*Nexus* received high praise from many readers, while *Katekyō Hitman Reborn!* continued to excite fans more and more.
In the previous chapter, Chapter 24, Tsuna faced the relentless advances of Mukuro Rokudo, the main antagonist and escaped convict from the Kokuyo Arc. Mukuro revealed his special ability, the *Six Paths of Reincarnation*, which left readers amazed.
Mukuro's ability allows him to switch between different powers by changing the number in his eye. Each path grants a unique ability: the Hell Path traps opponents in endless nightmares, breaking their spirit with illusions; the Animal Path summons deadly poisonous creatures; and the Asura Path greatly enhances Mukuro's combat abilities.
Nagato from *Naruto* would probably think Mukuro had great potential and might even invite him to join the Akatsuki. However, this fight wasn't just about one person.
Even though Mukuro's abilities seemed extremely powerful, the Vongola family has been known for decades to turn the tide of battle, even against themselves. After Hibari received the antidote to the Trident Mosquito's sting, he delivered a brutal beating to Mukuro. But just when it seemed Mukuro was defeated, he pulled out a gun and aimed it at the Vongola group.
Before readers could worry about Tsuna and his friends, something shocking happened—Mukuro shot himself!
Why? What was going on? Why did Mukuro commit suicide? And what about the other paths of reincarnation? What are the powers of the Hungry Ghost Path, the Human Path, and the God Path? In the final moments of Chapter 24, Bianchi's eyes displayed the number six, leaving readers even more puzzled.
"I don't think Mukuro is really dead!"
"Me neither! Maybe the Mukuro who shot himself was actually Bianchi, and the real Mukuro disguised himself with an illusion. After all, he is a master of illusions, and one of his other powers might be mind control."
"That would make him almost invincible!"
Fans debated wildly in the comments, but their questions were finally answered in the latest chapter. It turned out that Mukuro hadn't committed suicide at all! He used a special bullet called the *Possession Bullet*, which allowed him to possess the person he shot. Mukuro's goal was clear—he wanted to take over Tsuna's body, the future leader of the Vongola family, to control him and eventually destroy all the mafia families, even the entire world!
"Wow, so Mukuro was after Tsuna's body all along."
"Heh, what a waste! If it were me, I'd possess one of those beautiful girls and... hehe."
"Too bad this power has a weakness—it requires stabbing someone with his trident first to possess them."
Facing Mukuro, who could possess his comrades one after another, Tsuna found himself in a dire situation. But isn't it typical for a shounen protagonist to unleash their potential when pushed to the limit? Tsuna was no exception!
*Katekyō Hitman Reborn!* excels in portraying character development, and this might be due to the original creator Akira Amano being a female manga artist. Women tend to be more meticulous in these areas, similar to how Hiromu Arakawa skillfully developed characters in *Fullmetal Alchemist*. Ren, who modified this series, ensured that the battle scenes were enhanced, while preserving Amano's detailed character arcs.
Take Tsuna, for example. His growth is both natural and unforced, accurately depicting the mental journey of an ordinary boy slowly becoming accustomed to fighting. In many shounen series, the protagonist may hesitate for a moment before fighting, but once the battle begins, they usually don't hold back. Tsuna, on the other hand, perfectly embodies how an average person might react when suddenly thrust into battle: with fear, hesitation, and trembling.
At first, Tsuna is reluctant, full of fear and doubt. But as his comrades are possessed one by one, he finally speaks from the heart. This triggers his pet chameleon, Leon, to evolve and create a new weapon for him. But what does he get? A pair of fluffy gloves?
Readers were left scratching their heads. How was Tsuna supposed to defeat Mukuro with fuzzy gloves? Was he going to win by giving gifts and showing kindness?
But just as readers were puzzled, Tsuna's new weapon transformed, empowered by his upgraded Dying Will Flame, revealing its true form!
"Dang, Tsuna looks so cool now!"
"He looks awesome!"
"Where did my soft-hearted Tsuna go? This isn't the Tsuna I know!"
Indeed, the transformed Tsuna was completely different. Before, even with the Dying Will Flame, Tsuna still had an air of innocence. But in his battle with Mukuro, Tsuna became cold and focused, with an aura that was both intimidating and undeniably cool. The difference was like night and day, comparable to a newly rich person versus a powerful CEO.
Not only did Tsuna's appearance change, but his fighting style did as well. He remained calm and strategic throughout the battle, carefully waiting for the right moment to strike at Mukuro, who kept jumping between hosts.
With his newly evolved Dying Will Flame, Tsuna finally defeated Mukuro. From Ken's mouth, they learned why Mukuro harbored such hatred for the mafia—it all stemmed from a series of horrifying human experiments.
When Mukuro was young, the Estraneo family, who specialized in creating special bullets, faced extermination by the mafia world due to the dangerous nature of their products. In a desperate bid to survive, the family intensified their research and began experimenting on their own children.
Mukuro was one of those children, and the trauma left him with a deep-seated hatred for the mafia, driving him to want to annihilate every last one.
After learning about Mukuro's tragic past, readers began to understand his motivations, even if they didn't agree with his methods. But despite everything, Mukuro was captured and sent back to prison...
Or so it seemed.
At the very end of the chapter, readers were shocked to see that while Tsuna and his friends were watching a match, a young boy's eyes flashed with the number six.
Could it be? Mukuro was still free to roam!
"Sorry for the single update today. Something came up..."
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