A/N: Continue reading if you don't mind bad English. Those who do mind, wait 1-2 days as I try finding a beta reader to edit and repost... admittedly getting too lazy to read what I wrote... Does anyone know how to get a beta reader though?

Btw, NarutoxMenchi got less than 30%. Pairing not considered... and just telling BL lovers, I haven't decided on a pairing yet so everything in this chapter is INNOCENT fluff.

"Hey, Gon! Naruto! How about going on a tour around the vessel?"

"Yeah!" Gon shouted while Naruto pondered before shaking his head,

"Sorry. I'm a bit tired."

"Come on, you old―"

"Says the white-haired boy."

"It's silver!" Killua childishly stuck his tongue out before running away with Gon, "Come on, Gon. Let's just leave her then."

"Him! I'm a boy!" Naruto shouted, but the two left. Naruto scoffed before leaving in a different direction.

Leorio and Kurapika sweat-dropped. Leorio commenting, "In good shape as ever those three… Me, I'm going to take a good, long nap."

"Me too. Today has been rather long…"

…

"Thanks for teaching me some tricks, Menchi-san."

"No problem, brat~ I'm expecting some good things out of you next time we meet!"

"Of course."

Menchi grinned as she fondly looked down at her leaving five-hour student's back. It surprised her when the blond asked her to teach him about cooking. Surprised her even more to learn that the blond never had any formal training, having learned everything from experience.

"Satotsu did mention that Number 66 had no goals for being a Hunter, right? That potential, that creativity, and that talent… Maybe I should induct him into the Gourmet World…"

She pondered opportunistically, already imagining a new Gourmet Hunter adding more dishes to the menu. It was exciting. Even if she hadn't approved of him as a chef yet… (though she had no doubt that if he had a few more years of training, then he would).

…

Once outside, Naruto yawned as he really did feel tired now. Five hours of pure learning and cooking could do that to a person of any level of stamina. He was actually so tired that he almost missed the smell and sound of his foot wading through a pile of blood and guts.

His blue eyes widened and heart thumped wildly before he looked around frantically. A quick sense and he could tell that there was no one around except…

Killua.

There was no greater confirmation that the kid was a killer like him. That he was born and raised in the dark, able to emotionlessly destroy everything around him. Despite all that though Naruto knew that he couldn't hate the other nor could he leave the bodies be as they were. They weren't in the shadows of some stranger's place ― someone was bound to come across such a gruesome sight just like he did right now. It was only lucky that it was he was found the bodies first while they were still warm and wet.

The blond ran through familiar shinobi handsigns before tearing apart the gory flesh of bloody carnage into little, flushable pieces. The wind roared silently and protectively in the little hallway where two assassins had now walked.

…

"Killua."

The silver-haired boy looked up with a cold glare; his intent to kill still high… until he saw the blond's worried face. He flinched, immediately toning it all down and calming. Why? Why was it that the boy always felt like fresh air ― like the winds whisking off all the morbid smells of blood and murders away from him. Naruto closed the door behind him, letting the room transition back to darkness.

He jerked from his spot when the blond walked slowly closer and hugged him with a gentleness he never known. It was like the hugs he gave Alluka except now it was towards him…

"What happened? Did those people in the hallway do something to you?"

Killua's eyes widened at first with shock and then fear. The blond must have sensed it as he chuckled,

"If you wanted no one to know, then you should have hid the bodies… and washed your hands." Naruto added, noticing the nails still dyed in sticky red. In slow movements, he wiped them with a handkerchief.

"Why… Why aren't you disgusted? Why aren't you afraid? Shouldn't you be running away? I just murdered two people and you aren't even saying anything about it! I've trained since I was a kid to hurt and kill and… why are you still here? I don't deserve you two; I'm only going to hurt the two of you one day!"

"...then go ahead."

"Eh?" Killua looked up to see the blond's serious eyes as he moved the still bloody hands so that nails that have killed before now pointed at his pale neck.

"If you want to hurt me or kill me, then go ahead."

"W―" Killua's eyes widened in fear as Naruto sliced a thin line of blood with his hands, yelling firmly,

"I'm telling you to go ahead!"

He jerked back, finally taking control of his hand as he furiously shook his head, "No! I wouldn't ever do something like that! I won't kill you or Gon!"

Naruto's face eased into a kind smile; eyes twinkling as he nodded, "Right? Then there's nothing to worry about. No reason why we can't hang out all together."

"But I killed―" Killua persisted only to be cut off by Naruto as he stated,

"I'm a ninja."

