Neb: The final round is about to begin. We have eight contestants left. Minaga, Yujima, Suzu, Dendo, Yane, Nari, Gabo, Bonjiro and Mabo.
The contestants were moved to an airship after completing Aki's second challenge. Then they were separated, so they could each meet with the Chairman of the Hunter Association separately. Minaga wasn't impatient at this point. He was now starting to believe Zata and the Dojo master had nothing to do with his father's death. Meaning the two men and the Dojo master's star pupil were his last leads. What's worse was what he did to Mochimiaya. Sure, she used her Nen ability on him and worked for the Star Pupil as a middle manager, but she only attacked him because he killed her mentor. In fact Zata did the same thing, should Zata have won that fight? Once his father's been avenged, who would be left to hunt. What would be the point of the License?
Minaga sighed as he sat in a long hallway awaiting being called for the final challenge. He was aproached by an old man with white hair tied into a ponytail. The man had very long ears.
"Good day Minaga Morodasu," the old man spoke up. "I am the Chairman of the Hunter association Isaac Netero. Before you move on to the next challenge, I would like to ask a few questions."
"All you people do is ask questions," Minaga grumbled. "The first part of Aki's challenge was a truth or lie segment. Just what information are you people looking for?"
The chairman glared at him and then smirked. "Straight to the point, I like you. I'll be honest, I like every single hunter that passed Agro's challenge. He was trying to weed out the weak by using his defensive nen abilities."
Minaga stayed silent and the chairman walked to a nearby window and peered out of it. "Agro and Aki I don't normally call on as Examiners. They have a strange way of testing people... for the ability that is known as Nen. I had sensed interference within this Hunter Exam before it begun. My Vice Chairman is trying to stir up chaos by sending out a recruiter who was meant to teach those he found worthy in the ways of Nen before they took the Hunter Exam. Every other exam I've held, we would only have one or two Nen users enter and the rest would be normal people. The normal people who pass would learn the ways of Nen after they pass the Exam in order to become real hunters."
"Why did your Vice Chairman send out a recruiter?", Minaga wondered. "What difference does it make if someone knows Nen before or after the exam?"
"It seems I've sparked some curiosity in the man who's sick of questions," the Chairman laughed. "My Vice Chairman could have done it for any number of reasons. Perhaps he detected a flaw in our system and was attempting to exploit it or perhaps he was just bored. It's really hard to tell with that man some times."
"What are your questions?", Minaga sighed.
"My questions are simple," the Chairman continued. "Where did you learn Nen and who was your recruiter?"
"I was recruited by no one," Minaga began. "I followed a target here. I learned Nen spying on an old Dojo master back in my home village."
"He's telling the truth," Aki spoke up from around the corner.
Minaga figured Aki would be here. The Chairman obviously wanted Aki to find a liar amongst their group. But why, what was going on?
"No further questions," The Chairman smiled as he walked away with Aki.
"One last thing," Minaga spoke up and the Chairman turned around. "This belongs to you guys." He held out the Dojo Master's Hunter's Liscense. The two of them stared at him and then the Chairman took it. "I won't be needing it, because I will soon have one of my own." With that Minaga turned away and headed off.
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"I have talked to each and every one of them," Chairman Netero spoke up to Aki and Agro. "As the Examiners, I must ask you. Who do you think is most worthy to be a Hunter?"
"That'd be Yujima Gorobei," Agro grinned without a second thought. "He had been shown to hold great potential. Sure, Minaga threw the strongest punch, but Yujima has the right attitude. He won't quit in the face of any challenge."
"Interesting," Netero smirked. "Did anyone else catch your eye?"
"Well, sure Bonjiro seems like a straight puncher, but he didn't strike me as someone most deserving of glory. I've seen a lot of boxers in my time, but Yujima comes off as someone unique in both attitude and skill."
