Hunter × Hunter Chapter 343: Invitation

Leorio stands on a city sidewalk holding a phone to his ear, reacting with shock. A voice explains the conditions of joining the organization’s medical team for the Dark Continent expedition. The speaker states they have made a special exception for Leorio to study abroad indefinitely. Leorio exclaims in surprise. The voice continues that over the voyage he will receive hands-on medical experience as head medical professor. In a close-up, the speaker emphasizes that depending on abilities, years of work could be accomplished in mere months. Leorio, now shown as a small dog-like figure with glasses, processes the offer and questions the terms. The voice stresses that the mission is extremely harsh and dangerous with no compensation beyond the potential value.

Leorio, spiky-haired and intense in his suit and tie, grips his phone with a fierce grin as dramatic speed lines burst around him. "THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY !!! CHALLENGE ME!! BRING IT ON!!" he shouts. "BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I HAVE A REQUEST FOR YOU!!" On the other end, Cheadle, the blonde girl with round glasses and a patterned headband, holds her phone and replies softly, "THANK YOU." A small voice adds, "...OKAY." Leorio, now shown from behind on a city street, continues, "FOR ONE MORE PERSON?" Cheadle responds, "IN THE ZODIACS... IS THERE ROOM..." then hesitates, "MAY I ASK A QUESTION?" "BUT..." In the wide street view with cars and buildings, Leorio states, "THAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO HAVE JOIN." Cheadle finishes, "THERE IS SOMEONE..."

A long wooden corridor with hanging lights stretches into the distance. Beside it, a cluttered alley shows laundry hanging between wooden buildings and a person crouching near crates. A close-up reveals Kurapika's gentle smile and soft eyes. Next to it, Ging's intense profile appears with sharp motion lines and a dark background. In a spacious room with hanging lanterns, Kurapika sits on a couch holding a paper, while a bandaged man in a robe stands nearby with arms crossed, both showing subtle reaction symbols around them.

In a spacious room with large windows, a man with a bowl-cut hairstyle speaks to another with a headband and leaf accessory. "I MEAN, THE HUNTER EXAM COMING OUT EVEN ENTERING NEGOTIATIONS WAS PRETTY ABRUPT," he says. The headband man replies, "IF THE ORGANIZATION RESPONDS TO OUR REQUESTS, WOULDN'T THAT BE A MUCH BIGGER DEAL?" and questions, "...WHY WERE YOU EVEN CONSIDERING THAT ALTERNATIVE?" A blond-haired man with a slight smile addresses the bandaged-head man: "BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SEEM AWARE OF IT AT ALL." The bandaged man retorts, "WHY DIDN'T YOU ASK ME IF I KNEW THAT YOU WERE HIDING CHIMERA?" and adds, "YOU'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS THOUGH, ARE YOU? YOUR ALTERNATIVE ONLY HAS TO DO WITH WHAT YOU WANT AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT ANYONE ELSE WANTS." Outside under trees, the blond man continues, "MIDWAY THROUGH, YOU'D PROBABLY DECIDE THE WHOLE THING WAS BORING." The bandaged man responds, "BUT THEN, THAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL, MOST EFFICIENT SOLUTION." Further dialogue reveals, "CHEADLE WILL INVITE THOSE OFFICIALS TO HELP WITH THE HUNTER EXAM AND MOVE SEPARATELY FROM THE ORGANIZATION. THE ORGANIZATION OFFICIALLY ACCEPTED THE CONDITION THAT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GO TO THE DARK CONTINENT HIGH RANKING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WOULD BE WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNTRY. BUT THAT CAUSED UNREST IN THE CIVILIAN POPULATION SINCE THEY NOW FEARED HOW FEW OF THEM WOULD BE OFFERED A CHANCE TO GO AND THE PROLONGED WAITING PERIOD. IN ADDITION, THEY FEARED THE GAMBLE AND RISK OF THE ADVENTURE ITSELF AND WERE CONCERNED ABOUT TABS BEING KEPT ON ALL PRIVATE CONTRACTS, CONTRACTORS AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF INTERESTS." Close-up panels show the blond man and bandaged man with serious expressions. "HE'S AN ABSOLUTE NO," declares the blond man. The bandaged man adds, "AS FOR NETERO..."