"What?" It was just too random and sudden and outlandish. Naruto just repeated himself though,

"I'm a ninja. I might as well tell you. If you don't want to be friends with me after this, then so be it, but I'm a ninja. I killed. I plundered. I destroyed. I did everything in the name of home and our village leader. I trained since I was 5. I used to be an arrogant idiot about it, always wearing a sickeningly cheerful facade to hide my sins and play innocent ― but ever since I landed here, I couldn't do it anymore. I felt so dirty among you guys―"

"Stop." Killua finally hugged the blond; voice nearly breaking as he realized how weak and troubled Naruto must have felt under that facade of calm strength and smiles. Just like him. Sounded just like him except Naruto shouldn't "Don't call yourself dirty. You're the bestest guy I ever met. I would never leave you. You aren't a bad person. At all."

Naruto smiled, "Then you aren't as well. I'm not disgusted. I'm not afraid. I'm not running away… I'm still here, liking Killua. Killua may be a killer, but he's more than that! He's funny, cheerful, loves sweets, a bit annoying at times, but very very nice that he would accept a person like me."

Killua felt lucky that they were hugging each other so that they weren't looking at each others' faces.

His was red and hot.

"T-thanks, Naruto… You too…"

"Jya, let's take a bath together!"

"W-what?!"

Naruto hauled him up with a grin, "We're both covered in blood. And you're sweaty all over. And baths are best before sleep! Plus, it'll take too long if we take a bath one after each other ― more fun this way."

Killua blushed deep red, "W-wait!"

Minutes later, Killua leaned against a wall, falling asleep sitting up out of pure exhaustion. The embarrassment of taking a bath with a pretty boy a bit too much for him. Hell, he never took a bath with someone before! Was this what Japanese people did all the time?!

But… he felt warm as well. Warm and free as the one who liberated him from his worries slept near him; both under the same blanket as they slept without caring of past or future.

…

Naruto stared at the vast skies and land below; the wind tousling his hair as he breathed in the fresh air of high altitude. Trees surrounded the base while grotesque birds with humanoid faces flew all around. They were on a curiously very tall, cylindrical tower; Mr. Beans explaining in his cherubic voice,

"You are here at the Trick Tower. It's here that the Third Phase will take place. Concerning the trial itself, here are the jury's orders. Within a 72 hour time period, you'll need to get to the bottom of this tower… Alive, of course." Mr. Beans hopped back on board, smiling, "May the trials begin! Good luck!"

"Oi, Naruto, found a way down yet?"

The blond blinked at Killua's shout, snapping out of his daze, "Ah, yeah."

"Really?!" Four voices shouted; the trio joining them. Leorio grinned,

"So? How?"

Naruto stood up from his seat on the tower's edge and moved inward, tapping a tile strong enough to open it.

"There's a lot of trap doors around here. You could tell by the different sounds as you walk. Some are hollow. Also notice how there are little currents of wind being created by them―" He stopped at the blank faces before shaking his head, "Whatever. Just find a trapdoor and fall in before they're all gone. Judging by the sheer number of them, each one can probably only be used once. Jya, I'll be leaving this way." He waved before jumping in and disappearing. Killua tried opening the door, but failed. The assassin whistled,

"Seems legit. Then I'll be heading this way―"

Gon shouted excitedly, "There's four over here next to each other!"

They exchanged glances before Killua sighed and ruffled his hair, "Naruto went down too fast. He could have gone with us."

Leorio shrugged, "Who knows? Maybe they all lead to separate paths and which one is next to each other doesn't matter?"

But Killua's implications were proven right when the four of them landed on Majority Path and were forced to wait 20 minutes for a fifth member who they could have gotten easily if Naruto had just gone with them.

…

"Doubles Path. For the two candidates, you'll have to reach your goal following the choices of the winner of Janken." Naruto read before deadpanning, "Janken? Who the hell made this test? And am I really going to have to wait―"

He ended that thought when the air shifted and dust spilled into the air; a person landing in lightly. Naruto froze as he recognized the aura. He wondered why he always had to attract so much trouble. Out of from the clouds of dust walked…

Hisoka.

The man beamed pleasantly at the sight of the little blond that interested him so much. His stride a bit faster as he bent down over Naruto's shoulder to read the plaque. A smile curling on his lips.

"It seems that we're taking the test together, Number 66~"

"Someone take pity on this little kid and get him out." Naruto thought seriously, suddenly afraid for his sanity.

…

Far away, Lippo watched the monitor with a blank face… before coughing and moving on; pressing the button to activate the speaker so he could explain the rules,

"All right! This Tower contains numerous passages. Each one contains its own crossways. You can only move forward following the choice of the winner of Janken; one game for each crossroad. It's impossible to pass if the choice comes from one person alone. To pass this path, you will need both members reach the bottom of the Tower alive!"

And his beginning speech ended. He really felt bad for the blond kid…

Footsteps echoed and Lippo looked back to see the former Examiner, Togari. His mane of blue hair shaking with excitement; green eyes almost animalistic as he grinned,

"Where is Hisoka?"

Lippo stared, ate a potato chip in the dramatic silence, and pointed to the monitor which now had an image of Naruto playing Janken with Hisoka. The scene oddly… friendly and warm. Togari stared blankly,

"What is this?"

