Hunter × Hunter Chapter 38: Jin Freaks

Chapter title page for N°038. A massive close-up of Jin dominates the frame, his spiky white hair filling the upper half as he looks down with a neutral expression. Below him stand three smaller figures against a dark background: a boy with short white hair in a dark vest on the left, a boy with spiky black hair in a light outfit holding a weapon in the center, and a tall man in a black suit and glasses on the right. The title "JIN FREAKS" appears prominently at the top.

In a spacious tiled hall inside the exam building, Chairman Netero stands with a stern expression and addresses the departing applicants. "AS HUNTERS, WE'LL EITHER BE COMPANIONS OR ENEMIES," he declares. He continues, "WHEN YOU EXIT THIS BUILDING, YOU AND I WILL BE ON THE SAME LEVEL." A lone voice replies, "WELL." Netero offers his final words: "I HOPE ALL GOES WELL FOR YOU UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING." The applicants—Gon with his spiky hair and determined face, Killua with white hair, Kurapika with blond locks, Leorio wearing glasses, and others including a bandaged-headed fighter and a long-haired woman—stand in small groups, listening intently. Outside, the grand domed building rises against a cloudy sky as Netero concludes, "ON THAT NOTE, I'M LEAVING YOU." The group begins to disperse toward the exit.

In a dimly lit corridor, Leorio presses an elevator button while Killua stands nearby. A large "OUT" sign marks the exit doors. The remaining applicants walk through the hall: a tall woman with long dark hair, a bald fighter, and others. Hisoka appears in close-up with a star marking under his eye and a tear-like streak, speaking with a slight smile. A woman with ornate clothing replies, "IT'S NOT EVEN HIDDEN, PLUS, IT'S FAMOUS." Hisoka answers, "YES," then adds, "A KILLER THAT TELLS THE PLACE OF HIS LAIR." He questions, "WILL IT BE OKAY?" In the final panels, Leorio, the woman, and Hisoka stand together while Gon is shown from behind carrying a bag. Hisoka remarks, "THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WORLD THEY LIVE IN AND MINE," and concludes, "WHEN THEY ARRIVE THERE, THEY'LL UNDERSTAND..."

Hisoka leaps through the air in a dramatic pose, one leg extended, while Gon clings to a ladder below. Illumi stands with arms crossed, holding up a small broken object. "IT'S BROKEN," someone notes. Illumi replies, "YES... THIS?" A close-up shows Hisoka's sharp profile with the star mark on his cheek. In a wide panel, Hisoka's massive silhouette looms as he remarks, "QUITE AN INTERESTING THING." Gon stands in the foreground looking up curiously, with Killua and another figure visible behind him. Hisoka's face appears again in profile. "ISN'T HE," he says with a heart symbol. Illumi, facing him directly, responds, "I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO KEEP AN EYE ON HIM."

Hisoka's face fills the panel with eyes half-closed and a star mark visible. Illumi speaks in profile: "BUT IT STOPS HERE, BECAUSE IN MY OPINION, HE'S DANGEROUS." Close-ups show Illumi's eye and hand gestures. Hisoka warns, "IF YOU TOUCH HIM, YOU'RE TAKING A GREAT RISK," with a spade symbol. Illumi declares, "GON IS MINE," with a heart. Hisoka bursts into laughter, "HE! HE! HE! HE! HE!" stating, "UNTIL THE FRUIT MATURES AND IS READY..." In a hallway, Illumi's silhouette says, "WAIT PATIENTLY." Hisoka and Illumi continue: "WELL, WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW, HISOKA?" "WE HAVEN'T KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR TASTES." "I KNOW." Illumi makes a peace sign while facing forward.

Kurapika and Leorio stand close in the hallway as Kurapika asks about a distant mountain. Leorio reacts with surprise, replying that he has never heard of Kukuri Mountain. In the next panel Gon, Killua, and Leorio walk together down the tiled corridor while Kurapika trails behind. Leorio questions whether Kurapika knows the mountain's location. Kurapika answers that he does not. Leorio then recalls that someone mentioned Kukuri Mountain during the exam. The scene shifts to a wider view of the group gathered in the hall. Leorio calls out to get everyone's attention. Gon turns with an excited expression and suggests they go surfing after they locate the mountain. Kurapika agrees with a simple yes while Killua stands nearby.

