hidewari:

So I know people like to have this anti narrative when it comes to any ideas they don’t like about their favourite characters, but I don’t think the Hide traitor theories should be so easily discredited. In fact, I think they’re quite substantive, just maybe not in the same way that others do, so let me give you my take on it.

I want to start off by saying that I have no doubts that Hide cares greatly for Kaneki. In my opinion, it’s really indisputable; I just don’t see how someone could go to such extreme lengths for another person and dedicate so much of their life to them just to gain their trust so they can betray them. It just seems completely nonsensical to me considering everything that Hide’s gone through for Kaneki, however, I don’t think that’s enough to discredit the idea that maybe he has a part in some sort of betrayal.

Aside from all the obvious implications that Hide seemingly has more knowledge on this whole clown situation than we may think, there has been so much tying him to the clowns in one way or another previously, that I’ll honestly be very surprised if that doesn’t end up going anywhere.

The links that Hide has to Uta by themselves are extensive. I made a post about their potential association here (this post addresses things like the headphones that Uta owned as well as a couple other things, thanks to @midnight-in-town for their contribution), and now that it’s confirmed that Hide was the one who sent Kaneki “The Hanged Man’s McGuffin,” I think we can file that away with the rest of the evidence since it was sent along with the mask from Uta.

Actually, the fact that Hide sent that book sort of feels like he was slipping Haise some hints about his old identity, which is interesting considering the fact that that’s obviously something the Washuu wouldn’t want him to find out about. This seems to be one of the earliest implications of Hide’s opposition to the Washuu.

We know that the Washuu were after Hide for whatever reason, and if we make the assumption that Uta is the original OEK just based on all the evidence we have so far, then we know that he too is in direct opposition to the Washuu. So, it’s not difficult to picture them conspiring if they share(d) an agenda.

In fact, if Uta is a Washuu and Hide has some sort of conspiracy with him, then that would explain why Hide knows so much about them in the first place when there didn’t seem to be anyone outside of the clan with that knowledge at the time.

Now, let’s not forget the main source of this whole traitor narrative either: the play that he and Kaneki performed in as children. (I think this is a very significant tool when it comes to Hide and Kaneki’s relationship, especially because of the fact that it was such a key focus in the original draft of the last episode of root A.)

We have very explicit clown imagery here, potentially tying him to them again, and not only that, but the role he’s in involves him betraying the prince (Kaneki) under the witch’s influence.

(Just as a quick side note,the general candidates for the witch seem to be:

• Eto — potentially under the control of the Clowns if we assume that monster in recent chapters is her.
• Itori — obvious link with the clowns and there’s also the fact that the mother of Hide’s counterpart in “The Penisman” very clearly resembles her.
• Roma — again, very obvious link with the clowns.)

Now, here’s the important part that I feel gets overlooked when it comes to discussions about Hide’s potential betrayal — in the play, the witch’s servant is tricked into betraying the Prince under the guise that what he’s doing is for the Prince’s benefit.

I know Hide’s smart and manipulative, but so are Uta and Eto, or whoever else you want to believe had their part in this. It’s possible that Hide’s betrayal is not intentional and that he’s manipulated into it instead without his knowledge, or under the impression that he’s helping Kaneki.

Maybe Hide’s suggestion in chapter 165 (that he made with the intention of helping Kaneki) actually ends up getting Kaneki into a tight spot and that’s one aspect of betrayal that the play alludes to?

Going back to his potential conspiracy with Uta for a minute, I’m seeing some speculation that one of the Clowns’ goals is to take Hide out since they’re heading for HQ. Though I’m not 100% sure just yet, it’s possible that if this is true, it could be as a result of Hide turning his back on them (Uta) now that the Washuu are gone and they no longer share a common objective. After the Washuu’s demise, Hide no longer had any use for Uta or the Clowns and, obviously, Hide knows WAY too much to just let him run around with that knowledge when he’s no longer to be trusted. They’ll want to take him out for sure, so why not kill two birds with one stone and attempt to manipulate him into luring Kaneki to his demise as well?

Either way, giving the traitor narrative some credence by no means negates Hide’s love and dedication to Kaneki. After all, the play ends with the witch’s servant showing great remorse for his actions and he asks the Prince for forgiveness, which he eventually gives once the witch’s servant promises never to betray him again and fight by his side.

It would be an interesting direction to take, and all the foreshadowing that play does is going to prove to be significant for sure, certainly in the development of Kaneki and Hide’s relationship (they still have obvious issues that need sorting out and that just isn’t happening yet). So I wouldn’t so readily dismiss theories about Hide’s betrayal, but I also wouldn’t worry about such a narrative playing out; Hide’s care and dedication for Kaneki are genuine, without a doubt, and I believe they’ll prevail in the end, just as the conclusion to the play suggests where the Prince forgives his friend and puts all his faith and trust in him once more to be his strength and fight by his side.

@hidewari Can I just say that, while you know I totally agree with you when it comes to Hide having an agenda and not betraying Kaneki, I really really doubt that Hide possibly having a link with the Clowns is equal to currently having a falling out with them (and them trying to take him out).  

It’s my and @linkspooky ky​‘s little theory here (the last reblog) and actually, it’s something I feel is often misunderstood because Clowns =/= villains (contrarily to what most readers seem to think), at least not all of them. Roma acted as a villain (and she died), Donato and Furuta also are presented to be villains (and will most likely also die) but these three…

are different for reasons I explained here (namely having an agenda that isn’t just about Furuta’s plan and almost always making up for any nasty joke of theirs previously), and thus were foreshadowed to survive this and have their last laugh about how great this play was.

Anyway, in the post I linked above, @linkspooky​ and I discussed Uta’s gift of ch31.5 possibly being intended for Hide (who’s the one who then sent it to Kaneki with the book), just like it’s possible Hide lent him his headphones and played chess with him, so tbh I don’t really understand why people automatically think that Hide and Uta (or the Clowns in general) are now enemies, simply because the situation presents them to be on opposite sides.

I mean, it’s not like the Clowns ever played straight by the rules or according to our expectations before, and again, we saw that specifically with Uta. xD

After all, didn’t Uta, Itori and Nico help Kaneki in the past? So why should this be erased from their record, simply because they’re also helping Furuta?  So why can’t Hide have a link to the Clowns that is/was beneficial to everyone on several aspects (trading information, helping Hide to hide from the Washuus…) and that didn’t necessarily end in them “choosing to be on opposite sides and thus enemies”?

In my opinion, this never was as simple as that: Kaneki’s group and the CCG are the ones who think this is about taking a side (though V must believe in that as well, since Furuta is using them too), but the Clowns overall? They’re literally just stalling for time….

and there is nothing personal as to why they’re helping with Furuta’s plan…

…except for Donato (most likely) who has some beef and an upcoming confrontation with Amon (who’s standing firm on the opposite side). 

TL;DR

• Hide having a link with the Clowns? Possible.
• Hide betraying Kaneki as a result? Not happening.
• The Clowns and Hide being enemies then, because they “chose different sides in the current conflict”? Not necessarily (and in my opinion, nahhh). 

I’m aware the Clowns (and Hide) are really complex characters and the fact we don’t know much about them isn’t helping with understanding their motivation, but they’re not impossible to read through either after 29 volumes of TG. That’s why personally I believe the notion of “choosing a side” besides their own enjoyment/interest in different things is something that flies completely over their heads. xD

Sorry for rambling, I’m aware I’m way too fond of the topic, so I hope you don’t mind. :3 Happy Easter!