"Your target had the luck of being on Doubles Path. That is his partner. If you're going to fight them, do bring a prisoner with you or something."

Whatever circumstances Togari envisioned their battle was to be on, it wasn't this. But beggars couldn't be choosers. He technically wasn't allowed to be here in the prison and Hunter Exam anyways. He grunted gruffly,

"Fine."

…

"You know… are you cheating, Hisoka-san?"

"Hm? Of course not~"

"That tone definitely signifies that you're cheating."

"What are you talking about?" Hisoka smiled in amusement at the child accusing him out of all people to cheat. Normally, people wouldn't have the guts to do that. Or at least normal people not fools. The blond's eyes bored holes into him as he repeated,

"Don't lie. You are cheating."

"Ho… and you're not?"

"You admitted it!" Naruto shouted, pointing at him indignantly, "And I do not cheat! There's just no way I can lose in a game of pure luck!"

Hisoka's lips curled at the arrogant words from the normally somewhat modest boy, "What's this now? That's the reason why you're accusing me? Because you just can't lose?"

"Yes!"

Hisoka stared at the totally serious eyes that flamed with emotion and plain stubborn determination before bursting out into laughter. Naruto let out more shouts; the blond feeling insulted while Hisoka just laughed.

It was the most ridiculous scene to see if anyone knew that they were both murderers. One more pronounced than the other. One psychotic while the other loyal.

Yet here they were; one breaking down and the other bursting out.

Their moment ended quickly though with the sharp shift in air. Each of them taking out their respective weapons; a deck of cards appearing in Hisoka's hands and a kunai tightly gripped in Naruto's hand. Their eyes narrowed and focused at the unending darkness ahead. Naruto blinked though when all the hatred shifted to the person at his side,

"...Do you know him, Hisoka-san?"

The jester licked his lips, "Ah, yes, I remember. This aura… It's the examiner from last year~"

"...didn't you kill him?" If he remembered correctly, then Tonpa did say something like that.

"But that'd be such a waste ― he could grow so much more stronger~!"

The sheer bliss in Hisoka's face made Naruto slowly nod and slowly back away, "Riiiight. I'll sit out over there then…"

And then, the two men emerged from the darkness. One with four, somewhat symmetrical diagonal scars across his face and confident green eyes ― Naruto guessed that was the examiner. The other man was odd with a cloak covering his body and hiding his features out of sight. His feet and hands were bound with shackles that had an odd pattern across them. Naruto stood back up, realizing that he just couldn't sit out of the fight.

Hisoka realized as well, frowning as he tried reading the prisoner that his prospective target was going to fight. After all, he couldn't have the boy die by a hand not his and especially not at a time way before the fruit was ripe and strong. It was an important investment that he'd hate to fail.

"I was waiting for you! Hisoka!"

The prisoner muttered quite loudly, "More like we were standing in the wrong place for two hours on the other side of the Tower; they somehow avoiding my traps, Lippo-san's traps, and us even though Lippo-san gave us directions and used his controls to move his own devices. I knew it. I really am horrible. I really have bad luck."

"Shut up, Gammy!" Togari shouted, annoyed at his pessimistic prisoner. But he was brought for a reason… Togari smirked at the thought before coolly looking at Hisoka, "This year, I'm not here to judge you, but to avenge myself. Since last year's Exam, all I could think about was one thing: killing you. And today, these wounds are going to shut down!"

"You mean stop aching." The prisoner muttered, to which Togari yelled,

"Shut up!" He growled as he took out his curved bill hooks and began twirling them. Hisoka's face visibly dropped,

"Hmm… I don't have the impression that you've made any progress."

Even when the knives multiplied into four with the man boasting loudly, Hisoka's excitement never did recover. The frown on his face deepening with each second. Though Naruto was sure of who was going to win from that moment on, he didn't have time to watch the rest of the fight as the prisoner's shackles were released and they both were suddenly dropped to the floor below.

For a moment, there was only darkness in a dusty room. Then, blue wisps appeared, one by one lighting up what seemed to be a long corridor with dozens of closed doors and empty antique frames. Naruto warily examined his surroundings while keeping an eye on the prisoner who crash-landed just a few meters away from him. The torch's bright fire wavered as said man finally took off his cloak to reveal slovenly ragged clothes and a lazy but calm composure. He had black hair that curled outwards in permed waves and brown eyes with an expression of a dead fish.

Despite how morose and apathetic the guy seemed though, Naruto felt each of his senses alerting him that the man in front of him was no joke. This was a seasoned fighter. This… was going to be a fight in which one mistake could kill him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." The man held his hands up in surrender at the sight of the boy charging in for the kill, "Calm down, kid. I'm not like Togari-san up there. I have no reason to fight you. Let's just play a game and call quits."

