[A/N: It's Gon vs Hanzo so violence ]

Chapter 29: Ability x To x Endure

January 21, 1999 (Final Phase)

The trio woke up early to get ready for the final phase. They quickly freshened up and dashed down to the dining hall. The only sound there was of crickets chirping.

"Well... I guess it is 5 in the morning..." Gon scratched the back of his head.

Killua sighed. "Breakfast is supposed to be at 7 and well...we are 2 hours early."

After that, the three boys started an epic hide-and-seek game with Levi as the seeker. Levi had to nearly wreck the whole storage closet to catch Killua. Finding Gon was a lot easier as he was hiding under one of the tables in the dining hall.

They kept playing for about half an hour until an argument broke out between Gon and Killua because of Killua cheating. After a few minutes of back-and-forth in which Levi supported Gon, they finally decided that they were hungry.

Since no food was been given to them and the only thing the receptionist could offer them was a piece of gum, Gon suggested the idea to make their food themselves.

Killua had been taught a few dishes by Gotoh, Gon had experience from helping Aunt Mito, and even though Levi wasn't acquainted with that area's cuisine, he had read a few cook books and was a fast learner.

Things, however, didn't go quite as planned. They got so lost in competitions and what-not, that they ended up making an entire feast-- one big enough to satisfy all the remaining participants. So, they laid it all out on the tables in the dining hall.

The staff and the manager nearly started crying as they entered the hall full of three dumb but generous boys and oblivious people enjoying breakfast.

"You really shouldn't have!" The manager cried.

Killua nibbled the end of his French toast. "Maybe." He shrugged.

The manager rewarded the three boys with chocolates (Killua ate them all because Gon said that they would hurt his teeth and after hearing that, Levi got too scared to eat them).

After breakfast, they were all called to a big hall in a nearby building for the final phase.

All of that year's examiners, the Chairman, and the hunters who had tailed the examinees in Zevil Island, were gathered there. Then, Netero started his explanation.

There were going to be one-on-one matches which would decide the winners and the loser.

The explanation went on for a while until it was time for the actual matches.

The first match was-

Gon vs Hanzo.

"Best of luck!" Levi wished Gon as he slowly walked up to the fighting area.

Killua was tense. There was no way Gon could win against someone as experienced as Hanzo. He heaved a sigh as the match began. At least he isn't fighting against Hisoka or one of the other crazily strong examinees...

"Hey! Aren't you the one who was observing me during the last phase?" Hanzo smirked at the referee. "You must have recognised my talent. Thank you."

"I could sense him with my En earlier..." Levi murmured under his breath.

"Uh... You're welcome?" The referee shrugged.

A few moments later, he took a deep breath and yelled, "BEGIN!"

"I just have to be fast enough, dodge around to confuse him, and then find an opening." Gon grimaced as he raced away from Hanzo.

"You must be real proud of those legs of yours." Hanzo's face appeared for a split second in Gon's vision. And then-

Gah!

Unfortunately, Gon wasn't fast enough. A swift chop to his neck and he was no longer standing. He clenched his fists as he lay on the ground, trembling.

Levi frowned. That attack was so slow... did he not dodge it on purpose?

"In a normal match-" Hanzo smirked. "-I would have been declared winner. However, this isn't a normal match. As you just saw, you have no way of beating me, so, just give up."

"Never."

Hanzo slowly picked Gon up into a sitting position. Levi grimaced as another hard chop went to Gon's neck.

Gon clenched his jaw, lowered his head, but not a squeak escaped his mouth.

This went on for a long time-- nearly three hours. Every punch, every kick, every attack of any kind, made Levi bit his tongue.

He wasn't sad. He didn't feel like crying. No, he was angry. Not at Gon though, no, he pitied him but even stronger than that was his anger. He was angry at Hanzo.

That bastard kept going on and on and on, not even giving Gon a break. Levi could barely hold his aura in, especially at Hanzo's next words and actions...

Leorio, on the other hand, wasn't doing well either.

"Why you bastard! If you wanna fight, pick on someone your own size!" He finally burst out.

He either got disgusted side glances or small nods of approval from the people present.

"If you can't handle it, then leave. It's just going to get worse." Hanzo shot him a frown.

Leorio lost his temper. He started marching towards Hanzo, white fists clenched at his sides. The referee rushed to stop him and along with Kurapika, finally managed to restrain him.

The ninja sighed as he sent poor Gon flying with another kick to his abdomen. "You just don't get it, do you? Giving up will be so much easier. Sooner or later, I'll make you give up, so why not give up now? It will save you a lot of trouble."

Gon repeated the phrase he had been saying for hours. "Never."

"Very well then." He frowned. "Perhaps a more long-term injury will help you understand the seriousness of your current situation."

He walked over to Gon and bent his left arm. "Give up or I'll break your arm."

"Never."

Ka-Snap!

Ack!

"He really... did it..." Pokkle shuddered.

Blood slid down Levi's chin. He had nearly bitten off his tongue but had thankfully switched to his lower lip at the last moment. Nevertheless, the constant flow of blood dripped to the ground.

Pakunoda gave him a concerned glance and nearly went to comfort him, but decided against it to avoid causing an unnecessary commotion and embarrassment on the boy's part.

Levi, trembling with anger, wiped the blood off his mouth and chin and temporarily sealed his wound with some aura.

"Gon's fine. He can hold out." Killua whispered to him.

Levi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was going to kill Hanzo after this.

"Your mind may be blank with pain but hear this..." Hanzo flipped over to do a one-hand stand. "... I belong to the Shinobi, a clandestine group. From birth I've been subject to a strict training program, in order to master the special skills called ninjutsu.