"I am most interested in the kid Yasu Nari," Aki explained. "I've learned a lot about each contestants based on their answers and their abilities to gather information. Many chose to lie or skip questions because it would put a target on their backs. Yet she openly stated she wished to be a Blacklist Hunter despite that putting a target on herself."
"Oh?", Netero responded. "So her honesty despite her intentions impressed you."
"Indeed," Aki smiled.
"Who do you think deserves it least?", the Chairman wondered.
"Hmm," Agro thought for a moment. "I can't say anyone comes to mind as the least deserving. They all passed my test. Not to mention, the one I liked the least was taken out during Aki's challenge."
"I agree," Aki spoke up. "There was only one challenger I didn't like, and that was Yuni. He was beheaded, so we won't be seeing him again."
"Yuni was the one you had a problem with?", Agro chuckled. "I was talking about Kenari."
"Kenari?", Aki responded shocked. "He didn't strike me as someone who deserved it the least?"
"He didn't lose because he died, he lost because he was an idiot and a liar," Agro shrugged.
"Well that's fair," Aki agreed. "Anyways, of the current contestants that deserve it the least, I guess Gabo."
"Yeah, that dudes a psycho," Agro agreed.
"Alright then," Netero smiled. "We shall move on to the final trial shortly."
"Will it be a tournament again?", Aki wondered.
"Something like that," Netero continued. "There will be brackets, but because it's an uneven number of contestants, there will be a little chaos in the mix."
"What are you planning old man?", Aki wondered with a glare.
Netero just smirked at him and then stood up. "Gather up the contestants, we will be landing shortly."
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The airship had landed dropping off the contestants. Minaga and Yujima walked over to each other and nodded before turning to the Chairman.
"Welcome final contestants," The Chairman smiled. "I hope you are well rested. For this will be your final trial before becoming a Hunter. Are their any final questions before this trial. Everyone stayed silent and then the Chairman nodded before drawing a circle. "This final round is called King of the Hill. You do not have to win in order to be a Hunter, however I will decide based on your performance whether or not you are worthy. The round will last only ten minutes and whoever is within the circle will be counted as the winner."
"Is killing aloud?", Gabo asked. "I have a friend to avenge."
The Chairman glared at him and then shook his head. There will be no more murder in this challenge. If you kill your opponent, you forfeit."
Gabo glared angrilly at Minaga who just gave him a disinterested look in response.
"Will teaming up with people to maintain the hill for control be allowed?", Suzu wondered.
"It is allowed, but it won't guarantee you a win," Netero explained. "At least it might guarantee the King of the Hill the victory, but his or her teammates, not so much."
The group seemed far more divided, after that was mentioned. Yujima stayed by Minaga however. He was sure they would win if they stuck together. However, Minaga was only focused on his victory. Yujima wasn't sure if Minaga would chose to go against him if it meant securing his own Hunter's License."
"With friends like him, who needs enemies," Dendo chuckled to Yujima.
Yujima ignored Dendo. He was sure Minaga wouldn't betray him after all they been through, but still. Was he nothing more then an experiment. After all, that's what he was win they were kids. Just a test for Minaga to see if other's could possess the same wind abilities.
"The match will start in three, two, one!"
The group all charged for the circle. Bonjiro was trying to knock Benjinao Mabo out first suspecting he was the weakest, but the other kid Yasu Nari and the police officer Arabi Suzu moved in and defended him. At some point they must have formed their own group.
Yujima backed up Minaga as they both took on Gabo who was itching for revenge after what Minaga did to his psychopath friend Yuni.
The amazon Yadari Yane was the first one to make it into the circle followed by the red headed man with scars Nakasa Dendo. The two of them clashed fists and Dendo flew back from the pressure landing on his feet, but outside of the circle. He shook his hand and then readied himself again.
"Not bad," Dendo admitted.
"Come face me if you dare little boy," Yane grinned as she readied herself.