Naruto paused, sensing no lies and feeling oddly relieved that they didn't have to fight. Unlike in the past, now he knew his limits. This man was definitely stronger than him ― his instinct was screaming it. He lowered his kunai hand, "And why should I play your game?"

"Because he is the jury for this round." Lippo's voice appeared via speaker. "Gammy Boru. Like all the other prisoners in Trick Tower, he is in charge of stalling examinees. Each hour stalled and they get one year of their sentence shortened. By the way, Gammy here has a life sentence of 100 years for illegal gambling, robbery, and murder."

"Wouldn't that normally be higher?"

"He has already stalled many examinees on his way here via traps..." The speaker fell silent for a moment before Lippo asked out of pure curiosity, "Do tell me how you dodged all those traps that should have been inevitable on your path please. Every other path are already on their 50th."

Naruto sheepishly repeated, "There's no way I can lose in a game of pure luck." The blond scowled in remembrance, "That's why Hisoka-san had to have cheated!" Even though the jester did let him choose all the paths even after winning some games (Hisoka being never one to care about the route), the boy who formerly ran on honesty was still pissed at the thought.

Lippo stared dubiously at the monitor holding the two before shaking his head and continuing, "Anyways… What is your game, Gammy?"

But the prisoner stared at the blond before grinning excessively. His hair flowed higher as the air around him rippled in strong gales. Naruto widened his eyes, immediately jumping back and haunching into a defensive position. His blue eyes apprehensively watching as the man stood with wild eyes full of bloodthirsty passion.

Lippo too had a bad feeling as he shouted, "Gammy! Stop!"

"No." Gammy spoke savagely as he stood up to his feet and used Retsu. The blue flames stubbornly tried holding on to life even as the gales became storm, but failed, becoming extinguished bits of smoke until that too dispersed. The entire corridor was once again back into total darkness. Lippo hurriedly turned the lights on with a button and gravely stared at the monitor. The prisoner had already conjured his Nen ability. The Hunter Exam wasn't even supposed to involve Nen!

Lippo frowned. He couldn't leave the controls and monitor room; his job being to observe all the candidates and operate the entire Tower to its full capability. He couldn't send other prisoners to stop Gammy from his nonsense ― the other prisoners being ordinary criminals that knew not of Nen. Nor could he bring down some sort of device or barrier to divide the two.

The poor kid was going to die.

"Perhaps…" Lippo realized late. "This was Togari's goal all along? To screw with Hisoka's chances of passing."

"Kid…" Gammy cackled before laughing, "Luck, you say? I used to have that. I used to be the luckiest guy ever just like you…" Then he growled, "But I lost it! I lost it all to that man! I lost it, got caught, and became this! But…" His hysteria-crazed eyes looked at Naruto happily, "But I'll finally get it all back today!"

Naruto took back his words. His expression was not that of a dead fish's. The prisoner's eyes were that of a lion ― starved and beaten and now roaring to the world for violent carnage. And Naruto was probably never going to look at jesters the same again. First Hisoka and now this… He unconsciously took steps back, distancing himself away from the giant being made of Nen.

It was humongous, its body demeaningly bending down at an inhumane posture as it was too tall to stand up fully straight. Gloved hands shuffled poker cards at rapid paces and various ways that Naruto was sure even Hisoka was unaware of. And its entire form was resembling the Joker of a standard Bicycle Poker Deck: clothes and slitted eyes of black.

"Let's play a game, kid. We bet on our fight ― if I win, then I get your luck. If you win, then you get my life ― but you'll never win, ahahaha~!"

"Then… why should I bet?" Naruto slowly asked.

"Because I'm the jury. Don't worry. If you lose, then I won't kill you." He added with a shark-like grin: toothful, only funny to the owner, and carnivore, "Maybe."

"..." Naruto scrunched his face in thought. He had to pass this Exam. To do that, he had to go through here. The jury was insane and strong… but he had to pass! "Alright. I agree to the bet."

The ninja could honestly say that he wasn't waiting for a signal to start as he quickly dodged the projectiles… that would normally be invisible to a normal person and began to swerve swiftly among the forest of raining Nen cards. Finally, they stopped after three long minutes with Gammy smirking,

"You can see it? So you weren't an ordinary brat after all. What luck you must have to know Nen before facing me!"

For the first time in the Hunter Exam, Naruto felt sweat rolling down his brow ― the cards being deadly fast. He had to use full speed just to dodge them. Even then, he only just barely dodged them. This couldn't continue. If it did, then he'd run out of energy and lose. There was no way he was going to die here.

"Gammy… What's your fixation on luck anyways? Why do you want it so much that you would fight a little kid for it?"

Gammy gazed at him incredulously, "You got to be kidding me… You don't know what you have? Luck is everything! With good luck, one could rule the world if they so wanted to! They would win every gamble, every game, every fight, everything! It will all be in my hands! And then, I'll kill that deceitful bastard that took it all from me! I'll show him my rage and he'll never dare cheat again!"

