only that they have a thorough understanding of their own emotions (which sometimes translates to understanding the emotions of others). Phinks, on the other hand, buries his emotions and needs Sarasa to draw them out.

A perfect example of this distinction is in the previous chapter, 395, when Nobunaga and Phinks debate the Hei-Ly's plan. Nobunaga considers the emotions of the Hei-Ly while Phinks doesn’t.

The Phantom Troupe has no information regarding Contagion at this point. Nobunaga's conclusion is based largely on emotion.

Again, Phinks has a very cold, logical approach to the situation, while Nobunaga is more sentimental. There is value in both ways of thinking.

Returning to Chapter 396, the dub of “Clean-up Rangers” begins with the future Troupe members watching from the crowd. Chrollo is revealed to be a highly talented actor. This, combined with the scene involving Hisoka in the Black Whale cineplex, may support the theory that Chrollo is disguised as Hisoka (an idea I floated in my breakdown of Chapter 393).

Due to an equipment malfunction (run-of-the-mill for Meteor City), the audio from the dub cuts out. Chrollo, to the astonishment of many, steps up and begins a live voiceover. His talent for acting is further emphasized by how easily he slips into each character.

In general, theater is a major focus of this chapter. After seeing this flashback, it seems plausible that Chrollo could assume a different persona or that the Troupe could be “acting” as villains. (More on this later.)

We also get additional context on Chrollo and Pakunoda’s relationship. This flashback adds a lot of substance to Paku’s actions in the Yorknew City arc.

Pakunoda and Uvogin get a lot of screen time in this flashback, which is interesting considering, they’re... well... dead. Speaking of Uvo, Chrollo runs into him after the premiere.

In what is probably the climax of the chapter, Sarasa “dubs” Uvo, completely disarming him. She did the same thing with Phinks at the beginning of the chapter, only this time the stakes were much higher.

Turns out Uvo was impressed by Chrollo’s performance. He wants to “play the monster” next time. The rest of the crew jumps in, and soon enough, the Troupe has been formed.

There are a few things to point out in the section. The first is Machi’s reluctance to join (or at least, “play a role”).

Look at Franklin making sure everyone is included. Gentle giant behavior. 

Machi is somewhat of an oddball amongst the Troupe. She has a strange sixth sense and a unique relationship with Hisoka. I think she’s being intentionally set apart from her colleagues for a future plotline.

In the next chapter, I’ll draw similar conclusions about Nobunaga and Franklin. Certain characters seemed less interested in the acting component of the Troupe and more interested in the “sense of brotherhood”. From these differences, we can learn a lot about their loyalty to Chrollo and his plans. I’ll talk more about this in my breakdown of Chapter 397. 

The idea that the Troupe may be “acting” as villains is absolutely planted in this flashback, whether or not it is true. So far, the Troupe has shown little sign of the ruthless, bloodthirsty personalities they assumed in Yorknew City. While it’s clear something is going to happen in this flashback to send them on a downward spiral (and they may very well have become the monsters they were pretending to be) their portrayal is inconsistent with the Troupe we know. 

Consequently, when I first read this chapter, I began to consider the possibility that the Troupe was not responsible for the Kurta massacre. My thinking was really catalyzed by Uvo’s behavior: 

Uvo is extremely dedicated to the acting component of the Troupe. Not to mention, he expresses a strong desire to “play the villain.” It just so happens that Uvo is the only Troupe member who has attested to involvement in the Kurta massacre, and even then it was a vague, half-admission. Could it all have been an act? 

It’s a bit difficult to explain this idea without spoiling the next chapter, but I did write a long-form post about it here. 

In that post, I made the argument that Sheila is actually a good-aligned character, despite her portrayal in Kurapika’s Memories. However, I do want to point out some evidence to the contrary.

While talking about the next performance, Franklin reveals that Sheila’s character has a twin, evil counterpart. This seems to suggest Sheila is a “twist villain”. At the same time, it could mean the opposite: that Sheila’s almost-too-obvious deception in Kurapika’s backstory is a red-herring. What I do know is Togashi included this line from Franklin for a reason. We’ll learn more about Sheila in the next chapter.

Chapter 395 begins with Hinrigh checking his cat-cam for clues about the Hei-Ly hideout. It was established back in Chapter 391 that there is only one hallway leading in and out of the standard cabins on Tier 3. However, Hinrigh sees Perigord and Bille re-entering the hallway without ever having exited.

As it stands, the Hei-Ly seem to be using a combination of Nen abilities and secret passages to connect their labyrinthian hideout.

Recent chapters have included intervening images of mysterious, dark corridors. This gives the unsettling impression that the Hei-Ly are crawling around in the walls.

Example from Chapter 394.

Hinrigh reports his findings back to Ken’i and Tserriednich’s guards. To be honest, I was a bit surprised to find the guards already working alongside the mafia. I actually think this is a case where things may have progressed too fast, and some important conversations were glossed over.

How generous...

Hinrigh and Ken’i agree to go after Perigord and Bille, while the Troupe investigates room 3101.

The Troupe demonstrates their understanding of Nen by entering the adjacent room first, then cutting a hole in the bathroom wall. They know a Nen boundary exists somewhere, so they make sure a civilian travels in front of them—that way, he will trigger 3101’s trap first.

Turns out the Hei-Ly really are living in the walls, which is pretty funny. It’s yet another horror-inspired choice that adds to the disturbing, claustrophobic atmosphere of this arc.

This leads into my favorite part of the chapter: the introduction of the Meteor City flashback.

Nobunaga suggests Morena used Luini as a sacrifice to keep the other Hei-Ly members on their toes. Losing one of their own would have a big impact on them, not unlike the Troupe. The lamp he picks up resembles a memorial lantern, and as he stares into its light, the electric buzzing of the lamp gets louder, and the light gets brighter, until suddenly we’re transported into the past with a full spread of Meteor City.

I can’t put into words how awesome this sequence is. There’s so much motion in these panels, and the way Nobunaga trails off… just awesome.

There are a couple things to note about the beginning of this flashback. One is the direct callback to Chapter 102.

