Who Is Neferpitou?

Neferpitou, often called Pitou, is a major antagonist in the Hunter x Hunter manga and anime series. As a powerful cat-humanoid Chimera Ant, they serve as the firstborn of the Chimera Ant King's three Royal Guards during the Chimera Ant arc.

Appearance

Neferpitou is a humanoid Chimera Ant with a cat-like appearance, including white wavy hair, cat ears, and a tail. Their appearance differs slightly between the manga and the 2011 anime adaptation. Pitou has chin-length, wavy white hair, cat ears that are covered in whitish-yellow fur, and a white-furred tail.

They are drawn in the manga with a slender waist, wide hips, and a flat chest, though the anime chose to depict Pitou with a more noticeable chest. They have wide, ruby-red eyes with a slight yellow color at the bottom of the eyes. 

Additionally, they have hands that are slightly bigger than a human's, with a thumb and three fingers, while their knees have clearly defined joints, resembling those of an insect. Pitou typically wears orange blue shoes with white heels, orange socks with thin black stripes, orange shorts with thin black stripes, and a blue overcoat with six yellow buttons and cufflinks. 

Personality

Neferpitou's personality is defined by a blend of childlike curiosity, cat-like playfulness, profound ruthlessness, and an intense, unwavering loyalty to the Chimera Ant King. Over the course of the Hunter x Hunter series, their character evolves, developing a more complex sense of empathy.

Initially, like a cat toying with its prey, Pitou takes a sadistic pleasure in killing, experimenting on, and toying with enemies, viewing humans as a lower life form. With a genius-level intellect, Pitou is endlessly curious and eager to learn, quickly picking up complex knowledge, such as human anatomy, to better understand and manipulate subjects.

They are excited by the prospect of fighting strong opponents. This is evident when Pitou challenges the seasoned Hunter Kite, ultimately killing and puppeteering his body for training. Despite a desire for battle, Pitou is generally calm and composed, rarely displaying overt anger or malice toward allies or foes.

As the Chimera Ant Arc progresses and their focus shifts from the Ant Queen to Meruem, Pitou begins to display more complex, human emotions. Pitou's core personality is defined by their profound, selfless devotion to the King. They show genuine fear and vulnerability for the first time when the King's life is endangered. Pitou's loyalty is so absolute that they are relieved to die by Gon's hand because Gon sacrificing his future for this moment of revenge means the King is safe from what Gon may have otherwise become.

Pitou's feelings for the King expand to include empathy for his desires, especially his deep connection with Komugi. This newfound sense of understanding extends even to their archenemy, Gon, leading Pitou to sincerely apologize to him for killing Kite. When commanded by the King to heal Komugi, Pitou prioritizes their ruler's happiness over their own life. Pitou begs Gon for mercy, showing a willingness to sacrifice themself and their pride for the sake of the King's emotional well-being.

Background

Neferpitou is a complex antagonist whose duality makes their character so compelling. They begin as a pure, instinct-driven predator who kills for sport. However, they later develop a powerful protective and maternal instinct, similar to a cat, toward their King.

Before the King is born, Pitou becomes the primary enemy of the protagonist Gon Freecss after brutally killing Gon's mentor, Kite, and later manipulating his corpse. This act leads to a violent and tragic confrontation between Gon and Pitou. While Pitou is responsible for horrific acts and is undeniably an antagonist, their later development into a more empathetic being adds a layer of tragedy to their ultimate fate. Their final act of fighting Gon after death—motivated purely by loyalty—serves as a heartbreaking end to a character who was just beginning to understand true emotion. 

Neferpitou's gender is ambiguous and a frequent subject of debate among fans. In the original manga and official Japanese data books, Pitou is often referred to with male pronouns, but the language used leaves room for interpretation. The 2011 anime adaptation gives Pitou a more feminine design and voice, leading many viewers to perceive the character as female. Ultimately, many official sources and fan communities use gender-neutral pronouns to describe Neferpitou due to this ambiguity, which is backed by the often gender-neutral terms used in the official english translation of the manga.

Powers and Abilities

Neferpitou is a Chimera Ant and a Specialist-type Nen user with three primary Nen abilities: Doctor Blythe, Puppeteering, and Terpsichora. They also possess monstrous physical capabilities, intelligence, and enhanced senses due to their Chimera Ant physiology.

Innate Chimera Ant Abilities

• Enhanced Senses: As a Chimera Ant, Neferpitou's senses are far superior to a human's. They can spot targets up to two kilometers away, hear a low-volume cellphone from inside a large, echoing building, and detect a person's scent from a great distance, even when the target is hiding.