"Sou ka…" Naruto replied as he now understood. He concealed his kunai with a flick. Gammy scrunched his brows at the odd sight of the kid putting away his weapon until nine foxes of various sizes and colors appeared by his side. The prisoner narrowed his eyes as he realized that the blond must have been a Conjurer like him ― with a small hand stretched out, the red-orange fox jumped into the palm and transformed into an unsheathed tanto for his owner to use. The blond twirled it into a good position before defiantly staring down at him despite his much shorter size, "Jya, you better get serious then. I'll really kill you."

Gammy stared. Those blue eyes… He shook and trembled, holding his hand across his face and cackling as he remembered. The one he lost to ― the one who tricked him had those eyes! That same condescending look like he was scum! Those were the eyes he lost the bet to! Yellow aura emerged from his shoulders as he conjured his own weapon, a large scythe,

"You? Kill me? As… as if!"

He roared as he charged at the kid, swinging his blade down. Their Nen monsters taking that decision to charge at each other in their own battle. A battle that was ignored as Naruto immediately swung up to block the blade; both of them shouting as they pushed against each other with full strength before deflecting off. They both jumped back with Gammy swinging horizontally towards Naruto's abdomen. The blond parried it, holding his tanto vertically, but the force of the scythe's blade still caused the back of his blade to dig into his body. He grunted from the heavy assault before calling out,

"Todd!"

Jagged lines shimmered across the silver blade's center; the blade opening up like a mouth with sharp steel teeth and then crunching into his scythe. Gammy stared in shock at the Nen scythe actually being eaten. He quickly shrugged it off though, pulling back and repairing the scythe with more Nen. He grinned,

"What a greedy blade. But it will never be as greedy as me!" Gammy shouted as he caught the incoming tanto with a Kou-covered left hand. His palm bleeding, but Gammy didn't care as he kneed the kid hard in the gut, batted him with the snath of his scythe, and finally sliced through the blond's chest. Gammy frowned at the bloody sight before rubbing his neck,

"Ah, whatever. So I got a little rusty in prison and waited a bit too long. That's a killing blow even if it didn't slice his body into two." Gammy then grinned as he looked down on the kid this time, "Looks like your teacher didn't teach you Ken, Ryu, or Shu. Who's laughing now, brat~? Though your Nen ability was quite interesting…" The prisoner widened his eyes as he stared at the continuing battle between the blond brat's foxes and his Joker. "No… He has to be dead… The foxes must be automatic. There's no way a person could survive that…"

But Joker hadn't given him his prize yet.

A hand splattered against a pool of red. The sound echoing across the corridor. It wasn't his hand. But no one could survive―

Gammy shivered as he turned around.

…

"You never change, brat. Calm, impulsive, quiet, loud, smart, stupid. An idiot's always going to be an idiot though."

Naruto opened his eyes to find himself in his mindscape; his body lying on the still waters. Instead of the previous golden sewage landscape, however, he saw torii's around and water stretching on forever. The largest red toriis pinned the great Kyuubi down; the red fox looking down at him.

"Oh… it's you." Having thought that he died, this scene wasn't very shocking, he guess. "What happened here?"

"You cleaned up your mind, brat. Still dark as ever though."

The blond was sure that he was implying something. Naruto sighing, "I guess. How's my dark side?"

"Kekeke," The Kyuubi cackled with amusement that the blond knew about his dark side… which wasn't here anymore, "He merged with you, idiot. You finally feel all that hate towards your lovely home village, don't you? Still want to be Hokage?"

"...Nah." Naruto admitted after a long pause. He was tired of it. That false happiness and loyalty towards the place that ostracized him ever since he was born. That horrible t― He shook his head, not even wanting to think about it. Instead, he returned to observing his surroundings, "So… where are we anyways? In another world?"

"You can think of it that way. This is the place Grandpa Rikudo isolated. They know no chakra and we have to keep it that way. Our place is just outside of the borders of this world's map. I think they call our world the Dark Continent. Elemental Nations is isolated in the middle of that continent. Both worlds are actually small compared to the entirety of the Dark Continent though."

"...Why are you telling me this?"

"Why not?"

"You know why n―" Naruto stopped in his accusation before sighing, "That was what they thought of me as well though. Kyuubi's probably not even your name. Demon's probably not even what you are."

The nine tails flickered as the giant fox grinned, "Exactly. You know… Out of all my hosts, I actually think I like you the most, brat."

"How so?"

"You feel the same pain as me. My name's Kurama, brat. And I already answered one of your questions."

Once Naruto heard the name, he widened his eyes at the negative emotions overflowing them both. Empathetic World. That was his Specialization Ability. He could sense the emotions and/or Nen abilities of every being in the world. All he had to do was stop moving and if they were living beings, know their name, and ask a question and be answered. Naruto smiled as he realized that the darkness of the mindscape really suited them both,

"No wonder why you went insane. You can sense them too."