There’s also got a callback to Chapter 357 that’s pretty messed up.

Togashi you absolute VILLAIN.

I also want to explain why Franklin is one of my favorite Spiders (since I may be the only person who holds this opinion).

He doesn’t wear it on his sleeve, but I consider Franklin an example of the ‘gentle giant’ archetype. While he may look like a brute, he’s actually very wise. He and Nobunaga are the most empathetic of the Troupe, and if anyone were to contradict Chrollo (who seems to be on a downward spiral as of late), I think it would be one of them.

Young Chrollo, with the aid of Franklin and Shalnark, pilfers a DVD from Uvogin’s (and Machi’s) self-proclaimed domain. After tricking Phinks (and Feitan), he takes the DVD to the All Faiths Church screening room.

As the focus of the flashback shifts to Chrollo, it becomes very obvious that Togashi wants us to compare him to Kurapika. Both are cheerful, intelligent, and optimistic children, whose lives were drastically changed by some traumatic event. They are charismatic, yet independent, harkenning to their Specialist Nen types. And they both live in communities led by elders who attempt to protect their people from the outside world.

I’ll try to point out these parallels as they appear, like this one:

We also learn that Meteor City was a long-standing target of human trafficking. In an effort to protect its youth, the city descended into evil itself, forming partnerships with the world’s mafia.

This context seems extremely important given the role of the mafia in the Succession Arc. It also has major implications regarding Kurapika’s backstory, given that the “Law of Retribution” was left behind at the site of the Kurta Massacre.

Chrollo runs into young Pakunoda in the screening room, and I have to say: I absolutely love her design.

I would be hard-pressed to find another manga character that looks like this, especially one with Paku’s depth and charm. Togashi’s character design is through the roof in this arc, and it continues to improve.

Another thing to note is Pakunoda’s clothes. All of the Troupe’s outfits in this flashback are somewhat mish-mashed. Uvo’s clothes are too small, and Feitan’s tank is too big. Phinks is basically wearing a quilt. It’s exactly what you’d expect from the setting, and it shows Togashi’s attention to detail.

Somehow, Paku manages to make the tacky shirt and knee-length shorts work.

Chrollo and Pakunoda’s relationship is further expanded on as they watch the DVD together. They find that the DVD is for a popular program called “Clean-up Rangers”.

A possible Chekov’s gun?

The DVD is in a different language, so Chrollo comes up with a plan to dub the footage. He’ll need some help, and not just from Paku. Enter Sheila and Sarasa:

Sheila’s role in the Troupe’s backstory comes as an unexpected surprise. She played a significant part in Kurapika’s Memories by providing Kurapika with the book she’s holding here. During her encounter with Kurapika, she (allegedly) falls several times, reinjuring her leg. Initially, this seemed like highly suspicious behavior. While it’s still pretty suspicious, it turns out Sheila had a reputation for injuring herself this way (see above image, on the left).

She still has the cast and everything!

This might mean Sheila isn’t as deceitful as we thought, or it may just be a neat callback. Regardless, Sheila is a character we should pay special attention to in this flashback. It’s important that she is introduced alongside Sarasa, assigning significance to their relationship.

The three girls reconvene with Chrollo and prepare for the dub.

Sarasa is quickly characterized as an upbeat, friendly character. More emphasis is placed on Chrollo’s potential.

Next, we see a nondescript van with three children inside. The men nearby appear to be mafia members, and as the chapter comes to a close, we get the sense things are about to take a sinister turn.

Asking the Question

As I touched on in my analysis of Chapter 393, it’s a common writing tactic to have characters ask questions the readers should be asking themselves. Togashi employs this strategy frequently. On the Black Whale, Hisoka has been asked three times about his identity, but he has never definitively answered.

In a similar vein, the Troupe has been asked twice about whether they were responsible for the Kurta clan massacre.

Chapter 81:

Chapter 116:

In both cases, the Troupe gave a non-response. In fact, it’s Kurapika who repeatedly assigns blame to the Troupe, and he’s not exactly the most reliable source.

Uvogin does claim to remember something resembling the Kurta massacre, but it’s possible this was an act.

He refers to the event in only vague terms, using the knowledge that Kurapika has already provided him. As for the details he does provide, they are dubious at best. Uvo claims the Kurta were "pretty powerful", and while that may be true, it doesn't really add up. He also says Chrollo took “quite a liking” to the Scarlet Eyes which is just... weird. It suggests a shallow, materialist view that Chrollo has never expressed.

In Chapters 397, it’s revealed that the Troupe planned to garner a nasty reputation in order to protect Meteor City. 

This is all wrapped up in an allegory about acting. The Troupe want to “play the role of villains”, especially Uvogin.

It’s even in the name: Phantom Troupe. As in not real, fake, an illusion. I’m not saying the Troupe are completely free of wrongdoing, but it would have been in their interest to claim credit for the massacre (even if they didn’t actually do it).

On that note, it’s very possible Uvo was fibbing to Kurapika during their fight—playing the villain to antagonize him.

Sheila ‘the Good’

At first glance, Kurapika’s backstory chapters seem to unmistakably peg the Phantom Troupe as the culprit. Sheila’s actions are especially suspicious, as she seems to reinjure herself several times, suggesting she is faking her injury.

Not to mention, at the end of the chapter, the traveler who discovers the massacre is said to be a woman. 

All of this is meant to lead the reader to the conclusion that the Phantom Troupe committed the atrocity with the help of Sheila.

However, Chapters 395-397 paint a very different picture of Sheila. We learn that Sheila actually has a tendency to injure herself while walking, and this could very well explain her behavior in Kurapika’s Memories.

Her right leg is perennially in a cast because she keeps re-injuring it.

We also learn that Sheila was the closest to the Sarasa, whose death catalyzed the Troupe’s descent into villainy.

Sheila says, ‘we’re a package.’ Then she trips again.

Hyping up her friend.

Sheila is the first to offer Chrollo help in searching for Sarasa, and she is close enough to be acquainted with her nannies.

After Sarasa’s death, Chrollo plans to play the villain, enacting revenge on her killers and protecting Meteor City. Sheila disapproves of Chrollo’s plan, and she leaves Meteor City with a dejected expression.

