Netero

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

Netero is an elderly, bearded man with a lean but sturdy build. He commonly wears a yukata and wooden sandals, often carrying a cup of tea; he later appears in formal kimono while presiding over the Hunter Exam’s final stage. 18 21 26

• Wrinkled face and prominent beard.
• Lean forearms with visibly pronounced veins when preparing to fight. 19 23
• Favors relaxed, informal clothing even in serious situations, including a yukata, sandals, and a shirt printed with the character for “heart.” 18 21 30
• Maintains a calm smile and casual bearing before combat, despite his immense reputation. 18 30
• Later wears a yellow martial-arts uniform while instructing Gon and Killua in Nen. 62
• During the Worldbreak Behemoth crisis, appears in white robes and retains an upright, powerful presence despite his earlier catastrophic injuries. 316 318

Personality

Netero is playful, curious, and highly observant. As Hunter Association chairman, he can turn an ordinary interaction into an examination, as when he tests Saitama through a game for the rubber ball rather than demanding a conventional demonstration. He is amused by unusual people and details, even ordering Beans to preserve Lippo’s report about Saitama’s “free cumin” as a collectible. 18

Beneath his easygoing manner is a lifelong martial artist who becomes exhilarated by a truly exceptional opponent. Saitama’s effortless superiority does not make Netero resentful; instead, it gives him the answer to the limits of his own martial arts and earns his gratitude. 21 23

He also values qualities that cannot be measured through combat statistics. During Gon’s match with Hanzo, Netero recognizes that Gon's refusal to surrender and Hanzo’s compassion determine the result more than strength or experience. 26 32

Netero’s experience also gives him a strong sense of responsibility toward humanity. Against Meruem, he is willing to sacrifice himself and activate the Poor Man’s Rose rather than allow the King to threaten the human world. Saitama’s intervention prevents that final sacrifice, but Netero later continues to place civilian protection and collective action above personal glory. 77 316

His teaching style combines patience with stern warnings. He does not merely increase Gon and Killua’s output; he emphasizes efficiency, emotional control, and understanding the relationship between Nen and the user’s character. 62 63

Abilities & Skills

Shingen-Ryu Martial Arts

Netero is a Shingen-Ryu grandmaster whose foundational technique is the Straight Punch Thrust. He trained by throwing ten thousand punches each day for over a decade, eventually reducing the routine from eighteen hours to one hour and developing punches faster than sound. 21

• Uses supersonic Straight Punch Thrusts from multiple angles. 21
• Can chain punches, kicks, elbows, knees, knifehand strikes, palm attacks, and techniques gathered from numerous martial-arts schools without repeating movements. 21
• His physical strength is exceptional even without Nen; he opens all seven doors of the Zoldyck family’s Trial Gate with one hand. 30
• His ordinary physical attacks fail to move or injure Saitama, despite landing repeatedly. 21
• Can fight at close range against Meruem, whose physical ability surpasses the known limits of ordinary Hunters. 76 77

Nen Mastery

Netero possesses immense Nen control and can shift from conventional martial arts to high-output techniques when necessary. His Nen pressure is strong enough to make the air distort, drive away Bloodthirsty Butterflies, and leave Beans unable to continue recording normally. 21

• Can maintain combat-ready defensive posture without visibly telegraphing an attack. 18
• His full output is powerful enough to devastate Glasses Island’s western plateau and leave a crater marked with palm impressions. 23 25
• Prolonged use of his strongest Nen techniques exhausts him completely. 23 25
• Explains Nen as life energy shaped by the user’s treatment of life and character. 62
• Demonstrates refined Ten that blends naturally with the body rather than wasting aura in an overly thick defensive layer. 62
• Can enter Zetsu while concealing his presence and suppressing his aura almost completely. 62
• Uses Ren with exceptional efficiency, releasing only the amount of power necessary for a given action. 62
• Understands Hatsu as a personal expression that cannot simply be taught to another person. 62
• Teaches a Shingen-Ryu breathing method that circulates Nen through the body and expels distracting emotions, improving mental discipline during combat. 63

100-Type Guanyin

Netero’s signature Nen ability manifests as a colossal translucent Guanyin statue with ninety-nine visible arms. Its palms attack according to the movements and rhythm of Netero’s clasped hands. 21

• Delivers successive multi-directional palm barrages in groups of four, eight, sixteen, twenty-four, thirty-six, forty-eight, and sixty-four strikes. 22
• Can combine the techniques of multiple hands into a single overwhelming assault. 22
• Its Ninety-Ninth Hand opens and deploys all ninety-nine hands at once. 22
• The barrage destroys the surrounding volcanic platform but fails to force Saitama from his position. 22 23
• Can engage Meruem directly, with the statue’s speed and attack patterns forcing the Ant King to defend himself against repeated high-powered impacts. 76 77
• Remains Netero’s principal battlefield ability during large-scale confrontations, although he allows the Zodiacs to handle the Worldbreak Behemoth instead of deploying it personally. 317 318

Zero Hand

Zero Hand is the final form of the 100-Type Guanyin. Netero compresses all of his remaining Nen into a single beam fired from Guanyin’s mouth. 23