Leorio stands with Gon and Killua while holding up a sign that reads HANZO MASTER DISAPPEARANCE SUPERIOR SCHOOL. He explains that he already knew Hanzo was a ninja. Hanzo himself appears in the background, walking away with a confident stride. A bald man with a headband gives a thumbs-up and offers to show tourist spots if anyone visits his country. The scene changes to Kurapika and Leorio watching Hanzo depart down the hallway. In a later panel a bandaged figure apologizes for losing composure during the exam. Hanzo's voice notes that the real issue now is deciding their next move. Kurapika listens intently as the group considers how to use their new hunter titles.

Gon thanks the others and asks what they think about gathering information together. The bandaged-head traveler declares they will travel the world seeking living species whose existence must still be proven and become a Hunter of ghostly species. Gon says he would like to know more about a Hunter named Jin. The traveler asks if Jin is the one Gon is looking for and offers their home code, a special phone number for when away. Leorio, Kurapika, and Killua react with surprise as the code is exchanged. Gon asks if they have a picture of Jin. The traveler hands over a small device while saying the code is their home code and to call if help is needed. Leorio states he will give his code as well.

Leorio explains that a home code is a special phone number for when a Hunter is away and that Gon knew nothing about it. The group discusses how Hunters travel constantly and need answering machines to collect information without interrupting movement. Leorio describes choosing a secret access code and using encryption to gather as much data as possible while avoiding direct connections that could be hacked. A diagram shows a person using a cell phone to receive messages at a house. Kurapika notes that most information is unofficial and often false, but an electronic encyclopedia can provide useful details for finding happiness. The page ends with an illustration of a smiling computer holding books beneath a house symbol.

Leorio stands before Gon, Killua, and Kurapika, holding up three items. "These are the three tools hunters use," he explains, raising a peace sign. "You should try this too, Gon." He details the home code, cell phone, and web access code. Gon stares at the card with a puzzled "Hnn?" while Killua and Kurapika watch closely. Leorio continues, "Of course, with these electronic pages, you can search for information, which in slang is called 'surfing.'" Gon admits, "Ah, but... I wasn't listening." Killua echoes, "What?! Really?!" Leorio confirms, "That's right, we were told that." Kurapika adds, "That's true, with the hunter's card, we can surf." Gon holds up the card and asks, "Why don't we use it now?" Leorio replies, "It's not that important! We'll use mine." Gon insists, "You're really stubborn," and declares, "I've decided not to use it now." Gon then shouts, "Aargh! No, I'd rather not!"

The group walks through a tiled hallway. Kurapika waves and says, "Take care!" Gon turns back with a smile, holding his card, and replies, "Yes, thanks. Then, when you have a home code, call me." Leorio stops and gestures, "Please wait 2 seconds. Shall we go too?" Gon looks at the card and wonders, "Hm? What is this?" In the corridor, Gon spots a man ahead and calls out, "Satotsu-san!" Satotsu turns slightly. Leorio reacts with surprise, "Oh." Gon examines the card again and says, "I always thought it was a hunter's license, but... someone I know let it fall."

Gon claps his hands together with a bright smile as the suited man examines the Hunter license card. "IT'S A CERTIFICATE OF A DOUBLE HUNTER," the man declares with a flourish. "WONDERFUL!" He studies the card closely. "HMM... IT SEEMS REAL..." In a darkened panel the man continues, turning toward Gon. "...TO SOMEONE YOU KNOW. GON, YOU TOLD ME THIS CARD BELONGED..." Gon watches with wide eyes. The man holds the card up. "THE REAL OWNER OF THIS CARD IS A HUNTER NAMED 'JIN.'" Gon looks surprised. "WHAT'S THE MATTER?" In the background, Leorio and another figure stand watching. The man adds, "YES, HE'S CALLED KAITO, BUT..."

The man points to the numbers on the card. "THE LAST THREE NUMBERS ARE THE EXAM'S SESSION," he explains. "THERE'S ONE ON YOUR CARD AS WELL. AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, THIS IS AN AUTHENTIFICATION NUMBER." He continues, "AND THIS NUMBER... THIS YEAR WAS THE 287TH SESSION." A close-up shows the card's number 267. "IN THE 267TH SESSION, THERE WAS ONLY ONE WINNER. A HUNTER NAMED JIN." The man recalls, "THEN, I TRIED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIM, BUT... IN FACT, I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS HUNTER WHO DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO MAKE EXCAVATIONS OF RUINS. JIN, THAT'S HIM." Gon stands with Leorio, asking, "ON THAT JIN... MAYBE YOU COULD TELL ME MORE?" The man answers, "I FOUND PRACTICALLY NOTHING ON HIM. IN ONE WORD, THERE'S A 'MYSTERY.'" Leorio replies, "YES, OF COURSE..."

