QUOTE (dive to blue @ Oct 16 2007, 4:06 PM) 
Hiro has told us in a past episode that the Dragon trained Takezo Kensei, and later, asked for the princess. Takezo Kensei cut out his heart and handed it to the Dragon.
So here's a theory: Hiro is the dragon.
How so? Hiro techincally trained Kensei, as he is trying to make Kensei into the man of legend. And we all know too, that Hiro has feelings for the princess, and that's the reason (or at least, one of them) why he stayed in feudal Japan. It makes sense that Hiro would ask for the princess, and Takezo Kensei would cut out his heart, literally, since he has the ability of spontaneous regeneration.
Now, I'm not saying Hiro is literally going to turn into a dragon. That would be absurd. As most of us know, in the Heroes world and the real world, depictions have tended to become skewed and distorted as time passes by.
I also believe that there's a possibility that David Anders is playing both Takezo Kensei and the suposed villian "Kane," but I'll save that for another time. I'm sure we'll find out next episode.
So here's a theory: Hiro is the dragon.
How so? Hiro techincally trained Kensei, as he is trying to make Kensei into the man of legend. And we all know too, that Hiro has feelings for the princess, and that's the reason (or at least, one of them) why he stayed in feudal Japan. It makes sense that Hiro would ask for the princess, and Takezo Kensei would cut out his heart, literally, since he has the ability of spontaneous regeneration.
Now, I'm not saying Hiro is literally going to turn into a dragon. That would be absurd. As most of us know, in the Heroes world and the real world, depictions have tended to become skewed and distorted as time passes by.
I also believe that there's a possibility that David Anders is playing both Takezo Kensei and the suposed villian "Kane," but I'll save that for another time. I'm sure we'll find out next episode.
I'm with you here. Especially know that GN 55 is out, about Hiro being the Dragon of the stories. Him appearing as some sort of 'tanuki' or something just underlines the concept of him as a mystical creature of ancient Japan during his time there.
This 'myth' has most likely been perpetuated by Kensei himself, maybe in order to protect future Hiro's knowledge of the events (maybe an attempt to keep Hiro from steeling his love?), but most likely to heighten his own legend and fame and keep his real identity and power concealed.
Now, for those that say that the GN disproves the theory that Kensei is actually Pop's Patrelli:
Actually, nowhere in the GN did it mention whether he had a power or not. It just showed him being shocked at the fact that Linderman had power. Perhaps he could feel Linderman's power somehow working alongside his own in healing his wounds. In order to preserve his identity, he would have to show shock at the ability. Perhaps he WAS shocked and thought himself the only SG, having not seen one in 300+ years. Of course, with his foreknowledge of Hiro and his words of other's with abilities in the future, he was aware that the day would come.
His wish to tell the Gov. of the SG. The desire of a 'Company' to search for and track SG after Gov. refusal, with knowledge of forthcoming SG. Might he want to keep track of who had powers and be on the lookout for the chance to alter events in his ancient past?
In the photo of the 12, it is as if he is intentionally NOT looking at the camera and is being careful to keep his visage muddled. I would suspect that over the years, he's found that it's best not to keep images of himself for future generations to find.
Maybe he is bitter at Hiro for things he sees as wrongs done to him. This would explain his distrust with Nakamura and the strange look that Nathan spoke of. I think we'll find out that Patrelli aka Kensei 'committed suicide' once he knew of the existence of Hiro in the current timeline. Remember, Nathan and Peter are older than Hiro and Hiro's only sibling is his older sister. Kaito having a daughter would be of no concern for Kensei.
Perhaps the bomb last season was all an attempt to disrupt Hiro from visiting ancient Japan. Having failed in the attempt, Patrelli aka Kensei aka Kane returns to visit revenge on Kaito and Angela, believing (perhaps correctly?) that Hiro is a product of their tryst?
Maybe I'm off-base about Patrelli/Kensei's intentions, but I believe this theory will hold true.