Shadow and Light

Chapter 35 title page displays the number "N°035" in a small box beside the bold title "SHADOW AND LIGHT". Two silhouetted figures stand on a dark rocky outcrop against a bright background: an adult in a long coat reaching forward with one arm, and a smaller spiky-haired child figure running ahead with arms outstretched. Below, two pairs of reaching hands emerge from the shadows, one with a visible wristband, grasping upward toward the figures above.

Gon sits up in bed with wide eyes and a startled expression, a bandage on his forehead and sweat drops flying as he looks around the room in confusion. In the next panel a blond man in a dark suit sits reading a book with his legs crossed; Gon’s spiky-haired silhouette is visible in the foreground. The man asks, “ARE YOU AN AKE?” Gon replies with a small “AH.” In the adjacent panel Gon is now sitting upright on the rumpled bed, staring at the empty speech bubble above him. The blond man smiles with closed eyes and explains, “IT’S THE RESTING ROOM. NEXT DOOR TO THE PLACE WHERE THE FINAL ROUND STANDS,” accompanied by the repeated sound effect “COLIC COLIC.” Gon turns his head sharply and asks, “WHERE AM I…?” then blurts “AH LA! LA!” in surprise.

The blond man leans forward and states, “THE BREAK IS CLEAN. YOU WON’T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT IN THE FUTURE.” In the next panel he continues, “YOUR ARM WILL HEAL QUICKLY,” while raising a finger. Gon, now standing and looking surprised with a small sparkle near his shoulder, recalls, “YES… I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HUNTER’S EXAM.” A close-up shows Gon’s shocked face beside the man’s stern profile. A hand reaches out as the man says “BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY…” with the sound effect “SUT.” In the final wide panel the man stands with one arm extended and declares, “CONGRATULATIONS,” while Gon faces him from a short distance away.

Gon stands with a determined expression and firmly declares, "NO." Satotsu leans forward with concern, replying, "SATOTSU-SAN...!" Gon looks up at the tall man with wavy hair and a mustache. Satotsu extends his gloved hand toward Gon. In the next panel Satotsu gestures toward an ornate doorway while Gon watches with wide eyes and sparkling effects around him. Satotsu shakes hands with an unseen person and states, "IT'S EXACTLY LIKE THE LOSERS THAT CAN'T BE DECLARED WINNERS." Gon suddenly tumbles backward with a startled "AH!" as motion lines and impact shapes surround him. In a large close-up, Satotsu’s serious face fills the frame as he says, "THE REMAINDER ONLY DEPENDS ON YOU." and "THE WINNERS CAN'T BE DECLARED LOSERS."

Gon listens intently with a serious expression. Satotsu continues speaking in profile, explaining that many collectors would pay large sums for a Hunter license and that a new Hunter cannot retake the exam. He adds that one can sell the license since no one else can use it. A crowd of examinees watches from the background. Satotsu notes that participants who pass with bad intentions rarely try again. In the lower section Satotsu holds up a Hunter license card marked 'XX' and states, "THIS CARD IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN THEIR LIVES... FOR OTHERS..." and "IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN A MERE JEWEL." He continues, "FOR MOST HUNTERS..." while showing another card, then says, "IF THINGS WEREN'T LIKE THIS, IT WOULDN'T MATTER IF ALL THE PARTICIPANTS WON." as he places the card into a folder with a "TAC" sound effect.

Gon stares wide-eyed with a bandage on his cheek as the mustached man in a suit leans forward intensely, declaring that the most important thing is to know what they will become from now on. The man points upward while explaining that one day he saw another Hunter's work and began feeling ashamed of his own efforts. Before that, he had only been looking for honors. He describes his current work as principally evacuating ruins, renovating them, and preserving them. Gon, sitting up in bed, asks the man directly what his work is exactly. In a dramatic full-page spread, the mustached man stands silhouetted against a ruined landscape at night, pointing toward ancient structures while explaining how this Hunter used his own fortune to accomplish a perfect renovation, preserving the ruins as well as possible so everyone could see the beauty of the work. The man states that this is the model he remembers best for working on ruins.