Gon smiles confidently and says, "OK. I'M GONNA TRY." The suited man replies, "YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LEARN MORE FROM THERE." Gon beams and answers, "YES! OBVIOUSLY!!" The man asks, "DO YOU KNOW ELECTRONIC PAGES?" Gon holds up a small card and states, "IT'S MY FATHER'S..." Dramatic sound effects "DOM DOM" fill the panel as the card is shown. The suited man pleads, "PLEASE. IF I MEET UP WITH HIM, I'LL ASK HIM." Gon responds, "I DON'T KNOW HIS HOME CODE." The man continues, "WHAT I MEAN IS I KNOW HIM, BUT..." Gon asks, "WOULD YOU MIND IF I ASKED YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THIS PERSON, THIS KAITO?" The man answers, "WELL, IN FACT..." Gon cheers, "YES! GOOD BYE!" The man advises, "NO... TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF." Gon waves enthusiastically and calls out, "AH! YOU'RE WEL-COME. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, SATOTSU-SAN!" Satotsu walks away down the tiled hallway.

From behind, Satotsu’s blond hair is visible as he faces a group. In the distance Gon stands with two other men. Satotsu says, "SORRY!" A close-up shows him explaining, "YES, I WAS ABOUT TO TELL HIM EVERYTHING..." Another character notes, "THAT’S TRUE, YOU WERE CLOSE THERE!" A third adds, "WE ALWAYS WANT TO HELP HIM..." Someone remarks, "A STRANGE KID, ISN’T HE?" A large circular panel displays the narration: "...TO TELL HIM THAT THE HUNTER EXAM ISN’T OVER YET." Satotsu, Gon, and a cloaked figure walk away together down a white corridor, their backs to the viewer.

Inside a spacious office filled with computer terminals, Gon, Killua, and Leorio stand watching as a blonde woman in a ponytail operates a keyboard. A soft CLIC sounds as the screen activates. A massive central panel reveals an ELECTRONICAL BRAIN pulsing with energy, accompanied by a deep VUUUU vibration. The display shifts to show Kukuru Mountain. Text labels identify it as a 3722 m peak in Dentora's province within the Republic of Padokia. The woman turns slightly and declares, "LET'S BEGIN WITH 'KUKURU MOUNTAIN.'" A nearby panel shows a silhouette of the mountain range.

The group gathers around the monitor as Leorio points at the screen. Speech bubbles read: "POINT OF DEPARTURE..." and "LET'S LOOK AT A MAP." Leorio asks, "PADOKIA... WHAT AND WHERE IS THAT COUNTRY?" The interface shows BIP and TAC sounds with directional arrows. A wide map of scattered landmasses appears, marked with X symbols, a BIP tag, and a flower-like emblem. An oval labels a southern island with "THERE." In close-up, Kurapika asks, "WHEN DO WE LEAVE?" Leorio replies, "BY BOAT, IT WILL ONLY TAKE THREE DAYS." An unseen voice answers, "NO PROBLEM. EVEN MORE TOURISTS CAN GO THERE." The Republic of Padokia is confirmed on screen with repeated TAC TAC sounds.

Killua proposes checking the Hunters' page for any information on Jin. Kurapika agrees to consult it after. Leorio declares he is ordering the tickets today. Killua replies with an okay. They approach a public terminal where Leorio taps the keys and enters the search. The screen displays the Hunters' list with the entry JIN FREAKS. Kurapika points it out as the one. The group notes there are several people named Jin and wonders about the family name. Leorio confirms the selection. Killua stares at the screen and says they should go, but his eyes widen in shock at the unexpected result.

The group realizes that trades of information on Jin through electronic pages are forbidden. They conclude he must be registered in the top-secret files of the electronic brain. A large question mark panel emphasizes the person in absolute secret. Killua sweats while thinking that only someone with the power of the president and an incredible fortune could achieve this. The terminal beeps repeatedly with a giant question mark. Gon states that his father seems to be someone extremely important. Killua agrees that Jin is an exceptional person.