Hunter × Hunter Chapter 23: Two Enemies

On a brightly lit stage, a spiky-haired boy wearing round glasses and a white outfit stands centered under a dramatic starburst of light. To his left looms a tall bald man in a suit; to his right sits a large transparent box on a pedestal. Two large speech bubbles dominate the upper panel: the left reads "THE HUNTERS AND THE PREY." and the right reads "THIS LOTTERY WILL ALLOW US TO DETERMINE...". Below, three smaller panels show close details: a hand holding up a numbered card with the text "THESE NUMBERS ARE JUST THE ONES THAT WERE GIVEN TO YOU AT THE BEGINNING OF THE COMPETITION.", another bubble stating "THERE ARE NUMBERED CARDS.", and a view of the box labeled "INSIDE THE BOX...". In the wide bottom panel, the same spiky-haired boy addresses a gathered crowd of examinees under a cloudy sky, declaring "YOU WILL ALL PICK A CARD." The audience includes several familiar young fighters watching attentively.

Hisoka, wearing number 44, smiles and holds up a card while speaking to an unseen person. A large speech bubble reads: WELL, PICK A CARD IN THE ORDER YOU ARRIVED AT THE TOWER'S BOTTOM. In the next panels Hisoka looks at his card, then a wide shot shows several examinees standing before a large box at the base of a stone tower. A spiky-haired boy approaches the box. Close-ups follow of an older man with a ponytail, a boy in a striped hat, and a bald man each drawing a card. In the final row a scarred man with a star tattoo stares at his card while Killua, wide-eyed, holds up a glowing card that emits light.

Across a rocky, uneven clearing, dozens of examinees stand holding small cards. "EVERYONE HAS A CARD?" a voice wonders aloud. Gon stares to the right with wide eyes and an open mouth. Beside him, a short-haired boy and a muscular man marked 10 watch silently. The examiner, a man with round glasses, stands at a small machine and inserts a card with a "CLAC" sound. "CONSEQUENTLY, YOU'RE FREE TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH THIS CARD," he states. "NOW, YOUR PERSONAL NUMBER AND THE ONE YOU JUST PICKED HAVE BEEN RECORDED IN THIS MACHINE." In a dramatic close-up, the examiner smiles broadly and points directly forward against radiating speed lines. "BECOMES FROM THIS TIME YOUR TARGET. TO EACH ONE HIS OWN TARGET," he declares. "THE PARTICIPANT CORRESPONDING TO THE NUMBER YOU HAVE PICKED..."

A hand holds up a card clearly marked 44. Gon looks up at a tall, long-haired man wearing number 191 while a small girl with pigtails clings to the man's side. A close-up shows the examiner's eyes narrowing behind his glasses. "WHAT YOU HAVE TO GRAB IS THE NUMERAL SHEET OF YOUR TARGET," he says. In the background, other examinees stand with visible numbers: 301 with spiky hair, 80 in sunglasses, 34, and 103. The examiner raises his open hand with a "ZAT" effect. "IF YOU SUCCEED IN TAKING YOUR TARGET'S NUMERAL SHEET..." he continues, "3 POINTS."

A hand flashes three fingers as a small card labeled ZAT appears beside it. The voice explains that keeping your own numeral sheet grants three points. Nearby, two stern men stand side by side; one wears a headband and the other a wide hat, both glaring forward. Below them, Leorio points upward with a confident grin, a TAC effect bursting from his fingertip as he states that the other sheets are worth only one point each. In a dramatic close-up, another hand slaps down to display six fingers while a large 6 POINTS circle dominates the panel. The explanation continues: to reach the end, a total of six points is required. Leorio’s face fills the final panel, his eyes narrowed behind round glasses as he warns that the six points must be obtained during the time spent on Zebiru’s Island.

A vast aerial view reveals a rugged island surrounded by turbulent clouds and jagged coastlines. Massive stylized sound effects thunder across the sky, the letters GOOOOOOOON stretching horizontally while bold vertical Japanese characters roar beside them, conveying a powerful, echoing force sweeping over the land.

A large ship sails across open waters under a cloudy sky. An announcement declares that the vessel will reach Zevil Island in about two hours and congratulates all passengers on qualifying for the third round of the Hunter Exam. Every examinee is permitted to advance to the next stage without conditions. Killua stands on deck, smiling brightly as he adds that anyone who fails this year should not be discouraged and should simply return next year. Suddenly a massive impact shakes the area with a booming DOOOON sound effect. Killua lands heavily on an elevated spot, prompting an “oops” from the crowd of shadowy examinees gathered below who look up in surprise.

