TheHunter x Huntermanga continues to be intriguing as ever following its return in the Weekly Shounen Jump magazine after four long years. The current story arc of the Succession Contest has been nothing short of incredible and well worth the wait that fans had to endure since November 2018. Yoshihiro Togashi has not disappointed with how he’s handled the story and with every passing chapter, the excitement only rises. That said, the manga is now edging closer to another potential hiatus, with chapter 400 expected to be the last one.
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Right now, all eyes are onHunter x Hunter397, which is likely to be a direct continuation of the events of the previous two chapters, 395 and 396. The primary focus right now is on the backstory of the members of the Phantom Troupe, covering all the founding members like Uvo, Pakunoda, and most importantly,the leader of the Spider, Chrollo Lucilferhimself. The author exploring the past of one of the most iconic villain groups in anime history is something not all fans were expecting to happen at this moment, but it is certainly very well welcomed.
Hunter x Hunter 397: Sarasa Gets Kidnapped
InHunter x Hunter396, the Troupe decided to do more dubbing and plays, with the young girl who had initially helped Chrolloand Pakunoda dub the first episodeof “the Clean Up Rangers,” also joining in. As seen in the chapter, Sarasa is most likely kidnapped. While her Troupe mates think she has gone to the usual spot to scourge new tapes to use, she actually has a different plan in mind. Sarasa went to a place next to the Uga Tree where she believed she’d be able to find another video tape of “The Clean Up Rangers.” Little did she know she was putting herself in grave danger.
As has been already established in the story, Meteor City is an extremely dangerous place where countless kidnappings happen every year, with over 70% being child kidnappings. With that in mind, it’s clear that the kidnappers want to kidnap one more child here, and with Sarasa being alone and very vulnerable right now, especially because of the bad weather, it’s very likely she will fall victim to these men. These individuals will most likely drive to the same area as Sarasa, and since she’s currently distracted due to her search for the tape, it would be quite easy for them to kidnap her.Hunter x Hunter397 will likely see the men prey on her and shove her in their van, alongside their countless other victims, with the goal of selling her to the government or other traffickers.
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Hunter x Hunter 397: The Phantom Troupe Unites
As established in Hunter 396, the Troupe, althoughnot exactly named the Phantom Troupejust yet, have started to unite. Their beginnings are, undoubtedly, humble and they certainly aren’t the criminal organization that fans know them to be. Instead, they began with theater. All this might change, however, after the events ofHunter x Hunter397, when they’ll be faced with the harsh reality of living in Meteor City. The Troupe will realize that no one is safe there and that they’re under constant violation from kidnappers and traffickers.
While they do not yet realize the situation Sarasa will fall into, they will likely go out in search of her in the rainstorm once they catch wind of her disappearance. After all, Sarasa has proven to be a beloved member of the Troupe,helping Uvo express his feelingsof admiration towards Chrollo Lucilfer following his mind-blowing performance, and at the same time, inspiring a lot of young kids in Meteor City. As such, the Troupe will likely go out to look for her but by the time they get there, the kidnappers will have probably already taken her and bid Meteor City farewell. With the Troupe’s determination to save their friend, Chrollo will likely take on a proper role as a leader of the group and attempt to save Sarasa.
In chapter 396, while Chrollo was dubbing over the voice of the villainous monster, he was portrayed with a strange aura around him. This seems to be Yoshihiro Togashi’s way of foreshadowing what’s to come, and that is Chrollo’s nen awakening.Chrollo is one of the strongest nen users inHunter x Hunterand watching him awaken this power would certainly be a sight to behold for all fans of the manga. This awakening could come from trying to save Sarasa while he gives it his very all, or potentially following the realization that Sarasa is lost for good.Hunter x Hunter397 could also explain how the Troupe gets the iconic name “The Phantom Troupe,” and that’s something the fans are eagerly waiting for.
When Will Hunter X Hunter 397 Release?
With so much hype and excitement around the manga currently,Hunter X Hunterchapter 397 is expected to drop in the next issue of Shueisha’s Weekly Shounen Jump magazine. According to MangaPlus,Hunter x Hunter397 will be released on Jun 22, 2025. Fans can read the chapter for free on the MangaPlus and the Shonen Jump app.
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