Membership

Due to Naruko's ability, they hunted down Specific Card Items, gained them and stored them in her shadows.

They met up with the others who were looking for an Exorcist and they found one, hiring him.

Apparently he wants a big amount of money in return for his work as his little sister needed hospital money to be treated, having a fatal cancer he was desperate, but wound up underestimating the game that would take years to complete and by then she would be dead. Total costs for everything was huge, so they had to gather the money and forward it to the hospital through the bank and they're sold.

But they had to find the boss first...where the hell is he?

It took a good few months by the time she met the boss, it was already March. Over half a year. She spent much of her time combat training under Phinks while Feitan handled Kalluto to raise their skill level to last long.

She got involved with the troupe around September.

However, Exorcising the boss, was fatal but he got the chain off.

Although Chrollo wondered 'why children' to his comrades who nominated them as replacement members.

The Genei Ryodan has some rules that keeps everyone organized.

Mirroring the metaphorical representation of the group as a twelve-legged spider, the Phantom Troupe is composed of 13 members, one head and 12 legs.

All the legs are equal in ranking and decisional power, and tasks are assigned based on each member's individual skills or head is the leader, whose orders are to be considered the utmost priority; however, their life is not, since even the head can be replaced. The legs are expected to always adhere to the governing principle that the prosperity of the group as a whole trumps the survival of any one of its individuals, even taking matters into their own hands should the interests of the group and of the head clash.

The Troupe does not assemble frequently, but gathers at the head's request, which can be discretionary or mandatory. Skipping a mandatory meeting could result in a leg being punished by the head. Only the head has the authority to add new members, although a leg can recommend candidates they deem suitable subject for approval if skills benefits the group as a whole.

When a member is killed, the head can take it upon themselves to inflict retribution on the offender. Nonetheless, defeating a current member is a viable way to replace them, which may not be subjected to the head's approval.

Final rule, two legs at a time, must always be by the leader's side, changing every week as bodyguards.

Those are the rules Naruko and Kalluto were told of.

'Their abilities are unique.' said Machi. 'Kalluto is a tracker and infiltrator with espionage abilities while Naruko is our provider and medic with their abilities. We've seen it in action. Kalluto can join the Recon Group though Naruko's position has to be unique due to her ability. She's her own Supermarket.'

'We could even smuggle out treasure out of the Game without even having to clear the game.' said Franklin. 'Razor, one of the Game Masters was none the wiser.'

'I see...can you bring it out?' Chrollo asked Naruko. To even smuggle items out of a Nen-Controlled Island is amazing by itself. 'And what their uses are.'

'OK.' Naruko flicked her wrist, with an item coming out, reminding him of Hisoka's card tricks. It was a rather large stone spring the size of a small basin even she could hold. 'This is Liquor Spring. For now its water but if we take some out, what was taken will randomly become high-class liquor. For free. Its eternally flowing with no fear of spilling out we got no idea how this works because its magical in nature. Everyone wanted a free drink of booze every day so we hunted this down.' she made it go away and another came out. A jar of stones. 'Pregnancy Stones. Carry a stone for a month and even if you're a man you'll get pregnant! You can even choose the gender!' Chrollo looked at it in horror with flyaway hairs. 'We got more wacky things inside my Warehouse and they tend to have consequences...'

'Ahaha, they're our interests.' Shalnark chuckled. 'We got wacky and crazy in there we can sell them for a fortune but let's keep some stuff to ourselves, shall we?'

Thus, Kalluto and Naruko are welcomed officially, given a designated number being found first Naruko was four. Kalluto became Pakunoda's replacement being nine..

Naruko became Hisoka's replacement.

Kalluto's the youngest member being 11 years old and Naruko 13. They were taken to Meteor City to become truly official members as Spiders who came from there are its strongest military force.

Or perhaps its more appropriate to say 'mercenary'.

They steal to keep the city afloat. And there was a strong bond between Meteor City Residents.

Meteor City is a Junkyard City where unwanted things, even unwanted children are thrown at. They are then taken in and raised by the city communally. Thus they have no concept of husband, wife, parents, siblings and family. The only concept they know, is kinship. Naruko fits in as she didn't belong anywhere and nobody in Meteor City knows her, so she may be a 'junkyard child' born in the streets of outside, they thought.