"I don't know what kind of power you're packing," Dendo began. "But it only excites me!" He charged in as his skin turned red and steam began to flow off of his body. The two of them begun swinging punches at eachother pushing each other back in and out of the circle.
Meanwhile Bonjiro was barely keeping up with the tag team of Suzu, Mabo, and Yasu.
"Dammit," he growled. "Three on one."
"Go for the circle," the short tanned girl spoke up to the others. "I will handle this one."
Bonjiro laughed at her before replacing his grin with a serious look. "Don't count me out yet little girl." Bonjiro move in for a punch, but was blocked by Nari's kick. She flew back from the impact, but recovered in an instant. "Perhaps you should let your adult friend handle it," the Afro man sneered.
Suzu got ready to replace her, but Nari put her hand up.
"No," Nari spoke up. "I will not let a simple thing like age difference get in my way. Show me what you got boxer!"
Bonjiro spat on the ground and then charged.
Meanwhile Gabo slammed his foot into Yujima sending him flying back while ramming into Minaga. Gabo was a big man, easily three times the size of Yujima and Minaga. But that won't stop them. Yujima made a fist full of nen and slammed it into Gabo like he did Agro in the first challenge causing him to fly back. Then Minaga moved in creating a fist full of nen just like Yujima and landed a more devistating blow on Gabo's kneecap.
Gabo fell to the ground and grabbed onto his leg. "You bastard," Gabo yelled. "I'll kill you!"
Minaga's instinct was to create a wind sword and slice up Gabo, but Yujima grabbed onto him.
"Remember the rules," Yujima spoke up.
Minaga nodded and they ran around Gabo as the man fell over trying to chase them. He grabbed onto his leg and grunted knowing he had lost.
Minaga and Yujima moved in the circle and were immediately met with a clash from Dendo and Yane.
"Sorry Yujima," Yane spoke up. "I like you, but I won't let you or Minaga win."
"Come on and show me your power," Dendo grinned at Minaga.
Mabo and Suzu then ran for the circle as Nari fought with Bonjiro.
"Going to be harder to maintain the circle then I thought," Dendo chuckled. He exchanged blows with Minaga.
Minaga managed to land a kick to Dendo's stomach sending him flying out of the circle, then he moved to fight Suzu and Mabo while Yujima continued his fight against Yane.
"That's enough," the Chairman spoke up. "Your ten minutes are up."
The group stopped fighting and then all lined up. All except Gabo who was grabbing onto his knee while glaring daggers at Minaga.
Netero smiled and then laid back against a tree. "You have all shown great capabilities. However, there are a few who barely participated in this fight that won't make it to being a Hunter. With a heavy heart, I apologize to Mabo. For the majority of the fight, he left the fighting to Nari and Suzu. Being a Botantical Hunter doesn't keep you away from danger. In fact, there are rare plants across the world that are within life threatening areas. Your older brother made me promise not to except you if you remained timid in spite of passing your trials."
"I don't believe it," Mabo cried as he fell to his knees. Suzu grabbed his shoulder to comfort the kid.
"I look forward to seeing how much you grow before you try again next year," Netero nodded. He turned his head to Gabo. "Having the intentions to kill and the capability is two different things. You are big and strong, but your power goes to waste if you can't use it properly."
"Damn you old man," Gabo growled.
"You will not pass," Netero continued. "The remaining of you will now receive your Hunters Licenses. I wish you all the best of luck and expect you to do us proud."
"It was a privilege to be your examiner," Agro grinned. "I hope one day we will meet again and I can see your true power."
"Remember to stay smart and honest," Aki frowned. "The world is a dark place, you will most certainly lose yourself if you do not hold good virtues and knowledge at your fingertips.
"Our new Hunters are," Netero begun. "Morodasu Minaga, Gorobei Yujima, Nishiwa Bonjiro, Yasu Nari, Nakasi Dendo, Yadari Yane, and Arabi Suzu. Now go and show the world what you are capable of."