Theory:Hiro Nakamura

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The following fan theories are about Hiro Nakamura.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Hiro is Takezo Kensei.	None.	+ The picture of Takezo in the museum looks a lot like Hiro in the future. + He can manipulate time, and he does end up in the past. + It cannot be a far off idea that he is the "Godsend" after he teleports into ancient Japan. + In the legend, Takezo Kensei finds his katana frozen in snow. Hiro found himself in a similar moment when Sylar froze his blade. + Hiro accidentally time-travels to ancient japan, most probably during the time of Takezo Kensei. (How to Stop an Exploding Man) Also, his ability to teleport could have given the ancient Japanese the idea that he is a godsend. - In an interview, George Takei strongly implied that Takezo Kensei is Hiro's ancestor. • If Takezo is Hiro's ancestor, it would be a grandfather paradox. - Hiro travels back in time and sees Takezo Kensei in ancient Japan. (Four Months Later) + In a sense, Hiro DOES become Kensei, by pretending to be him on two seperate occasions. (Lizards) However, it seems that Hiro's intervention does inspire Kensei to become the man he is supposed to be (Kindred). - Hiro is compelled to stay in the past, partly out of his fears that Kensei will be unable to stay true to form without Hiro to guide him further. (Kindred). + After "the kiss that fractured history", it seems likely that Kensei will become evil, helping Whitebeard to take over Japan. As Hiro fights Kensei, he might take over the hero role that Kensei gave up, assuming his name, armor, and sword, marrying Yaeko, and facing the Dragon of Kiso Mountain. • Hiro might then return to the present much like the experienced warrior that we see in Future Hiro.
Hiro's powers resulted from mutations in his grandfather's DNA. These mutations were caused by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.	Hiro's grandfather was a survivor of Hiroshima and died of cancer. (The Crane)	- In an interview, George Takei strongly implied that Takezo Kensei is Hiro's ancestor. He says that through that legendary samurai, he is bringing a lot of good DNA to this role. This means that Hiro's DNA mutations were obtained from Kensei, not the atomic bomb.
Hiro's grandfather is Patient Zero, the first of the evolved humans according to Chandra's research.	Hiro's grandfather was a survivor of Hiroshima. (The Crane)	+ His exposure to radiation could have caused him to develop special powers. Hiro's grandfather knew that Hiro would one day develop powers and introduced his grandson to comics fostering dreams of special abilities. - Radiation gives you cancer, not powers; otherwise Mrs. Sprague would have powers. • On the other hand, Hiro's father likely received a much smaller dose than Mrs. Sprague presumably got. Cancer is a type of genetic mutation, and Chandra Suresh believed that most powers first presented themselves as genetic mutations. - In Parasite, Mohinder reveals that his father called Sylar Patient Zero.
Hiro was adopted by Kaito Nakamura.	Claire was adopted by Mr. Bennet while waiting for her powers to manifest. (Company Man).	+ Hiro could have been adopted by Kaito while waiting for his powers to manifest. - It seems inconsistent with Japanese culture to offer leadership to an adoptive child over a biological child, but that could be a way to cover Hiro's non-biological relationship to Kaito or a reflection on latent sexism in Japanese culture. - Hiro's powers manifested fairly late in life, and would be extremely difficult for Mr. Nakamura (or anybody else) to detect. - In an interview, writers Aron Coleite and Joe Pokaski stated that Hiro is Kaito's son. • That doesn't mean that Hiro is his biological son. Claire is always referred to as "daughter" by Mr. Bennet, and she's not his biological daughter.
Hiro did not kill Sylar because he used Ando's sword	None.	+ Isaac's comic showed Hiro stabbing Sylar with the Kensei sword. + Isaac's paintings did not always come true because of changes made by the characters. - Isaac's paintings give little context to what they show. The comic shows Sylar getting stabbed but not necessarily killed. It may be that the comic never meant to foretell Sylar's death.
Hiro's powers have not fully developed. When they do he will be able to summon anything from anywhere to any point in time.	None.	+ Many of the powers take practice and time to develop. • Future Hiro did not display such an ability. Had he possessed it, he could have brought Future Peter to him and Ando, rather than traveling to Las Vegas, or simply summoned present-day Hiro from the Homeland Security building. He may have not fully developed his powers in the period of five years, however.
Hiro is Angela Petrelli's biological son.	None.	+ Angela says to Matt Parkman that she has not been sleeping with Kaito "for a long time," implying that she may have at some point in the past.
Hiro is the Dragon of Kiso Mountain.	None.	+ Hiro has taken on the role of teacher to Kensei in Kindred. + If Hiro had not arrived, it seems unlikely that Kensei would have become the hero that legends speak of. This could explain the idea that the Dragon taught Kensei to become "the sword saint." + In addition, the legend describing how the Dragon taught Kensei the "secrets of the sword" could be a metaphor for Hiro introducing Kensei to his power. + The Kensei legends say that The Dragon blocked out the sun and Hiro first appeared to Kensei during an eclipse. - It's already been established that that wasn't Kensei. By the time Hiro meets the real Kensei, the eclipse is long past. + As far as witnesses to the event could tell, the man in Kensei's armor was Takezo Kensei. + Hiro admits that he is in love with the girl who is meant to be Kensei's bride. (Kindred) Perhaps the legend of Kensei giving up his heart will refer to his killing himself so that Hiro (who has been responsible for his greatness) and the swordmaker's daughter (who seems to have fallen in love with Hiro's gentleness) can be free to be together. + Hiro has a good reason to demand "the life of the princess", which could refer to his desire to have her marry him instead of Kensei. By cutting out his heart, Kensei could show Hiro that his love for Yaeko is as strong as Hiro's. • The Dragon of Kiso Mountain probably did not "breathe life back into the warrior", it was just Kensei's healing ability. + If Hiro hadn't traveled back in time probably Kensei wouldn't had discovered his ability. - After "the kiss that fractured history," Hiro may take over the role of Kensei, and Kensei himself may become the dragon, teaching Hiro to fight and then demanding the life of his former love.
Hiro did not actually change history when he time-traveled to ancient Japan; events as they are unfolding now are exactly the events that occurred in the first place.	None.	+ It seems unlikely that Kensei would have become the hero of history without Hiro's guidance, as Kensei said himself that Hiro is like his conscience. + The "Battle of Twelve Swords" fits more into the context of Hiro's time-stop ability than Kensei's regeneration; if Kensei had gone into the battle, it is unlikely he would have simply disarmed the opponents. + This could explain why the depictions of Kensei in the Sword Saint documentaries looks less like Kensei, and more like Hiro.
Hiro is the hooded killer.	None	+ Kaito seemed very suprised when he realized who the killer was. Certainly if they had betrayed Kensei in the past it would not seem all too shocking. + This would explain how the killer was able to attack Kaito and escape unscathed. And perhaps in the past Hiro learned a new application of his power to make himself seemingly invisible to carry out the attacks on Angela Petrelli.
Hiro will not return to the present from feudal Japan.	None	+ If Hiro returned to the present, he would not have any reason to send his messages to Ando. He could have just told Ando about Kensei himself. + Painting six in the series of eight depicts a showdown between Hiro and Kensei. Both are wearing period costumes, indicating that they are both in the past. This suggests that Hiro will still be in Feudal Japan during the season's climactic events. - Future Hiro may have been through these events in the past, and then returned to the future of his timeline. This may be how he became such a skilled warrior, and why he was ignorant of some of the events immediately following the explosion.