The bandaged man questions the blond man: "THAT'S SOME TWISTED, TOUGH LOVE. WHY ARE YOU TRYING SO HARD TO DESTROY THE ORGANIZATION?" The blond man responds with intensity, "WE'LL GET TO THE DARK CONTINENT ONE STEP AHEAD OF BEYOND, WAIT THERE AND DECLARE 'YOU ARE BEING HUNTED!' DIRECTLY TO HIM. I'M FIRMLY REJECTING THE IDEA OF SEPARATING WITH VS AND ACCOMPANYING BEYOND! WE'LL CROSS THE OCEAN ON A FOREIGN, IRREGULAR ROUTE." He continues, "FIRST OF ALL, LET ME HEAR WHAT YOU THINK MY ULTERIOR MOTIVE WOULD BE? WHAT PROOF DO YOU HAVE THAT I'M TRYING TO DESTROY THE ORGANIZATION? THAT IS THE REAL WAY OF THE ORIGINAL HUNTER ORGANIZATION, IS IT NOT?" A panel shows a city street scene with people walking and a large screen. The blond man explains, "AND THE FASTEST WAY AT FINDING THE NEW TARGET IS TO SCATTER CHIMERA ACROSS THE WORLD...! AND AT THE SAME TIME, FORCE THE DARK CONTINENT, WHICH IS CURRENTLY REGARDED AS TABOO, TO CHANGE. IF THE ORGANIZATION BECOMES BORING, FIND A NEW TARGET, RIGHT? I'M SURE I DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU." Additional panels detail plans involving Chimera pieces, Cheadle's well-balanced exam, and connections for organizational membership. The blond man concludes with a close-up, "WE ALWAYS THINK OF OUTSIDE ROADS. YOU AND I ARE KINDRED WARRIORS."

A stern close-up fills the frame with a bandaged-head man glaring forward, brows furrowed and mouth tense. "THAT'S THE ULTERIOR MOTIVE," he declares in a speech bubble. Another bubble snaps back, "YOU BASTARD." Below, two close panels show a light-haired young man in profile, his expression calm yet pointed. "But you were totally spot on. So no hard feelings..." he says, followed by "Wow, you really know how to lay into someone. That was harsh." A wider panel reveals a tender scene of people cradling a baby, contrasted with a tear-streaked face. Narration continues: "Normally, as people love and are loved... THEY FEEL HAPPINESS." The bottom splash shows wreckage and a broken doll-like figure amid rubble. The bandaged-head man continues, "AND THEN I WANT TO TEAR APART AND INFLICT UNIMAGINABLE HARM TO THE THINGS I LOVE. WHEN I AM HATED BY PEOPLE, THAT IS WHEN I FEEL HAPPINESS."

Inside a room with hanging lanterns, the bandaged-head man stands facing the light-haired young man and says, "But what you're talking about is completely out there. BY CONVENTIONAL STANDARDS, IT IS." He adds, "LET ME TELL YOU THIS THOUGH, THAT PART OF YOU AND I ARE NOT ALIKE." A smaller panel shows him turning away with "NOW, GET LOST, BALDIE." The light-haired young man replies, "YES, I DO MIND," while raising a hand and asking, "Ummm~ DO YOU MIND IF I ASK YOU SOMETHING?" A bald man with glasses suddenly appears, exclaiming "AND I SAT HERE AND WAITED SO LONG, TOO..." In a dramatic bottom panel the bald man launches an attack, shouting "YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST BRING YOUR UGLY FACE IN HERE AND... YAIYAIYAIYAI YOU BLOODY IDIOT! C'MON PUNK, YOU WANT A PIECE!!!" The bandaged-head man is shown mid-air, recoiling from the strike.