Naruko officially began her duties as provider...as she is the only one with all the food and the only one who can cook. But she makes someone else do the dishes before returning them to her Warehouse.

Then something interesting happened.

'Hey, the whole world is in an uproar!' Shalnark came home with exciting news.

'Uproar? Must be quite the scandal.' said Franklin. 'What about?'

'The King of Kakin wants to organize a Voyage to the Dark Continent.' this alarmed Naruko. 'The Hunter Association and the World Leaders are in an uproar for some reason.'

From what the Captain told her, the shinobi nations were the 'dummy' Dark Continent for anyone who tried to poke, but the real deal is information classified by those in the know.

'Fools.' said Naruko in distaste. 'That country. They have no idea they stirred up a Chimera Ant Nest with that intention. They risk alienating the whole world because the Dark Continent is taboo.'

'You know something kiddo?' Phinks asked her as all eyes were on Naruko.

'Yeah. I came from there, or rather the 'dummy' continent no doubt V5 will trick Kakin into going to because the real deal is pure hell within Pandora's Box.' said Naruko. 'I told you that I don't belong here don't I? I came from there.' that, was news to them. 'The dummy continent is a fickle, constantly ticking time bomb where wars happen on a whim which is why I left that place. Instead of Nen Users, the power there are Chakra-Wielding Shinobi but considering power scale, a Nen User is superior that even Kalluto can kill a Kage, the strongest ninja there and Kage are often village leaders.' Kalluto raised an eyebrow at that statement. 'The only thing Chakra Users have advantage over us is that their abilities are very versatile while we're restricted to our hatsus.'

'So you're a shinobi huh?' Feitan remarked.

'Aa. But I was never an official ninja in the military. I left while I could because a ninja who abandons their village is a security risk through information leaks. Thus the village will send out Black Ops to kill that Nukenin. Children go to the Academy at age 6 and become Genin at 12. By then we're legal adults, subjected to the laws. I left my village, ensuring I didn't officially graduate and left that continent through a rare ship that only comes once a year there. And I learned Nen from the Captain and how dangerous the seas are the further away you are from land. The seas alone, have incredible monsters the whole crew must fight during the whole voyage just to get here in one piece. Even more interesting, we are inside a lake.'

'A lake.' Nobunaga deadpanned.

'The V5 call it Mobius Lake, while the rest of the world thinks we're in an ocean. Our world map is just a bunch of tiny islands in the middle of that lake, surrounded by border islands guarded by Gate Keepers that prevent those of this world from going out as the world you know is the last bastion of humanity.' Naruko continued. 'The world beyond the lake is full of monsters and natural disasters nobody can survive from, a dog-eat-dog world. It is said that only three people survived that hellhole, at least in records known to V5. Chairman Netero, Rinne Hor d'eouvre and Zzigg Zoldyck.' the last name got Kalluto's notice.

'What nobody in this world knows is that there are humans in the dummy continent. Safe to say that Jappon came from there, probably left, fed up with wars caused by shinobi. Too much wars means culture can never develop and improve that as far as they went, TV is still those old fashioned analog boxes as an example. The technology they get came from here.'

'I see...so it must be a boring place yet King Nasubi Hui Guo Rou believes its a land full of food and resources.' Shalnark chuckled.

'Far from the truth! Economy there is phone booth change compared to economy here.' Naruko scoffed, earning her raised eyebrows. 'However, the Dark Continent, a no-man's land is indeed full of treasure worth dying for that the V5 discovered five treasures and five disasters that guards them. They discovered Nitro Rice, a specie of rice that can extend lifespan but guarded by monster snake Hellbell and a special plant they discovered that can aid in the manipulation of genes but they brought back what was called Zobae Disease. You die and the skin turns really dark but the body remains alive, self-sustaining, but no intelligence and sentience left. Mysteriously, while the infected is self-sustaining by consuming their own flesh, they quickly regenerate back. The disease is contracted south west of this world's map towards the shores. That's what Captain Geidomaru told me when he took me here after I paid him off. He taught me your language and letters too so I can get by here.'

