Hunter × Hunter Chapter 328: Arrangements

Tsubone and Amane stand on a mountain road overlooking a vast valley with a massive dam structure in the background. Tsubone, an older woman with braided hair and sunglasses, watches Killua's distant lightning-fast departure with amazement. She remarks, "HOOOOH, TRULY AMAZING!" and notes, "TO BE ABLE TO TAKE OFF AT THAT SPEED FROM A PAVED ROAD, I CAN'T CATCH UP TO HIM ALONE." Amane, standing nearby in a dark uniform, receives a call and answers, "AMANE, IT'S ME." Tsubone instructs her, "KILLUA-SAMA IS HEADING TOWARD PARASTA. PLEASE COME ALONG THE ROAD." Silhouettes of Killua's rapid movement streak across the panel, leaving trails of motion lines against the dam and cliffs. The two women prepare to follow.

A suited man with a ponytail and glasses turns to the curly-haired girl and says both of them riding together would be fastest. He suggests using Grandmother's motorcycle and tells Kanaria to come with him as the suited figure runs ahead in the background. The girl with star-shaped hair clips stares forward with wide eyes and a question mark above her head. In a long shot the group races along a walled road past a distant vehicle marked with a 1. Suddenly a massive living motorcycle creature bursts into the foreground with enormous onomatopoeic sound effects, its fanged mouth open and exhaust billowing as it speeds forward.

The ponytail man warns that moving on the motorcycle will be more tiring than running and tells the passengers to use their aura and hold on tight. Two girls cling to the living motorcycle; one with pigtails calls it Grandmother while the curly-haired girl exclaims in surprise. The creature accelerates violently, producing sharp motion lines and impact effects. In a dramatic low-angle shot the motorcycle crashes through debris and structural wreckage, sending fragments flying as it barrels forward at high speed.

A woman with a ponytail and goggles looks sharply over her shoulder as a small figure is hurled through the air amid heavy motion lines. She narrows her eyes and spots her targets below. "FOUND THEM," she states. In a wide splash panel, Killua leaps across a massive wooden lattice structure while carrying Alluka on his back. Alluka clings tightly to him as they race forward, with dramatic speed lines and impact effects emphasizing their rapid movement across the open landscape.

An explosion erupts on the lattice as Killua and Alluka are blasted backward. "SERIOUSLY?!" Killua shouts in alarm. "DAMMIT!" he curses. He continues, "THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO FOLLOW ON A BIKE!! IF I GO THIS WAY, I MAY BE CARRYING ALLUKA, BUT I'M USING 'PENKOU SEKKA' AT FULL POWER!!" Below, Tsubone rides a large motorcycle at full speed along a winding road, her hair whipping in the wind as motion lines streak past the vehicle.

Even by car, it will take over 20 minutes for Illumi-sama to get there. What do you think he will do in this 10 minute interval? With Killua-sama's speed, he'll reach Parasta in less than 10 minutes. We get ahead of him. What should we do? Where? Tsubone grips the wheel tightly as the vehicle speeds along the road. How cute. Though that may not be completely out of the question. BZZZZ. Disguise himself...? Um, he would first confirm the presence or absence of any transmitters or listening devices and use a stranger's cell phone. What method would he use to be able to call them while making sure his actions won't get leaked to us? Ding-ding! Then... By contact with his comrades? What is Killua-sama's most preferred way to throw us off? That's basic!! Think about the core of the current situation!! Ah. If we can't get close, we have know way to confirm it. What then?! For example, even if we know 'Killua is there', Now, let's go!! The vehicle accelerates violently with a massive SFX burst as the group launches into action.

At the bustling airport terminal filled with blimps and hangars, a spiky-haired boy stands panting heavily with HAA HAA. We've finished making the blimp arrangements. You guys are pretty good. We've been waiting for you. How many blimps? Ah, really? Based on that reaction, one. Eh? Are you guys serious? The boy reacts with shock. HURRY AND SPLIT UP TO GET THE PROCEDURES DONE!! Unless you borrow at least 5 or 6 to split up and make the destination unclear, we'll never beat Illumi!!!! The boy points forward emphatically, urgency clear on his face amid the busy terminal background.

Alluka stares ahead with wide eyes, sweat visible on her cheek. Nearby voices debate whether an unmanned blimp is a safe destination. In the bustling terminal, someone wonders aloud where Killua-sama has gone. Alluka and her attendant discuss using false names and checking with the receptionist. A small figure darts away in the distance. The attendant, furious, points accusingly at Alluka and shouts that she deliberately asked about multiple blimps to let someone escape. Alluka looks startled, hands raised. The attendant declares she will ride in one of several blimps she is arranging to keep a tail on the target. She urges them to hurry and catch up.