Chrollo himself admits that Sarasa would not condone their plan, and it’s likely that, given how close they were, Sheila objects for the same reasons.

Replace Sarasa with Pairo here. Kurapika and Chrollo are very similar...

In general, flashback Sheila is shown to be a very kind, sympathetic character. It’s possible she gave D Hunter to Kurapika and Pairo out of generosity, which is impressive considering her attachment to the book and her lack of personal belongings.

The official translation for the top-right panel “I don’t really have much. In return, let’s see...”

The Manner of the Massacre

Whether or not Sheila was involved, there is still a major piece of evidence connecting the Troupe to the massacre. The second half of the Law of Retribution, a saying associated with Meteor City, is left behind at the scene. However, if we look at the manner of the massacre, it more closely resembles the work of the mafia. Consider the similarities between the genocide of the Kurta and the murder of Sarasa.

Decapitation, mutilation, a note left at the crime scene.

Decapitation, mutilation, a note left at the crime scene.

Additionally, Chrollo describes Sarasa’s murder as a “show” put on by the perpetrators.

When you think about it, this is very similar to how the Kurta massacre is described, not to mention Pairo’s beheading paralleling Sarasa’s.

Was the Kurta massacre a “show” as well? It’s possible the mafia’s intention was to frame the Troupe, but the message may also have been left behind as a statement. It’s not out of character for the mafia to respond to transgressions in this way. 

The Troupe can “take away” Meteor City as a source for trafficking, but Sarasa’s killers can simply take their dealings elsewhere. It’s a twisted interpretation of the Law of Retribution—taking it and spitting it back at the Troupe.

A Synthesis of the Arts

Whoever orchestrated the Kurta massacre wanted the Scarlet Eyes and decided to behead the villagers. While the Scarlet Eyes would be valuable to anyone involved in the Black Market, the showmanship of the massacre and the use of decapitation fits more closely with a certain Kakin prince.

The theory that Tserriednich has Pairo’s head begins to make a lot of sense. He didn’t buy it on the black market... he’s the original owner! It also explains why he has the Scarlet Eyes. He owns quite a few of them but may have sold the others.

I believe the mafia group responsible for Sarasa’s death and the murder of the Kurta, in this case, is the Hei-Ly. Not Morena’s Hei-Ly, but the Hei-Ly she overthrew prior to boarding the Black Whale. Everything surrounding Sarasa’s murder and the Kurta massacre fits Tserriednich’s profile. 

In Chapter 397, Chrollo concludes that Sarasa’s killers recorded her death and will disperse them on the newly developing dark web.

In Chapter 343, we learn that Tserriednich was identified as the eyes’ owner because he posted a video of them on the dark web.

It especially makes sense that Tserriednich would be interested in putting the disembodied Kurta on display, given his nature.

Finally, Tserriednich’s tattoo artist, a former Hei-Ly member, is complicit in Tserriednich’s hobby.

If the pre-coup Hei-Ly was responsible for both incidents, it adds an interesting layer to the conflict on the lower decks of the Black Whale and the conflict between Kurapika and Chrollo.

Note: In Yorknew, Feitan and Paku are very vague about it, but at least seem aware the massacre occured. Chrollo reasons Kurapika has come for the eyes and revenge, presumably against the Troupe. Chrollo's reasoning definitely makes it seem like they are at least aware they could be perceived as responsible.

<source>

Interestingly enough, this chapter has the same English title as Chapter 386, but the Japanese titles are different. Chapter 386 is entitled “Kasetsu”, while Chapter 394 is entitled “Sōtei”. I feel like there are other words the translators could have used, but we’ll see if anything changes in the volume version.

Early on in the chapter, we receive confirmation of Hinrigh’s suspicions about room 3101. The door, like that of room 1013, is a Nen boundary which transports those who cross it to another location.

The old man is a follower of Morena’s who we’ll come to learn is named Gateaume. However, the Gateaume that Hinrigh and Ken’i see is only a projection.

Gateaume’s projection parallels Hanzo’s clone.

Afterward, we’re once again reminded of the information disjoint that exists between the Xi-Yu and Cha-R.

Previously, Ken’i had to do some detective work to uncover Hinrigh’s deal with Corporal Maizan. He wasn’t completely informed about the preceding battle either. In this scene, Hinrigh only just finds out about Luini. It’s important to remember that the Xi-Yu and Cha-R are, in fact, two separate organizations, even if they are working toward a shared goal. They don’t have access to the same information—at least, not immediately. I wonder if that will come back to bite them.

Ken’i goes on to display confidence in the Troupe to deal with Voconte’s trap, while Hinrigh decides to follow his own leads. What comes next is a massive unveiling of characters, after which every one of Morena’s followers is named (with the exception of the girl from 390).

Who the hell am I?

There are a few important things we learn from this section. Firstly, the Hei-Ly have been using a Tier 1 butler to spy on Tserriednich. As some have already pointed out, this butler’s remains can be seen in Chapter 384, decorating the floor of Tserriednich’s chambers.

Secondly, we learn that Morena’s ability can track the people it infects, as Quorolle hypothesized in Chapter 391.

This probably means she can distribute points individually. The most interesting discovery, however, is that Morena wants to infect one of Tserriednich’s private guards. Morena’s ability can infect at most 23 people (including herself). There are 23 people infected when the Black Whale sets off.

This chapter seems to imply that, if one of the infected dies, she can infect another in their place. Otherwise, one of her followers (most likely Dogman) will need to reach level 100 in order to spread the infection.

If Dogman reaches level 50, killing a prince (Tserriednich?) will put him over 100. There may also be a different scheme at play here.

Lastly, we learn that Morena has a labyrinthian hideout.

I don’t think it’s worth trying to find out how Morena’s hideout is connected since it will probably be clarified in future chapters. Hinrigh seems to be on the case.

Detective mode engaged.

The second half of this chapter introduces us to some of Tserriednich’s private guards as they search for Morena.