"Yes. I don't quite agree with your belief that I'm insane though." The canine's snout curled up to reveal sharp teeth, "Anyways, since you're here, let's be accomplices. I really hate that place. Chakra everywhere. War everywhere. Death everywhere… and ignorant humans with so much evil and hate in their hearts everywhere. It's the opposite of what Grandpa Rikudo lived and died for. Ingrateful miscreants. I don't care anymore.

I don't want to go back there at all. It was really annoying. Your mother and grandmother sealed me, used me, never even conversed with me, and stole from me. Your father sealed me. Your village hates me. Your friends' clan used me, stole from me, controlled me to do all that destruction your village bitches about, and more. Since it's you and your new ability though, I don't mind being accomplices with you. Just never go back there to that filthy place."

"Never…?" Naruto asked knowing fully well what that place he was referencing to was.

"Yes, never. I'll even teach you how to control your ability to more tolerable levels. I'll even be quiet here inside your mind. I'll even share with you my chakra. And if you want to survive, then you do need the first and third to happen. You let his arrogance overwhelm you and became arrogant in turn. Now you're biting the dust with an almost divided body."

"I'm sorry then. That's a promise I can't make. I'll eventually have to go back home. Just not as a loyal shinobi anymore."

Kurama seemed to contemplate before compromising, "That works out fine then. I can't have you die here yet anyways. I don't know where I'll reform if we die here. Grandpa Rikudo specifically didn't want this place to know chakra so I can't reform here. And there's no way I'm returning home anytime soon."

Naruto broke a smile at that; the fox sounding like a normal child runaway. "Jya, we're accomplices then."

"Just like how Nen is invisible to normal people, chakra is too. I'd appreciate it if you pull the tag."

Though Naruto sensed a million negative emotions in Kurama, he could also sense that none of them were originated from the fox (except the hatred towards the Uchiha and Uzumaki women). He yanked the simple paper without a further thought and felt their connection merge into something greater.

Naruto did warn however, "I'll seal you back again though if you interrupt this fight. I can beat him alone."

"Oi―"

…

Whatever Kurama was about to say was left unheard as the blond opened his eyes and sat up from the pool of blood his wounds made. The large gash that stretched from shoulder to hip and was one inch deep into his body healing with a flash of red chakra. Naruto guessed that he had to give Kurama that one. He couldn't fight with torn innards flying out after all.

He held his forehead as he felt all the emotions again ― smirking when he felt a bit of fear mixed into Gammy's overconfidence. But Kurama was right. He shouldn't become arrogant as well…

"Todd!"

The tanto obeyed, opening up sharp steel teeth to bite into Naruto's flesh. The blond gritted his teeth in pain, but relaxed as he felt his mind empty and he was himself. As necessary as sensing emotions were for his Nen abilities, it was annoying as well.

His feet waded in the sticky liquid as he stood up to full height and readied himself to fight. His mind jogged back to before his conversation with Kurama to remember the last words said by the gambler.

Ken, Ryu, Shu. He really didn't know what those three words meant. But it must have had to do with the Nen covering his fist when he caught Todd's blade. And Naruto couldn't let it happen to him again.

Gammy frowned deeply at him after closing his slight gape. The prisoner twirling his scythe before holding it out in preparation for execution.

"I don't know how you survived, but there's no way you can defeat me. I'm at a much higher level than you. There's no problem with that. I lived longer and fought more battles."

"Can you really say that? To say that you fought more battles… while I fought war?"

Naruto walked slowly to the side; his footsteps become quicker and quieter as he made afterimages of himself. It was a technique he thought about when he read the medical books and then mastered with the information his clones had received in this new world as they traveled around. Medicine and medical ninjutsu had always fascinated him. It was a power used to heal. It was a power also used to protect. And it was also a power that the two people he cared about used ― both Baa-chan and her assistant… and formerly Sakura-chan.

Through varying cadences of steps, he could trick the mind into seeing many of him. It wouldn't work on a ninja with the many wide-ranging attacks that they had with chakra in disposal. Even Sakura could dispose of them all with a chakra punch to the ground. And Kage Bunshin was more practical in shinobi arts.

But this was a technique that could help him now. Especially since Naruto took Kurama's thoughts on using chakra in this world as a challenge. Even more so than he did as he fought in Heavens Arena, where he realized that no one used chakra in this new place.

Gammy looked around, wildly searching and confused until he gave up trying to find the real boy and swung his scythe in a circle all around. Naruto smirked as he landed on the prisoner's shoulder from above, whispering,

"Too bad. I was above. You really do have bad luck."

The prisoner stiffened before sighing, "That I do." and then suddenly roaring to try judo throw the boy off. The blond however stabbed at his throat, the tanto's mouth opening and crunching straight through the hardened Nen aura that covered his body with a bloody finish. Naruto sighing as the Joker finally disappeared with all his Nen foxes surrounding him with injured states and Todd turning back into a fox as well, eating the still active Nen; one of Wing's lessons to him being the warning of the dangers of killing Nen users.

