Netero

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Isaac Netero (尼特罗)
Alias(es)	Chairman Netero; Chairman of the Hunter Association; head and grandmaster of Shingen-ryu
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hunter Association; Shingen-ryu; Hunter Association Zodiacs
Occupation/Role	Hunter Association Chairman; martial-arts grandmaster; Nen instructor and sparring partner
Status	Deceased; killed in his final battle with Meruem. Jing Yang subsequently combined Netero's spirit with Meruem's remaining energy to create a new life-form. 436
First Appearance	Chapter 129

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Enhancer pinnacle; proficient in all six major Nen types	137	After more than a century of cultivation, he can use all six Nen categories. His temperament and fighting style led him to pursue Enhancement to its highest level through direct martial combat. 137
Natural Type: 49.9% Natural Aura	427	After Jing Yang guided him into Natural Type cultivation, Netero absorbed Natural Aura at extraordinary speed and stopped just short of 50%, judging the ratio to be appropriate for himself. 427

Background

During middle age, Netero believed his martial arts had reached their limit. In gratitude toward the martial path, he began throwing ten thousand straight punches each day. After two years of this obsessive practice, he reached an unimaginable level and became the world's strongest human martial artist; his Hundred-Type Guanyin is believed to have taken shape through this period of training. 95

Netero later befriended Gero=Hui Guo Rou, Kakin's former emperor and the Sky Master, who was a martial artist capable of contending with him. When Gero returned from the Dark Continent afflicted by a strange poison, Netero promised to do everything possible to save him. He and two companions searched the Dark Continent for a cure, but returned without success. 134 138

To preserve Gero's existence, Netero helped arrange the creation of the Specialist Nen Clone Heavenly Solitary Shadow Drunken Death Dream Life. He honored their agreement to maintain it for one hundred years, later dividing it into five pieces and using Mt. Seireitou's art exhibition to sustain it through inspiration drawn from dreams. 134 136

Appearance

Netero is an elderly man with an upturned, hook-shaped chin beard. When his Aura is concealed, he appears to be an ordinary old gentleman; in battle, he commonly wears a short, fitted martial outfit. 134 142 423

• His Aura can remain so still and concealed that even skilled observers struggle to perceive it. 134 147
• He has mismatched eyes. 427
• In flashbacks from his younger days, he appears as a vigorous middle-aged martial artist. 134

Personality

Netero is an easygoing but intensely competitive martial artist. Decades of invincibility left him bored by weak opponents and eager for challengers able to draw out more of his strength. The Hunter Association's Zodiacs were originally selected as high-level companions with whom he could play and spar. 118 146

His pursuit of strength outweighs pride or comfort. Although he dislikes asking Jing Yang, a junior, for guidance, he accepts Natural Type instruction because it may help him defeat a stronger opponent. 427 He is also willing to impose extreme conditions on his son, Beyond, if he believes they serve the martial path or protect Beyond from the Dark Continent. 415

Netero can be mischievous and provocative, especially when inviting others to spar. However, his loyalty to Gero is enduring: he brings a coffin to Mt. Seireitou so that his old friend may finally rest in peace. 138 277

Abilities & Skills

Nen Mastery

Netero is an Enhancer who has cultivated every one of the six major Nen categories. He follows Shingen-ryu's “mountain”-shaped training philosophy, emphasizing one's primary type while developing adjacent types as support. 9 137

• Can conceal Aura so completely that it is detectable only in the fleeting instant of an attack. 134 147
• Can judge the flow of an opponent's Aura even with his Eye Nodes closed. 145
• Can enter true Zetsu while continuing to spar against Aura-enhanced opponents. 145
• His martial instinct and physical conditioning remain overwhelming even when his Aura is suppressed by an opponent's ability. 142

Hundred-Type Guanyin

Netero's signature Nen ability manifests as an immense multi-armed Guanyin. He activates it by bringing his palms together; its attacks are so fast that observers struggle even to see the gesture. 134 145

• Delivers devastating palm strikes capable of launching or annihilating powerful Nen entities. 134
• Can manifest defensively, with its palms protecting Netero from Nefipito's assassination strike. 424
• Can rapidly barrage targets with multiple palms at once. 134 425
• Is tied to Beyond's Vow and Restriction: should Netero die, Beyond is meant to inherit Netero's Nen, especially the Hundred-Type Guanyin. 415

Martial Arts and *Ko*

Netero's combat foundation is direct martial arts reinforced by exceptional Aura control. He can neutralize techniques such as Ko through superior timing, defense, and perception. 142 145

• Remained unscathed while Jing Yang launched a continuous Ko-infused barrage for an hour. 142
• Blocked Jing Yang's Ko punch with his own Ko while in Zetsu. 145
• His palm strike was fast enough that Jing Yang's successful dodge astonished the Zodiacs and martial artists familiar with Netero's strength. 146
• Regularly holds open sparring sessions for martial artists and Zodiacs. 142 351

Transmuter Techniques

Netero can shape Aura through Transmutation despite being primarily an Enhancer.

