SHADOW AND LIGHT 3

Killua stands in profile on the left side of the page, facing left with a serious expression. His spiky white hair is prominent, and he wears a light shirt with a darker collar. A massive close-up of an eye dominates the right side of the composition, staring outward with a dark pupil. The background is split between heavy black shadows and white space. At the bottom, a box reads N°037 next to the chapter title SHADOW AND LIGHT 3.

In a vast examination hall lined with rows of empty desks, Gon stands prominently in the foreground, his body wrapped in bandages and his expression resolute as he faces forward. Scattered throughout the hall, a few figures sit at desks in the distance, including a small silhouette near the back wall. A large composite panel displays close-up portraits of various individuals: Leorio with a stern sideways glance, a woman with long hair shedding a single tear, an elderly bearded man with wide eyes, a bald man looking surprised, a young girl with pigtails, and other stern or neutral faces. Gon remains centered among them, standing tall despite his injuries.

Leorio calls out sharply to Gon from the right side of the panel. Gon turns with a surprised expression as two TAC sound effects appear near him. In the next sequence, Gon looks concerned while a woman with long dark hair sits at a desk in the background. Gon then walks away from her down the aisle, a SLAP sound effect marking his movement. In the final close-up panel, Gon faces the woman directly and declares with a serious expression, 'APOLOGIZE TO KILLUA.'

Gon stares in confusion as a voice asks, "EH?" He then demands, "YOU DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THIS?" A close-up shows his serious expression while another voice questions, "APOLOGIZE ?" Gon replies, "FOR WHAT?" Illumi leans in with a cold gaze and asks, "YOU NEED QUALITIES FOR THIS?" Gon answers firmly, "YOU DON'T HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BE AN OLDER BROTHER." In a sudden burst of motion, a hand shoots forward and catches something with intense speed lines radiating outward.

Illumi lunges and grabs Gon's arm mid-air with the large onomatopoeia "CATCH" above them. In the next instant Gon is flipped upside down, his body twisting as Illumi maintains the grip while both figures tumble through the air above a railing. At the bottom of the page, five spectators react in shock: Killua's eyes widen, Leorio sweats with an open mouth, a bandaged figure stares in disbelief, a bald man looks tense, and Hisoka watches with a neutral expression marked by a star and teardrop.

A close-up reveals Illumi's intense, unblinking eyes and long dark hair. In the next panel, the tall figure in a polka-dot outfit reaches out and lightly taps Gon on the head with a soft 'TAP' sound effect. Gon stands firm, staring upward. A sudden close-up shows Illumi's hair whipping as tension rises. Gon's face fills the frame, eyes wide and determined, a bandage on his cheek as he shouts, 'TO BE THE FRIEND OF SOMEBODY, I DON'T REQUIRE ANYTHING!!!' Illumi's face appears again, expression unreadable. Suddenly, sharp 'KRRRR' and 'KRRRRK' sound effects erupt as Illumi's hands clench and twist violently, fingers splayed in a cracking motion against a dark background.

Illumi’s face appears with a quiet 'HE...' as Gon glares back, motion lines 'KR KR KR' around him. Gon leans in and demands, 'JUST TELL ME WHERE HE IS, THAT WILL BE ENOUGH.' Illumi replies, 'I DON’T CARE IF YOU WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO HIM OR NOT.' In profile, Illumi asks, 'AND AFTER THAT, WHAT WILL YOU DO?' Gon turns and walks ahead down a tiled hallway, calling 'C’MON!' with a speech bubble 'LET’S GO FIND KILLUA.' The final large panel shows Gon’s face in dramatic close-up against radiating speed lines as he declares, 'I’LL BRING HIM BACK.' A small caption reads 'THAT’S OBVIOUS, ISN’T IT?!'

Gon confronts Illumi directly, his face tense with anger. "YOU MANIPULATED HIM SO MUCH THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT KIDNAPPING." Illumi replies calmly, "BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT HE WANTED TO DO. HE LEFT BY HIMSELF." A close-up shows Illumi's eye as the sound effect KRR KRR echoes. Kurapika adds, "HEARING YOU, YOU'D THINK I'D KIDNAPPED SOMEONE." The scene shifts to a large panel where Netero sits at a podium, radiating authority with radiating lines. Gon stands in the foreground looking up at him. Netero declares, "THAT'S PRECISELY THE POINT I WAS ABOUT TO DEBATE ON, GON."

