Chapter 5: When x Fate x Unites

Minato's POV:

"-inato. Minato! They're here!"

Minato opens his eyes to see Killua trying to wake him up.

Minato: "H-huh... Oh..."

'w-wait... that face of his just now was kind of cute... umm, wait what am I saying?!'

Minato blushes.

Gon: "Hey guys! Oh Minato, are you sick? You're so red in the face!"

Minato: "Nono, don't worry about me, I'm fine... How late is it?"

Killua: "The time is almost up."

Minato: "Huh? You three barely made it then?"

looks at Gon, Kurapika and Leorio*

Kurapika: "Indeed. If Gon didn't have that genius idea, we wouldn't have made it."

'I guess he isn't always as stupid as he looks then'

A loud voice announces through speakers: "The time for the third phase of the Hunter Exam has passed. 25 examinees have qualified for the fourth phase."

Minato: "I wonder how many phases there are still left..."

A door in the wall opens, daylight shining through. The remaining participants go outside one by one, gathering at the foot of Trick Tower on a small grassy island. A small unknown man, presumably the next examiner, was waiting outside.

Man: "Hello dear examinees! My name is Lippo. But I want to get straight to the point: The next phase of your Hunter Exam is going to be on Zevil Island! But before we go there, I want each of you to get a card from this box here, starting with the participant that first finished the third phase."

Hisoka is the first to go. Then everyone else gets their card with a sticker on it.

Lippo: "I want you to please remove the sticker now. You will see the number of another participant. That is the number of your victim."

Almost everyone quickly takes off their number badges.

Lippo: "In the next phase you will have to get 6 points. Your own tag is worth 3 points. Your victims tag is worth 3 aswell, and any other tag is worth 1 point. You will spend a whole week on Zevil Island."

The remaining examinees are then escorted onto a ship that's supposed to take them to the island. Gon, Killua and Minato meet at the railing.

Gon: "Hey, Killua, Minato! Wanna show each other their numbers at 3?"

Minato and Killua: "Fine"

"1- 2- 3!"

Gon shows #44, Killua #199 and Minato #191

Killua: "Gon, #44... isn't that-"

Minato: "-Hisoka..."

Gon nods a little down.

Killua: "Are you scared or excited?"

Gon: "Kind of both..."

Killua: "Well, atleast you know who your victim is... I have no idea about #199. And neither about yours Minato"

Minato:"#191 is that old martial artist dude I think. #199 is one of those three brothers."

Killua: "Huh? How do you know that?"

Minato: "Well I just thought it would be useful to know the numbers of everyone. Though I didn't think those three would make it that far."

Killua: "Well that's useful knowledge"

Minato: "Hey Killua, wanna team up? I suppose those three won't be far from each other, and I intend to just get three other tags anyway. Most people will try to get the tag of their victim I assume."

Killua: "I guess your knowledge wouldn't hurt"

Minato: "Gon, you're gonna go for Hisoka's tag?"

Gon: "Yeah, I think I have to. It's a challenge i have to face as part of the exam."

After a few more minutes, they arrive at Zevil Island. A woman tells them to take foot on the island one by one, with 5 minutes wait between each examinee. Again, Hisoka goes first as he finished the third phase the earliest.

Minato: "Killua, let's meet at the east coast."

Killua: "Alright"

Killua is the third to step on Zevil Island, Minato goes 5 minutes after.

'I assume The brothers will scavenge for their victims' tags immediately. If I'm lucky, one of the three doesn't only have their own, but also the tag of another person'

[3 hours later]

Minato arrives at the east coast. After a couple of minutes, Killua steps out from behind a tree.

Minato: "There you are. I already thought I was faster than you even though you started earlier."

Killua: "You wish. So, we should go back into the forest. I don't think anyone would stay out here in the open."

Minato: "You're right. It won't take too long to find those three idiots, they probably think they're one of the best in here, so they will show up by themselves" *laughs*

Killua: "Most likely."

So Killua and Minato explore the forest for multiple hours.

Minato: "You would think this phase would be exciting, but a week on this whole island is actually so boring..."

Killua: "You're right, but i felt like that throughout the whole exam already"

Minato: "You're such a show-off"

Killua: "Just stating the truth"

Minato: "Sure... Anyway, we've been wandering around for hours and haven't seen anyone else so far"

Killua: "As you said, we have a whole week. Everyone is getting ready to face their victim, the first day is bound to be boring. We have to watch out though. Not everyone in here is an idiot. It's possible that they'll go after us once they find out we took the badges of their victims"

Minato: "I didn't think about that. There are a bunch of strong people here too, that's true. We shouldn't let our guard down"

[multiple hours later, the first night has passed]

Killua: "We're being watched."

'Huh? I actually didn't notice... I should focus more'

Minato: "A threat?"

Killua: "Most likely not. Else they wouldn't be so easy to spot"

Minato: "Is that an insult towards me" *frowns*

Killua: "Did i say that?"

Minato: "You're annoying"

Killua: "You wanted to team up"

'Fuck you!'

Killua: "Come out. I know you're there"

Noone shows up.

Killua: "Fine. Then I come to you"

Killua walks towards the presence.

Suddenly, a young guy walks up to him.

'Bingo. That's one of them'

Imori: "Kid, I don't want to hurt you, so give me your tag"

'I didn't expect he would be SUCH an idiot'

Killua: "Nope."

Imori looks at him angrily

Imori: "Fine, you wanted this!"

He charges towards Killua and kicks him in the gut, sending him flying.

Imori: "Ha, I got him good!"

'Fool...'

Shortly after, Killua jumps back on his feet.

'cute- uhh, nevermind'

Imori frowns and turns irritated. As expected, his two older brothers show up now.

"Imori, you're really too weak to be one of the Amori brothers! Can't even beat a little kid, you should be ashamed!"

Imori: "This kid isn't normal! I kicked him with all my strength straight in the gut, and he just stoos up again!"

The three brothers form a triangle formation around Killua.

Minato: "Killua, want any help?"

Killua: "Not needed."

This agitates the trio even more, as the medium age one runs up to Killua. Before he can land any attack however, Killua steps behind him and holds his knife-sharp modified nails to his throat. He pulls a tag out of his bag.

"#198... not quite"

'There's someone else watching. Maybe i should take care of him'

Minato slowly walks away and climbs up the trees further away to spy.

'It's that ninja guy... I don't think I can take him on alone. If Killua and I fight together however we might beat him. I could try a surprise attack on him once Killua is done with the others and throw him down from the trees. I hope Killua will be able to react to it fast enough, but he probably noticed this guy already anyway'

A few moments later, Killua beat all three of the brothers down and took their number tags.

'Now!'

Minato charges down onto the spying guy, and kicks him with all his strength down the trees. Still, he lands on his feet.

Ninja: "Very well, I guess i was spotted. But don't think you could beat me just like these fools. My name is Hanzo."

Minato jumps down now too.

Minato: "I landed a good hit but I guess it wasn't enough. We won't be able to beat him alone, so we have to fight together"

Killua: "Atleast a serious challenge finally. The first one in this whole exam"