Prosciutto

"We don't need to say "I'll kill you"... because by the moment those words come into our minds... our target's already dead and the deed is done!"

- Prosciutto,

Prosciutto (プロシュート) is a minor antagonist featured in the 5th part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, Vento Aureo, specifically the "Express Train to Florence" and "The Grateful Dead" story arcs.

Prosciutto is an assassin from La Squadra Esecuzioni, and alongside Pesci, battle Team Bucciarati inside a high-speed train to Florence. He is a Stand User and forcefully ages a whole train with his The Grateful Dead to corner the protagonists.

Appearance
Prosciutto is a man of slim build, having short blond hair and keeping them braided into three short mats at the back of the head. His lower eyelashes are thicker than average, and his upper teeth are somewhat pronounced, being depicted with slight emphasis whenever he opens his mouth.

Prosciutto wears a dark two-piece suit with a spiderweb-like motif running along it, under which he wears a bright shirt. Prosciutto keeps a dark collar and a large stylized pendant around his neck.

Personality
"I'm gonna ransack this place! They must be in here somewhere! Besides, this isn't a big deal, is it? We got tourist flights crashing every year anyway. Those are far worse than what's about to happen here!"

- Prosciutto to Pesci about their mission, Prosciutto is a fairly serious man. He is shown to always be focused on his mission and adhering to La Squadra's motto of holding one's ground, even mortally wounded, to the letter. He puts this into practice and expects his underlings(s) to also do the same. He doesn't tolerate any deviance of this attitude, especially when it's from his comrades and subordinates, and failing to adhere to the ideal such as in the case of Pesci on one occasion, would result in a brief beating being handed out as a reminder. Prosciutto is usually very composed, meeting any obstacle with cold efficiency, and carrying out his objectives without hesitation. The TV anime adaptation expands upon his severity, calling out Formaggio for botching an assassination attempt with an unneeded casualty and regularly shouting at Pesci for not showing a manly enough face.

Despite his serious and cold demeanor, he is also shown to have a somewhat caring side towards his comrades. As the superior of the assassin duo, Prosciutto frequently points out his fellow assassin Pesci's lack of confidence in his own abilities, and on multiple occasions tries to comfort and convince him of his own capabilities. This reliance is not unfounded, however, as Bruno Bucciarati determines from his battle with Pesci that Pesci's abilities are actually more dangerous than Prosciutto's.

He also possesses a strong will, as shown when he suffers near-fatal wounds from being caught in the train's wheels and uses the last of his determination to keep his Stand's ability in effect for as long as possible.

Stand
Prosciutto uses his Stand The Grateful Dead to age people in a large area, discriminating between individuals via near-negligible differences in their body temperature.

Background
Prosciutto was a member of La Squadra Esecuzioni, a team of nine assassins working within Passione. However, the team was frustrated they only received compensation for each kills while the rest of the gang was getting rich from the drug trade. One day their teammates Sorbet and Gelato disappeared while they were trying to investigate the Boss' past. They found Gelato choked on a gag in his house, with a piece of paper on which was written the word "punishment". Later, the team received the sectioned body parts of Sorbet encased in formaldehyde, showing the team the power of the Boss. They despaired of ever finding about the Boss. However, they then heard about Trish Una, and thought that she would be the key to discovering the Boss' Stand ability. The team rebelled and began searching for her. Just after Trish was taken in by Pericolo, La Squadra Esecuzioni ransacked Donatella and Trish's appartment in search for clues, missing a crucial picture of Donatella that was taken by the Boss himself.

The anime adaptation expands on his activities. The night Sorbet and Gelato disappeared, he was on an assignment with Melone, Pesci and Formaggio. Formaggio's method resulted in an unnecessary kill of the target's date and he called Formaggio out on this.

Vento Aureo
At Naples train station, Prosciutto and Pesci find Bucciarati looking around on the platform. While Pesci expresses a wish to avenge his fallen comrades, Prosciutto chastises his junior for expressing empty threats and tells him that such words should only enter his mind after he's murdered his targets. Prosciutto and Pesci split to corner Bucciarati; Prosciutto walks on the platform while Pesci walks in the train to cover all possible ways of approach. Bucciarati grabs something and rushes inside the train, but Prosciutto loses his trace and Pesci has not seen anything out of the usual. Moreover, it seems only the driver is in the cabin. Unbeknownst to them, the team is hiding in a turtle named Coco Jumbo. Unbeknownst to Prosciutto, Trish and her bodyguards are now inside the boss's turtle, Coco Jumbo, whose Stand, Mr.President, creates a room inside its shell.

In order to flush the gang out, Prosciutto decides to use his Stand, The Grateful Dead, to age everyone on-board the train and then goes into hiding. This forces Guido Mista to emerge from the turtle to try and stop the aging. As Mista confronts Pesci, Prosciutto disguises himself as an old man and prevents Pesci from flying by grabbing him. When Mista is about to shoot Pesci, Prosciutto also distracts the gunman and then reveals himself, rapidly aging him and taking him out. Prosciutto reverts himself and yells at Pesci for the second time, scolding him for his cowardice. Showing him what a real hitman ought to be, Prosciutto takes Mista's gun and shoots him three times in the head.