Kurama couldn't help but comment from inside his mind, "You fight better as a ninja than as a honest person."

Naruto didn't even rebuke as he fell back onto the cold ground and nodded while staring up at the ceiling. "Too bad for him… My Nen foxes eat emotions and in turn Nen."

"Emotions do seem to heavily influence this new power, Nen. How unreliable."

"Yet at the same time, powerful. So what are you doing in my mind, anyways?"

"Landscaping a bit. I may not know anything about interior design, but damn are your mindscapes horrible."

"...riiiight…" Naruto deadpanned at the busy Bijuu within him before looking up. He sensed a familiar bloodlust-soaked Nen coming towards him.

"Ah, you finished up as well~" Hisoka beamed at his still alive partner and the foxes that surrounded him. His golden eyes narrowed for a moment as he took in the immense amount of blood on the blond's torn hoodie and the very damaged Nen foxes that spoke much of how close the fight's result was. The examiner behind the speaker had guided him to this place immediately after he killed Togari so he had a faint idea… But whatever. The blond was still alive and he got stronger too~ "After this, I'm told that we only have three more floors to head down."

Naruto sighed, "Three huh." He got up… or tried to. His body exhausted from the use of Nen, regeneration, and full-out attacks. Hisoka smirked as he bent down and slung the blond over his shoulder,

"Tired? I can carry you as a reward for winning."

"No! Put me down, Hisoka-san! Let me go!"

Hisoka just hummed as he continued walking.

…

Lippo stared at the Doubles Path monitor. The blond wasn't supposed to know Nen or even survive! Did he… unintentionally put two monsters together on the same path?

Though it was an amazing fight.

It wasn't long until he pressed the speaker button and shouted, "Third Round. First arrived: Number 44 Hisoka! Time used: 3 hours 17 minutes. Second arrived: Number 66 Naruto! Time used: 3 hours 17 minutes."

…

"Ne, Hisoka… do you know what Ken, Ryu, and Shu are?"

The jester blinked in the middle of his card mountain before smiling and placing down another card at the top, "I do."

"Jya, what are they?"

"Are you sure you want me to tell you? I might sabotage you for the next Phase."

"I trust you. After all, you like your opponents strong, right?"

The pure honesty in his words made Hisoka chuckle before he placed down his cards and pointed a finger up, "Ken is…"

…

A door opened with a man in a green outfit walking in.

"Third arrived: Number 301 Gittarackur. Time used: 12 hours and 2 minutes."

The door closed behind him and the man's nails clicked as he chuckled, "I figured you'd already cross the finish line."

Hisoka just smirked. Then, another door opened with a shinobi running in, "Yosha! I'm the first to finish!"

The speaker went on again reporting, "Fourth arrived: Number 294 Hanzo."

"Huh?" Hanzo blanked as he saw three others in the room before holding his bald head and shouting, "Nooo!"

"Time used: 12 hours and 3 minutes."

"I don't believe this!" He drooped, "I came in fourth… a brat beat me too…"

Gittarackur blinked as he looked at the sleeping blond across the room. A healthy lot of blood on his torn up hoodie. If he remembered correctly, it was the blond that lended Hisoka his cellphone and befriended Kill.

…

"You really did change everything."

"Of course. If you wanted a water mindscape like that old sewer and lake of yours, then get Isobu as your Bijuu not me. Foxes are forest animals." Kurama scoffed as he stared down at his Jinchuuriki. Naruto sat on a tree branch, relaxing as well. He too was from the forest.

"Which one's Isobu anyways?"

"The Sanbi." The Kyuubi yawned, "She's a turtle. So? What'd you want?"

"?" Naruto tilted his head, "I just fell asleep and came here."

"Jya, it looks like we'll be seeing each other often. Good. I won't accept a weak Jinchuuriki. Go train your Nen."

"Eh? Can I? In my mindscape…"

"Why not? Or you could practice chakra things. You're the type that forgets after not doing things for a while."

"Am not!"

"Admit it." Kurama smirked before remembering, "Ah, if you want to study fuuinjutsu, then I got the best references for you."

"Really?" Naruto eyed the fox dubiously. The fox bristled at the doubt,

"Of course. Just who do you think I lived in for many generations?"

"...mom?"

"...and her grandmother." Kurama finally finished, shaking his head at his host. "And I knew Grandpa Rikudo. That's three of the best fuuinjutsu masters ever lived."

"Riiight…"

A vein popped out and Kurama nestled down to sleep, "Fine. Don't believe me. I won't show you their memories."

