Yokotani

Yokotani
Kana	ヨコタニ
Rōmaji	Yokotani
Debuts
Manga Debut	Chapter 378
Characteristics
Gender	Male
State	Alive
General Status
Affiliation	Heil-Ly Family
Occupation	Mafioso Unscrupulous Lawyer Legal Advisor for the Heil-Ly Family
Nen
Type	Conjuration
Abilities	A Battle of Wits: "LSDF"

Yokotani (ヨコタニ, Yokotani) is a member of the Heil-Ly Family, acting as its legal advisor.

Appearance

Yokotani has narrow eyes, a long, thin nose and a perpetual smile. He has slicked-back dark hair that goes to his neck and wears a grey suit, black tie, and black shoes. He is also seen carrying around a large book.

Personality

Yokotani is very cordial, polite, and extremely knowledgeable about the law. Like the other Heil-Ly members, Yokotani is extremely obedient to Morena. He stands to her left during the card game and does not interject; he only speaks when spoken to. When standing around, he often stands with his back straight, feet square, and his hands together behind his back. Being a Heil-Ly member with a significant number of levels, he seems to have sadistic tendencies and no qualms about killing many people. Despite this, he either pays no mind to, or is unaware of his own hypocrisy, smiling as he acts as judge, jury, and executioner for Hinrigh and Nobunaga, for committing the (in comparison to his own, minor) crimes of unlawful entry and attempted murder.

Yokotani is considerate of his fellow Heil-Ly members, apologizing profusely to Terebellum and taking responsibility for Terebellum's ability being revealed to the enemy, after he misjudged the range of an enemy attack and needed to be saved. Because of this, he momentarily forgets that he was the Heil-Ly's self-defense force, and would have stepped back to not get in the way anymore if Terebellum had not reminded him that he was their self-defense force and had stepped forward to engage with their enemies. Despite being assaulted with knives and blades, Yokotani speaks politely and confidently to Hinrigh and Nobunaga. He speaks as though they are superior to him, but this does not stop him from taking action and physically removing them from the Heil-Ly secret hideout with his ability.

According to Voconte, Yokotani's speech patterns indicate that he answers questions based on the questioner's perspective, which, according to Morena, can be indicative of an old hierarchy mindset or the philosophy of selfless hospitality. He also sometimes uses "self" in a second-person context, which Morena parallels to stepping into the other person's shoes.

Plot

Succession Contest arc

Yokotani is seen with the other Heil-Ly members as Morena uses her Contagion on them one at a time and explains how her Nen ability works.

Morena talking about Tserriednich with several members, including Yokotani

During a meeting with Morena in the Heil-Ly's hideout, one member tells her that the butler they left in the VVIP area as a liaison to the Fourth Prince has gone quiet. With four members standing in front of her, Morena guesses that Tserriednich may be on to them and adds that their hideout will be discovered soon based on Gateaume's report. She proposes bringing one of Tserriednich's personal soldiers over to their side, revealing that one of them will go with Dogman to capture a guard. After Matvere (level 21) says that he would prefer to be the "organ", a back-alley doctor, hitman, and Manipulator named Sodom (level 31) volunteers for the mission.

Morena says that while Tserriednich will want to deal with her personally for betraying him, it's unclear when and how he will make his move since the succession contest is still ongoing. She reveals that she wants to infect someone on his side with Contagion so that she can track his movements. She gives them a list and tells them to bring any soldiers they find to the hideout, adding that they should use door C since they can no longer use Room 3101. She then tells Yokotani and Orarge to continue guarding the door, adding that they will only get military and yakuza now. She also tells them to invite Tserriednich's men there if they get any of them. A waste disposal contractor and Enhancer, Orarge (level 21), says that dealing with the First Prince's soldiers would be bad, wondering if they can turn them away on legal grounds. An unscrupulous lawyer and Conjurer, Yokotani (level 27) continues to smile and says that they cannot.

Nobunaga attempting to kill Yokotani

When Hinrigh and Nobunaga infiltrate the Heil-Ly's hideout, Yokotani eventually speaks up and confirms Hinrigh's identity, introducing himself as the family's lawyer. Terebellum then tells him to call the military and police since a crazy person is throwing knives and going on a rampage. Yokotani explains that they have committed both trespassing and bodily harm, which is as close as they can get to attempted murder. He asks if it's okay to report it to the police, and Hinrigh says that it's convenient since they're lost, wondering where they are. Yokotani replies that he can't reveal that and agrees to keep things civil if they follow his instructions. Nobunaga then gets his attention, and Yokotani recognizes him as a member of the Phantom Troupe, saying that it's a big deal for them.