• Generates a beam powerful enough to illuminate the island and melt rock into glassy slag. 23
• Drains all of Netero’s Nen upon use, causing the Guanyin to disappear. 23
• Saitama avoids the beam to save a Bloodthirsty Butterfly, leaving Zero Hand unable to injure him. 23
• Later uses Zero Hand against Meruem. The attack devastates the surrounding area but leaves the King alive with only limited scorching. 77
• Its use against Meruem leaves Netero severely injured and nearly without Nen, forcing him to rely on the Poor Man’s Rose as humanity’s final weapon. 77

Poor Man’s Rose

Netero has a Poor Man’s Rose implanted in his heart as a last-resort weapon against an enemy too powerful for conventional combat. Its activation would destroy the surrounding area and leave a deadly poison behind. 77

• Bound to Netero’s heartbeat and intended to activate when his heart stops. 77
• Netero attempts to trigger it after Zero Hand fails to kill Meruem.
• Saitama stops Netero’s hand before he can stab his own heart, preventing the weapon from activating directly. 77
• The subsequent Rose explosion nevertheless leaves Netero severely injured, and Saitama rescues him from the battlefield. 79

Leadership and Tactical Command

Netero is an experienced commander capable of coordinating Hunters, evacuation teams, medical personnel, and specialized Nen users during large-scale disasters.

• Organizes the Hunter Exam’s final tournament and evaluates candidates according to both combat ability and character. 26
• Guides Gon and Killua through individualized Nen training rather than applying a single universal method. 62 63
• Directs the Hunter Association’s response to the Worldbreak Behemoth, emphasizing evacuation, containment, analysis, and resource management over an immediate frontal assault. 316
• Allows the strengthened Zodiacs to lead the main battle after recognizing their growth, while he observes and protects the operation from above. 318
• Orders the Association to continue fighting inside Knov’s dimensional prison after the Behemoth is contained, correctly identifying that the calamity remains alive until its Aggregation Core is destroyed. 320 321

History

Netero oversees portions of the Hunter Exam, including the Grape Spider egg trial at Mount Maku. He explains that applicants must fall into the gorge, retrieve a fragile egg, and use the updraft to return safely. 10

During the later stages of the exam, he receives Lippo’s report on Saitama’s abnormal conduct in Trick Tower and challenges him to take a rubber ball from his hand. Although the rules prohibit weapons and Nen, Saitama simply walks forward and removes the ball before Netero can react. Netero immediately awards him a Hunter License and recognizes him as the first person in 110 years whom he could not evade in time. 18

Netero later challenges Saitama on Glasses Island. His basic attacks, 100-Type Guanyin, Ninety-Ninth Hand, and Zero Hand all fail to harm him. After exhausting his Nen, Netero accepts the gap between them without bitterness; the two share the hot pot that had motivated Saitama to accept the sparring match. 21 22 23

He remains on the island for three days to recover his Nen while sharing food and hunting stories with Saitama. He then resumes his role as the final examiner, organizing the Hunter Exam’s elimination tournament and observing the candidates’ character. 24 26

During the final examination, Netero recognizes that Gon’s match with Hanzo will be decided by Gon's refusal to surrender rather than by Hanzo’s superior combat ability. He later reflects that Hanzo’s compassion and Gon’s willpower cannot be measured by aura reserves or combat experience. 26

Netero accompanies Gon’s group to Kukuroo Mountain, opening all seven Trial Gate doors to announce his arrival at the Zoldyck estate. There, he informs Silva and Zeno that he is completely unable to match Saitama’s strength. 30 32

Netero later becomes a mentor to Gon and Killua. At Genos’s request, he teaches them Ten, Zetsu, Ren, Hatsu theory, and the Shingen-Ryu breathing method. He specifically warns Gon that courage and self-sacrifice are not the same as throwing away one’s entire future. 62 63

During the Chimera Ant crisis, Netero confronts Meruem in a battle that pushes the 100-Type Guanyin and Zero Hand to their limits. Meruem survives Zero Hand, leaving Netero gravely injured and almost completely drained of Nen. Netero then attempts to activate the Poor Man’s Rose, but Saitama stops him before he can sacrifice himself. 76 77

Netero survives the subsequent Rose explosion only because Saitama saves him from the battlefield. Severely injured and unable to walk, he is carried thirty kilometers to a Zoldyck private airship. The experience humiliates him physically but also deepens his admiration for Saitama, whom he begins to regard as a possible savior of the world. 79

After the Chimera Ant crisis, Netero remains involved in the Hunter Association’s response to threats connected to the Dark Continent. The Association’s access to rare ingredients, ores, and energy materials greatly strengthens its veteran Hunters. Netero himself returns in a more powerful and refined state than during the Chimera Ant battle. 316 318

When the Worldbreak Behemoth threatens hundreds of thousands of civilians, Netero joins the Hunter Association’s emergency mobilization. He initially permits the Zodiacs to conduct the main battle, recognizing that they have grown strong enough to contain the calamity without relying solely on him. 316 317 318