After searching the official hideout and finding nothing but a dead Cha-R member, Corporal Gipper discusses the legality of the mafia conflict. As long as no civilians are killed, Kakin institutions will sweep murders under the rug.

However, the Hunter Association may not make such a distinction. Additionally, because the Hei-Ly are registered as civilians, the mafia have to be incredibly careful with how they cover up the conflict. The Xi-Yu have Misha to help them dispose of bodies, but sooner rather than later, word will break out. Tserriednich’s guards believe this will result in a “purge” of the mafia.

However, the mafia is ultimately a creation of the government. Its leaders are victims of a cruel ritual, and they aren’t the only victims aboard the Black Whale.

The guards decide to make transfer requests in steady intervals so they can determine when this purge will take place. Gipper will be the first to go to Tier 1.

A few other things happen in this section. Otocin successfully asks for Borksen, a member of Tserriednich’s security detail, to be transferred to Tier 3. He believes Borksen will have important intel, especially on Nen.

We also gain some insight into Tserriednich as a person. He comes off as someone who is incredibly insecure and can’t stand being inferior in any way. His confidence may very well be an effort to convince himself of his own adequacy.

His guards seem to understand this and question whether his current path is really what he wants. I’m getting shades of Kurapika here.

Time passes. Gipper has been transferred to Tier 1, and Borksen has been transferred to Tier 3. Without Gipper around, the guards are free to do as they please.

In all honesty, this is a logical response to the possibility of Morena possessing Nen. However, Tserriednich’s guards don’t know who Morena’s followers are. Morena, on the other hand, knows the identity of Tserriednich’s guards.

A reference to Chapter 348.

So, Borksen plans to establish a cooperative system with the Xi-Yu and Cha-R. I wonder what the mafia will think of their fake search, or if they will even find out.

393 starts off with a bang. I didn’t expect Luini to die so quickly, but I had a feeling his power would play some part in his death, resulting in him being severed in half or trapped. Such a death would be consistent with the horror atmosphere of the Succession Arc. Lo and behold, Luini did indeed suffer a gruesome fate.

Interestingly, the Troupe—at least, Nobunaga, Phinks, and Feitan—seem to defer their search for the treasure in favor of crushing the Hei-ly. Looks like they’re going to leave the hideout too, which should be beneficial for Ken’i.

Next, we get a look into Morena’s followers, including a series of character introductions. We don’t get quite as much for these characters as we did for the trio in 391, but this is still a masterclass in writing. Creating a cast of characters this wide and this unique (in such a short amount of time) is not easy and is, in my opinion, further proof of the Hunter x Hunter’s quality.

We also learn a bit more about Morena’s ability. At first, I thought Contagion allowed for Nen users to gain an additional ability, but it seems infected followers can only learn abilities from their Nen category. It’s sort of like a Nen teaching ability that awakens a person’s aura nodes when they reach level 21. If this is the case, the situation of Morena’s followers closely mirrors that of Kurapika in Tier 1. Several people suspect Kurapika of having a Nen ability specifically designed around teaching Nen.

Without Luini, Morena’s followers are left scrambling for much-needed levels. Voconte, one of Morena’s followers, offers to use his ability as a trap (this will come up again at the end of the chapter). Soon after, Tevelares and Quorolle return from the fight against Hinrigh and warn about the Xi-Yu underboss’s ability.

Gelato joins them as they ask Morena herself for guidance. Morena seems to be very knowledgeable in Nen.

The scene changes, and we’re reunited with Lynch and Zakuro, who have awoken after being knocked out by Hisoka. Apparently, Hisoka told Zakuro he was “going to see a movie”. Along with Hinrigh, the duo head to the cineplex, where they ultimately decide to break off and search for Chrollo (more on this later).

The conversation between Hisoka and Hinrigh is awesome. However, instead of discussing the details of the conversation, I’m going to address the elephant in the room. In my last breakdown, I raised the possibility that the Hisoka in Chapter 392 was not actually Hisoka. I was kind of testing the waters there, since I know a lot of people really want to see one of their favorite characters return. After 393, I can no longer afford to be noncommittal. This is almost certainly not Hisoka.

There are already some theories being tossed around about this, but I want to focus on the more tangible reasons Hisoka is a fake. The first is one I alluded to in my previous breakdown: Lynch’s question never went through. In fact, fake Hisoka has been asked three times about his identity and has never answered!

It’s a classic writing tactic to have characters ask questions the readers should be asking themselves. “Is this really Hisoka?” is absolutely a question Togashi wanted us to be asking.

Secondly, there’s a very telling reference in this chapter that I missed on my first read.

The banner in this panel is a reference to The Thing (1982). 

If you haven’t seen this movie, I highly recommend it, even if you aren’t a horror fan. It’s a fantastic film, but more importantly, it’s centered around a hostile alien with the ability to mimic human speech and form.

The fact that Togashi chose to include this reference here of all places is enough to convince me Hisoka is a fake. I think Chrollo is a very interesting candidate for the imposter, and I’ve seen many posts that detailing possible pieces of evidence. But it’s also important to think about what comes after such a reveal.

Zakuro and Lynch were so scared by Hisoka (Chrollo) that they decided to look for Chrollo instead. This is downright hilarious to me and not out of character for Togashi. Chrollo heading to Tier 1 also has major implications; he may run into Kurapika or Hisoka there, before the rest of the Troupe. Finally, masquerading as Hisoka can (and perhaps already did) give him inside information regarding the Xi-Yu’s plans. The mafia families are secretly planning to eliminate the Phantom Troupe to preserve balance. However, they would potentially share that plan with Hisoka.

The information warfare occuring aboard the Black Whale, coupled with multiple fake-out deaths, causes us to doubt almost everything presented to us. As Kurapika says, “with Nen, what you see is not necessarily the truth” (something that’s rehashed in the Theta-Tserriednich plot). It’s that persistent doubt that contributes to the horror atmosphere of the Succession Arc.

After the conversation between Hinrigh and Hisoka, we join Ken’i as he speaks to Corporal Maizan (the corrupt guard from 392). Ken’i quickly deduces the arrangement between Maizan and Hinrigh and offers to make the payment himself. He also emphasizes Morena’s status as a “second-liner” or “faker”, who should normally be loyal to the crown (as Onior and Brocco supposedly are), but has gone “rogue”.