A headband-wearing fighter in light robes lunges forward and drives a powerful strike into a massive, hunched muscular figure. The impact erupts with enormous black SFX letters spelling out repeated heavy blows. The muscular figure reels from the force. In the lower panel the view tightens on a gigantic clenched fist or forearm, veins and muscle texture rendered in extreme detail, with strands of hair or fibers whipping outward from the impact.

The headband-wearing fighter grapples with another opponent amid motion lines and impact SFX. A massive fist dominates the next panel. A close-up reveals a sweaty, wide-eyed face with an open mouth and a speech bubble containing only dots. In the following panel a man with glasses glares intensely and declares, 'THEN GET LOST.' A second bubble reads, 'GET THE PICTURE?' Below, the headband-wearing fighter stands before a door marked with large SFX. Another character asks, 'IS IT YOU?' The headband fighter replies, 'WHO'S THE HIGHEST RANKED PERSON HERE?' Two small panels show narrowed, glaring eyes.

Ging sits with a confident grin, raising one finger as he declares, "NUMBER 2 WOULD BE ME, OF COURSE." A voice laughs nearby, "HAHAHA, COME ON NOW, GING-SAN..." In the next panel a young girl in a sailor-style school uniform sits on the floor with hands clasped, smiling broadly. A smaller scene shows Ging facing a hooded figure who protests, "COME NOW, I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING DOWN ON ME A BIT THERE..." while another voice notes, "SO THEN IT'S NOT RANKED BY PHYSICAL STRENGTH, I TAKE IT." Ging leans in close with a sharp stare, replying, "AND I WOULDN'T WANT THAT... UNLESS I WERE IN A BAD MOOD." He continues, "WITH YOU, JUST SHOWING OFF MY STRENGTH SHOULD BE ENOUGH... IF I WERE TO ACTUALLY HIT YOU, I'D END YOU." The girl responds with a soft, pleased hum, "HM-MMMM ♪." Ging adds, "AND IF YOU WERE TO KNEEL, IT'D BE FROM YOUR HEART." Another line follows, "EVEN IF YOU WERE SPEWING BLOOD OR GETTING YOUR HEAD STOMPED IN, YOU'D STILL BE LAUGHING FROM YOUR STOMACH." The page ends on a wide city street view where Ging's voice rings out, "ANYONE THAT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THAT, STEP FORWARD." A final caption states, "AS OF TODAY, I'M NUMBER 2."

An overhead view shows a formal meeting room where several men sit around a long table; one man in a patterned shirt leans back with a glass while another stands behind the table. A small panel depicts legs walking past a fallen paper marked "GACHA." Three muscular men stand in confrontation: a bald man with flame tattoos glares, a spiky-haired man in a hoodie asks, "WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?" and a curly-haired man in a vest looks down sternly. A checkered-suited man with a hat enters the room and states, "I AM FROM THE HUNTER ORGANIZATION." A seated figure in a suit replies, "YOU CAN JUST LEAVE WHATEVER IT IS WITH ME." The checkered man asks, "IS KURAPIKA HERE?" He then turns and says, "CAN I PLEASE HAVE SOME COFFEE? I'LL ADD THE MILK MYSELF." While walking away he adds, "I'LL JUST WAIT HERE UNTIL HE COMES BACK." Background figures remain seated or standing near scattered papers on the floor.