Netero continues speaking with a serious expression. "KILLUA'S DISQUALIFICATION AND THE INJUSTICE IT REPRESENTS ARE BEING EXAMINED NOW. AN IDENTICAL REQUEST HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BY LEORIO AND KURAPIKA." Kurapika stands listening intently. The discussion turns to the fight with Gitarakurui. Netero notes the unnatural attitude and possible hypnosis. Leorio reacts with shock as the sound TADAN! rings out. The group debates whether Killua acted under influence during his match against Bodoro. Kurapika concludes, "HIS DISQUALIFICATION ISN'T JUSTIFIED. WHATEVER, AT THIS MOMENT, KILLUA COULDN'T ACT ON HIS OWN."

The examiners continue their tense discussion about the final matches. One voice states that nothing can prove the boy was asked to kill someone, nor that he had been hypnotised beforehand. Another adds they have no proof and these are only hypotheses. A close-up shows Killua's face as he mutters "That's true...". The bearded examiner with the ponytail then addresses the match between Leorio and Bodoro, noting the strength of each was nearly the same but Bodoro had the advantage of counting experience. Leorio, glaring angrily with a sweat drop, insists the situation did not need Killua's help and that counting only fighting skills Leorio was more effective. In the background, Killua stands with two other figures on the viewing platform while someone remarks they see something else not really natural.

Killua and Gon stand face to face. Gon asks what Killua could have said. Killua, looking down with a serious expression, wants to talk about Gon's attitude during the match against Hisoka. The white-haired boy with the headband questions why they would quit after matches like Hanzo and Hisoka or Bodoro when they have to admit loss anyway, calling it weird. He notes Gon still had strength after saying a few words to Hisoka. In the lower panels the examiners continue: if they discuss non-elimination due to unnatural situations then Gon's victory is anything but natural, but for Gon it was the opposite. One concludes there must have been a secret agreement.

In the exam hall, a bandaged examinee insists his qualification is natural while another counters that victories by default cannot be considered natural either. A voice states that if there is no secret in what was told, there is no reason to be bothered by sharing it, and another adds that nothing can force an answer while placing the responsibility on the speaker. Elsewhere in the tiered seating, a stern man with a scar declares he wants to finish quickly and go home. Gon shouts "HEY!" from the lower seats while Killua stands nearby. The scarred man snaps "What are you implying?" as tension rises. Killua turns away, stating this is not his business. In a larger panel, the bandaged examinee continues that those unhappy with their success can train until satisfied, and Gon concludes that qualification is not something they have to talk about.

A long-haired figure remarks it is a pity Killua failed but there is nothing to be done about it, while another voice notes that if Killua retakes the exam he will obviously pass and obtain his Hunter title. On the other hand, a close-up shows a hand clenching with sharp cracking sounds. In a flashback panel, a bloodied hand grips a weapon as a small figure lies defeated on ornate tiles. Killua stares forward with a dark expression, thinking that if he had been under constraint until now, to kill people was not by his own choice. In the final panel, two figures walk away down a corridor, one with wild hair carrying a large bag.

Gon glares upward with fierce determination, a bandage on his forehead, and declares, 'I WON'T FORGIVE YOU.' In the next panels he stands small before the tall, long-haired figure in a dotted outfit, refusing any cooperation: 'I WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR YOU.' The figure replies coldly, 'YOU WON'T FORGIVE ME, SO WHAT?' accompanied by a sharp 'CRAK' sound effect. Gon continues passionately, 'AND I'LL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE SURE YOU'LL NEVER MEET AGAIN. I'LL TAKE KILLUA BACK.' The long-haired man suddenly moves with a swift 'SHUU' and 'Z' motion, extending a hand that sends Gon flying. Gon crashes hard onto the tiled floor with a loud 'KRR KRR', the impact shaking the room.

Gon stands facing Illumi in a close-up, both silent for a moment. Gon then sprints across the hall toward the stairs while Illumi watches with a neutral expression. In the wide view of the examination hall, several seated examinees and officials look on as a voice asks, 'WELL, IS EVERYTHING OKAY?' An elderly bearded man with a large hand raised begins to speak: 'AS IS THE SUCCESS OF THE OTHERS, THE DISQUALIFICATION OF KILLUA IS KEPT. MOREOVER, OTHER PARTICIPANTS CAN CONTEST, WE DON'T HAVE THE INTENTION OF CHANGING OUR DECISIONS. JUST LIKE GON SAID, EVERYONE IS FREE TO DECIDE IF HIS SUCCESS IS DESERVED OR NOT.' He concludes, 'SINCE THIS TIME YOU'RE ALL HERE, I'LL RESTART FROM THE BEGINNING. I DECLARE THE SESSION OF INFORMATION TO BE REOPENED.'