Legality—or rather, approval from the crown—seems to be important here.

Not sure if I’ve discussed this before, but one of Togashi’s greatest artistic strengths is his facial expressions. You can probably remember some panels that exemplify this, but one of my favorite examples is the one of Oito here:

Togashi’s facial expressions have so much nuance he can convey complex emotions with undeniable clarity, or make your skin crawl with a smile. I think he knows this and is showing off with Ken’i.

Ken’i, Hinrigh, and Maizan head to the alleged location of Morena’s hideout, room 3101. The room is among the first-class cabins, and we’re reminded of the class divide on the ship. It’s also part of Voconte’s trap ability that was hinted at earlier in the chapter. One of Morena’s followers, an elderly man, is in the room (humorously repeating the phrase “anyway, I didn’t do anything wrong so please come in”).

Chapter 392 is entitled “Information”. Turns out, the “Clash” sequence of chapters didn’t run that long. It seems they were centered around the initial conflict between the Xi-Yu and Hei-Ly, while 392 shifts to broader strokes. I still get the sense that everything is building up to a major chaotic outbreak between the mafia families.

On the first page, similar to “Clash: Part 2”, emphasis is placed on the panic brewing belowdecks. I probably sound like a broken record here, but this all relates back to Mizaistom’s speech in Chapter 380.

Amidst the confusion, a guard approaches Hinrigh and offers him information on Morena’s hideout. This is likely the information referred to in the title. The guard in question is extremely suspicious, and not just because of his appearance. He uses knowledge of the Xi-Yu hideout as leverage.

He also accepts Hinrigh’s request that he personally escort him to Morena’s hideout.

Why would this self-serving guard offer to take part in the police raid? I’m not sure if he’s working for Morena, but his actions certainly don’t add up.

After this conversation, we learn the identity of the mysterious “Misha”, who was name-dropped at the end of 391. She is, in fact, a member of the Xi-Yu. Less expectedly, she is dead, and we get to see yet another instance of post-mortem Nen.

Post-mortem Nen has become extremely common since the Dark Continent Expedition Arc—a trend I’ve discussed in many of my posts.

From here, we jump once again to Zakuro and Lynch. We get to see their search strategy at work as Lynch knocks the wind out of some poor guy. Soon after, they make a fortunate (or unfortunate) discovery.

It’s Hisoka! All those theories about him being other people and he ended up being hidden in plain sight. I do want to acknowledge the possibility this is Illumi or maybe even a Troupe member in disguise.

Lynch’s question never actually goes through, which should at least make us question whether this guy is really Hisoka.

For now, however, I’m going to assume it’s actually Hisoka, since anything else would require considerable mental gymnastics.

Lynch is knocked out, and we’re left not knowing if Hisoka will cooperate with the Xi-Yu and listen to Zakuro. I suspect he will, since the Cha-R underboss, Ken’i Wang, remarks on Hisoka’s tendency to “put himself in unfavorable situations” almost immediately after.

From here, we cut to Tsudonke, the Cha-R’s supervisor, in conversation with a shopkeeper. There are a few takeaways from this conversation. For one, there isn’t perfect communication between the Xi-Yu and Cha-R. This shouldn’t come as a surprise if you’ve been following how they operate. The Cha-R isn’t really sure what exactly happened in Chapter 391, and I doubt that information would be readily shared by the Xi-Yu.

Next, the shopkeeper makes a comment that is eerily relevant to Hinrigh’s action’s at the beginning of the chapter.

It seems like Hinrigh might not be making the best bet.

The shopkeeper goes on to explain the predatory nature of her business, further reinforcing the idea that the lowest tiers of the boat have it the worst. They’re being heavily exploited by the Kakin royalty and merchant class. The class divide is a major theme of this arc with major implications regarding the Phantom Troupe.

Maybe this discussion about addictive substances could tie into Luzurus and Basho's?

The last takeaway in this conversation is a motivation for Tsudonke. He wants an autograph board, but perhaps more importantly, he wants an item only available through a high-class delivery system.

It seems important that we learn about this system, not just with regards to Tsudonke’s quest. Kacho and Fugetsu’s failed escape attempt can make it feel as though the ship is closed off from the outside world. That isn’t the case, however; it’s only the princes who are trapped. This allows for the retrieval of Kacho’s body. So, if somebody wanted to return to the mainland (such as a Zodiac or high-ranking official), I’m certain they could.

Next, we get a glimpse into the thoughts of the Cha-R underboss, Ken’i. As previously mentioned, he notes Hisoka’s tendency to put himself in unfavorable situations, then commends the Phantom Troup’s decision to stay at the Cha-R hideout instead of splitting up.

Hisoka, he claims, is the key to this whole situation and will enable the mafia families to destroy the Hei-Ly and the Spider, maintaining balance.

I’m not sure how Ken’i plans to negotiate with Hisoka, but the alliance between the Xi-Yu and Cha-R is sketchy at best. I expect things to go downhill very quickly.

In the last scene of the Chapter, we get to see Phinks, Nobunaga, and Feitan completing their rotation at the Cha-R hideout. Funnily enough, they’re discussing the exact thing Ken’i was commending them for not doing.

I don’t have much to offer in the way of analysis here other than I absolutely love how Luini is portrayed.

He trolls the hell out of the Troupe, then follows it up with a panel that is pure horror fuel.

Chapter #391 is called “Clash: Part 2”, an unsurprising title considering the last chapter (released what seems like forever ago) was “Clash: Part 1”. I can only guess how long this Clash sequence will run. The series is no stranger to “part” chapter titles, which can be seen here. However, I would not be surprised if this sequence culminates in a major, all-out battle between the mafia families.

Clash: Part 2 kicks off with residents of Tier 3 reacting to the two soldier deaths caused by Hinrigh’s ability. It seems that, in accordance with Mizaistom’s speech in Chapter 380, the seeds of panic are already being sown, and the unrestrained behavior of mafia underlings is going to cause chaos on the lower decks.

