Hunter × Hunter Chapter 34: First Certified Candidate

A grand domed building rises under a cloudy night sky with a full moon visible. The view cuts to an expansive tiled hall with high ceilings, ornate pillars, and double doors at the far end. A massive jagged speech bubble erupts from the left, filled with the prolonged scream "AAAAAAAH...!!". At the bottom of the page, bold text declares "FIRST CERTIFIED CANDIDATE?!" beside the examinee number plate N°034.

Kurapika's eyes widen in shock as he stares ahead, sweat dripping down his face. 'HE REALLY DID IT,' he mutters. Beside him, Gon looks on with a tense expression. A close-up reveals the intense, glaring face of the bald fighter with a headband. The scene shifts to show the fighter's hand gripping something while Gon's unconscious, spiky-haired head lies on the floor amid debris. In the vast examination hall with its ornate pillars and double doors, the bald fighter stands over Gon's motionless body. Leorio rushes forward from the right, his posture aggressive. 'NOW YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO USE YOUR LEFT ARM,' Leorio declares. The bald fighter responds calmly, 'GOOD...'

Leorio's face twists in fury, veins bulging as he shouts 'KURAPIKA, DON'T STOP ME...' while being held back by an unseen person. Close-ups show his gritted teeth and sweat. In another panel, a foot kicks toward the ground as someone says 'I'M SORRY FOR GON, BUT I WILL KICK HIS BUTT.' and 'IF THAT GUY GOES ANY FARTHER...' Killua appears with a serious expression, sweat on his face, declaring 'IT'S HORRIBLE, HUH? I KNOW THIS ISN'T REALLY A GOOD MOMENT, BUT LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.' He continues, 'I COME FROM A SECRET CLAN OF "SHINOBI."' and 'THERE IS NO CHANCE OF THAT HAPPENING.' Kurapika responds 'DON'T COUNT ON IT.' and 'STOP YOU?' while Killua questions 'ME?'

In a training flashback, the bald shinobi builds his muscular frame and refines his techniques over eight years. He declares, "TO ACQUIRE THE SPECIAL ART OF SHINOBI, I'VE BUILT UP A STRONG MUSCULARITY, AND I IMPROVED MY TECHNIQUES DURING 8 YEARS." Now in the present fight, he holds an upside-down stance on one hand while the spiky-haired boy watches warily. The shinobi taunts, "YOU CAN'T WIN AGAINST ME!!!" and continues, "ANYWAYS, IN THIS FIGHT... THERE'S NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF. AT YOUR AGE I'D ALREADY KILLED." The boy remains silent as the shinobi's massive hand reaches forward. In close-up the shinobi glares and orders, "SAY ONLY THAT YOU LOSE." The boy answers quietly, "I DON'T SAY THAT MAKE YOU MAD." The shinobi's foot then slams down with a loud TADAN impact.

The shinobi delivers a powerful kick that sends Gon flying backward through the air with a dramatic DOKON sound. Gon exclaims "EH?" as he tumbles. The shinobi lands and charges forward with an "ARGH" yell. He follows with a heavy BAM kick that sends Gon crashing into the wall, marked by an "OUTCH" reaction. Another TAP lands as the shinobi's foot connects. Gon lies on the floor, eyes wide in shock. The shinobi stands over him and states, "THE PAIN AND YOUR SPEECH WOKE ME UP!" Gon shouts back, "I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!"

Gon stands tall with one foot raised high, his expression fierce as he dominates the scene. Nearby, Leorio shouts encouragement with wild gestures while Killua watches closely. A narration box notes the age gap: '18 YEARS OLD... THERE'S ONLY 6 YEARS BETWEEN US...'. Leorio yells 'KILL HIM!!!' and 'YEAH!! LET'S GO GON!!!', adding that if Leorio loses he will abandon first. Gon considers that in this match they need to show their strength. Small panels depict a figure in black standing ready, another kneeling with motion lines labeled 'TAC' and 'IOP'. Suddenly a large close-up reveals the bald scarred man glaring furiously, sweat flying as he roars 'LIAR!!!'. He growls that he let the kick happen but warns the others with 'AIE! AIE! AIE!' while unseen voices react in the background.

In close-up the bald scarred man grips a long blade and declares he will sever one of the opponent's legs so it can never be used again. He demands the boy say 'I LOSE' and repeats the threat while lunging forward. Sharp sound effects 'FIUT FIUT' mark the blade's rapid slashes through the air. In a wide shot the bald man advances with the sword while Gon stands opposite him. Gon reacts with wide eyes and says 'THAT'S NOT GOOD...'. The bald man continues his advance with a determined expression as background figures watch silently.

Gon stands defiant, shouting that he refuses to lose and will not allow his leg to be cut. Hanzo, frustrated, demands to know if Gon understands the situation and suggests they fight another way. In the background, Hisoka smiles with amusement while Leorio reacts in shock and Killua watches silently. Gon insists that refusing to lose does not mean he accepts defeat. Hanzo grows furious, declaring he will cut Gon's leg and that Gon has no say in the matter.

Gon questions whether losing would mean bleeding to death. Hanzo warns that he will not be nice if Gon continues to resist. A bald man urges Hanzo to think about it. Hanzo's face shows intense frustration while Gon remains resolute. In another area, Killua notes they could not avoid the situation either. Menchi comments that Gon has changed the situation and that Hanzo is stubborn. The group watches the standoff unfold.

Gon stares in wide-eyed shock, sweat beading on his face as the scene shifts. In a bright flash, young Gon exclaims that everything has gone down in a few seconds. Nearby, Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika watch intently. Leorio notes the unchanged bad atmosphere and that Gon is not any stronger, while Killua wonders why. They observe that Gon's broken arm is not better. Suddenly a bald man lunges forward with intense speed, motion lines streaking behind him as the SFX 'FIUT' marks his strike. Gon reacts with a startled '!!', eyes locked on the attacker.

