They both stretched for a while before joining the group after the long-limbed examiner. It was a leisure stroll… for a few minutes. Slowly, the pace began picking up and people started running. The two boys didn't bother as their walking pace could exceed others' jogging pace. The examiner's voice drifted even towards them in the middle of the din of footsteps.

"I neglected to introduce myself. I am Satotsu, the Phase One Examiner. I shall lead you to the exam's Second Phase."

"Second Phase…? What about the First Phase?" Hanzo asked, making Naruto shake his head at his fellow ninja. It was pretty obvious.

"It has already commenced." Satotsu answered. "You must follow me to Phase Two. This is the exam's First Phase."

"Follow you? That's all?"

"Yes. I cannot tell you where or when you must arrive. You just need to follow me."

Naruto and Killua both shook their heads, commenting at the same time, "What an easy test."

Two hours passed and Naruto found himself jogging as well to keep up with the pace. Both of them continuing their slow travel while chatting every once in a while. Soon, someone finally said something about Killua's skateboard though.

"Hey! Wait up, kid! You should show the Hunter Exam some respect!"

Naruto snickered as Killua asked obliviously, "What are you talking about?"

The man yelled, pointing an accusing finger, "Why are you using a skateboard?! That's cheating!"

"Why?"

"Ko… ra! This is an endurance test!" The man's veins visibly popped out - Naruto wondered if he could get an aneurysm.

"But you're wrong." The three turned towards the side at the voice. Gon tilting his head in confusion as he pointed out, "The examiner only told us to follow him."

The man yelled in frustration, "OI! Whose side are you on, eh?!"

Naruto finally laughed, unable to hold it in anymore, "Not yours for sure!"

Leon finally saw the kid running next to the skateboarder, growling, "Don't you get angry too?! He's just chilling out next to you!"

"I'm chilling out as well; there's no need to try on this type of test~"

Making Kurapika chuckle and Leorio shout profanities at the monsters around him. The boy wasn't even sweating from the run. Naruto dealt the final blow as he continued to point out,

"Besides, the examiner never said that you had to run. You just assumed it because you don't have another way of transport. And… you do know that you shouldn't waste your stamina shouting at him, right? You look like you'll drop out soon."

"What was that, bi-?!"

He was instantly cut off with a sharp glare, "I'm a guy."

"..." Leorio instantly looked at Kurapika and then back at him and then back at Kurapika… before muttering curses about the pretty boys (who were all somehow blond) around him. Kurapika and Naruto exchanged glances of understanding and exasperation.

"My name is Naruto."

"Mine is Kurapika."

Leorio felt a vein pop out at the two's handshake of newfound friendship, "Don't become friends with him! He's the enemy!"

"Says who?" Kurapika asked with amusement twinkling in his eyes. Naruto chirped,

"Says the only one afraid of a kid enough to make him an enemy."

They both laughed; Leorio shaking and about to blow if it weren't for Killua's shout. The two other boys in the Exam catching up to them,

"Oi, Naruto! He's the same age as us!"

Naruto blinked as he looked back, "And because of that, you're running after all?"

Killua rubbed his neck sheepishly, "Nah. Might as well warm up, I thought. Ah," He realized that he hadn't introduced himself yet, "I'm Killua."

"Gon!"

"Naruto." He immediately introduced with a curt nod. "Nice to meet you, Gon."

Gon beamed, "Mm!"

The three began running again - going a little passed Kurapika and Leorio; the man irritated even more by the brats outdoing him. Kurapika just smiled at the adorable trio of kids talking together.

…

Four hours later, the three kids and Kurapika stopped to stare down at Leorio, who fell on his knees in a position to give up. Killua nodded towards the front,

"Hey, forget him. Let's hurry up and go."

But Gon and Kurapika continued staring at Leorio; Kurapika for once not commenting on his horrible state. Naruto shook his head at Killua's confused face. He bopped the guy on the shoulder playfully,

"You'll never get any friends if you just abandon them, Killua." Not like Naruto was one to talk though. Him having lost contact with all the friends he ever made.

Killua flinched at that, but Naruto didn't notice as he too fixedly watched Leorio get up and dash forward. Kurapika following with a wide smile. Gon fished the suitcase and Killua smirked,

"Yappari, you're the only one who hasn't done anything cool yet, Naruto."

Naruto pinched his nose to calm down, "You implying something?"

"Of course."

"...say… Gon, Killua, wanna race to see who finishes first?"

Both pairs of ears perked and the others grinned, "Sure!"

Gon adding, "Loser buys the ones who win dinner?"

