Chapter 3: From Aspirant to Candidate
Gon was running at the top of the group eager to get to the top of the mountain despite the fact that it had been four hours since the four hunter hunters were climbing towards the big cedar tree at the foot of which they would have to meet someone who could drive them to the hunter exam . While Leolio was complaining about the time they were walking, Gon had fun running in front of him while sometimes floating a little in the air to scare and tease the elder of the group. For his part, Kurapika and Gohan were arguing behind the other two.
"So, you come from another world?!" The kuruta was astonished as Gohan had told him about the main stages of his life.
"Yes, but do not speak too loudly." The half-saiyan replied, "For the moment I have only told you about it, and I do not intend to tell Gon and Leolio about it, at least not right now. ".
"Well, you do not seem to be the type to lie and you would not have any interest in doing it right now," Kurapika replied pragmatically.
"Thank you," Gohan answered, relieved to be able to tell someone his secret.
"Oi!" Gon shouted from the few meters high above which he was, "We're almost there in five minutes. "
And indeed, five minutes later, the four friends came to the big cedar tree at the foot of which was a small house.
"The person who lives here must know where exactly the exam is going". Gohan said to give the last impulse to his friends.
"In this case, we will face the last elimination round. If we succeed, we can try the exam itself." Kurapika added.
"Let's go instead of talking!" Leolio concludes.
And with these words, the four aspiring hunters made their way to the house, but as they knocked on the door, they heard a loud noise from inside. The four rushed inside and saw a strange creature resembling a fox holding a young woman, a wounded young man lying at the animal's feet. Seeing them the creature escaped through a hole in the back wall of the house.
"My wife..." said the young man trying to get up.
The four friends no longer reflected and ran the strange creature, Leolio stopped near the young man.
"I'm taking care of the wounded man so grab this bug and save his wife!" The future doctor shouted to the rest of the group.
" Okay!" Cried Gon and Gohan running in the lead of the group
"It's a kiriko (fox-rat), a pretty clever and cunning creature." Kurapika added.
The three pursued the kiriko through the forest, Kurapika running to the ground, Gon jumping from trees to trees as their target, and Gohan was flying zigzagging between the trees of the forest.
"Release this woman!" Gohan shouted at the fox-snake that he and Gon had caught up with.
"So come get her, children." The kiriko answered, greatly surprising the two pre-teens, to the point that Gohan hit a tree trunk and Gon fell from his branch. However, Gohan, after recovering from his collision with his tree, sent a tiny wave of ki into the kiriko's shoulder, forcing him to let go of the woman Kurapika caught up with.
"Wow!" this creature speaks. Gon said, joining those friends.
"Yes, the kiritos are gifted with speech." Kurapika replied.
"You could have told us earlier; it would have saved me a bump." Gohan added, rubbing his head.
"I did not think about it now, Gohan, sorry." Kurapika replied.
"Well, take care of the Kurapika woman. Gohan and I are going to sue Kurapika." Gon said before heading back to the forest in pursuit of the kiriko."
Gohan followed and Kurapika began to reassure the woman they had saved until he saw a strange tattoo on the girl's wrist.
During this time, Gon and Gohan had found the kiriko and continued to track it, Gon had the idea to insult the creature so that the latter lowered his guard and Gon places a violent blow of fishing rod on the head of this last. The kirito made a pretense at that moment and threw Gon at the end of a cliff. The boy fell from the top of the cliff and Gohan ran to save Gon to finally find the boy to finally find Gon floating towards the wall of the cliff and back in high speed.
"Fiou, I was scared. Trying to fly after only one or two lessons, you're really a burnt head." The half-saiyan said with a sigh of relief.
"Hi hihihi, you're both stubborn." Said the kiriko from the top of a tree. "You start to annoy me to chase me wherever I go, I kill you now," he added, coming out of huge claws.
Gohan felt something strange in kiriko, something different from before.
"You're not the kiriko who kidnapped the lady, right?" Gon asked candidly.
Surprisingly, the fox-rat stopped his attack and looked at Gon with curiosity.
"How do you know I'm not the same kiriko as before?" Asked the person in a particularly intriguing tone.