One of the civilians calls for a doctor… Leorio?

For now, it seems that Lynch and Zakuro will be looking for Hisoka, while Hinrigh looks for Morena, using the yet-unnamed black-haired woman as a lead. This is all in line with Onior’s instructions from the previous chapter.

“While you look for Hisoka on Tier 3, kill Morena Prudo, the Hei-Ly boss!”   – ONIOR LONGBAO, CHAPTER 390

We get some nice characterization for Zakuro and Lynch, as well as some expansion on Zakuro’s Nen ability. I do wonder if the time limit on Zakuro’s “blood scouts” means he will recall them early in order to conserve his own blood.

After this, we’re with Hinrigh for the rest of the chapter. He pays off a guard and does some nice detective work in order to figure out where the black-haired woman went. She entered a section of cabins that only has one entry point; as a result, it’s likely being watched by Morena’s followers. In response, Hinrigh decides to track who uses the entryway by means of a cat-cam.

I really hope this kitty isn’t in for a cruel fate.

Moving on, Hinrigh reiterates that the relationship between Tserriednich and Morena is not a good one. This is something that was brought up previously in Chapter 384. Tserriednich is almost completely focused on the Succession War and hasn’t been paying attention to Morena’s coup d’état. He even suggests making his own moves against Morena, and he may even have killed some of her followers after they used the Hei-Ly door.

Hinrigh goes on to make some peculiar statements about the Hei-Ly’s motivations.

The term “relegated to the shadows” was used previously to describe the role “second-liners”, illegitimate children of Kakin royalty who are scarred at birth. Hinrigh’s thoughts seems to be pointing toward a major class upheaval, with “what’s to come” being an attack on the Kakin monarchy. The curious part of this is both Onior and Brocco are also second-liners. Are they simply more loyal to the crown?

Next, we’re introduced to three new characters (yes, Togashi is still introducing new characters): Televares, Quorolle, and Padaille. In typical fashion, these characters are given distinct personalities right out of the gate, while also giving us some context on Morena’s ability.

It’s worth noting that this is not necessarily how Morena’s ability works, only how Quorolle believes (or perhaps, hopes) it does.

I don’t have much to add to the Padaille and Hinrigh fight. It’s another example of how creative Togashi is with abilities in this arc. We get to see how versatile Hinrigh’s ability really is. Padaille’s ability, albeit simple, adds an interesting dynamic to the fight, granting him a pyrrhic victory. Padaille’s death is pretty gruesome, but not distastefully so. It all adds to the drama and horror of the Succession Arc.

I’m also going to cheat a bit and use this write-up to touch on several ideas I have that don’t have enough substance (yet) to justify their own post.

SYMBOLS

Before I talk about water, I want to talk about food.

There are many objects that exemplify Togashi’s symbolism which are less of a reach than bottled water. I won’t go over all of them here, but I will go over a few. My hope is that, by drawing attention to these items, the symbolism I attribute to water bottles will seem more reasonable.

Food

Food is used to symbolize the class divide throughout the Succession Arc. The above image represents the most overt example. The Phantom Troupe (often associated with the lower class) eats along with the civilians on the lower decks—a prison tier meal. Meanwhile, Onior Longbao (despite also being associated with the underbelly of society) eats like a king. This symbolism occurs right before Onior gives his speech about the “haves” being separated from the “have-nots”.

Exotic Pets and Taxidermy

I won’t pretend to have any special knowledge about the symbolism of fish in Japan, but I wanted to include this example because it pertains to something I feel is often overlooked. This fish belongs to Brocco Li, head of the Cha-R family. Brocco Li is constantly surrounded by several exotic pets that he, contrary to what one might expect, seems to take very good care of.

Onior, on the other hand, has a room full of taxidermy and frequently eats meat.

This symbolism acts as an undercurrent for their schemes. It seems Onior and Brocco’s cordiality is actually a farce, and the two mafia bosses are constantly plotting each other’s downfall.

Barbed Wire and Chains

Kurapika’s association with chains is pretty clear, but there is a much more symbolic meaning to them, which Izunavi explains.

Kurapika’s chains are actually binding him. I wrote about this in my breakdown of Kurapika’s character. Kurapika’s insistence on retrieving the Scarlet Eyes is destroying him from the inside out.

In the Succession Arc, we see the introduction of a new symbol for Kurapika: barbed wire. It’s subtle, and it hasn’t turned up again, but it’s some pretty vivid imagery explaining Kurapika’s current state. You can hold on to barbed wire, but it’s gonna hurt. A lot.

Wilted Leaves

While explaining the political station of “second-liners” (and queens!), Togashi focuses on what appears to be wilted leaves. The symbolism of wilted leaves is pretty universal: they represent decay, aging, and loss of fertility. I believe this panel hints at a much deeper importance to Onior, Brocco, Morena, and the queens.

It also occurs after the following page:

I can’t discount the possibility the leaves are actually alluding to the previous leader of the Hei-Ly mafia, whose empty chambers are shown after Brocco’s, unused by Morena Prudo! These leaves could be wilting because there is no one to water them…

Paintings

A famous one. This panel references a real life painting by Spanish painter Francisco Goya, entitled “Saturn Devouring his Son”. There are lots of interpretations out there for why Togashi included this painting, many of which I consider valid.

This painting is based on “The Massacre of the Innocents” by Peter Paul Rubens. It is likely a reference to the Succession Contest.

THE WATER BOTTLES

Benjamin and Balsamilco

An entire panel, cutting into the conversation, dedicated to a water bottle.

Again, a panel dedicated to the water bottle cuts into the conversation. This is significant space.

After zooming out, we can see water bottles next to both Benjamin and Balsamilco.

Later on, Benjamin drinks again, as he discusses Halkenburg’s awakening with his second-in-command.

Zhang Lei and Oito

An entire sequence dedicated to the offering and acceptance of bottled water.

Both Zhang Lei and Oito drink the water.

Melody and the Investigator

The yet unnamed investigator offers Melody bottled water, but she doesn’t take it.

The investigator drinks the water himself.