"Okay, you're on!" Naruto and Killua shouted before readying themselves to run.

"Ready… Go!"

They all dashed. Naruto running faster than all of them. Killua and Gon widening their eyes at his speed despite Naruto plucking the heavy suitcase of medicine and steel out of Gon's hands. Killua called out, warning with a frown,

"You'll fall back if you run at that pace, Naruto!"

Naruto laughed, "As if. See you at the finish line. You two can compete to see who buys dinner~!"

And he continued running at a sprint faster than everyone else. It was easy. He was a ninja. All shinobi in his country could run for days straight without food and at top speed. Not to mention, he had the wind on his side, holding an intimate connection with nature that probably no one in this world could understand. Eventually, he caught up to Leorio and slowed only to hear the Kurata and money stories. He felt bad for eavesdropping, but it couldn't be helped, he supposed…

"Oi! Ossan!"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING OSSAN?!" Leorio shouted before blinking, "Ah, you're that kid… Naruto, was it?"

Naruto grinned, "Yup. I got your suitcase with me so you better not drop out."

Leorio blinked before grinning, "Holding my suitcase hostage, eh? But are you sure you can continue holding it? It's a bit big for a pretty boy like you, don't you think?"

Naruto rolled his eyes, "I'm doing alright compared to an old man sweating like a hog."

"HEY!"

Kurapika laughed; the atmosphere becoming much lighter after the stories. Soon, Gon and Killua came up; Killua grinning,

"Nanda, that pace really was too much for you, wasn't it, Naruto?"

"Of course not." Naruto replied before nodding his head at Leorio, "Meet you at the top. I'm going first, Ossan-"

"Not Ossan! My name's Leorio! I'm a teenager just like you guys!"

The blond collapsed, gaping along with Kurapika, Killua, and Gon.

"Huh?"

"No way!"

Naruto clambered back up to resume running. He ran backwards despite them running on a steep staircase and smiled gently at Leorio,

"There's no need to hide your age, Leorio-san. Though on the bright side if you really are that young, you'll be able to retire early because of your appearance!"

And then he ran ahead at a quick, steady pace. Kurapika and Killua snickered at Leorio's face; it being torn between blushing at the adorably kind smile aimed towards him and yelling at the boy's blunt, indirect insult. He stuck with grumbling,

"And he thinks that he doesn't look like a girl."

"I know right?!" Killua shouted in agreement.

…

Naruto hummed as he caught up to the examiner, passing the others to be the first after Satotsu,

"Ne, ne, Satotsu-san, is the rest of Phase One going to be this easy? It's boring to do nothing but run."

Satotsu eyed the little boy who surprisingly had yet to sweat. The boy being the epitome of fresh air and calmness. Interesting kid.

"I guess it won't hurt to tell you. The answer is no."

"Really? That's good."

There was a silence as they continued running. Satotsu wondered why he felt the need to talk - perhaps it was because of the fact that the others well behind him so that it seemed that they two were alone. There was also something about the boy that seemed so friendly…

"So what's your reason for wanting to be a Hunter, young man?"

"Ah, I really got none," Naruto sheepishly smiled, "A person told me about it and I came."

The blond really wondered what he was going to do. All he wanted was to do something for Wing and Zushi… But what happens after the Exam? It wasn't like anything he did would ever make up for that-

"You don't have a goal?" Satotsu asked in wonder, tilting his head. It was odd as it was very rare that a child would take the Exam with no reason. Much less one of the hardest, most life-threatening Exams in the world.

"Nope. Not really. I heard there was many things you could hunt - food to criminals to illnesses to beauty to ruins to animals and etc, but…"

"There's too many things?"

Naruto nodded. There was another reason too. There always seemed to be another. The world being so interconnected… yet always leaving him out of the loop and circles.

Satotsu smiled as he picked up the pace again, "I'm sure you'll find something."

"What are you, Satotsu-san?"

"An Archaeologist Hunter. Though I haven't done much," Satotsu sheepishly admitted before looking up, "I was recently inspired by Ging Freecss."

"Ging?"

"Oh, yes, Ging." Satotsu nodded before finding himself tell a story about the Hunter to the boy… even accidentally telling him about Nen. The blond just had a charismatic aura that made him want to talk honestly and fully. But still… "I was definitely not supposed to tell you that. Can you just forget it?"

"Warui, but I can't."

"I thought so too." Satotsu murmured in depression at his slip-up until Naruto formed a fox image from Nen and explained,

"That's not what I meant. I can't because I already know it."

The examiner's eyes widened in surprise - a child just taking the Hunter Exam already knew Nen? Amazing…

"How?"