Recalling that Pesci has detected a suspect life-form in the driver's cabin, Prosciutto decides to check inside of it. Pesci express self-doubt but Prosciutto reassures him and tells him that he must have confidence in his Stand. Pesci mentions that he was about to check under the seat and the duo does see recent droppings. Prosciutto breaks through the machinery and discovers Coco Jumbo. However, Bucciarati ambushes him from above the ceiling and Prosciutto is forced into a close-range fistfight. At first, Sticky Fingers proves itself more powerful. When Bucciarati positions himself to kick Pesci, Prosciutto attacks, thinking that the capo has made a bad move, but Bucciarati splits his head to avoid The Grateful Dead's fist and counter-attacks. However, Bucciarati is exerting himself and thus his body temperature rises. Thanks to The Grateful Dead, Prosciutto gains a physical advantage over Bucciarati, but the capo then grabs Prosciutto and throws himself off of the fast-moving train.

Prosciutto is nonetheless saved by Pesci's Beach Boy, which manages to hook his hand. Bruno has grabbed hold of Prosciutto's leg. Prosciutto changes his mind and compliments Bucciarati on his skill and valor, but nonetheless tries to kick him out. Bucciarati is aged and throws both of Sticky Fingers' fists at Prosciutto. However, The Grateful Dead deflects them into Beach Boy's line, as Bucciarati predicted, and the damage is directed towards the assassin. Prosciutto's hand is zipped out; he thus lands into the machinery of the train and is heavily injured, but true to his word maintains The Grateful Dead. Encouraged by his example, Pesci carries on the fight.

Agonizing, Prosciutto witnesses Pesci and Bucciarati's battle and uses the distraction to call Melone and inform him of their location. He finally dies from his wounds soon after.

Vento Aureo (PS2)
Prosciutto appears as the enemy faced in Chapter 8 of Super Story Mode, and as a supporting enemy in Chapter 9. All of his attacks involve having The Grateful Dead attacking Bucciarati with its large hands. Throughout the fight, if Bucciarati comes in contact with the mist let off by The Grateful Dead, he will begin to age as his health slowly drains. The effect will cease if Bucciarati Stand Breaks Prosciutto, or if The Grateful Dead is manually turned off.

His most powerful attack involves The Grateful Dead grabbing Bucciarati and delivering a heavy, powerful punch. Secret Factors during this level have a notably greater impact on the fight than just restoring and increasing Bucciarati's health.

Chapter 8

 * 1) Bucciarati must Stand Shoot Pesci, who is unconscious on the ground in the front of the train car near the bar. This Secret Factor will be lost if not done first. (Value of 2)
 * 2) Bucciarati must hit the ice machine in the front of the car, causing ice cubes to come out. This will activate a cutscene of Bucciarati picking up one of the ice cubes and realizing The Grateful Dead's weakness. Once this is done, The Grateful Dead's aging effect is nullified for the rest of the fight. The ice machine can be hit multiple times afterwards, though to no real effect other than generating ice. (Value of 2)
 * 3) Bucciarati must Stand Shoot the wall next to the front-most window of the train car, left of the bar and Pesci, and in front of the door. This will create a massive zipper opening and activate a cutscene of an intimidated Prosciutto questioning Bucciarati's sanity. Regardless of where Prosciutto was standing beforehand, the fight will resume with him standing in front of the open zipper. (Value of 3)
 * 4) Bucciarati must knock Prosciutto down through the aforementioned opening. Doing so will instantly win the fight, regardless of Prosciutto's health level. (Value of 3)

Prosciutto's near-dead body will appear on the ground in Chapter 9, during the fight against Pesci. After some time has passed, he will begin speaking and shortly afterward reactivate The Grateful Dead's ability, causing Bucciarati to continuously lose health once again. A Secret Factor will trigger if Bucciarati Stand Shoots him once he does so, disabling the ability for the last time.

Eyes of Heaven (PS4)
Prosciutto and The Grateful Dead appear as the first stage hazard in the "Naples Train Station" stage, wandering around the center area. When he appears, all fighters will be slowed to a walk and unable to dash or dodge due to his aging ability. Both he and his Stand have a health bar and will disappear from the battlefield if beaten. The only way for players to undo the aging effect is by either defeating Prosciutto or grabbing ice tray pick-ups scattered around the stage.

After Prosciutto is defeated, Pesci will take his place.

JORGE JOESTAR
In the light novel JORGE JOESTAR, an iteration of Prosciutto lives in the 37th universe, named Prosciutto Cappano (プロシュート・ケッパーノ). Prosciutto appears similarly to his original universe counterpart and is a member of Passione. He is not actually mentioned in the novel by name but he is drawn in the illustrations and named in the captions.

Prosciutto Cappano has a Stand named Twister, which appears similar to The Grateful Dead but its abilities are unknown.

Nero Nero Island, where the base of Passione is located, suddenly grows legs and starts moving through the ocean headed toward Morioh. Some ordinary citizens panic and attempt to escape at the island's harbor. Prosciutto,, , , , and ambush and murder them. Secco's Evil Dead conceals the harbor, making their actions invisible to those within the island, such as. One man manages to escape and tries waving desperately toward Morioh for help before he is killed as well.

The Mafia members move the bodies out of sight by dropping the bodies in the water between the boats, or by tossing them into the tall grass by the side of the road to the harbor. Nero Nero Island suddenly crashes into the barrier surrounding Morioh and flips upward. Its propulsion causes it to tear through the barrier and lands into Morioh Harbor.

Cioccolata and the others start firing bullets and rocket launchers at random civilians and houses in Morioh, attempting to shoot Jorge Joestar as well when he runs by underneath them. The mafia members then jump off the island and head to Budogaoka gymnasium with several weapons.

Gallery
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Trivia

 * He is called Big Brother (兄貴) by his partner-in-crime Pesci.
 * In a 2019 interview with VIZ Media, Hirohiko Araki stated that his favorite character from the Hitman Team is Prosciutto. He enjoys Prosciutto's brotherly banter with his junior, Pesci. He also thought it was fun how Prosicutto's Stand accelerated aging.