Three muscular men stand waist-deep in water, glaring forward with aggressive stances. The man on the left has a large tattoo on his arm, the center one has spiky hair, and the right one is bald with a beard; all appear ready to attack. Facing them is a man in a black-and-white cow-patterned outfit with horn-like protrusions on his helmet, holding up a card marked with a large X. In a close-up, the cow-outfitted man’s intense eyes are visible behind his mask as he raises the card and warns, “I SHOULD WARN YOU NOT TO COME ANY CLOSER.” The three men charge, shouting threats. One yells, “WE’LL GLADLY SEND YOU THERE OURSELVES!!!!” Another adds, “IF YOU WANNA TALK SMACK, YOU CAN DO IT AT THE HOSPITAL, DIPSHIT!!!” The cow-outfitted man declares, “I ALSO HAVE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION AUTHORITY AS A CRIME HUNTER!” and “ACTS OF VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED!!” He extends his hand as the card activates with a massive impact effect labeled “RES-TRAIN T!!!” Motion lines and debris fly as the confrontation erupts.

Close-up panels show the angry faces of the three muscular men, followed by a surprised expression from a young man with dark hair. The cow-patterned hunter grabs the spiky-haired man’s arm while the others react with shock; motion lines indicate a sudden stop as someone shouts “MOVE …!? I CAN’T …!?” In a darkened panel the spiky-haired man’s arm twitches while held. The scene shifts to a vast grid-like space labeled “CROSS GAME” where translucent muscular figures are trapped inside glowing wireframe cubes. One figure stands outside the grid. In the bottom panel the cow-patterned hunter sits casually on the floor of a secret room while the three men struggle near a door; one yells, “YOU’LL BE BACK TO NORMAL SOON ENOUGH.” Another shouts, “WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO US, ASSHOLE?!” and a third adds, “YOU DICK!!! YOU’RE NOT GONNA GET AWAY WITH THIS!!” A translator note reads “T/N: SECRET ROOM JUDGE JUDGEMENT.”

In a tense upper room, two burly men glare angrily while a third figure watches from the side. A voice declares, "EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU OPPOSE ME, YOU SHALL BE UNABLE TO MOVE." Another warns, "BUT I WILL WARN YOU ONCE MORE! NOT A SINGLE STEP FORWARD." The threat repeats: "EVERY SINGLE TIME." Downstairs, a uniformed man in a checkered hat reports to Kurapika, who sits at a desk with a laptop: "KURAPIKA IS IN THE BASEMENT." Kurapika replies calmly, "OKAY, I GET IT." In a dim brick-walled basement, the checkered-hat man stands with his back to the viewer while two speech bubbles float nearby. One pleads, "IF YOU COULD, PLEASE DON'T DO ANYTHING TO PROVOKE HIM." The other notes, "BUT HE'S STRESSED OUT OVER SOME HUGE PROBLEM." Kurapika faces the man and explains, "BESIDES, BOTH ACTIVITIES ARE LEGAL IN THIS COUNTRY, SO THERE IS NOTHING YOU SHOULD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH. OUR GROUP'S INCOME IS DERIVED COMPLETELY FROM BODYGUARD WORK AND GAMBLING. WE PAY OUR TAXES AND EVERYTHING IS ON THE UP AND UP." The checkered-hat man presses, "WE'RE NOT A CRIME ORGANIZATION OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT? IF I RECALL, YOU ARE ALSO AN ORGANIZATION MEMBER. IS THIS YOUR MAIN JOB?" From the shadows a large silhouette looms as the checkered-hat man sits and declares, "BOY, YOU SURE ARE NOISY." Kurapika stands facing him in the dark room.

The checkered-hat man stares forward with a serious expression. In a spacious office, Kurapika stands with hands in pockets and asks, "YOU ARE?" while a small figure sits on a couch in the background. A voice responds, "AND WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?" Another says, "WE CAN MOVE ...!?" and "AH." Several small figures react on the floor. The checkered-hat man asks, "NO, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEWS ABOUT KAKIN HEADING INTO THE DARK CONTINENT?" Kurapika turns away slightly. A thought bubble reads, "I SEE ...SO HE HIDES HIS FIGHTING IMAGE..." Kurapika questions, "IS THAT ALL YOU CAME HERE FOR?" The checkered-hat man replies, "SORRY, I REFUSE. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE A REQUEST. PLEASE JOIN US IN SEEKING OUT THE DARK CONTINENT." A close-up shows Leorio's intense face as he adds, "LEORIO WAS A BIT CONCERNED WITH HOW YOU WERE DOING." Kurapika answers, "I'M BUSY."