"A man taught me when I reached the 200th Floor of Heavens Arena."

"That makes sense." Satotsu nodded, remembering that specific fighting tower in the Republic of Padokia. If he remembered correctly, then you were bound to learn Nen there on the highest floors… or die. "However it is still laudable to reach the top and be able to do Nen at such a young age with such control."

"Thanks." The blond blushed, scratching his whiskered cheek, "But you shouldn't overestimate me."

"I'm not."

But he stared just as seriously, "You are."

"...very well. Do you know the other versions of Nen?"

"Mm. I do."

"What type of Hatsu?"

"Secret."

Satotsu chuckled in agreement, "Good. I praise the one who taught you."

"Yeah…"

"Hm?" Satotsu looked down at the boy who solemnly looked down, "What's wrong?"

"I think I disappointed him."

"?"

The boy didn't even look at him - probably didn't look at anything as his bangs shadowed his eyes and he murmured almost inaudibly, "No… I definitely did."

He perked up, "Is it alright if I go outside ahead, Satotsu-san?"

"Ah, sure. How will you know that you are taking the right path though?"

"Because there's only one path out and it's about 2.87 kilometers away."

Satotsu's eyes widened in surprise and he nodded with a smirk, "Go ahead then. Though may I ask how you knew?"

"The winds are my friend." Naruto tapped his nose though his nose had nothing to do with it. Give a hint, throw a decoy, etc. That was his current ninja way.

And he really needed a good run in solitude to empty his mind.

…

"Goal!"

Naruto watched as the two boys soared in the air… simultaneously. And argue about the winner. Gon turned to Satotsu,

"Ne, Satotsu-san, who was faster?"

Satotsu seemed to be of the same opinion as him, "I believe that you crossed the finish line simultaneously."

"Sou ka." Gon looked down before gazing back up, "Then we'll split 50-50 and buy Naruto dinner."

Naruto smiled and waved when he got the three's attention, "Yo."

Killua sighed, "Fine. It'll feel like a date though."

Leorio's suitcase hit him in the head. "I'm not a girl."

…

"This place is called Numere Marsh otherwise known as The Swindler's Nest. To reach the second exam site, you have no choice but to go through here. This Marsh is home to many bizarre species ; the majority of them being cunning, insatiable creatures who deceive humans and prey upon them. Be careful at all times. If you are fooled, then you're dead."

Naruto scoffed quietly to himself. He would never get fooled again. Or even play the role of the fool as he had for Team 7 in that ninja warfield. The blond listened as a door closed down the first part of Phase One and locked; the sound of metal clanging down to cement resounding with the barriers around his heart. A contestant inside the tunnel, banged his hands wildly at the steel wall, shouting,

"I can still go on! Please! Let me out! I want to be a Hunter! I want to-"

Like so many, he tuned the voice out without a care. If this was the Swindler's Nest, then he wouldn't let anyone swindle him with words of despair or practiced lies. He gazed to the side to see the others and steeled his heart from them as well. The fog receded from the wetlands as if telling him that his resolve was clear and truth among the false illusions.

The examiner continued, "These creatures will use every trick in the book to fool their prey. An ecosystem in which creatures obtain food through deceit hence the name The Swindler's Nest. Stay very close to me so you won't be deceived."

Leorio scoffed, "Ha! How can they fool us when we're expecting it?"

"Don't let him fool you!"

"Hah? I just said that they can't." Leorio began while Naruto sighed. The wind spoke to him and he could tell… that Leorio just jinxed it. A man appeared, limping,

"D-don't be fooled by it. He's lying to you! He's an imposter. He isn't an examiner… I'm the real examiner!"

Leorio widened his eyes, "An imposter?!"

Hanzo continued (making Naruto face-palm at the ninja), "Then who is he?"

The man pulled a monkey along, "Look at this."

Gon shouting, "He looks just like Satotsu-san!"

The man continued, "It's a Man-Faced Ape, one of the creatures that dwell in the Numere Marsh! Man-Faced Apes love the taste of fresh human flesh. However, their limbs are long and thin so they're quite weak. That's why they disguise themselves as humans. They trick humans into following them into these Marsh, where they team up with other animals to kill and devour them. He intends to trap every single applicant!"

"Bastard…" Leorio smirked while Hanzo agreed,

"That's true that he doesn't walk like a human…"

"Naruto?" Killua asked, ignoring the two as he noticed Naruto take out two odd blades. Both him and Hisoka nonchalantly threw their weapons at the same time. While Hisoka attacked both the man and Satotsu, Naruto killed both the man and the ape he was holding. Each kunai accurately sunk into the forehead of each being, causing them to both shriek a monkey-like howl.