Before Yokotani can finish asking a question, Nobunaga uses a chain attached to the end of his katana to reach the Heil-Ly member and stab his head. However, Terebellum is seen with his right hand on Yokotani's shoulder, and when Nobunaga pulls back his katana, he sees that the tip is missing, realizing that Terebellum can move the damage from other people as well. Blood begins to stream down Terebellum's left arm as he tells Yokotani to stay back. Nobunaga says that if Terebellum doesn't transfer the damage he receives with his right hand to something else with his left hand, he will receive the damage himself. He describes the ability as unselfish and adds that it doesn't suit his appearance at all. It's explained that Terebellum's Emission ability, Damage: "Sweet Home", allows him to displace damage along with the attacking object. The damage to something touched by his right hand is taken into Terebellum himself, and it can be transferred to something when he touches it with his left hand. It only works if he is touching it the moment the damage is received.

Yokotani activating his ability

Nobunaga tells Terebellum to step back and tells Yokotani to come closer again, promising to skewer all of them as aura surrounds his katana. Yokotani apologizes and says that he didn't expect Nobunaga to abandon the spirit of a samurai, and Terebellum criticizes him for getting close to the enemy so carelessly. Yokotani realizes that he's the reason why Terebellum's ability was exposed and wonders how he can apologize, explaining that the samurai of his homeland were against the use of projectile weapons. Terebellum wonders if he will keep making excuses, and Yokotani quickly apologizes before saying that he will disappear for a while. However, Terebellum tells him that he will make the intruders disappear, reminding him that he identified himself to them and that he is a guard.

Yokotani then activates his Conjuration ability, A Battle of Wits: "LSDF", which is explained to be a defensive ability that can only be used at the hideout where Morena is located. It activates when Yokotani identifies himself to an intruder who has broken the law, and while the guards he conjures cannot harm the criminal, the criminal's attacks are also ineffective. The more serious the opponent's crime, the higher the level of guards Yokotani can create. With aura swelling around them, seven puppets appear behind him and identify the two criminals, charging them with trespassing and attempted murder as they reach alert level 4. Yokotani confirms the sentence and orders them to be expelled from the premises. As the puppets run forward, Nobunaga readies his katana and strikes one of them, but it takes no damage and reaches the maximum alert level as its aura increases. Nobunaga realizes that its aura has been enhanced and tells Hinrigh that the puppets are most likely invincible since the two of them already met the conditions of Yokotani's ability.

Yokotani's puppets restraining Nobunaga

The puppets swarm and restrain Nobunaga, with one of them confiscating his katana. Nobunaga tells Hinrigh to run since the puppets are on autopilot and won't stop until they remove him as well. The puppets carry Nobunaga out, and he is eventually teleported away, with Yokotani confirming his expulsion and adding that they have one more target. As the puppets sprint toward Hinrigh, Yokotani tells him that he also has two attempted murders with willful negligence and that he will be expelled, asking him to give up and leave. Based on the teleportation traps and invincible-type users, Hinrigh is confident that it's the Heil-Ly's main base, returning to the laundry room and closing the door behind him. As the puppets pound on the door, Hinrigh tells himself that he will use Nobunaga's advice and hide the transmitter there since the puppets are on autopilot, and the user won't be able to see what he's doing in the room. He then puts two fingers in his mouth so that he can vomit up the transmitter.

On the twelfth day of the voyage, before Nobunaga turns back to Tier 5, Phinks asks him if there is anything they should know about the Heil-Ly's hideout. Nobunaga describes Yokotani's ability to them.

The Heil-Ly capture PFC Borksen during her patrol as 9^th Prince Halkenburg's funeral procession passes by her on Tier 3. She is brought to the Heil-Ly Family Secret Hideout, where she regains consciousness only to find herself surrounded by Morena and five of her underlings, including Yokotani. Yokotani stands at the side of the table with his hands behind his back, facing Borksen as Morena explains the rules of a negotiation game to her. During the explanation, Borksen tries asking a practice question, and asks Morena if she would cheat during the game. Morena takes the chance to clarify the nuances of the phrasing of her answer, and Voconte candidly ribs Yokotani for having a similar speech pattern, earning a sheepish response from Yokotani where he admits not being aware that he speaks that way.

Shortly after the game begins, Borksen tries her luck at getting answers to some of her questions through small talk from the other members. She tries asking them how many members they have, but Yokotani simply smiles at her wordlessly before Morena tells Borksen that she would not get answers from them. The speaker beeps and interrupts the game to announce that Special Martial Law has been declared. Yokotani and the other people present listen to the instructions announced. Despite the declaration of Special Martial Law, Borksen continues the game. Yokotani continues spectating, and watches intently during the final round to see whether Borksen's final card would be a "No" or a "Return", which she had earlier stated would be used to return the "X" card and void the game. Borksen flips over the "Return" card, and crumples it, having grabbed it too tightly in her relief at surviving. Gelato and the other underlings leave, not believing they need to watch Borksen return the "X" card, but hear Morena ask Borksen if she had made a mistake, and turn to see that Borksen has chosen to return the "Yes" card. Morena's tone changes, and she accuses Borksen of cheating. Yokotani and the other underlings return and surround her. Morena reveals that cheating in the card game triggers a manipulative ability that forces its targets to say only Yes or No, and hears Borksen affirm one more time that she will join the Heil-Ly. Yokotani and the other underlings applaud her choice, and Borksen is released from the manipulative ability, collapsing to the ground.

