Hunter × Hunter Chapter 50: Zetsu

Gon continues to be struck by the spinning tops. Sharp impacts labeled "Viiim" and "TCHAC TCHAC" hit him repeatedly from multiple angles. He is knocked back with a loud "VLAM" and cries "OTCH !!!". In a close-up, Gon looks determined and asks if he can continue. A voice from the crowd shouts "EVIDENTLY!!" and another asks "CAN YOU CONTINUE?". Narration declares a clean hit and two points awarded. Gon grits his teeth, thinking "DAMNIT!! WHAT CAN I DO?!" while realizing there are too many tops to distinguish. A final box warns that Guido already has 5 points and urges Gon to pay attention.

In a training room, Wing stands with his hand to his chin while Zushi stares in shock at a monitor. "IT'S A VARIATION OF HATSU." "YES." "MASTER! HE USES NEN TOO?!" On screen, a figure is struck repeatedly as onomatopoeia "OUA!" and "AHH!" "ARGH!!" flash. Wing raises a finger and explains that using Nen considerably increases the natural efficiency of an object. In fact, the user impregnates an object with his aura and throws it. A large panel shows Wing continuing the lecture: the quantity of aura needed depends on the size of the object. The aura fixed on the object functions as a batter; it becomes a source of energy. Because it is unthinkable to produce such attacks from spinning tops that have only received simple aura, Guido must have another reinforced Nen on his spinning tops. With small spinning tops, a Nen user like him won't have any problems making them spin and move for hours. The ones who direct their waves to an object know that the more you ask of an object, the more its abilities increase. If he can do it, it's only because the link between him and his spinning tops is strong.

Gon stares intensely forward with a determined expression, sweat on his face. "I...I FEEL THEIR MOVEMENT!" "THE SPINNING TOPS CONTAIN NEN!!" He crouches low, eyes closed in concentration, then leaps into action amid crumbling stone pillars. "I MUST STOP THEIR MOTION." "IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FOLLOW THEM BY SIGHT!" Gon dashes and strikes at the invisible tops, motion lines and impact bursts surrounding him. In a dark void filled with floating white shapes, Gon appears as a tiny silhouette. "..." "I SEE THEM!!"

Gon feels his Ten weakening under pressure. A massive impact strikes him from behind, sending him flying out of the ring with a loud DOOM as he shouts in pain. The commentator declares that Gon has been ejected and can only escape outside the ring. Another direct hit lands on Gon, who failed to see the attack coming. Gon realizes he became vulnerable by neglecting his Ten while trying to concentrate on detecting the motion of the spinning tops. The match appears already decided as the announcer shouts that it is over.

Gon wonders why the spinning top does not attack him directly but instead pushes him out of the ring. The opponent, Gido, shouts for everyone to shut up while continuing the combat with his tops. Gido explains that if Gon does not return to the ring by the count of ten he will lose. Multiple spinning tops labeled 1 through 5 move together from all directions, shocking themselves in place. Gido notes that if he were Gon the tops would also attack him, revealing that Gon was not the only target.

Gon stares wide-eyed at the bizarre spinning tops whirling violently in front of him. "OF COURSE! THEY'RE LIKE THE SUMO SPINNING TOPS!" he shouts as the tops spin with intense force, marked by "Don" and "ビー". Narration explains that the tops lack any conscious thought about what does or doesn't bother them. If they spin continuously on the ground, they simply push back against whatever gets in their way. A close-up shows a hooded figure, Guido, giving a precise order with his Nen: "PUSH BACK ALL THAT BOTHERS YOU." The tops are revealed as simple objects, not complex beings. Gon drops into a low, determined stance with motion lines streaking behind him. "9!!" he declares. "I DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID!! IF THEY DON'T ONLY ATTACK ME..."

Gon leaps forward shouting "SO I CAN ATTACK HIM DIRECTLY!!" as he charges through a storm of spinning tops and debris with "TADAN!!" sound effects. He kicks at the hooded Guido, who blocks with his staff while the tops whirl around them. "HOP!" Gon jumps, but Guido counters. The tops continue spinning wildly with "Vuiiin" effects. Guido states "EVEN IF YOU UNDERSTAND, DIRECTLY, YOUR ATTACK AGAINST ME..." and finishes with "PFF..." as Gon is struck and reels back in surprise with a close-up of his shocked face marked "!?" and motion lines.