Leorio stared as the man and ape he was holding fell to the ground while the examiner held the card he caught. Hisoka eye-smiled at Naruto before turning to Satotsu.

"I see, I see. This settles it. That one's the real one." Hisoka smiled as he explained to the idiots, "Examiners are Hunters selected by the committee to perform this duty without pay. Any Hunter, bearing the title we seek, would have been able to block that attack."

"I shall take that as a compliment. However, should you attack me again, for any reason, I will report you for turning on an examiner and you will be immediately disqualified. Are we clear?"

"Sure."

Satotsu turned to Naruto, "I appreciate you having trusted me fully and only attacked the Man-Faced Apes."

Naruto rested his head on his palm, "No problem. They were annoying me with their poor acting."

Leorio sputtered, "P-poor acting?! How?!"

The blond sighed, "Use your brain, Leorio-san. Those weak limbs wouldn't be able to run all the kilometers we just did nonstop and at that pace. The little ape was obviously alive because his limbs should have been stiff rather than limp - I having ran and been with Satotsu-san for hours, meaning that it had been dead for hours. You're a doctor-aspiree. You know rigor mortis.

Then, like Number 44 had said, Hunters shouldn't even have trouble fighting them to the point where they lost and are injured. Not to mention, the man and the monkey have the same distinct scent. And there is no way that a Man-Faced Ape would naturally be born with Satotsu-san's exact face so they did that death scene wrong as well. Oh. The man's eyes had obvious bad intentions in them. And he just looked weak. Basically… If you couldn't get all that on first sight, then you really should just be fooled and left for dead."

Gon blinked as he sniffed the air and exclaimed, "AH! They do smell alike!" while everyone else was either gaping at the blond kid or blushing out of embarrassment that they were fooled. Hanzo as well though the man did note that the kid used kunais - a famous ninja weapon. Leorio nervously laughed,

"A-ahahahaha, I knew that."

Killua and Kurapika nodded, reevaluating everything that the Man-Faced Apes did wrong… and seeing that it was true. They also reevaluated their companion, who seemed to be less trusting and innocent now. Him having seen all that in seconds and thrown to kill like Hisoka. Though there was the factor that the apes both weren't humans. Still… Naruto's eyes… They seemed so detached now.

Satotsu nodded at the explanation, mentally applauding the boy for his sharp observations and quick thinking. Definitely a professional fighter at Heavens Arena and perhaps somewhere else… The examiner shook his head to snap out of his thoughts. They were in an Exam. He continued speaking, "He was attempting to confuse the applicants to lure some of them away. You will be encountering such deception on a regular basis. I believe that a number of you were fooled into suspecting my identity?"

Many laughed sheepishly.

"Do you understand? If you lose sight of me in the Numere Marsh fog, you will never reach the exam's Second Phase. Do bear that in mind." There was a silence until he turned to begin walking, "Then, let us go. Please follow me."

Naruto got up and took the suitcase with him again. He smiled at his group, "Shall we run together?"

Kurapika and Killua eyed him oddly, but nodded in agreement. Leorio and Gon were just too foolish or trusting or both at the same time. Gon grinned obliviously,

"Sure!"

They ran across the Marsh; Kurapika commenting on how it was harder to run on wet land as well as the fog getting thicker. Naruto frowned, sensing Hisoka behind them,

"We should run faster."

Killua blinked, tilting his head, "Why?"

"Hisoka-san's not running in the front."

Kurapika narrowed his eyes while Leorio and Gon looked at him in confusion. Killua however understood what he meant and agreed,

"Staying too close to Hisoka is bad. Let's move up, Gon, Naruto."

Naruto agreed easily, preparing to run… until Leorio reported that he was unable to run faster. The spiky haired blond gazed between the two behind him and the two in front of him - especially as Kurapika convinced Gon to go ahead of them. It only took a moment before he decided,

"I'm going with you two."

"Eh?" The four shouted; Killua especially, feeling more for Gon and Naruto than for Kurapika and Leorio. Naruto nodded in confirmation and conviction,

"Yes. It takes two to make sure that Leorio-san doesn't do anything stupid."

"Oi-"

While Kurapika laughed and agreed, "Thanks, Naruto."

"It's not funny - and I don't do anything stupid!"

Killua was more quiet as he observed Naruto. "...stay safe."

"Of course. I grew up in the forest; this is my home terrain. We'll catch up in no time."

Killua nodded before leaving with Gon. Leorio eyeing pretty boy junior, "Are you sure?"