• Created a giant five-fingered Aura hand that pinned an eight-armed post-mortem Nen shadow to the ground. 137
• Can vary Natural Aura into different forms and properties, including Nen oil and a miniature Dragon Head Play Picture. 427

Natural Type and Immortal Art

Jing Yang guided Netero into Natural Type cultivation, allowing him to absorb and convert Natural Aura. Netero reached 49.9% conversion in under three hours, but chose not to exceed that threshold. 427

• Natural Aura lets him reproduce techniques at the pinnacle of different Nen types. 427
• He considers a near-even balance between ordinary Aura and Natural Aura appropriate for retaining his human status. 427 428
• He warns that exceeding 50% Natural Aura may cause a person to lose their human status. 428

Relationships

• Gero=Hui Guo Rou / Sky Master — Old friend and fellow martial-arts master. Netero attempted to cure Gero's Dark Continent poison, helped preserve his clone for a century, and ultimately ensured that Gero's body could rest in peace. 134 138
• Beyond Netero — Biological son. Netero bound Beyond from leaving the human world while he remained alive, with the Hundred-Type Guanyin intended as part of Beyond's inheritance after Netero's death. 322 415
• Biscuit Krueger — Shingen-ryu disciple and frequent former sparring partner. She understands Netero's habits well enough to stop her attack before his pride turns to anger. 242 427
• Jing Yang — Promising younger martial artist whom Netero repeatedly spars with. Jing Yang's ability to evade, wound, and drain Netero's Aura earns his sustained interest; Netero later accepts Jing Yang's Natural Type instruction. 145 146 427
• Meruem — The Chimera Ant King and Netero's ultimate challenger. Their final battle devastates Meteor City and kills them both. 423 436
• Kite — Temporary combat ally during the confrontation with Nefipito; Netero creates openings for Kite's attacks. 425
• Galu and Cheadle — Fellow Hunter Association members who involve Netero as the chief test subject for their developing Enchantment Technique. 418

Story Role / Major Arcs

Mt. Seireitou Tournament

Netero investigates the events surrounding Sky Master and the forty-year art exhibition at Mt. Seireitou. He confronts the entity calling itself the Kakin Emperor, reveals Gero's death, and destroys the manifested clone with the Hundred-Type Guanyin. 133 134

Afterward, he presides over the remaining tournament as its central sparring opponent. He defeats Zehau even after Zehau suppresses his Aura, then offers daily matches to the gathered martial artists. 142

Jing Yang becomes the only participant to hold Netero's interest for long. Netero adapts by entering Zetsu, yet Jing Yang still draws blood with a coordinated strike involving Rock Sparrow and Reflection. 145

Hunter Association and the Zodiacs

Netero recruits or maintains the Zodiacs largely as companions capable of relieving his boredom through games and combat. He later invites Jing Yang to become the Rat Zodiac and repeatedly calls him in for sparring as Jing Yang improves. 146 351

He also challenges Jing Yang, Shizuku, and Menchi to take a volleyball from his hand in the Hunter Association's basement, easily withstanding Shizuku's vacuum ability. 277

Chimera Ant Crisis

As Chimera Ants spread globally, Netero coordinates information with Jing Yang and searches for the Ant King. 392 He confronts Meruem directly, but first clashes with Youpi and Nefipito alongside Kite. 424 425

Netero later seeks Jing Yang's Immortal Art after recognizing that Natural Aura may give him a way to face a stronger enemy. He reaches 49.9% Natural Aura conversion but refuses to cross the 50% threshold. 427 428

In Meteor City, Netero finally battles Meruem. The clash destroys much of the Chimera Ant-held area; Netero dies with only his upper body remaining, while Meruem is left mortally wounded and poisoned. 436

Trivia

• Netero's ten-thousand daily gratitude punches continued for two years before his strength entered an unimaginable realm. 95
• He brought a coffin to Mt. Seireitou because he had already decided to lay Gero to rest. 138
• He regards powerful opponents as more valuable than conventional dignity; he is willing to seek instruction from Jing Yang if it may help him overcome someone stronger. 427