Hunter x Hunter: What Happens to Gon in the Manga?

Gon Freecss, Hunter x Hunter’s protagonist, undergoes one of the most compelling and tumultuous character arcs in shonen history. Having started as an energetic and approachable young boy, his mentality undergoes a significant change upon witnessing the complex nature of society.

Given that the end of the anime saw major changes in the life of Gon, fans may wonder what happens to him in the manga. Gon Freecss is currently living as a normal person back in Whale Island in the Hunter x Hunter manga. He is no longer the main character of the series and engages in regular activities befitting his age, along with his Aunt Mito and great-grandmother.

Ever since the beginning of Hunter x Hunter, Gon has been an extraordinary child who captivated others with his brightness. He formed valuable bonds with Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika, and rapidly grew in strength through his prowess in Nen. Unfortunately, after losing his mentor Kite in the Chimera Ant Arc, Gon lost his friendliness and began living for the sake of revenge.

In order to defeat Kite’s killer, Pitou, he used Limitation Transformation, which would use up all the power he would ever have for a momentary burst of strength. This allowed him to kill Pitou, but also sent him into a coma after the ability was undone. Thankfully, with the help of Killua and Nanika, the protagonist was saved from his grim fate.

By the end of the Hunter x Hunter anime, Gon was able to achieve his goal of meeting up with his father, Ging Freecss. The two reunited atop the World Tree and shared a heartfelt conversation. This ended the show, leaving anime-only fans wondering about Gon's life after that point and the repercussions of his use of Limitation Transformation.

The manga answers this question at the very beginning of the Succession Contest Arc. Gon’s only appearance in the Hunter x Hunter manga after the anime is in chapters 344 and 345. At this point, he discovered that he was unable to make any aura, which would be required to use Nen.

While talking to Gon over the phone, Ging explained that he still had an aura but was simply unable to see it anymore. Since the protagonist was willing to throw his life away in the battle against Pitou, Ging told him how turning “normal” was a small price to pay for Limitation Transformation and that he should not be ungrateful.

Forced to return to his regular life, Gon went back to Whale Island to decide what he would do from that point. After reuniting with his family and helping them complete their house chores, he had a conversation with Aunt Mito. Gon expressed how he did not feel a special connection with Ging and merely saw him as a relative rather than his father.

Gon also did not want to accompany Ging since he had lost the ability to wield Nen. After he had finished reminiscing, Mito welcomed him back to reality. She placed all of Gon’s incomplete paperwork in front of him, along with the tests and schoolwork he had been exempt from previously as a Hunter.

Gon’s final appearance in the manga saw him complaining about all the work assigned to him, to which Mito replied that kids going to school dealt with much worse.

Will Gon return to the Hunter x Hunter manga?

Gon has not returned to the Hunter x Hunter manga for over 60 chapters, and the series is currently deep into its Succession Contest Arc and the exploration headed towards the Dark Continent. Togashi has already hinted at potential ways that the protagonist can return, since he still has aura and has merely lost the way to use it.

Nen is a highly creative system, with its full potential yet to be explored. Due to this, the creator can undoubtedly invent a way to bring Gon back into the fray. Similar to how Chrollo had regained the ability to use Nen, there is potential for Gon to access his powers once again.

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At the same time, it is also important to note the frequent hiatuses that Hunter x Hunter has undergone. Several elements of its expansive world, layered plot threads, and numerous character arcs remain unresolved. Due to Togashi’s ill health, the rate of chapter releases is also irregular.

Due to this, the series will have to complete all its existing storylines before bringing the focus back to Gon Freecss. While fans would undoubtedly like to see this, the chances of it happening currently are low.

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