'However, the idiot King may have triggered V5's desire to attempt again somehow. Who knows what awaits society next, after dumping the royal family in the dummy continent. But would it be worth it, I wonder~?' Naruko smiled impishly. 'Where I came from is a poor place. The richest anyone can get there, is nearly a hundred million and that's if you're a merchant or a noble family. Nobody ever went beyond that amount while we can happily obtain billions for keeps.' she said. 'I never thought I'd become so rich when I was once a poor orphan since coming here.' she chuckled ruefully.

'Humm...sounds interesting.' Chrollo grinned. 'Let's explore this Dummy Continent of yours after we accomplish two priorities.' he said. 'Hisoka...and that Chain Guy. Due to the Hunter Association being involved, he is sure to be summoned to deal with Kakin somehow along with a large number of Hunters to prevent taboo from being broken.'

'Oh yeah, in return for your Exorcism, he wants a fight to the death with you.' said Shizuku remarked. 'But is it really OK?'

'Of course. A deal's a deal...though he'll be the one dying, not me.' Chrollo smirked. 'I'll arrange a meeting after I plan his death.' that was to the troupe's relief. 'Being pursued is annoying. Shal, Coltopi, Naruko, I will borrow your abilities.'

'Er, which one? I have a Process-Type Conjuring Ability and my Specialist Ability.' said Naruko. 'And unless you have Chakra, a power native to the Dummy Continent, using my Healing is impossible since my Nen Type is Conjuring. I only become a Specialist if I combine two powers, leading to my Healing abilities.' she said, projecting two different balls of power from her hands. 'This blue one is Chakra. See how different it is from Aura?' it was that easy to sense the difference. They can feel it.

'Its kinda different.' said Feitan. 'We don't have that, boss can't borrow her Healing so she'll have to fix him herself.'

'Aw that's a shame.' Chrollo looked like he was just denied a toy. To be fair he has no Chakra...

'Well, training starts at a young age and you guys are so old.' Naruko said airily leading to indignance.

They weren't THAT old!

'Even if you wanna try learning it, there's a reason Ninja Academies start at six years old. Nen on the other hand, even if you're a senior power is still accessible. There's a price for everything I guess...'

'That's true...in return for versatility, you need to train at a young age. In Nen, we're powerful but limited to a few tricks.' said Shalnark. 'Can you show us an example?'

'Sure.' Naruko formed a couple hand seals, creating an illusion of fire pillars bursting all over the place.

'Whoa!'

'Hey, you destroying the building?!' Phinks yelped.

Naruko laughed as she stopped it...building back to normal!

'What the...?' Franklin mused. 'Illusion?'

'Shinobi who can use Genjutsu or Illusions are far scarier since not anyone can break free from illusions.' said Naruko. 'Unless you have a strong will, that is. However, fine control is needed or one can't do complex illusions. My control isn't good I can only do something so simple even a Genin can break out of my earlier stunt. If you guys have strong wills, even you can break out using Nen to defend.' that, they took note of. 'And shinobi fight like we do, with pragmatism, tricks and traps but we're way better in combat since they spend more time learning ninjutsu than improving martial combat. If they run out of chakra they're sitting ducks.'

'We're not THAT nice to give them such leeways.' said Coltopi.

'Yup. Leave the honor and fair play shit to naive morons. If boss is still interested, I'll be your guide after Hisoka and this Chain Guy fellow is dead.' Naruko quipped. 'Who's he by the way? You know him and I don't!'

xxx

Heaven's Arena...

Naruko was not allowed to come and be seen by Hisoka since the man was unpredictable.

In fact, in Greed Island, the senpais made her hide within their shadows.

And now, watching their boss fight against Hisoka in the shadows...

'Understand, Kalluto, Naruko. This guy has more than a few screws loose.' said Franklin. 'Its why we didn't allow him to see Naruko while Kalluto is too well known in the Underworld he'll easily piece things out.' he said. 'You are not allowed anything to do with him. Understand?'

'Yeah...he sure has creative ways to use gum and stickiness.' Kalluto commented. 'Never thought all that is possible.'

'He's certainly creative. But very bad for us if we got stuck. We're as good as flies on flypaper unless we have a stronger aura to break free.' Naruko stated.

'Now that you watched enough, proceed to your original mission.' said Shalnark. 'You're our Supplies Control!'

'Hai hai! We'll meet at Kakin OK? I have to get us tickets!' and Naruko vanished in the shadows.