The attendant snaps 'WHAT?!' while Alluka questions her. The attendant insists following in another blimp will make them stand out and offers to act as a decoy while meeting Gotoh. Alluka admits Killua-sama's honest face is cute. She insists she is being honest when asked if she is joking. In a wide landscape panel a distant blimp flies over mountains. Alluka, now holding a phone, stares in shock at a bright 'GOTOH...' signal on the screen while the attendant stands alone in silhouette.

High above jagged mountains a tiny aircraft streaks through the sky. A voice declares, "IT'S KILLUA." Another answers, "HELLO." In a dim room Illumi, sunglasses glinting, mutters, "A BIG BROTHER WOULD DO THAT TO HIS YOUNGER BROTHER...!?" while a small ".... !!" escapes him. Nearby, a figure in casual clothes says, "OKAY. I'LL TRY CALLING HIM, TOO," adding, "I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET A HOLD OF GOTOH-SAN." A worried voice replies, "HEY, WHAT'S UP? I WAS WORRIED." Inside a moving vehicle Alluka, headband adorned with skulls, states, "BUT BIG BROTHER IS TRYING TO KILL ALLUKA." Killua stands at the controls, back to the others. Alluka continues, "THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN BRING GON BACK TO NORMAL IS ALLUKA." Killua answers simply, "YEAH." Seated with the phone to his ear, Killua's expression darkens as he says, "MY WHOLE FAMILY COULD DIE." He adds, "IT'S BECAUSE IN EXCHANGE FOR MAKING MY 'WISH' COME TRUE."

A sleek black car screeches to a halt on an empty street, tire marks streaking the pavement. In an open lot a long-haired woman stands with her back to the viewer while a curly-haired companion waits nearby; a speech bubble reads, "YOU'RE LATE -----" and a small "!" appears above. The group discusses plans. A blond man asks, "DO YOU HAVE ANY COMRADES YOU CAN CALL?" A woman answers, "I'M KINDA SHY, THOUGH," and adds, "NO, NONE. Of those." Another panel shows concern: "8 BLIMPS, HUH...? IT SEEMS WE'RE REALLY GOING TO NEED SOME HELPING HANDS-----" A figure warns, "IF WE SHOW HIM ANY LEEWAY, IT'LL GIVE HIM A FEELING OF UNEASINESS." Further dialogue states, "THE CLOSER WE GET TO THE HOSPITAL THE GREATER THE CHANCE OF THE ASSASSINATION FAILING." A final suggestion appears: "WHAT IF WE JUST WAITED TO AMBUSH HIM AT THE HOSPITAL?" Small panels show Killua's comrades wandering in the distance.

Illumi holds several thin needles between his fingers while gazing forward with a calm expression. "I GUESS I'LL USE THESE NEEDLES---" he says. "IT'S MORE THAN THE SITUATION CALLS FOR, BUT" he continues. In the next panel the needles are shown flying through the air, each tipped with a large spherical weight and trailing thin wires. Illumi reappears holding a fresh cluster of the weighted needles. "OR RATHER, UNTIL THEY TRY TOO HARD AND DIE," he explains. "WHOMEVER ARE PIERCED WITH THESE WILL DO THEIR BEST TO FOLLOW ORDERS UNTIL THEY DIE." Beside him, Hisoka watches with a slight smile, one hand raised to his chin. "THOSE ARE EMITTING A NICE AURA-----" Hisoka remarks. "OH---"

Killua speaks on a cell phone, his expression serious. "BUT IT WOULD SEEM TO BE SOMETHING YOU CAN USE HAPPILY IF YOU'RE THE ONE DECIDING HOW TO USE IT," he says. "THAT'S CERTAINLY A VAGUELY FEARFUL ABILITY..." another voice replies. A small panel shows a building with a cross symbol and the text "WISH" HUH...? Killua continues, "SO HE'LL USE 'NEEDLE HUMANS'." "BIG BROTHER DOESN'T USE COMRADES BY HIS NATURE," he notes, "AND MY BUTLERS HAVE SENT OFF 7 DUMMY BLIMPS." A thought bubble adds, "ILLUMI IS PROBABLY TAILING THE BLIMP FROM THE GROUND." The bottom panel shows a nighttime city square filled with a large crowd gathered before a tall statue. Narration reads, "HE CREATES SOLDIERS THAT WILL WORK UNTIL THEY DIE." "BY USING SPECIAL NEEDLES IMBUED WITH HIS NEN,"

In a crowded public space, a tense group discusses Illumi's scheme. A woman with long dark hair and a patterned outfit gestures sharply while explaining that Illumi's powerful aura will be poured into the needles. Nearby, a boy with curly hair and another figure with a needle protruding from his head stand among civilians whose heads are pierced by thin spikes. Someone warns that Illumi will use ordinary people as the sacrifices. Another voice adds that the moment the needles pierce them, they will become like invalids. Close-up panels show shocked expressions on several faces, including a wide-eyed man and a woman with a leaf in her hair. In the lower section, the same group walks away together. A character with a striped shirt and needle in his head turns back, stating that if there is proof the many civilians Illumi is using are beyond hope of recovery, then action must be taken. Morai is asked to solicit hunters to collect the needle humans.