"Of course. We're all going to pass and reach the end anyways. Let's go."

They continued running together; the fog slowly getting thicker until only silhouettes could be seen. Kurapika frowned as he commented on it out loud. Of course, Leorio just had to jinx them with an attempt to be positive though.

"It's alright. As long as we can still see the guys in front of us…"

Slowly, those guys began disappearing. Their bodies seemingly falling to the ground below. The three stopped, staring up at the floating strawberries that randomly appeared. No…

"It's a turtle!" Leorio shouted incredulously. Blue eyes gleamed as Naruto held his chin studiously,

"No, no, no, I think it's a tortoise." After all, he had seen Gai's tortoise summons before…

"Who cares?!" The original person, who shouted first, shouted now. Run!"

"Too late!" Kurapika shouted as another tortoise with strawberry trees on its shell appeared, "We're trapped!"

"Tch." The spiky-haired blond frowned at the appearance of one behind them. His finger already twirling a kunai through the air. "I'll take care of this one then!"

"What?! You'll di-"

Both Kurapika and Leorio however gaped as the boy merely stood before it, waiting as its head rapidly lunged down to eat him. Only, as soon as the maws of hell were open, Naruto smoothly sidestepped out of danger and stabbed into its eye with the small blade. His tight grip lasting even as the tortoise threw its head back in pain and he was in the air; the blond hacking deeper into the eye with another kunai and using both arms to swing from his hanging position into a handstand. His weight pushed down on the small blades and aided him in slicing the turtle's head and neck with the downwards fall. The tortoise died within a minute; the boy many times smaller landing lightly on the ground near it and walking away…

"Eh? You're not taking care of that one?"

Kurapika and Leorio blinked before remembering their predicament and jumping out of the way of the ignored tortoise. Was it their imagination or was it more pissed off than before? Naruto sighed as the tortoise chose to target the old-man-looking teenager; Leorio comically shouting profanities and rolling across the wet ground before grabbing a sturdy stick of wood and shoving it into its mouth.

Bad idea.

A sweat dropped as both blonds stared up at the flying Leorio - his grip still tight on the wood between two sharp sets of teeth. They exchanged glances before Kurapika knelt and launched himself into the air; wooden swords stabbing into the tortoise's eye. He shouted once landing,

"Leorio, Naruto! Here's our opportunity!"

Naruto, who was expecting a fight, shouted incredulously at the leaving Kurata, "Wait! We're just going to run?!"

Leorio was of mind with the teen he knew longer though, "Yes! We're not all monsters like you, Naruto!"

"Rude!"

But he followed afterward. The three of them leaving the dead and injured tortoises to nature to eat. The fog hiding the brutality of the natural ecosystem from sight. Unfortunately, the mist didn't hide one important thing better left unknown.

"...wait… we're running back to where we came from!" The two older ones gave him quizzical looks; Naruto groaning as he remembered and explained, "Hisoka-san!"

"...too late."

Kurapika sighed as he saw the clearing ahead. Hisoka standing in the center of a group of similarly dressed men. Blue martial arts uniform cloaking their figure. Curiosity overtook them as they couldn't help but watch as Hisoka killed them all with a simple, but graceful circular slash of a Poker card. Their feets glued to the ground even as a man tried crawling away; his formerly arrogant voice becoming one of pleas as he begged for help to nobody in particular. Hisoka ended the broken record with two cards in the head. Was it coincidence or on purpose - the two cards forming a V for victory together?

It was deadly beautiful. Naruto gazed at the blood everywhere - it was oddly beautiful to see the life essence flowing across the green life around. The struggle of life. The seeping of life as all became ground and unity.

But he could observe no further as the magic ended. Hisoka's golden eyes gazed towards them. Naruto flinched at the dull, judging eyes - the man truly playing the examiner and bored at it. He thought back to Anko in the Chuunin Exam. Bored examiners were scary.

"Now then. Care to participate in my little game of examiner?"

Naruto closed his eyes as he listened to the plan. He listened to it, of course. Only, nothing ever went to plan around him so it was more than pointless to listen to, but he did it for respect. Not to mention, he had an extremely bad feeling about this plan…

"On my signal, we run in different directions."

"What?"

"He's vastly more experienced in real combat. The three of us won't stand a chance against him. We cannot afford to squander time in a pointless fight!"

"I understand."

They waited and it was only until a crow cawed that Kurapika yelled, "Now!"

They all ran as fast as they could. Naruto stopping after a while when through the blurs of colors, he saw no Leorio.