Abilities & Powers

Legal Knowledge: Yokotani is the Heil-Ly family’s legal advisor. He is well versed in laws and legalities and has interpreted them into his Nen ability.

Nen

Yokotani is a Conjurer. Having reached level 27 with Morena's Nen ability, Yokotani's aura amount and output have been increased. He also obtained a Nen ability.

Yokotani's Nen Type: Conjuration
Type: Conjuration	A Battle of Wits: "LSDF" (墨攻(LSDF), Bokkō)
	A defensive ability only usable in the hideout while Morena is present. It activates when Yokotani introduces himself to unlawful intruders. The conjured guards cannot harm the target, but the target's attacks also have no effect. The guards have a number on their heads indicative of some sort of level; it is likely that the level of the guards increases with the severity of the crime believed to be committed. The level of the guards are not fixed upon creation, the guards have been seen "levelling up" after being conjured. The ability is confirmed to work in the Heil-Ly Family Secret Hideout between Tiers 2 and 3, but it is unclear if it also works in the Heil-Ly Family Office on Tier 3 The Heil-Ly Family Secret Hideout contains a teleportation door in their base, which is likely an instance of fellow Heil-Ly member Voconte's Door, teleporting users to Room 3101. Nen dolls conjured by LSDF appear to be able to freely pass through the door without being teleported. It is unclear if this is because the door does not teleport Nen conjurations, because Voconte has the ability to actively decide in the moment what gets teleported through, or because Yokotani's dolls are an exception.

Manga Appearances

Succession Contest arc
340. Special Mission	Absent
341. Threats	Absent
342. Challenge	Absent
343. Invitation	Absent
344. Author	Absent
345. Signature	Absent
346. Options	Absent
347. Inauguration	Absent
348. Resolve	Absent
349. Worm Toxin	Absent
350. Prince	Absent
351. Battle to the Death	Absent
352. Troublesome	Absent
353. Cold-Blooded	Absent
354. Heat	Absent
355. Detonation	Absent
356. Unfortunate: Part 1	Absent
357. Unfortunate: Part 2	Absent
358. Eve	Absent
359. Departure	Absent
360. Parasite	Absent
361. Withdraw	Absent
362. Resolve	Absent
363. Nen Beast	Absent
364. Speculation	Absent
365. Choice	Absent
366. To Each His Own	Absent
367. Synchronization	Absent
368. Foul Play	Absent
369. Limits	Absent
370. Observation	Absent
371. Mission	Absent
372. Disappearance	Absent
373. Inheritance	Absent
374. Ability	Absent
375. Persuasion	Absent
376. Determination	Absent
377. Scheme	Absent
378. Balance	Debut
379. Collaboration	Absent
380. Alarm	Absent
381. Predation	Absent
382. Awakening	Absent
383. Escape	Absent
384. War	Absent
385. Warning	Absent
386. Hypothesis	Absent
387. Recreation	Absent
388. Reflection	Absent
389. Curse	Absent
390. Clash: Part 1	Absent
391. Clash: Part 2	Absent
392. Information	Absent
393. Plea	Absent
394. Hypothesis	Appears
395. Founding: Part 1	Absent
396. Founding: Part 2	Absent
397. Founding: Part 3	Absent
398. Search	Absent
399. Expulsion	Appears
400. Secrecy	Absent
401. Moonlight	Absent
402. Letter	Absent
403. Results	Absent
404. Speculation	Absent
405. Performance	Absent
406. Regalia	Mentioned
407. Negotiation	Appears
408. Negotiation: Part 2	Appears
409. Negotiation: Part 3	Appears
410. Negotiation: Part 4	Appears

Battles

Battles
Succession Contest arc: Yokotani, Terebellum, Perigord, Orarge & Soufflé vs. Hinrigh Biganduffno & Nobunaga Hazama

Trivia

Intertextuality and References

• The Hunter × Hunter letters on Yokotani's book refer to the Six Codes, the legal codes that make up the main body of law in Japan and other East Asian countries.
• The name of Yokotani's ability, Bokkō, is a 1991 Japanese historical fiction novel written by Ken'ichi Sakemi. It focuses on a group known as the Mohists, who preach "non-war and love".
• Yokotani states that he came from a country with a samurai tradition, indicating that he may originate from Jappon. He expresses incredulity when Nobunaga strikes him from a distance with a chained katana, since samurai frown upon such methods of attack.
  • While the usage of ranged weapons is allowed given the fact that real-life samurai did wield bows and arrows, spears, lances, and even firearms, striking from a distance is considered dishonorable, since they were devout practitioners ofBushido. However, the former case was an exception since they were utilized on a battlefield where long-ranged attacks were required in certain situations.