Netero later directs the dimensional containment operation against the Behemoth. After Knov seals the creature inside an isolated layer of the Fourth-Dimensional Apartment, Netero refuses to treat containment as a final victory and orders the Hunters to enter the prison and destroy the Aggregation Core. 320 321

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Hunter Exam

  • Oversees the Grape Spider egg test. 10
  • Challenges Saitama for the rubber ball and personally grants him Hunter status. 18
  • Presides over the final elimination tournament and evaluates the candidates’ resolve. 26 28
  • Recognizes that Gon’s victory over Hanzo is determined by character rather than combat strength. 26

• Glasses Island

  • Spars with Saitama using martial arts, 100-Type Guanyin, and Zero Hand. 21 23
  • Recovers his Nen while sharing hot pot with Saitama during the tag-hunting phase. 24

• Zoldyck Family Estate

  • Accompanies Gon, Kurapika, Leorio, and Saitama to Kukuroo Mountain. 30
  • Reveals Saitama’s overwhelming superiority to Silva and Zeno. 32
  • Observes Silva’s subsequent fight with Saitama. 33 34

• Heaven’s Arena (God)

  • Appears among the cross-dimensional spectators after the system upgrades Heaven’s Arena for Saitama’s battle. 42

• Nen Instruction

  • Teaches Gon and Killua the Four Major Principles and individualized methods of Nen control. 62
  • Warns Gon about emotional recklessness and the danger of sacrificing his future. 63

• Chimera Ant Crisis

  • Fights Meruem with the 100-Type Guanyin and Zero Hand. 76 77
  • Attempts to activate the Poor Man’s Rose after his Nen techniques fail to defeat the King. 77
  • Survives the Rose explosion and is rescued by Saitama. 79
  • Is carried to the Zoldyck airship and later recovers sufficiently to remain involved in the Association. 79 86

• Worldbreak Behemoth Crisis

  • Rejoins the Hunter Association’s strengthened emergency force. 316
  • Coordinates evacuation, containment, and the division of labor among the Hunters. 316 317
  • Allows the Zodiacs to confront the Behemoth directly, recognizing their post-Dark Continent growth. 318
  • Orders the final assault inside Knov’s dimensional prison after containment fails to destroy the calamity. 320 321

Relationships

• Saitama — Netero becomes fascinated after failing to prevent him from taking the rubber ball. He grants Saitama a Hunter License, challenges him to a serious sparring match, and ultimately acknowledges that Saitama stands beyond a level he can reach. 18 21 23 32

  • Saitama later prevents Netero from activating the Poor Man’s Rose, saves him from the battlefield, and carries him to safety. Netero responds with embarrassment, gratitude, and growing admiration. 77 79
  • Netero regards Saitama as a bizarre but potentially world-saving figure whose strength is matched by an uncomplicated nature. 79

• Beans — His assistant and record keeper. Netero repeatedly directs Beans to document notable events, including Saitama’s Hunter License challenge and the Glasses Island battle. 18 21

• Gon Freecss — Netero recognizes Gon’s unusual willpower and regards his refusal to surrender as a quality that can make the impossible possible. 26 32

  • He later becomes Gon’s Nen instructor, teaching him to moderate his explosive power and control his emotions. 62 63

• Killua Zoldyck — Netero identifies Killua’s exceptional Nen control while warning him not to rely excessively on Zetsu, concealment, and surprise attacks. 62 63

• Silva Zoldyck — An old acquaintance whom Netero visits at Kukuroo Mountain. He tells Silva that he is no match for Saitama and later observes Silva’s challenge. 30 32 33

• Zeno Zoldyck — An old acquaintance who meets Netero during the visit to the Zoldyck estate. Zeno later accompanies him during the Chimera Ant crisis and helps transport him after the battle. 30 77 79

• Meruem — Netero’s greatest conventional opponent. Their battle represents the culmination of Netero’s martial life, but Meruem survives both the 100-Type Guanyin and Zero Hand. Netero ultimately attempts to defeat him through the Poor Man’s Rose rather than through Nen alone. 76 77

• Genos — Netero respects Genos’s analytical approach and accepts his request to train Gon and Killua. Their interaction establishes Netero as a technical mentor whose lessons complement Saitama’s unusual teaching style. 62

• The Zodiacs — Netero acts as their chairman and senior mentor. During the Worldbreak Behemoth crisis, he trusts their enhanced abilities enough to let them lead the primary battle rather than intervening immediately himself. 316 318

• Knov — Netero recognizes Knov’s evolution from a logistical support Hunter into a spatial combatant capable of sealing a natural disaster. He relies on Knov’s dimensional ability during the Behemoth operation and orders the group to continue the mission inside the containment space. 320 321

Notable Quotes

“It took this old man a full one hundred and ten years to meet someone I could not evade in time.” 18

“Not yet.” 23

“He stands on a plane I will never be able to reach.” 32

“Nen is the energy of life. It's proof that you're alive.” 62

“Even if the sky falls, even if the person you care about most is hurt right in front of you, you can remain clear-headed and not let your emotions cloud your mind.” 63

“This battle is for the Human World.” 316