"Well, you do not have the same head at all, and your voice is a little flutier than the kiriko of earlier." Gon replied.
Gohan was almost impressed because despite his particularly fine hearing of saiyan he had not heard any variation in the voice of the kiriko who was facing them. The fox-rat, on the stroke of surprise, burst out laughing, called the other kiriko.
(A bit later)
The four aspiring hunters faced the four kirikos who had come to test them without their knowledge. The four pre-examiners were now about to give their verdict.
"Mr. Kurapika, you have been particularly attentive to the details of this hunt, even the smallest ones." Said the girl who pretended to be kidnapped before showing off her wrist tattoo "This tattoo is to show a vow of celibacy, the moment you saw it, you were perfectly on your guard. All this will give you a chance at the hunter exam."
"Well done Kurapika," said Gon happy that his friend was admitted to the exam.
"Mr. Léolio, you have absolutely not understood that it was a staging before they told you" began the son who was the one who pretended to be injured, shaking Leolio who had afraid of not being accepted for the exam. "However, you have continued to provide me with care and reassurance, this kindness makes you worthy of the hunter exam."
Leolio sighed with relief, glad to try his luck on the exam.
"Mr. Gon, you have demonstrated physical ability and extraordinary observation." Kiriko's father said, who had pretended to abduct the girl, said, "You have plenty of room for the hunter exam. "
"Yeeeeeees!" Gon cried out of joy as he jumped and stayed in the air using his knowledge of ki.
"Finally, Mr. Gohan, I think you're far from showing the full extent of your abilities." Said the kiriko woman who had attacked Gon and Gohan on the edge of the cliff. "I do not think I need to wish you good luck for the exam."
"So that means we are all qualified?" Gohan asked.
" Yes indeed. I will drive you to the exam place tomorrow." the kiriko son concludes.
(The next day, in the city of Zaban)
The four hunters, guided by the son of the kirikos, watched the large number of merchants in town. Gon and Gohan, in their childish indifference, stopped at almost all the stalls.
After a while they stopped at a square on the edge of which was a large building.
"So this is the hunters' examination center?" Leolio wondered aloud
As the four candidates approached the building they had identified as the examination center. The Kiriko son took them to the building next door, which was a small restaurant, much to the surprise of our four heroes. Once inside, the guide spoke to the manager "Hello we will take the menu" You will not mind," for four people.
"For four people, huh? And for cooking?" the manager retorted in a harsh voice.
"Cook slowly over low heat until you can do more." the kirito replied.
"Will you settle in the back room?" the cook announced in a more relaxed voice.
The five went to the very small room at the back of the restaurant where there was only one table.
"This menu looks good. Gon said innocently.
"It was a password, Gon," Gohan whispered with a small drop of sweat on his forehead.
"One in ten miles," the kiriko son said, who instantly won the attention of the four aspiring hunters. "That's the number of candidates who have come so far in general. In the same way, a rookie who passes the exam at the first attempt, this happens only once every three years. So even if all our wishes are with you, if you ever fail, I will be happy to guide you next year. "
And with these words, the fox-rat left the room leaving the four midshipmen in the small room that turned out to be an elevator that started to descend.
"Who does this kiriko take for himself? He really thinks we're going to miss, " Leolio said grimly.
"He just finds the facts, but I wonder if there is as much aspiring hunter as that." Gohan replied.
" Of course! Hunter is the job that brings most cash in the world." Leolio retorted, entering a sort of trance.
'And we go again ...' Gohan said with a half-smile a little embarrassed.
A few minutes later, the elevator stopped and opened on a large dark room in which had to wait more than 400 people.
When Gon, Gohan, Kurapika and Leolio arrived, a strange little green man like a bean gave badges to the four midshipmen, Leolio had the number 403, Kurapika the 404, Gon the 405 and Gohan the 406.
"This is your number of candidates, please always keep this badge on you for the duration of the exam." the strange bean-shaped fellow say before melting into the mass and disappearing.
The four were happy, they had just passed from aspiring to candidate. Serious things could begin.
"Oi!" A voice from one side of the room, coming from a candidate who was ... well-dressed to be polite and numbered 16 "Are you rookies?" welcome to the hunter exam. "
'This guy is a little stronger than the general average of the candidates but he is not a danger for us,' Gohan thought after scanning the candidate's ki.