The mustached man tells Gon that if he is interested he should go to Lilluka's ruins at least once, noting that even though he never met the man, this Hunter is his model. Gon reacts with excitement, his eyes sparkling as he shouts yes, declaring his dream is to someday meet this man and thank him. In a dark panel, a hand holds out a card. The mustached man hands Gon a card, saying a lot of people have helped him now and he is indebted to them. He tells Gon he can use the card whenever he wants and that he knows they can trust him. Gon accepts the card with both hands and thanks the man.

Gon stands with a bright smile, a bandage on his forehead, declaring that once he has repaid everyone what he owes he will put the power to use. The suited man with wavy hair extends his hand and says one more time. Gon reaches out and shakes it firmly, replying Thank you! The man answers Congratulations. Gon turns and asks what about the others, wondering if they are still fighting. The man glances aside. Suddenly Gon startles with a sharp Ah! as he notices something through the doorway.

Gon’s eyes widen in shock with a double exclamation mark as the man states that the exam is over. In the hospital-like room Gon sits up in bed and asks if he will take the small course later. The man confirms that the other winners are already taking it. Gon reacts with disbelief, learning he slept for an entire day. The man’s face shows a slight smile as he says Oh that. Gon then asks in a small voice who has lost.

Gon stands in profile, his spiky hair framing a focused gaze directed off-panel. In the hallway below, examinees and officials gather as a suited man with sunglasses carries an unconscious fighter over his shoulder. A voice declares, "WHEN HE COMES TO, YOU CAN BE SURE HE'LL REFUSE HIS TITLE." Another speaker confirms, "IT'S AGREED? THERE WILL ONLY BE ONE LOSER IN THIS TOURNAMENT?" A separate remark warns, "IF IT'S GON, ALL THE FIGHTS FROM NOW ON WILL BE MEANINGLESS, WON'T THEY?" The suited man walks away with the limp figure. At the bottom of the page, President Netero appears in close-up, his stern face surrounded by radiating lines as he states, "GON HAS WON. WHATEVER HE SAYS, HE WON'T BE ABLE TO CHANGE THAT." A final voice adds, "NO NEED TO WORRY."

Gon stands with his back to the viewer facing a bald fighter in dark robes. The bald man replies, "I SEE." A third voice notes, "EVEN IF GON COMPLAINS, AND THREATENS TO KILL ME... HIS HUNTER'S CERTIFICATE CAN'T BE CANCELLED." In a darkened panel the bald fighter asks in profile, "WHY DID YOU LOSE ON PURPOSE?" Gon reacts with wide eyes, repeating, "ON PURPOSE...?" The bald man continues, "FOR SOMEONE LIKE YOU... THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO MAKE HIM SAY 'I'VE LOST' WITHOUT HAVING TO KILL HIM..."

Hanzo speaks calmly while closing his eyes. "WHEN I TORTURE PEOPLE, I ASSUME THE FACT THAT I INCITE IN HIM A FEELING OF HATRED TOWARDS ME. IT'S FAIRER THIS WAY." Leorio stands behind him with a stern expression, Killua at his side. Hisoka watches silently with a star marking on his cheek and a teardrop tattoo. Gon peers from the side with a question mark above his head. Hanzo continues with intense eyes: "EVEN IF YOU TRAIN, THE LIGHT OF HATRED AND BITTERNESS REFLECTING IN THEIR EYES IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HIDE. FOR ANYONE, YOU CAN ALWAYS SEE A NEGATIVE LIGHT IN THE ONE YOU'VE WOUNDED." In a close-up, Hisoka leans toward Gon and points at his own face. "YOU PROBABLY WON'T BELIEVE IT, BUT EVEN AFTER I BROKE HIS ARM, THERE STILL WASN'T ANYTHING IN HIS EYES," Hisoka says. "HOWEVER, I DIDN'T SEE IT IN GON'S EYES. IT SEEMED HIS EYES HAD ALREADY FORGOTTEN WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE."