Narration explains that each examinee had secretly removed the number tag hanging on another’s chest and hidden it under their own clothes without meeting eyes, so the battle has already begun. Two men stand close together; one wonders aloud who his target is while the other asks who he himself is targeting. A tense group of examinees reacts with sharp glances as a sharp FUUUUUT sound cuts through the air. Elsewhere, Gon sits alone on a wooden beam inside a damaged structure, gazing outward. On the deck the same young girl who spoke earlier runs forward waving, telling everyone they have two hours left before arrival and can use the remaining time however they like while hoping they enjoy the ride.

Gon leans close and asks Killua which number he picked. Killua answers "SECRET!" and immediately counters with "WHAT ABOUT YOU?" Gon stands up with a cheerful "YO!" and the two boys continue their hushed conversation. In close-up, Gon grins widely and reassures Killua, "MY TARGET ISN'T NUMBER 405. DON'T WORRY!" They agree on a plan: "WE COUNT UP TO THREE, AND WE SHOW OUR SHEETS?" Gon then declares, "MINE ISN'T NUMBER 99."

Killua asks Gon if he is serious. Gon replies that Killua is not very lucky at the lottery either. They continue comparing their numbers. Killua points at Gon and asks whose number he drew. Gon raises a finger and notes that everyone else has already hidden their numbers. Killua wonders how he could have remembered everyone's number after the judge's explanation. The boys sit facing each other, still holding their papers.

Gon stares forward with a determined, sweat-streaked face, his spiky hair casting sharp shadows. In smaller panels he turns toward Killua, eyes wide as they exchange tense glances. Killua looks back with a calm but probing expression. Gon says, "MAYBE BOTH..." Killua replies, "YOU'RE AFRAID? OR YOU'RE AFRAID?" The scene shifts to a wide view of the wooden floor where both boys sit. Gon continues, "SINCE IT'S ABOUT STEALING A SHEET, THERE SHOULD BE A WAY." Killua adds, "IF IT WAS A CLASSICAL CONFRONTATION, I COULD NEVER ENVISION WINNING, BUT..."

Gon sits with hands clasped, declaring, "I HAVE A REVENGE TO TAKE." with a "SHOO" sound effect. Killua answers simply, "YES." Gon looks aside, admitting, "BUT THINKING OF IT DOESN'T REALLY REASSURE ME..." and "EVEN I HAVE A LITTLE LUCK..." They stand up; Killua steps forward confidently while Gon gives a thumbs-up. Killua says, "WELL, WE WON'T LET THE OTHERS WORRY US!" In a dramatic panel Killua turns and calls back, "TRY TO STAY ALIVE, GON!" as Gon watches him leave against a bright background.

A rugged cliff face rises above the water with a tall tower visible in the distance. A long wooden dock extends from the rocky shore where a boat has arrived. Large speech bubbles announce the rules: an interval of two minutes will separate each candidate leaving the boat, and they must leave in the order of their arrival at the bottom of the tower during the third round. The scene shifts to a close-up of Killua, who points upward while explaining the time limit. He states that the two minutes are the time available to get the six points and that everyone will stay exactly one week on the island before returning.

Hisoka stands prominently in the foreground wearing his number 44 badge with a club symbol. Silhouetted examinees wait behind him as he steps forward. A large bubble declares the departure of the first candidate. Three small panels show Hisoka walking away across a grassy field toward a line of trees. In the final panel Leorio and Kurapika stand together. Leorio notes that those who leave first can hide and observe their prey's movements. Kurapika agrees that the ones who depart first are favored.

Gon races through the exam grounds, slapping numbered tags in rapid succession. "21st!" he shouts as he taps one. Elsewhere, another examinee strikes a tag marked "15th!" with quick taps, followed by a third tag labeled "7th!" being hit. In a wide panel, Gon stands triumphant with his staff-like weapon, declaring "22nd!" as motion lines radiate outward and background examinees watch. A close-up shows Gon’s determined face from below as a voice declares, "ABOVE ALL, FIND HISOKA." The final panel reveals a distant silhouette plummeting through dark foliage with the large sound effect "SHUT."

Gon reacts sharply to a sound, turning his head with a "CLAC" effect. A distant view shows him amid trees as something flies past with "FLI." He swings his staff again, producing a "TAC" impact. Standing alone in a clearing surrounded by dark foliage, Gon looks upward. In the foreground, examinee 405 stares forward with wide eyes while his own back-view figure appears behind him, thinking, "A FALSE IMPRESSION...?"

Hisoka leans back against a stone pillar, one hand covering his face while the other grips his long club. A large speech bubble reads "THAT WAS CLOSE!" as he appears to catch his breath after a narrow escape. In the next panel the back of a head with sharply spiked hair fills the frame, accompanied by a small "HE!" sound effect. The view shifts to a close-up of a man with a tall curly afro and intense, narrowed eyes. He speaks with a serious expression: "THIS KID HAS VERY GOOD SENSES." A second bubble continues, "HUNTING WITHOUT RELAXING MY ATTENTION." The man’s face is tense, sweat visible, conveying focused vigilance.