"My name is Tompa, and as I am on my thirty-fifth attempt, I quickly spot those who have never come, I am your elder in this place. "
'35 attempts and he brag about it. 'Kurapika thought with a small drop of sweat on his forehead.
"Tell me, Mr. Tompa, are there any other people who have tried the exam many times and not at all?" Gon asked innocently and directly.
"Well, no one has tried as many times as I do, I am really a case apart. But I know some of the others:
Number 103: Barbon the snake charmer. Relentless with his enemies, so avoid annoying him.
Number 191: Bodoro the martial arts expert. The age is gaining ground on him he is still strong.
The numbers 197, 198 and 199: the triplets Amori, Imori and Umori and their perfectly combined attacks.
Number 255: Todo the wrestler. In terms of power it is the best and in addition he forgot to be silly.
Number 389: Guereta the hunter. As strong with the blowgun as the mass as shown by his weapon.
I know a few others, but it's clear." Tompa said.
'They come out indeed the lot but are only a danger for Leolio. Kurapika and Gon will easily get out of a confrontation with them,' Gohan thought as he scanned the ki of the seven candidates nominated by Tompa.
But only seconds later, the five candidates heard a cry from a candidate whose arms were turning into petals.
"Well, well, his arms turned to petals." said a candidate who was in front of the victim and was wearing number 44 "There is no faking I assure you".
Gohan felt a bad and unhealthy ki emerge from this man but also and especially a powerful ki, even a little stronger than Piccolo. This man was dangerous and Gohan absolutely had to protect his friends from him.
"This psychopath is back this year," Tompa said with a particularly worried tone.
"He was here already last year?" Gohan asked, particularly surprised that someone so strong could have failed.
" Yes. Number 44, Hisoka the magician. Last year, everyone gave him a winner, but he left a judge between life and death whom he did not like and was disqualified because of that." Tompa said sweaty.
"And the review committee let him represent himself in spite of that." Leolio asked in a tone between fear and anger.
"Of course, judges and trials change every year and if a judge decides he has the level even the devil can become hunter. That's how the exam works," Tompa said, happy to see Hisoka walk away." But I think about it we have not been able to get to know you yet, so take this fruit juice to celebrate our friendship. "
And with these words, the veteran candidate gave everyone a can of juice. As the four of them sipped, Gohan, with his particularly sharp hearing of Saiyan, heard a conversation between two candidates who were watching them out of the corner of their eyes.
"And go, it's gone for a ride." The first candidate said.
"It's clear, he plays nice while in real, it's him the worst scrape: the number 16, Tompa the rookies' breaker." The second candidate said.
Hearing his words Gohan was angry at not having sufficiently scan Tompa's ki because he was too "good" compared to Frieza or Cell. At the stroke of anger, he suddenly crushed the can in his hands.
"Uh? What's happening to you Gohan?" Gon asked, looking at his friends and sensei with incomprehension.
"Do not drink these juices. I have fine hearing and I have just heard a very interesting conversation." Gohan began, making Tompa sweat. "The man standing before us is nicknamed the rookies' breaker, this drink is surely rigged."
"But it's wrong I would never have done that, you're wrong ..." Tompa began to defend himself.
"You're right, Gohan. There is a weird smell in this juice." Gon said after sniffing the top of the can.
Leolio spat the juice he had started to drink and Kurapika emptied his can on the floor. The message was clear, they would not be fooled by the big candidate's trap (No longer needs to be polite now).
"Now Tompa, listen to me," Gohan began as he approached Tompa using the calm, soulless voice he used when he was really angry. "If I see you again trying to pick on my friends, you will not be here to complain later, understood?" ".
Fear, Tompa will run into the mass of candidates to hide, confirming the suspicions of the four rookies.
"Well, thank you Gohan, without you we would have been made by this guy." Kurapika said looking at the half-saiyan.
"You're welcome Kurapika, I'm going to see the other candidates more closely, I'll give you my feelings." Gohan humbly replied as he walked towards the other candidates.
Thanks to Tompa (at least he was used for something), Gohan had a small idea of the candidates who was of potential danger and met a lot of people more or less prepared for the exam.