Gon walks away down a long corridor with his back turned. Hanzo stands with fist clenched and declares, "IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A REASON FOR MY DEFEAT, THAT'S IT. I LIKED THAT." A large close-up shows Gon's wide, sweat-dropped eyes in shock. The scene shifts to a dramatic announcement panel with motion lines: Kurapika stands with his back partially visible, Leorio points forward, and Hisoka stands ready. Bold text declares the next bout. "SECOND MATCH : KURAPIKA AGAINST HISOKA."

Gon stares in disbelief as voices around him react to the sudden announcement. "HE WOULDN'T HAVE..." someone begins. "A MISTAKE..." another mutters. The full explanation follows: "HE MADE A MISTAKE, AND WAS DISQUALIFIED." Gon’s friend cries out, "KILLUA...? BUT WHY?!" A close-up reveals the mustached examiner’s grim face as he states, "HE KILLED HIS OPPONENT." Gon’s eyes widen in shock, sweat beading on his face amid motion lines. The final panel shows a large close-up of Killua’s blood-streaked face, his expression cold and distant.

A hand drips blood onto the floor as narration explains, "RIGHT AFTER THE MATCH BEGAN." Another bubble adds, "IT ONLY LASTED A FRACTION OF A SECOND." From behind, Killua’s bloodied profile appears while a voice concludes, "HE PROBABLY DISQUALIFIED HIMSELF VOLUNTARILY." The final wide panel shows Killua from behind, walking alone through open double doors into a bright empty hallway, his small figure receding down the corridor.

Hisoka appears in profile and begins, "LET'S EXPLAIN THINGS IN ORDER." In a separate panel Gon sits up in bed amid swirling patterns, asking "WHILE I WAS SLEEPING... WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED?" A black panel states the topic: "KURAPIKA AGAINST HISOKA." "LET'S BEGIN WITH THE 2ND MATCH..." Close-up shows Kurapika and Hisoka facing each other nose-to-nose, Kurapika marked with a star, Hisoka with a small cross. A voice explains, "AFTER HAVING FOUGHT A WHILE..." In the wide arena view Kurapika lies on the floor while Hisoka stands over him; narration continues, "AND THEN HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE QUIT." "HISOKA WHISPERED SOMETHING TO KURAPIKA..."

Pokkle is shown being held down, the narrator stating the fight went the same way as with Gon and that Pokkle finally recognized his defeat. Next panel introduces the third match: Hanzo versus Pokkle. A suited man with a mustache declares, "THIS SENTENCE WAS DECISIVE." Hisoka appears in close-up, saying "SORRY, BUT WITH YOU, I WON'T HOLD BACK." In the lower section Bodoro lies defeated on the floor while Hisoka stands over him; narration explains, "AFTER HE PUT HIM DOWN, HISOKA WHISPERED SOMETHING ONCE MORE AT BODORO." "IT WAS A ONE-WAY MATCH, BUT..." "BODORO DIDN'T WANT TO QUIT." Final panel labels the fourth match: Hisoka versus Bodoro.

Killua stands with a confident smirk as someone remarks that he's pretty self-assured. Another voice apologizes, saying it isn't any fun to fight against him. The fifth match is announced: Killua versus Pokkuru. Killua leaves the scene right after the match begins. A close-up shows a stern face noting that the opponent must have thought he would probably win the next match. A dark panel reveals the needle-faced man with a shocked expression, uttering 'How—ever...'. The scene shifts to the arena where the match between Killua and Gitarakuru begins, with Leorio and others watching. At Leorio's request about Bodoro's wounds, the match is placed later. The sixth match is announced: Leorio versus Bodoro. A large 'START!!' effect appears as Leorio reflects that it was there that he made his biggest mistake.

Killua reacts with surprise as the needle-faced man greets him, saying it's been a long time. The needle-faced man stands in the arena and taps the floor with his foot. He then inserts a needle into his own face with a 'TCHAC' sound. A long-haired woman with a stern expression calls out 'Irumi!! My brother...!!!'. In silhouette, the needle-faced man looms over Killua, who stands frozen with wide eyes. A close-up shows Killua's eye trembling with sweat drops as tension fills the air.