In a dark room, Kurapika stands with his back turned as a man in a black-and-white patterned hat and glasses addresses him. The man says, "IT WOULD APPEAR AS THOUGH YOU'RE STILL SEEKING OUT YOUR MURDERED COMRADES'... CRIMSON EYES..." Kurapika's eyes widen in shock. He replies firmly, "I SUGGEST YOU CHOOSE YOUR NEXT WORDS WISELY. FROM THIS POINT FORWARD..." A small panel shows him huffing. Kurapika demands, "WHAT OF IT?" The man in the hat responds, "YES, YOU ARE CORRECT. I AM STILL LOOKING FOR MY COMRADES' EYES." A massive close-up of a crimson eye dominates the lower panel as the man continues, "YOU MAY BE DEALING WITH SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF THE ORGANIZATION BUT DO NOT THINK FOR ONE SECOND YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO ACT DISRESPECTFULLY OR ACT ON YOUR WHIMS..."

Kurapika asks, "AND WHAT OF IT?" The man in the patterned hat answers, "OF COURSE I DO." He reveals, "DID YOU KNOW THAT, ABOUT HALF A YEAR AGO, FOOTAGE OF A LARGE AMOUNT OF CRIMSON EYES WERE SHOWN THERE AND SUBMITTED TO US." A dark site with a skull and crossbones is shown, labeled "Convict's Tab." The man notes, "THERE IS A DARK SITE WHERE PEOPLE WITH A PARTICULARLY FETISH IN A CERTAIN HOBBY SECRETLY CONGREGATE." He adds, "BUT UP UNTIL NOW HE'S COME UP WITH ABSOLUTELY ZERO LEADS. THAT'S RIGHT...KURA-PIKA HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR ITS OWNER." A close-up of the man's eyes appears as he states, "WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE OWNER OF THOSE CRIMSON EYES." He continues explaining that during research on the dark continent, a high-ranking individual was identified, and since they were working backwards they managed to find the owner. He urges Kurapika to choose his next words wisely and give an answer.

A stern man in a black-and-white hat leans forward with intense eyes, speaking directly to an unseen listener. "PLEASE TAKE 'EVERYTHING' INTO ACCOUNT AND THINK IT OVER CAREFULLY..." he urges. Beside him another speech bubble declares, "WE WANT YOU TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ZODIACS AND ACCOMPANY US TO THE DARK CONTINENT FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS ON A BOAT." In the next tier, a dark-haired boy in profile, Kurapika, thinks hard: "WHAT SHOULD I GIVE THE UTMOST PRIORITY TO...?" A young girl with light hair stands beside a uniformed guard and wonders aloud, "SO THEN THIS WOULD MEAN... I'D BE RIDING ON THE SAME SHIP AS 'THAT PERSON'... WOULDN'T IT?" Kurapika resolves, "AS A MEANS TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL... I'VE GOT TO CHOOSE...!" and states firmly, "I'LL BECOME A MEMBER." An unseen voice answers, "FINE. I GET IT." A dramatic panel shows Kurapika declaring, "IS RECLAIMING THAT STOLEN PART OF MY BRETHREN ...!!" The bottom tier opens on a close-up of Tseridonich Hoicoro, the Fourth Prince of Kakin, raising one hand while a suited man stands behind him. In a small inset, a guard in a helmet holds a paper and asks a kneeling figure, "CAN YOU TELL ME WHO THE OWNER IS NOW?" Below that, the same guard shows a photograph to Kurapika and the light-haired girl. The page ends with the Hunter × Hunter logo and "CH. 343 / END."