Morena and the Hei-Ly

Morena sipping.

The Hei-Ly stake out with some water bottles.

POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANCE

Irony, foreshadowing the Black Whale’s destruction

“Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.” – SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

We are constantly re-shown images of the Black Whale sailing on the water. I could include all the examples here but it would be extremely long. Togashi is making sure to remind us, over and over, that the current story is taking place on a ship. If you’ve read my essay about the Black Whale’s destruction being planned, you’ll know I think the ship will eventually sink.

On that note, there is a commonly explored irony with people lost at sea being surrounded by water but unable to drink it. On the Black Whale, bottled water is being passed around as a courtesy, without a second thought. After the ship’s destruction, however, it will become a scarce resource.

Note that every time they appear, the water bottles are held by characters who are neglecting the consequences of their actions. Their focus is on the Succession War (or treasure), despite a greater threat looming on the horizon.

Commodification

In a similar vein, bottled water can represent the commodification of a resource that should be free and easily accessible. The Succession Arc is rife with themes of classism and indulgence. The princes have the privilege to squabble over the throne because they don’t have to worry about their daily needs.

It may be significant that Melody doesn’t accept the investigator’s water bottle. She is purely focused on saving as many innocents as possible and doesn’t allow herself to get caught up in the “game”.

A symbolic gesture of goodwill and trust (or, alternatively, betrayal)

The water bottles only appear in scenes involving two or more people. Oftentimes, the water is being offered or refused.

Anything, or nothing at all

Good symbolism is never explained; it is left up to the reader to interpret. Bottled water might mean nothing in the Succession Arc, but we can’t be sure. Only one thing is for certain: we should keep an eye out for any more bottles!

THE FOURTEENTH COFFIN

One of the most discussed mysteries of the Succession Arc is that of the fourteen coffins. If the idea of the Succession War is for there to be only one survivor, there should only be thirteen coffins—one for each dead prince. As a result, many theories attempt to explain the existence of the fourteenth coffin. I believe the fourteenth coffin is for Nasubi himself.

When first introduced to Nasubi, we learn that his primary motivation for settling on the Dark Continent is his legacy.

And this is the narrative Nasubi himself will push.

His actions resemble those of someone who knows their death is imminent. Why the sudden concern about his posthumous image? We can figure it out from his meeting with Halkenburg.

The duty in question is most likely to assemble his deceased children into the coffins. Once this task is complete, Nasubi will willingly die and occupy the fourteenth. The purpose of this will become clear later, but for now I will say it is most likely a condition of the Seed Urn’s nen.

One thing is for certain: the task Nasubi has to perform is of the utmost importance. The Black Whale is probably going to sink as a result of the chaos below decks, providing a perfect cover story for the Succession War. Whether Nasubi intends this is up for debate, but I’m almost certain he expects it. This may be why the coffin room’s design resembles Nen inscription: so the room won’t be destroyed when the rest of the ship goes under.

Another more practical reason for Nasubi’s death is the traditional rules of succession. Typically, an emperor rules for life and does not abdicate the throne after accepting it. It follows that Nasubi should be dead by the end of the Succession Contest so that the winner can legally and unquestionably take his place. Assuming none of the princes have children of their own, the throne would fall to the lone survivor of the Succession War, by equal primogeniture. And, of course, the previous Kakin ruler is nowhere to be found, further supporting this point.

That being said, I don’t want to discount the possibility Nasubi is planning around his death (despite his internal thoughts and actions suggesting otherwise). I do think there is one other possible occupant for the fourteenth coffin, and that is Nasubi’s butler, Nugui. My reason will become clearer down the line, but for now, keep this idea in the back of your mind.

THE SEED URN: SPIRIT BEASTS

Understanding the mechanics of the Seed Urn is a formidable challenge. It happens to be one of the most complicated abilities in the series, overloaded with several enigmatic limitations (which I will, probably in futility, attempt to guess).

To start off, let’s look at the description for Guardian Spirit Beasts.

The key thing to note here is that Guardian Spirit Beasts are created at the time of death of some individual. Intuitively, this would be the First Kakin King (referred to here and out as FKK). However, this would require an inordinate amount of energy, as Kurapika hypothesizes.

While it’s possible FKK’s initial conditions were so powerful he was able to create an infinite supply of Spirit Beasts that could be passed on to his distant descendants, I find it more likely the Seed Urn is being replenished at the outset of every Succession War. In other words, a new death is required to give birth to a new generation of Spirit Beasts.

The beasts are said to possess someone closely related to the dead, further supporting this point. As I alluded to in the section about Nasubi’s death, we can assume the current generation of Spirit Beasts was spawned by the death of Nasubi’s parent, the previous Kakin ruler. Nasubi’s parent would have died as a condition of the previous Succession War (the one Nasubi participated in), which Onior Longbao is looking into.

This also means Nasubi’s death will spawn Spirit Beasts for his successor’s children. If we follow this line of thinking, we start to see the idea of a “Succession Cycle” take shape.

No Spirit Beast spawner for FKK’s immediate children, as these are specifically the conditions of his post-mortem Nen.

Put simply, Spirit Beasts are created by the death of the owner’s grandparent. However, there’s a bit more to it than that.

The Spirit Beasts don't manifest immediately upon the grandparent’s death. Instead they take the form of an egg, only hatching when the initial conditions of the Succession War are satisfied. This is necessary because the Spirit Beast recipients haven’t been born when the Beasts themselves are created. I believe this is a hidden ability of the Seed Urn.

The incubation is necessary because the grandparent’s death must coincide with the Succession War he is overseeing. The replenishing of the Seed Urn requires the death of all but one of that Succession War’s participants. Note: this would appear to be a condition of the Seed Urn, not the Spirit Beasts themselves. There are various clues that point to this being the case. One is the image of smoke rising from the Urn, then fizzling out once a Spirit Beast is granted. This represents a loss of the Seed Urn’s energy.