I've never once, in the 18 years since, broken training. I'd killed by the time I was your age."

"What's so special about that..." Levi murmured, still frowning.

"There is no way-" Hanzo removed his thumb from the ground, "-you can take me-" He removed his pinky and ring finger from the ground, "-in a fight!" He removed his middle finger from the ground, only standing on his index.

"Trust me," he closed his eyes. "you're only option is to admit defeat."

Whock!

Thud!

Gon wobbled up and kicked Hanzo's face with all his might, sending him flying to the ground. Soon after, Gon also staggered and fell to the ground.

He winced and stood back up with an 'Ow!'.

With a frown and a clenched jaw he yelled. "You know...you talk too dang much!"

"ALRIGHT GON! MURDER THAT BASTARD!" Leorio roared.

"So he can fail?" Kurapika sighed.

"Eighteen? So you're only 6 years older than I am." Gon continued, his breathing getting more ragged with every moment. "Besides, this isn't about who's strong... it's about who's willing to stick to the business no matter what! "

Hanzo jumped to his feet. "I let you get that kick in."

"WHAT? LIAR!" Leorio yelled.

"You don't seem to realise-" Ignoring Leorio, he wiped the blood off his face. "-I am not advising you to give up, I'm ordering. There is a difference."

"But maybe-" He touched the bandages on his arms. "-I'm not making that clear enough."

With a clean swish, be slid out a blade from under it. "Instead of a break... I'll amputate. Let's see... "

He brandished his blade, swing in it around. "A leg should do it... irreparably maimed, you may finally get my point. So, give up... before I actually make it."

His face darkened. Hanzo was completely serious. Gon, however was still undeterred.

"Well, that's a problem." He said simply, not a hint of fear or anger in his eyes. "Of course, I don't want to lose my leg. But I'm just as determined to not give up! We gotta find another way."

"Another?" Hanzo blew a fuse. "YOU'RE IN NO POSITION TO BE STATING TERMS!"

Some of the people in the crowd started laughing at Gon's innocent and simple nature. Levi, however, stayed grim.

"IT'S A FLAT CHOICE! GIVE UP OR I'LL SLICE OFF YOUR LEGS!"

"I don't accept that choice." Gon calmly replied. "And you shouldn't offer it."

"... eh?"

"If I bleed to death-" Gon turned to the referee. "-he fails, right?"

The referee nodded. "Uhm... that's true..."

"See-" Gon turned back. "-that's a problem for the both of us."

Hanzo clenches his jaw, feeling both frustrated and amazed. What the hell is this kid?

He finally reached the end of his patience and pointed his blade at Gon, piercing his forehead with the tip.

"It's just not sinking in, is it? If I kill you, I would fail this year but I can always try next year. However, you won't be able to... you'll be dead..."

Gon didn't even flinch.

"Why... why stand now? You'd ace the exam next year... Is your pride all you care about?! Even more than your life? Is it some kind of weird rush to hold out in the face of impossible odds?!"

Hanzo tightened his jaw. The kid just isn't getting it...

"I want to see my dad." Was the simple reply given.

"He's a hunter," Gon continued. "one of the best, I hear. We'll meet someday, I hope. But-" A drop of blood dripped to the ground. "- if I call quits at this point... I feel like that hope will vanish."

So it was never about pride, logic or ability...

"You leave me no choice. So, you'll die then... here and now?" Hanzo persisted.

The light in Gon's eyes only shone brighter.

"Fine-" He slid his blade back in his bandages. "- killing you just doesn't sit right and I can't make you give up any other way. So, I give up the match. I will just tackle on the next guy. "

As Hanzo turned around, preparing to rejoin the spectators, Gon spoke up. "Hey! You're just going away. Come on! We can have a better match than that!"

"Hehe... why am I not surprised... You idiot! Why should I bother? You won't give up! END OF STORY!"

"But I hate winning like this! So would you!"

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU SUGGEST THEN?!"

"YOU AND I CAN FIGURE IT OUT-- TOGETHER!"

"Alright... so in other words... even though I'm all set to surrender... you want us to find out a way for us to fight... that not only gives you a chance against me, but a way to win honestly. Have I got that right?"

"Yes-"

"DREAM ON!"

THWACK!

With a swift punch, Hanzo sent Gon flying. And so... ended the first match of the final phase... with the unconscious Gon being the winner.

After Hanzo clarified Gon's victory, he started walking back to the remaining examinees.

"Why... why did you do that?" Levi asked Hanzo as he passed him, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Do what?" Hanzo frowned.

"Let him win."

"You're his friend aren't you?"

"... yeah."

"Well then, shouldn't you be happy he won?"

"That's a different matter. Why did you let him win when you could have easily won?"

"And what makes you think that's the case?"

"You didn't flinch while you injured him... you didn't flinch when he kicked you... that means you're acquainted with proper torture techniques... yet... you barely used any of them..."

"...I'm surprised you could notice that... I guess I'll tell you then... I injured him so badly and I doubt he even noticed that I was holding back... yet... his eyes... he wasn't angry at me, he didn't hit me for revenge, he didn't hate me... I guess you could say.. he won me over. That's it."

Just before Hanzo reached the end of his hearing range, Levi spoke up again.

"Just because he isn't the revenge type, doesn't mean I am."

Hanzo stopped in his tracks and took a deep breath. Levi's aura was slowly engulfing him. It was suffocating.

"Alright!" Netero clapped his hands. "Let's move on to the next match now!"

Levi receded his aura leaving a nearly-trembling Hanzo to contemplate that power.