"Leorio!" Both shouted; Naruto's feet already heading over. His eyes already caught someone in the distance. His hands already clearing the bushes. And his nose-

Despite telling himself to never trust or love again, Naruto felt his heart thump wildly against his chest. Why? He could watch strangers die, hear their screams and pleas, and still give them the cold shoulder. He could hurt and kill and distrust - yet why?

A feral snarl escaped the boy as his eyes soaked in the scene - the fog clearing everything to white except for that simple scene… of Hisoka choking Gon.

"Let him… LET HIM GO, HISOKA!"

Naruto dashed across the Marsh, throwing shurikens at the arm that offended his vision. Hisoka released Gon at last minute to dodge the metal stars; his golden eyes moving to see the boy who threw those kunais at the Man-Faced Apes… and hid a high potential to be strong as well. Hisoka's own smile grew rapidly in excitement as he saw hate seep into the calm boy - the boy filled with a fighting spirit and determination to kill that he never thought before was possible.

"Good eyes… really really good!"

Hisoka laughed as he dodged the simple frontal kunai stab… only to be bitten in the side by a mysterious black fox that apparated behind him. The thing growling with glowing eyes of red aura as it tore a chunk of flesh out with a savage twist of its furry head. Hisoka's mind rushed as he recognized the weapons and the boy's assassination-preferring style of fighting.

A ninja! Not just any like Hanzo, but a ninja knowing Nen! An amazingly strong ninja boy with so much potential~! Pain tingled in his side, webbing out in pleasurable sensations, causing Hisoka to laugh even more. So good! So wonderful! His golden eyes trailed to the angry blond with eyes fit for murderous wolves - so delicious.

The blue reddened more and more, becoming an almost demonic purple. They said that the Kurata's crimson eyes were beautiful… but Hisoka was sure that they never saw this before. The colors all vibrantly gleaming in those little orbs with emotion and danger. And that blond hair - those soft golden spikes becoming sharper and feral like a cat raising hair. Before, he would have thought that these demonic looks wouldn't suit a small, feminine boy like this one. Now… they were just amazing.

With a quick slice, Hisoka dispersed the fox. His fingers holding a single card as he sliced through the many more foxes coming. Added with the speed of the original, the solid foxes really were dangerously powerful tools. Hisoka could only imagine how a fight in the future would be like - a fight once the boy fully ripened and became the fastest in the world. Hisoka was quite confident that it would be quite the wonder. Yes… he couldn't kill them. Not the half-naked man, not Number 405, and not Number 66.

He decidedly ended the fight, feeling the phone in his pocket vibrate. The First Phase was almost over. It would not do if he or any of his new adorable targets were disqualified. It was a shame though; Hisoka contemplated as he watched the boy's wrath. It really was a shame that he couldn't be like that all the time… or couldn't fight as good as he probably could, now that he was in a simple, animalistic rage. Hisoka frowned as he weaved out of the angry blond's deadly accurate but currently very simple stabs and knocked the boy unconscious with a chop to the neck. The foxes eyed him before slowly dispersing one by one away. Hisoka smiled as he waved the cute Nen beasts away.

The pink-haired jester hummed before remembering that the green-clothed boy was still conscious. The boy probably having not joined the fight out of watching the blond's fierce strikes and power as well. Though shame how Number 405 wouldn't know the intricacies of Nen yet. He smiled, kneeling down to eye level,

"Do not fear. I will not kill your friends. They passed. Yes, you pass, as well. Grow up and become a fine Hunter."

Hisoka finally answered the phone, listening to the voice, "Hisoka, you should get back here. We're nearing the Phase Two site."

"Okay, I'll be right there."

Hisoka slowly walked over and picked up Leorio, tossing the guy on his back like he had with the smaller boy, who seemed very deceivingly fragile and innocent in his sleep.

"It's always good to have friends. You can find your own way back, yes?"

Gon nodded slowly, staring up at him from his knees.

"That's a good boy." Hisoka smiled before leaving.

Kurapika slowly ran back, shouting, "Are you alright?!"

…

Killua's eyes widened as Hisoka appeared with Leorio and Naruto on his shoulders; both unconscious. At first, he thought for the worst. A cold feeling seeping inside of him, causing his heart to sink. Though very different, the blond was the first he could talk and relate to with ease and a carefreeness that he never knew ever existed inside of him. He was like a breath of fresh air; the first he ever talked to without worries now outside of the mansion.

He didn't want him to die. Naruto was his-

Blue eyes widened as he caught Hisoka's smile as the man somewhat gently placed down the two against their own trees towards the back of the crowds of people. Mind raced as he could only come to one conclusion.