Large text states the Hunter Association rule: Hunters may not target fellow Hunters. However, that restriction does not extend to those that have committed exceedingly malignant crimes. Article 4 of the 10 Hunter Articles is displayed vertically. Killua appears in close-up with spiky hair and intense eyes, questioning whether it is okay for big brother to hunt them even as a pro Hunter. A girl with glasses and an eyepatch reacts with surprise. In the lower panels, inside a hallway, a girl with long hair stands facing Killua and shouts that he is selling his brother. Killua responds with visible distress, asking if she is sure. Narration notes that if they catch Illumi there will probably be a lot of people who align with those guys, and that some candidates want to revise the 10 articles and readjust the Hunter exams.

Alluka sits with eyes closed, headband visible, and states firmly whether it is her big brother who tried to hurt Alluka or anyone else. She declares she will not forgive anyone. A silhouette responds in agreement. In a dramatic close-up, Killua's face emerges from shadow with intense eyes and wind-swept hair, vowing to crush them no matter what it takes. The view shifts to a tall building at night where a lone figure stands on a balcony. Inside a tiled room, another person stands near a radiator and window. A man with long hair and sunglasses holds a phone to his ear and says all right. Off-panel voices note that the hospital is in the same city as the Hunter Association headquarters and that Teradein and Bushidora will probably consent to lend a hand.

A detailed city map is spread out with a hand pointing at it using a pen. Multiple speech bubbles discuss the situation: Illumi and the needle humans will be watched via blimps while tailing land routes. Killua and the two butlers' landing location is unknown. Flight data from Parasta Airport has been accessed. Six blimps are landing within a 20-30 meter radius of the hospital. Multiple points exist where ambush can occur before the targets reach the outskirts of Swaldani City. The top priority is recovery of the needle humans. A finger points at the map while another voice confirms the plan. On the right, a vertical cityscape shows a construction site with cranes. Bubbles state the targets are right next to each other, that everyone should be warned about dangerous opponents, and that the target is not Illumi but the capture of the needle humans.

Three figures stand on a raised platform amid a massive explosion of motion lines and debris. One man in a long coat points forward and shouts, "CAPTURE ANYONE WHO COMES CLOSE TO A BLIMP!!" while another in a striped suit and a third in a black sweater stand nearby. A voice adds, "IT'LL BE FINE TO CONFIRM THE PRESENCE OF THE NEEDLES AFTER!" Below, the scene erupts into chaos as figures tumble and objects fly, with a large "SIRS !!!" sound effect dominating the center. In the following panels, close-up faces react urgently. A man with a headband declares, "IF WE SIFTED THROUGH THEM AT THE TIME THEY WERE ENTERING THIS SORT OF PROBLEM WOULDN'T ARISE!!" Another states, "WE NEED MORE STRICTNESS IN THE EXAMS!" A third adds, "AND NOW THAT THIS SORT OF FELLOW HAS APPEARED, IT'S TOO LATE!!" while noting the intruder "HE'S DISHONORED ALL OF THE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS!!" A profile view confirms, "AS I THOUGHT!!" and reveals, "THE 4TH OF THE 10 ARTICLES WAS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED!!" At the bottom, Leorio presses a hand to his forehead and exclaims, "HAVE PULL ON THE ASSOCIATION...!!!" and continues, "SO THE TIME'S COME... WHEN WE THREE, THE ONE BEING CALLED THE FACTION FOR GETTING RID OF THE POSITION OF CHAIRMAN."

A massive crowd of hunters and association members reacts with shock and motion lines as several figures raise their arms. Large "!!!!" effects punctuate the panel. A bold "GO!!!!" command erupts from the center. In the next spread, multiple characters sprint forward at high speed. Leorio runs with a determined expression, a young girl with pigtails looks back, a woman in a skirt is grabbed and pulled along by a tall man, and other figures dash through the corridor. The caption reads, "THE TALE ACCELERATES!!" At the bottom, Hisoka appears in close-up with a slight smile and a tear-like mark, saying, "I'M GONNA HAVE A BUSY TIME." A woman with long dark hair responds, "OKAY. COULD YOU HUNT THE "MISSES" FOR ME?" Hisoka replies, "HISOKA." The page ends with the chapter number and a teaser: "NEXT ISSUE, THE CHAIRMAN ELECTION IS WHITE HOT... WHAT WILL BE LEORIO'S FATE?"