'Two months to the Dummy, right?' Shizuku piped up.

'Right now Naruko is the most knowledgeable where we're going.' said Coltopi. 'Being from there and all. But really? Last bastions of humanity?'

'Its hard to hack even with my card.' said Shalnark with a pout. 'Then again, my Hunter License isn't even a starred one. The information we want requires a Three-Star Hunter Rank to access to. And when I hacked the government, I was found right away.'

'I guess we find out the hard way. Hmm.'

xxx

Kakin...

'Been a while since I was last here.' Naruko whistled as she did her job, investigating the Black Whale ship and where the passengers are allowed in.

She also snuck in in order to have access to the shadows in the ship, ensuring she has tickets for the third tier where accommodations are much nicer.

'Boss, I got us Third Tier tickets to a nice swanky place.' Naruko reported. 'Fourth and Fifth Tier accommodations suck and it gets worse the later you are in getting tickets. However, the three Kakin Mafia Families scored the best spots ahead of time so we got second best places. That OK?'

/I don't mind. Anything else?/

'Yes. On the first tier will be the Royal Family and servants plus bodyguards, V5 Dignitaries, Politicians and Industry Dignitaries and their servants. Second Tier is for Celebrities and the rich. Third onwards for civilians of all walks of life. There will also be the Royal Military on all floors, guarding paths to other tiers separated by thick bulkheads and it will be Martial Law in there. Only the second floor has access to the first tier if and only if there's parties held. Not that it'd matter since as long as there's shadows, we can go anywhere we want~'

'The three mafia families involved are the Heil-Ly, Cha-R and Xi Yu Families. All of whom have a Prince Benefactor. Their bosses are in Tier 1 who can freely travel to other tiers due to having a Prince Backing while their underlings have to stay in civilian accommodations. They each want a territory in the Shinobi Continent. But there's a weird rumor that we're celebrities to their underlings you guys have some fans. Again, we could care less about that.'

'Finally, the most important part of this voyage...depending on the situation, we're fucked.'

/I'm all ears./

'Unknown to everyone else, known only to the Royal Family and the Military, the Princes are going through Succession Wars. All siblings must kill each other to be their father's heir, the Crown Prince. Now, the senior princes have political and financial power while the younger princes are sitting ducks, if not for one thing...they all gained Parasitic Nen Guardian Beasts. These Nen Beasts will protect the princes, manifesting in a shape and power that reflects their prince and their personalities. These beasts cannot kill each other or a Prince, so the princes must kill each other with purely their own efforts...so the wild card in this matter are the Nen Beasts. If this leaks out as while Nen Beasts are invisible to normal humans, the damage they make is certainly very real, there will be a great panic and riot that can possibly sink a ship so I secured us a nice speedboat...the next problem will be the sea monsters as we go home on such a tiny boat and the fact we need a good navigator home...the only thing unknown is what happens to the beasts after their prince is killed.'

/I see...we'll take things into consideration./

'The Hunter's Association has all its elites active, the twelve Zodiacs. Due to Kakin's sloppy planning since they focused more on flashiness, without taking survival and logistics into serious matter, they're trying to compensate somehow. I'm also compensating as well I'm pretty much overworked. We're like, canned sardines in there I'm taking into account medicine for contagions and supplements. Wanna have measles or the pox?'

/Ahaha, sorry about that but you're the Supplier./

'I know. Good thing I have Ship Voyage experience...it'll be a long two months or if the Princes get excited, we won't last a week. If you ask me, this New Voyage is a huge farce and everyone else sacrifices for a new King to be born through some bizarre Nen Succession Ritual...should I infiltrate as a servant or something while ensuring you guys get supplied?'

/Humm...that might be a good idea. Just don't forget to keep us supplied alright?/

'Roger that. I'm in a hotel here so I'll apply as a maid now. Here's hoping I get hired somehow so we have access to the first floor.'

She succeeded, becoming a maid for Fugetsu Hui Guo Rou through blatant 'cheating'.

xxx

'So that's the gist of it.' said Chrollo to his members before leaving Heaven's Arena. 'We have tickets, supplies and accommodation...and an escape ride should things go south. Prepare your luggages for her to store in. We'll meet in Kakin, in Naruko's hotel room on X day.'

That same day...

Shalnark and Coltopi were murdered.