• Speed and Reflexes: Neferpitou's physical abilities are far beyond those of most humans and even most Hunters. They are exceptionally fast and can cover half a kilometer in a single leap. They can also augment their leaps by contracting their leg muscles. Their reflexes are top-notch, allowing them to perceive and react to movements at extremely high speeds, possibly even above Mach 1.

• Durability and Strength: Neferpitou has survived attacks from the King and a post-mortem Nen-boosted attack from Netero with minimal injuries. They can effortlessly rip off a Nen user's limbs with just one hand. 

• Genius-Level Intellect: Neferpitou is a fast learner with extraordinary analytical skills. Hours after being born, Neferpitou was able to understand human anatomy by reading a medical book. Their surgical skills allowed them to create their first ability, Doctor Blythe.

• Keen Intuition: They possess a "sixth sense" that allows them to perceive ominous feelings or anticipate threats, even from targets they have no logical reason to fear.

Nen Affinity and Abilities

Nen (念) is a fundamental power system that allows individuals to control their life energy, known as aura. By manipulating their aura, Nen users can create unique supernatural abilities called Hatsu, enhancing their physical capabilities or creating complex, personal powers. 

• Nen Affinity: Neferpitou is a Specialist-type Nen user, a rare classification for those who create unique Nen abilities.

• En: Neferpitou possesses an immense and irregular En, a technique that extends their aura to detect movement. Instead of a sphere, it takes the form of long, winding tendrils. A single tendril of Neferpitou's En can reach up to two kilometers in length. The aura alone is so powerful and malevolent that it can terrify and paralyze seasoned Nen users.

• Doctor Blythe: A giant, conjured doll used for surgically treating injuries. While Doctor Blythe is active, Pitou remains in a state of forced Zetsu or in simple terms, they are vulnerable to any nen-imbued attack.

• Terpsichora: A puppeteer ability that manipulates their own body beyond its physical limits, increasing speed and strength. This ability continues even after death until the body is no longer able to move due to extreme damage.

• Puppeteering: The ability to manipulate corpses, even making them use their former Nen abilities.

Goals and Reputation

Upon being born, Neferpitou followed their instinct as a Royal Guard. They were highly sadistic and playful, enjoying the thrill of battle and killing, as demonstrated when they mercilessly killed the Hunter Kite. After Meruem was born, Neferpitou's loyalty instantly shifted from the Chimera Ant Queen to the King, which became their singular focus. This intense devotion was prioritized above all else, including their own life.

Neferpitou's devotion evolved beyond simply following orders. They became uniquely in tune with Meruem's feelings and prioritized his happiness above the Chimera Ants' initial mission of conquering humanity. When Meruem ordered them to heal Komugi, a human girl he cared for, Neferpitou's goal was to carry out that order at any cost. This mission put them in a vulnerable, submissive position when facing Gon. They recognized Komugi was essential to who Meruem was becoming and were determined to protect her.

In their final moments, Neferpitou's singular goal was to ensure Meruem's survival, even if it meant their own death. After being killed by Gon, their Nen lingered and controlled their corpse for one last attack to protect the King's location.

Neferpitou's reputation is complex and changes over the course of the Chimera Ant arc, from being a ruthless monster to a tragic and sympathetic villain. As the first Royal Guard to appear, Neferpitou's unfathomable strength and menacing Nen aura immediately established them as an overwhelming and terrifying force.

Their brutal and casual killing of Kite earned Gon's eternal hatred and marked them as a monster in the eyes of the protagonists and many viewers. Their experimentation on and mutilation of living and dead creatures solidified their reputation for cruelty and a lack of empathy.

Neferpitou's unconditional and protective loyalty to Meruem became a defining characteristic. Unlike the other Royal Guards, their love for the King was not about conquest but about his individual happiness. Their fear and panic when Gon threatens to harm Komugi reveal a new, more human-like side to their personality. In their confrontation with Gon, Neferpitou sincerely apologizes for killing Kite, demonstrating an understanding of the pain they caused and regret for their actions.

The unconditional loyalty and love Neferpitou develops for Meruem is perceived as a form of "motherly justice" by some viewers. Ultimately, Neferpitou is a creature of instinct who develops empathy, but whose loyalty and purpose remains tied to the will of the King. Their ultimate sacrifice is seen by many as a selfless, tragic act.