This energy is returned in the coffin room, when the Seed Urn is placed in the central fixture. I know it’s a popular idea that a person will occupy the central fixture and be granted some special power. For me, the reward for winning the Succession War is simply that you get to keep your Spirit Beast, an immensely powerful protective creature (this appears to be the case with Nasubi, a prior victor). It’s also possible the deaths of the other princes not only serve to replenish the Seed Urn but also to repay a “Nen debt” incurred after the hatching of the winner’s Spirit Beast.

By lending their energy to the urn, the victims of the Succession War live on through the next generation’s Spirit Beasts. In this way, the phrase “perpetuation of one’s descendants” (used in the Spirit Beast description) becomes a double entendre. As Nasubi dies and gives birth to the Spirit Beasts, he will be hoping not only for the perpetuation of his living line but also his dead children.

THE SEED URN: INHERITANCE

There are really four possibilities for the Seed Urn’s test of inheritance.

Descendants of FKK

Possible, but we just don’t know enough about FKK, although it makes sense that the Urn would be able to determine whether participants have its creator’s blood.

Descendants of the Grandparent

It makes sense that Spirit Beasts should only be granted to the person that spawned them. This also opens the door for secret bastards, and assigns significance to their illegitimacy. We are likely to learn more about key players in the previous Succession War in the near future.

When I first began this write-up, this was the interpretation I went with. I was considering that the Seed Urn’s effect occurred automatically, in intervals of 30 years, and that Nasubi was merely using it in parallel to his Succession Contest. This would explain his desperate, legacy-obsessed journey to the Dark Continent: his fate was sealed as soon as he put his hand in the Seed Urn.

However, I ran into too many contradictions with this interpretation and had to settle on the following:

Descendants of the King

It seems likely Nasubi is imposing his own will on the Seed Urn. Think of it like Genthru and Meleoron’s abilities. Both (supposedly) have conditions that involve explaining their mechanics, which is precisely what Nugui appears to have done for the Seed Urn.

Assuming revealing the terms to participants is a condition, it’s important that we make a distinction between the Succession Contest and the Seed Urn’s ability, as Nasubi himself does.

I believe the Seed Urn’s ability involves the sacrifice of participants, as well as the cyclical creation and replenishment of Spirit Beasts, but it does not include the other conditions Nasubi imposes on it.

This is further reinforced by Benjamin’s mention of a “deal”.

And a few other comments by Nasubi.

It seems there is—or at least, was—some variability concerning the Succession War’s rules. With this distinction in mind, we can separate the conditions and abilities into two categories: the urn’s and the contest’s. The wall of hands, for example, seems to be an ability that manifested after Nasubi devised his contest, limiting the “field of play” to the Black Whale.

Which brings us to the actual inheritance test. It would seem the offering of blood is a condition of the urn, but the inheritance test may actually be a condition of the contest. And rather than imposing a condition which tested a participant’s relation to himself, Nasubi (perhaps inadvertently) created a condition that tests a participant’s relation to the queens.

In other words, it is possible for an illegitimate child to be granted a Spirit Beast. This is very important when considering the possibility of secret bastards.

The one major issue I have with this “condition-imposing” interpretation is that, well, Nasubi isn’t the one reading the conditions. It’s Nugui. One would think only a previous victor, or at the least someone with provable inheritance, would be able to use the Seed Urn. One would also assume the person who imposes the conditions is the one who must die as a result of them.

It’s possible (maybe even likely) that Nasubi knows much more about the mechanics of the Seed Urn than he lets on, including the condition of the user’s death. This is why, as I mentioned much earlier, I can also see Nugui being the planned occupant of the fourteenth coffin. A betrayal may be in the works.

There’s also the fourth possibility for inheritance.

There is no inheritance test

Since nobody fails the test, we have no way of knowing there actually is one. It could all be a clever trick to get participants to offer their blood to the urn.

THE SUCCESSION CYCLE

Let me circle back to this comment by Nasubi.

It’s unclear whether a Succession Contest (or at least a use of the Seed Urn) has been occurring every generation since the death of FKK. Nasubi might be concealing information here, or he might not be. Previously, I used the term “grandparent” to refer to the Spirit Beasts’ spawner, but the spawner could also just be the last ruler to die as a condition of the urn. It’s not necessary for a Succession War to have occurred every generation.

However, I have a feeling Succession Contests have been going on for a very long time, and pretty consistently to boot.

And, as I explained here, the prior Succession War likely took place thirty years ago, before being covered up by the “Silent Revolution”.

As for how the urn’s conditions will be broken… I don’t really know. It may involve shattering the Seed Urn. It may involve killing Nasubi (or Nugui) prematurely. It’s difficult to say, but I do think there are some clues.

The idea that the conditions can even be broken at all is first suggested by Kurapika.

Kurapika seems to think withdrawing from the Succession War can break the conditions of the Seed Urn—specifically, the conditions that created the Spirit Beasts. He may be right, but he may also be wrong. As discussed previously, the conditions for the Seed Urn’s power and the conditions for the Succession Contest may be disjoint. Not to mention, it’s commonplace for characters to come to incorrect conclusions in Hunter x Hunter, especially in the Succession Arc.

I think the bigger clue comes from Kurapika’s warning about Halkenburg’s ability.

I believe Kurapika’s words here can also apply to the ability of the Seed Urn. The expectation is that the Spirit Beasts’ inheritors will be “equal in aspiration”. This could mean perpetuating the Kakin royal line, or it could mean participating in the battle for the throne. If we assume the Succession Contests have been going on for a very long time, FKK seems to have made an assumption that all of the victors would have the same aspirations as him, meaning they would want to host their own Succession Contest and strengthen their line.

However, we know this isn’t the case. I suspect the Seed Urn’s undoing will be caused by those who do not share FKK’s aspirations. It’s possible Nasubi’s successor will put an end to the Succession Cycle once and for all.

I call it the Succession Cycle because there seems to be a recurring theme in Hunter x Hunter regarding cycles of violence.

I wrote about this idea extensively in my analysis of Chapter #337, “Repentance”. I’ve also touched on it in Shadow and Light and Kurapika’s Fate. The revelation that there was a previous Succession Contest—and that similar contests may have been occurring for centuries before it—fits nicely into the story, especially if the repetition is going to be stopped in some major climactic way.