Candidate # 54 was a pretty strong archer, Gohan gave him a chance because his ki was pretty neutral.
Candidate # 187 was the typical model of the one who was not sufficiently prepared with a geek look, what's more, he was sure of his predictions and had an ego so big that Gohan was sure that after his defeat he will not represent himself for a long time, despite the fact that he is never one to underestimate his neighbor.
Candidate # 245 was not bad with her funny hat and ki that stood out from the rest (she was not a danger to him or his friends so far).
Number 294 was a ninja who was really strong enough for him to force Gohan into a Super Saiyan. None of his friends had the level to face him.
Number 301 worried Gohan with his dark ki, his head did not help with all his pikes that were stuck inside. In terms of power, this guy had nothing to envy to Hisoka.
Apart from these five plus seven designated by Tompa, the breaker again himself, Hisoka and his three friends, the other candidates were not that strong. Gohan saw Tompa handing over one of his fake drinks to a boy of about the same age as him. Gohan approached to warn the boy and when Tompa saw the half-saiyan approach, he fled quickly to escape Gohan to the dismay of the silver-haired boy who drank the rigged drinks of the new breaker.
"Bah, what's up with him? "The boy wondered aloud as he watched Tompa run away.
"I scared him earlier, otherwise watch this drink is ..." Gohan replied.
"Poisoned or something like that, do not worry, it's not a poison that will kill me," the boy replied with a half-sadistic smile.
'Amazing and his ki is far from being ridiculous, I wonder how I could not have noticed it earlier,' Gohan thought as he scanned the boy's ki, which when he was taken off his sadistic look was pretty cute.
"If not, how old are you?" Asked the boy.
"Uh, I'm 12 years old." Gohan replied, astonished that the boy was beginning to ask him that rather than his name.
'Um, he's the same age as me,' the boy said to himself before going back to the conversation "Me too. Oh, and my name is Killua. "
"Me, it's Gohan, delighted." The half-saiyan replied to the boy.
"Gohan!" Gon called from behind him.
Gohan and Killua get turned to the place where the voice came from to see Gon move towards them floating above the other candidates leaving them speechless, Killua understood, Gohan meanwhile made a face Pam.
"You were slow to come back, so I came to see what was going on," said Gon, posing next to Gohan and Killua.
"Uh, how are you doing to float in the air like you just did?" Killua asked Gon.
"Gohan teaches me to fly," the boy replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Huh, can you do it too, Gohan?" Killua asked
" Of course." the half-saiyan replied, rising a few feet above the ground.
When he came down, he saw Killua with stars in his eyes, the same as Gon had when he had saved Katso, so he suspected that Killua was going to ask him.
"Say, could you teach me that too?" Killua asked.
'Bingo. But hey, I think I can tell him, he does not look bad,' Gohan thought as he looked at his future second student. "Okay, I do not see any problem with that."
" Great, thank you!" the silver-haired boy replied.
A few seconds later, a strange ring was heard and the wall at the back of the room rose, revealing a strange man with a beautiful mustache.
"Thank you for your patience, ladies and gentlemen. The 287th edition of the hunter exam will be able to start," the man said, pleasing the 406 candidates who were present. "First, I must tell you that this exam is potentially fatal. If you are not ready to risk your life, I invite you to return to the elevator and leave."
No candidate returned to the elevator except the victim of Hisoka.
"Well, now we can start. For your information I am called Satotsu and I am the judge of the first test. Please follow me please, I will drive you to the place of the second test." The man said, turning around and starting to walk in a particular way.
"So the first trial is ..." began a candidate.
"Right, you just have to follow me. This is the first test of the exam." Satotsu concludes.
And on these words all the candidates began to follow the judge in order to succeed this first test. At the beginning of this first test of the 287th hunter examination, of the 406 candidates initially qualified, there are more than 405.
Well a big chapter, I hope you enjoy, before shouting at me for the balance of power that I mentioned in relation to Hisoka, know that I think buffer the disputes character Hunter x Hunter to make interactions between the most interesting characters. I know that everyone will not agree but good. If you find something outright exaggerated, even more if it contradicts my own logic, let me know about it. I hope this chapter will have you more.