Leorio stands with Killua beside him, both looking toward the confrontation. A dramatic silhouette shows the bald man holding a long object toward a small figure, accompanied by the large SFX 'TAAAN'. In extreme close-up, the bald man’s intense eyes glare as he declares that the other has not really understood. Gon appears distressed, shouting that they are not equal. The bald man continues that if the other kills him here, nothing will be in the way to come back next year, and warns that if Gon dies he will not be able to continue. Gon is shown being held or pulled by the bald man.

Killua stands with a serious expression, sweat on his cheek, as he addresses Gon. "YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT, BUT..." he says, followed by "HE'S RIGHT, GON." In smaller panels, a suited man with sunglasses stands beside a small figure with a bow tie, while text reads "AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO REDUCE IT HERE!!" and "AFTER ALL, HIS STRENGTH MAKES THE DIFFERENCE...!!" A close-up shows Leorio glaring intensely through round glasses. Below, Gon faces the bald man with a bow tie, who leans in and speaks: "IT'S ONLY TWO WORDS, AFTER ALL..." "YOU KNOW THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR, RIGHT?" Gon, bruised and determined, asks "WHY?" as the bald man continues his plea.

The bald man with the bow tie erupts in anger, veins bulging, shouting "SAY IT LIKE THAT, THAT THIS IS ALL OK?!!" and "THIS IS REALLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR LIFE?!!!" with dramatic speed lines radiating behind him. In the next panels he glares at Gon, who stands in profile. Gon turns his head slightly and declares in a speech bubble: "I WANT TO MEET MY FATHER." The bald man's expression shifts as he processes Gon's words.

In a quiet room, Killua stands beside Leorio as the suited man speaks with quiet conviction. 'I really think that one day I'll meet him.' An elderly man with a star-shaped scar listens intently. A stern figure with a teardrop tattoo mutters, 'But...' The scene shifts to a vast arena where Hanzo points at Gon and declares, 'He's a Hunter. Actually, he is far from here.' Gon runs desperately across the floor. Close-ups show his sneakers skidding as he thinks, 'I think that I won't ever be able to meet him. If I lose here...' The panel cuts to Gon's intense, dirt-streaked face as he resolves, 'This is the reason why I won't go back on my decision.'

Hanzo stands with arms crossed, warning Gon, 'But if you stay here you will die,' as a large 'FLIT' sound effect erupts behind him. Gon and Hanzo face each other in tense profile shots. Gon clenches his teeth, thinking, 'This is not just...' In the wide arena, Gon stands over the fallen Hanzo who admits defeat. 'I've lost. I admit I've lost,' Hanzo says while kneeling on the floor with a 'TCHAc' impact sound near his dropped weapon.

Hanzo stands with his back partially turned, raising one hand as he declares he cannot bring himself to kill Gon. He adds that he cannot find any way to force Gon into admitting defeat. Gon stares forward with wide eyes and a determined expression, sweat visible on his face. In the next panel Gon turns his head slightly and states that he has lost and will wait until the next match. Hanzo's back is shown facing away. Suddenly a close-up reveals Hanzo's intense glare as he shouts that they must find a way to continue the fight. Gon points forward emphatically, yelling that it is not possible, with motion lines and impact effects emphasizing the tension between them.

A small panel shows a close-up of Hanzo's face with the words 'I suspected it...' and a puff sound effect. In a wide panel Gon and Hanzo argue intensely across motion lines. Gon shouts that they must find a way together. Hanzo retorts asking how Gon wants it and claims the current manner of fighting is insufficient. Another voice questions if Gon is stupid and refuses to accept the loss. In a dark panel Hanzo's face is shown as he questions if Gon truly wants a way for him to win, notes that he already resigned himself to losing, and asks to be shown a serious beating once more. Gon responds with a loud 'YEAH!!!' in a large starburst panel, his face filled with fierce determination and motion lines radiating outward.

A massive muscular fighter with a bandaged right arm and black shoulder guard thrusts his enormous fist upward, face twisted in rage as he screams at the top of his lungs. High above him, a small figure in light clothing clings to and descends a towering vertical structure covered in dense black stripes. A gigantic speech bubble explodes from the fighter: "IDIOT !!!". In a narrow bottom panel, the same fighter’s fist slams down with a sharp "VLAM" sound effect, a small hand visible on the floor nearby.

In a spacious hall, several men in dark suits stand as jurors while a bald fighter in armor gestures and speaks. A large speech bubble declares: "HEY, JURORS! I LOST, I'LL FIGHT AGAIN IN THE SECOND MATCHING." Another juror replies: "I THINK THE COMMITTEE MUST KNOW THAT THAT KIND OF STUFF WON'T REMAIN THIS WAY..." In the next panel a suited juror points and says: "IF IT'S GON, ALL THE FIGHTS FROM NOW ON WILL BE MEANINGLESS, WON'T THEY?" The bald fighter answers: "HAVE YOU SEEN HIS STUBBORNNESS? EACH TIME HE DECIDES SOMETHING, HE DOES ALL HE CAN TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN." and "WHEN HE COMES TO, YOU CAN BE SURE HE'LL REFUSE THE TITLE." A close-up shows an elderly man with a long ponytail and beard looking thoughtful. The final panel reveals Killua with X-shaped eyes and a slight smile; a caption reads: "IT MAY ONLY BE AN IMPRESSION, BUT I THINK I'VE SEEN THIS SCENE SOMEWHERE BEFORE."