A large illustration of the Hunter's License dominates the top of the page. The card is shown with its distinctive markings as narration explains its properties. 'EXCEPT THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FAKE THANKS TO NEWER TECHNIQUES, IT'S AN OBJECT LIKE ALL OTHERS,' reads one bubble. Another states, 'CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK, IT'S AN ORDINARY CARD.' A suited presenter with a round head declares, 'THIS IS THE HUNTER'S LICENSE.' In the next panel he holds the card aloft, adding, 'NEVERTHELESS, IT'S EFFECTIVENESS IS EXTRAORDINARY!' He continues, 'FIRST, WITH THIS CARD, IT BECOMES POSSIBLE TO ENTER INTO 90% OF THE COUNTRIES THAT REFUSE ACCESS TO FOREIGNERS, AND 75% OF THE PLACES WHERE GOING IS FORBIDDEN.' A small figure with a hat and another examinee listen nearby. The presenter gestures while explaining further benefits: 'YOU ONLY HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF TWO THINGS: NOT TO LOSE IT, AND NOT TO HAVE IT STOLEN.' 'NO DUPLICATES WILL BE GIVEN.' He notes that simply possessing the card grants full liberty of movement and finances. 'SELLING IT, YOU'D HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO SPEND 7 LIVES FULL OF FUN.' A panel shows stacks of money with the text 'THIS IS ALL PAID BY BANKS AND BIG COMPANIES.' '95% OF THE PUBLIC FUNCTIONS ARE FREE FOR YOU.' '95% GRATUIT.' The presenter concludes the section by warning, 'FOR SEVERAL REASONS, ONE IN FIVE LOSE THEIR CARD.'

The round-headed presenter raises his finger dramatically against a black background with radiating lines. 'FOR FIRST JOB AS A HUNTER WILL BE TO KEEP YOUR CARD!' he declares. The scene shifts to city skylines under cloudy skies, followed by a grand domed building. 'NEXT POINT IS ABOUT THE RULES IN OUR SOCIETY.' Inside a hallway with closed doors, the presenter states, 'THE REMAINDER ONLY DEPENDS ON YOU.' He opens double doors to reveal a bright exterior and announces, 'HERE WE ARE! WE FINISH WITH EXPLANATIONS!' An older man with a beard stands in the doorway as the presenter turns and says, 'FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS, AND PROGRESS IN LIFE.' The final panel shows the presenter facing forward with the older man behind him, adding, 'TRAIN A LOT, AND BELIEVE IN YOUR ABILITIES.'

A dramatic announcement fills the page as the seven successful examinees are officially registered as Hunters. Hisoka smirks in profile with a star on his cheek, Leorio glares forward with goggles perched on his nose, a bald man stares intensely, Gon looks forward with a bandage on his forehead, Killua glances sideways, and Kurapika stands with a serious expression. The bold declaration reads: THE SEVEN PEOPLE HERE ARE NOW REGISTERED AS HUNTERS! In the lower panels, Gon confronts someone off-panel with visible anger, shouting, 'YOU THINK I'M THAT KIND OF GUY?!' Kurapika responds firmly, 'YOU'D BETTER RENOUNCE.' Gon presses on, asking about Killua's location. The final panel shows Gon running desperately through a hallway, yelling 'GI-TARA-KURU!' as motion lines emphasize his urgency.

Gon stands determined with arms raised, declaring, 'KILLUA IS MY FRIEND!' and 'WHATEVER IT COSTS, I'LL FIND HIM!' In the next row, a suited man with sunglasses states, 'I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS!' while a blond boy and Gon appear in the background. Kurapika and another character discuss the two behind them sharing the same opinion. A close-up shows a long-haired figure saying, 'KILLUA MUST HAVE GONE BACK HOME. ANYWAYS, EVEN IF I TELL YOU, YOU'LL NEVER REACH HIM.' The bottom of the page features a massive silhouette of Kukuru Mountain with dramatic sound effects 'Wooooooo' and 'ヒュオオオオオオオ', as a woman with dark hair explains, 'ON TOP OF IT IS OUR FAMILY RESIDENCE. IN KUKURU MOUNTAIN.'