"Wait! I want to see them!" Naruto shouted, wanting to see his mother. Raised to think that he had no parents, family, or friends, he always wanted to know that he wasn't alone… Kurama, having sensed his emotions, poked him on the forehead with a large tail,

"Don't forget to look at the fuuinjutsu. The fuuinjutsu. It's the most important reason to watch. Not red-haired jerks." The nine-tailed fox stressed, but it was no use as Naruto wasn't paying attention.

Kurama sighed. Really. Some things never change no matter how mature and experienced idiots get. Stupid humans.

…

Naruto yawned as hours passed with only four minutes left. He sighed before perking up.

"Oi! You guys are so slow! And you had a Group Path as well?"

Killua gave him an annoyed look, "Next time, wait and take the same path as us, Naruto."

"Eh? Why?" He asked before looking into the dark hallway and seeing Leorio and Tonpa pushing each other in an attempt to get out first. "Oh… No wonder why."

Kurapika sighed while Gon smiled sheepishly. Killua shook his head, "So… 'as well'? Who'd you come with and what time?"

Naruto scratched his cheek, "I got a Doubles Path with Hisoka-san. We got here in 3 hours and 17 minutes."

"WHAT?!"

They all shouted ― even some of the other eavesdropping candidates at the incredibly short time and the fact that he was still alive despite drawing the same Path as that psychopath. Even Gittarackur was surprised at the time, having taken four times longer than that. Hisoka ignored the stares as he continued his card mountain. He did find it amusing though. Kurapika finally noticed,

"Hey… your hoodie…"

"Oh, don't worry. That's not my blood." Naruto smoothly lied while giving Gon an eye to prevent worry. He regenerated fast anyways, "It's just that I couldn't wash or patch it. You guys look incredibly dusty though. What gives?"

Killua jabbed towards Leorio and Tonpa, "Those two. I'd give them away for Hisoka any day."

"HEY!" The both of them shouted before glaring at each other. Gon laughed while Kurapika nodded,

"I would have to agree. I'd love to finish with enough time to spare. This time was too close."

Hisoka hummed as he mentally thought about how the older blond would definitely die against the prisoner that the younger one faced. After all, only him, Naruto, and Illumi knew Nen in this Exam. Then, the speaker gave a loud gong noise; a person shouting,

"End of the Round Time! Third Round. Number of participants who reached the goal: 25 (including one dead)!"

A door opened letting them all breathe the fresh air of trees and salts from the nearby ocean. Naruto immersed himself with the breezes that he long missed, being trapped in the stuffy Trick Tower. Outside, they saw a short man with a pineapple-like Mohawk and big glasses eye them. Hands in his pocket as he said,

"Congratulations to all of you for exiting Trick Tower. You have only two more trials: the 4th Phase and Final. The Fourth Phase will take place on Zebiru's Island. Saa! Let's hurry!"

The man snapped his fingers and a prisoner appeared, pushing a box towards him. It was a small box with black arrows pointing to the center hole on the top. Naruto wondered what it was for until the man patted it carefully,

"This is a lottery to determine the hunters and the prey. Inside the box, there are 25 numbered cards. These numbers are the ones that were given to you in the beginning of the competition."

"!" Naruto realized the point of saying that and quickly, subtly hid his tag. Killua seeing the movement did the same along with Gon and Kurapika and then Leorio. Lippo's eyes glinted at the quick thinkers as he continued,

"You will all pick a card… Well, pick a card in the order you arrived at the Tower's bottom, that is."

No one was surprised that Hisoka was the first. Not that it really mattered in Naruto's opinion. The lottery should be randomized no matter the order. He walked up as well, taking a card after Hisoka and just coming back in time to hear Gon whisper,

"Ne, ne, why did we hide our tags?"

Leorio looked at him in question as well while Kurapika contemplated, "Could it be… that each of us will be a prey?"

Naruto nodded, "I think so. We'll all be targeting each other. Better that no one knows what number you are."

"Sou ka." Gon placed fist in palm before they all went up to get their own cards. Finally, once everyone had a card, Lippo spoke up,

"Everyone has a card? Then, remove the seal from your card." They did and Naruto yawned in memory. Number 118, the guy with the monkey, huh. A more than easy hunt then. He'll just have to take the badge on the first day and train for the rest. His legs were aching for exercise after lazing around for two (almost three) days. Mindscape not counting.

"Now, your personal number and the one you just picked have been recorded in this machine. Thus, you are free to do whatever you want with this card. After all, in the next Phase, all you have to do is grab the numeral sheet of your target. The target being the participant corresponding to the number you have picked. If you succeed in taking your target's numeral sheet…" He bent two fingers to hold up three, "3 points. If you keep your own numeral sheet, 3 points." And then two more fingers dropped as he smirked, "The other sheets are only 1 point. To reach the end, you'll need a total of…" His other hand raised as he finished, "6 points. You'll have to get 6 points in the time when you're on Zebiru's Island.

A large boat appeared behind him. Naruto feeling the wind pull him towards the forested island in the distance.

The Fourth Phase.