He pounced once Hisoka was gone, glomping the unconscious blond and checking his pulse. Alive alive alive alive alive alive alive - He was alive! He froze as the blond groaned from the sudden weight. Heart soared as eyelids blearily fluttered open; the blond sleepily eyeing a patch of dirt… until fully widening with so much emotion that Killua never saw on the blond before. He fell back on the ground as Naruto suddenly stood up and gazed at the direction from which Hisoka came from, intently peering through the trees of the forest or something beyond for something he didn't know… until the blond sighed of relief, murmuring so softly that Killua almost didn't catch it,

"He's alive…"

Killua frowned, "Who's alive? Leorio? Yeah, he's over-"

Naruto jumped at the voice before turning to see, "Ah, hey, Killua. Where are we anyways?"

"The Phase Two site." Killua held up two fingers for emphasis before frowning, "Ne, Naruto, what happened? Why was Hisoka carrying you two and do you know where Kurapika and Gon are?"

Naruto frowned as well, slowly, hesitantly shaking his head, "Ask Gon. I need to ask him as well. I don't get it very well. And Gon and Kurapika-san are jogging over here. They'll be here in about ten minutes."

"Eh? You can tell? Do you have super good hearing or smell or something?"

"Something like that." Naruto smiled secretly, making Killua tackle him playfully,

"Tell me~"

Naruto playfully pushed him back, "Yadda~"

Killua grinned as everything felt back to normal already. Naruto was alive!

Ten minutes later, Naruto saw the two coming towards them. Gon and Kurapika shouting,

"Leorio! Naruto!"

The man waking with the loud shout, "Man, that stings…" He rubbed his swollen cheek. Naruto shook his head. Some things never changed… "Why am I all beat up? My memory is kinda hazy."

Naruto fell to his side. The idiot didn't remember?

"We probably shouldn't tell him what happened." Kurapika whispered to Gon; Naruto narrowing his eyes as he heard. Oh no they don't. He wanted to know everything.

"Gon."

"Killua!"

Naruto saw his chance as the two other boys his age saw each other and wandered off towards the forest. He caught up to them, immediately staring at Gon and asking very seriously so that there were no room for half-truths or arguments,

"What happened?"

Gon fidgeted a bit, but Killua pressed on as well, "I want to know too, Gon."

Gon hesitated, but Naruto spoke up, "All I saw was him nearly killing you with that crazed look in his eyes. I thought you were going to die, Gon. Please tell me. At least what I did. I can guess that Leorio-san went back and you saved him. I can't live on just guesses for me."

The boy finally nodded, hearing Naruto's desperate voice, and blurted out, "You were really angry at Hisoka and tried attacking him with those cool foxes, metal stars, and knives! You were just as fast as him as well~" Gon pouted, "You're good - hitting him twice. I couldn't do anything…"

Killua's eyes lit up, "What?! You got Hisoka twice?! And foxes and weapons - you have to show me!"

Naruto ignored him, though, lost in his thoughts. He went berserk. He could have hurt everyone if he turned yet he still let his emotions free. No! He shouldn't even feel anything - not after all those betrayals, not after - he shouldn't even have any emotions as a ninja! Ignoring the others, he dashed back to the clearing,

"Hisoka-san!"

The man looked up before smiling, "Well, hello to you too, boy."

"Can we talk?"

Naruto tilted his head towards the forest. Hisoka blinking before nodding and following after. Once getting sufficiently deep enough, Naruto bowed,

"I'm sorry for attacking you, Hisoka-san!"

"Heeh, that's a new one." Hisoka could never recall a person apologizing for that before. Especially when he was the one who attacked first and near-killed said person's friends. Odd. Strangely funny. Interesting. "It's alright; I don't mind being attacked by you~"

"No, it's not alright. I went berserk. I'm not even supposed to ever go berserk or feel strong emotions yet I…" Despite how curious Hisoka was about the reason why he should not feel strong emotions were, the boy shook his head and looked up at him, "I heard that I hit you twice."

"You did! Quite a feat for a young boy~" Hisoka beamed as he remembered the exciting fight. Naruto however wasn't happy as he frowned. Though his abilities weren't meant to be known, he couldn't just leave this matter alone,

"Where? I'll heal them before Phase Two."

Hisoka paused, curiously eyeing the kid before patting his soft golden head, "You're a good kid too."

"?"

The man lifted his shirt to reveal smooth skin… before peeling something invisible off to reveal one nasty knife wound and one gap in his left side - flesh torn out completely by the Nen fox, "Alright then."

