Yoshihiro Togashi’sHunter x Hunteris known for its intricate Nen system, which lets individuals harness and manipulate their life energy, known as aura. Due toNen’s vast potential,it remains a closely guarded secret. While Nen mastery typically requires Hunters to obtain a license and undergo rigorous training, some individuals intuitively grasp it, and they become known as Nen Geniuses.
This term is not used to describe individuals who are particularly gifted in the use of Nen, just those who can manifest it without knowledge of training. However, as the name suggests, a Genius showing an innate attitude for Nen could reach incredible heights with proper training. This could have been the case with a character introduced during the Yokrnew City arc, Neon Nostrade.
Neon Nostrade Is a Nen Genius With an Incredible Ability
Predicting the Future Is a Powerful Use of Nen
Neon first appears in chapter #70 of the manga, episode #48 of the 1999 anime, and episode #41 of the 2011 version, when Kurapika is assigned to her bodyguard detail. Despite her spoiled, immature demeanor and lack of empathy, it’s evident that her father’s control has reduced her to a tool for his Mafia dealings, isolating her under the guise of protection. This vulnerability allows Chrollo to win her trust and deceive her into revealing Lovely Ghostwriter,which he ultimately steals using his Nen ability, Skill Hunter.
Neon’s ability summons a Nen Beast that guides her hand to write a person’s fortune in the form of a poem, accurately predicting events for the following month and offering advice on navigating obstacles. This power, known as Lovely Ghostwriter, is as formidable as it is unique.It falls under the Specialist category, which includes the strangest but also most powerful manifestations of Nen. The only prerequisite is that the target must hand write their name, full date of birth, and blood type on the piece of paper on which she will write the poem, which will predict the events of the following four weeks through metaphors.
What makes this ability even more useful is that inauspicious predictions always contain advice on how to avoid that misfortune, which is why Chrollo wanted to steal this ability. It’s essentially a powerful tool to avoid danger, especially if used regularly. In fact, that’s how Neon’s father exploits her power, using her fortunes to steer his Mafia associates and fuel his rise within the criminal underworld. Such a natural talent is rare, andwith the proper training, Neon could have become a powerful Hunter, rather than a puppet.
Neon recalls a childhood memory of seeing a fortune-teller on TV and feeling inspired by her motivational fortunes. This subtle hint suggestsyoung Neon had a Nen awakening, much like Komugi’s talent for Gungi with Meruem inthe Chimera Ant arc. But unlike Komugi, who stakes her life with every game, Neon’s stakes remain unclear, and she only uses her power in exchange for presents from her father. Neon’s insistence on not knowing her fortunes once written reflects her earnest desire to help others with her fortune-telling, and she fears knowing the details of the future will make them certain.
Neon’s Fortune-Telling Has Lasting Effects on the Phantom Troupe
Togashi Hints At Neon’s Ultimate Fate
Once Chrollo acquires Lovely Ghostwriter, he uses it to predict the fortunes of his Troupe members. Some members are warned of impending deaths within three weeks, and while most avert this fate, Pakunoda cannot. Caught in a hostage negotiation, she ultimately dies due to Kurapika’s Judgment Chain, fulfilling the fate Lovely Ghostwriter had foreseen to ensure Chrollo’s safety. Without Neon’s power, Light Nostrade, who has long relied on Lovely Ghostwriter, falls into a mental breakdown, ultimately handing control of his organization to Kurapika, who remains resolute in his pursuit of Chrollo and the Phantom Troupe.
While the 2011 anime concludes afterthe 13th Chairman Election arc,the story continues in the manga, hinting that Neon Nostrade may no longer be alive. Following his near-death at Heaven’s Arena,Hisoka begins eliminating the original hosts of powers in Chrollo’s arsenal, which results in him being unable to use those stolen abilities. Neon’s death isn’t depicted, but Chrollo’s sudden inability to use Lovely Ghostwriter suggests her possible murder. This fate is particularly tragic, asNeon never understood the origin of her power, nor why she lost it,leaving her tragically unaware of why anyone would want to harm her.
However, predicting the future is an incredibly powerful ability in the world ofHunter x Hunter, where battles between Nen experts are more often decided by careful planning and clever strategies than by brute strength. If Neon’s circumstances had been different, she could have trained and developed her innate Nen to gain even bigger mastery of her Lovely Ghostwriter, becoming one of the most fearsome Nen users in the world ofHunter x Hunter.
Hunter X Hunter
Hunter × Hunteris a Japanese manga and anime franchise created by Yoshihiro Togashi. The story follows Gon Freecss, a boy who discovers his father is a legendary Hunter, and embarks on a journey to become one himself. Along the way, he encounters friends and foes in a world filled with martial arts, adventure, and paranormal elements. The franchise spans manga, multiple anime adaptations, films, OVAs, and video games.