Hisoka watched with interest as the boy's hands glowed green and he gently touched the wounds. A transfer of energy and the wounds were slowly healing to new. He couldn't help but ask though, "You aren't going to ask about my concealer?"

Naruto shook his head, concentrating on the wounds, "I don't have the right to. For hurting you without good reason and for hiding my own abilities."

"Jya, what about I tell you about it and you tell me something about your abilities?" Naruto tilted his head, looking up. Hisoka smiling down at the cute boy's big eyes. "I use Transmutation Nen to change the texture of things."

"...I use Conjuration Nen for the foxes."

"Buu~" Hisoka pouted, "I already knew that~ But whatever 3" He hummed, having got his confirmation that the boy knew Nen already unlike probably every Hunter applicant except Illumi… or was his name Gittarackur now?

"Ne… what did you grade for your game, Hisoka-san?"

"Hm? Conviction and mental capacity, of course~!" His make-up covered face distorted into a smile as he hummed. Naruto stared before frowning,

"Then I shouldn't have passed. I lost it."

"Nope, you did pretty good~ You had the conviction to kill me for your friends."

"I don't have any friends. And killing is killing. No matter the reason."

"Heeh. Are you a killer then? When you berserked, it was just so lovely~" Hisoka smiled as he watched the blond's reactions very carefully, "Do you think that you do not deserve any friends as a murderer? As a ninja supposedly without emotions?"

"...no." Naruto shook his head, "If I say that, then I'd be condemning Number 199 and many others in this Exam to doom."

"Then-"

"But still!" Naruto shouted, "Still! I shouldn't befriend them! I don't distinguish between friend or foe when I lose control of myself - I'll kill them! I'll betray them… and then they'll hate me forever."

"...oh, I know. You're a Specialist, aren't you?"

"!" Naruto widened his eyes, "How-"

"A magician doesn't tell his tricks~"

"Hiso-"

"Just kidding! I'll tell you~" He playfully teased before holding out a finger, "All people of one aura type are generally of the same personality type. Specialists are individualistic and charismatic. They will tell you anything important on them and refrain from being close friends… But because of their natural charisma that draws others, they are always surrounded by many people."

"...that's not true."

Hisoka eye-smiled as he agreed for the blond, "It's just a theory of course~! A method of telling similar to trying to find someone's star signs or blood type from personality analysis."

"...then what's a Transmuter?" Naruto asked the jester-like Transmuter. The other merely grinned,

"Now that's a secret~"

"...It's almost time for Phase Two. I got to go."

The blond said after a moment of silence. Just as he was leaving though, Hisoka called out,

"It's always good to have friends, boya~"

"Yes… yes, it's good. Better for me and others for me to be alone though."

But Hisoka knew that his description more than fit the blond. There was no doubt about it. The blond felt like the Boss - the Head of the Spiders who despite being introverted was closely surrounded by people who loved him.

…

Once walking out of the forest, he was assaulted by the others. Gon and Killua shouting together, "Why'd you run and disappear with Hisoka?"

Naruto sighed, "I lost myself and tried to kill him. No matter who it is, it is against my principles to do such a thing without valid reason. So I apologized to him."

Killua gaped, "You got to be kidding. He tried to friggin kill you! And Gon-"

Gon shook his head, "No… He said that he wasn't. He was going to spare our lives because he passed his test."

"But still!"

Naruto smiled at the not-so-secret assassin, "It's my principles and decision. I really don't like being angry and losing control of myself."

Gon beamed, "But you were really cool!"

Killua looked at the feminine, small pretty boy before shaking his head, "I can't see it. You? Angry to the point of wanting to kill? Nah."

Naruto laughed darkly, bitterly, "You never want to see me truly angry. I don't distinguish between friends and enemies then. Just kill, destroy, torment."

The two others froze, wondering how much of that was true. "Naruto…"

Naruto shook his head, "Never mind. Satotsu-san's about to talk."

"Excellent work, everyone. Phase Two of the exam will occur here in the Biska Forest Park. So I shall take my leave here. Best of luck to all of you."

And then, the doors opened with a rumbling… of a stomach.

A/N: I normally don't do ANs, but... dude, the reason why Killua's such a midget is because he's the same age as Gon. 12-13. Naruto's about the same - this is set after the VOTE (admittedly with some changes; minor or major being up to opinion). Konoha may be added in - but only after Gon meets Ging and they all go to the Dark Continent (which is where Konoha is in; though it is as 'small' as Gon's world compared to the rest of the world). Oh. And Naruto's a Specialist with abilities leaning towards the Manipulation side. He's not exactly lying about his foxes, but he's not saying the whole truth.