Gon is hurled violently through the air by a massive spinning force. His body twists as the impact sends him flying backward, arms flailing. A huge swirling vortex of motion lines and debris erupts around him. "WHAT?!" someone exclaims in shock. Narration declares: "THE SPINNING TOP TORNADO!" and "AND HERE COMES THE MORTAL SECRET TECHNIQUE OF COMBINED DEFENSE AND ATTACK OF GUIDO!!" Gon screams "WAAAAAAAH!!" as the blow connects. The sound effect "BATCH" marks the crushing hit. Another caption states: "IT'S A TERRIBLE HIT FOR GON!!"

The scoreboard updates: the count is now 9 points for Guido. Gon, bruised and determined, thinks that this time it is really close. He recalls being hazed and how his body has changed since reaching the 200th floor, vowing never to lose again. The arbitrator announces a critical hit and a down. Guido stands with one arm extended, surrounded by motion lines. He explains that he made his body a spinning top on purpose to protect himself while letting his dancing spinning tops keep the opponent busy. He calls it a discreet but efficient way to win points. In the stands, Wing tells a rookie that after a while the opponent will be dizzy. Killua shouts "GON!! DON'T ATTACK HIM! STAY CALM!" while covering his ears amid the noise of the spinning tops. An angry spectator yells "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?! SHUT UP!" as the tops continue whirring.

Gon stares upward with a desperate, sweat-streaked face, thinking 'WHAT ELSE CAN I DO NOW?!' and 'HOW...?!'. His mind races through options: hitting Guido with his Hatsu in other words with a projection superior to his defense strength, or letting Guido get tired while keeping on attacking. A small TV screen shows a tiny figure on the arena floor with 'OUA!' sound effects and the note 'THEO-RETI-CALLY. THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS TO BEAT HIM.' Wing stands with one finger raised, explaining that Gon does not know how to activate his aura in a fraction of a second and has not learned Ren yet. He adds that only hard training and a lot of fights would give Gon this ability, and that transforming it into an efficient attack force to hit the opponent would require creating a very strong aura, which Gon has none of. A monitor shows Gon looking battered. Zushi and two other figures watch from the stands.

Gon’s face fills the panel with intense eyes and a sweat drop as he shouts 'I WANT TO FIGHT!!' with radiating speed lines and a small 'GON' badge visible. He continues 'BUT I STILL WANT TO FIGHT!!' while standing in the arena in his torn jacket and boots, declaring 'ONLY ONE MORE POINT, AND IT’S THE END!!'. Killua reacts with shock 'GON!?'. Wing looks worried and says 'WHAT...'. The opponent’s masked face appears with '!?'. Gon thinks 'ALL I CAN DO FOR NOW... IS...'.

Gon stands with his back to the viewer amid crackling aura spikes erupting from the floor and walls. A large narration box declares he discovered his Zetsu. In a lower panel, Wing's face appears drenched in sweat, eyes wide in disbelief. Multiple text boxes explain the Nen technique: even leaking aura disappears slowly, making the user undetectable, and the shoulder protection vanishes when Zetsu is active. Wing thinks aloud that Gon did not merely discover Ten but also Zetsu, calling it insane. Another panel shows Wing's hand gripping his face as he wonders if Gon could have learned Zetsu alone before meeting him, or if it is a natural talent rather than something taught. Wing questions why this is happening now, noting the boy's bewildering qualities and comparing them to a predator's innate hunting ability.

Killua floats in darkness surrounded by spinning aura orbs while maintaining a crouched stance. Large text declares the dangerous situation. In a close-up, Killua shouts that receiving a Nen attack without Ten leaves the body exposed. Wing yells from off-panel that Killua is an idiot and that he was warned. Killua replies he has no time to focus on Ten right now and must concentrate his nervous system on the spinning tops. A spectator with glasses sweats while thinking Killua risks his life and has not been trying to win until now. Killua adds that to understand the complex motions he must let the energy flow freely.

Gon sits cross-legged in the arena, body straining under intense exercise as sharp motion lines and impact bursts radiate outward with the large SFX 'Viiiiiiim'. Narration emphasizes he trains at the risk of losing his life. The masked fighter leans over the railing, gloved hand extended, laughing wildly 'HAHAHA! YOU WANNA DIE, KID?' Gon answers firmly 'IF THAT'S THE CASE, I'LL HELP YOU!!' Close-up panels show Gon's face, eyes shut in concentration, sweat visible, while rapid strikes 'TAK TAK' explode around him with jagged impact shapes and motion lines filling the lower right panels.

Gon remains centered with eyes closed, body twisting as he narrowly evades a barrage of attacks; large 'VLAM!' and crossing impact lines fill the upper right while smaller 'SSSS...' effects appear near his shoulder. The masked fighter’s gloved hand is shown in foreground, torn paper-like debris flying as he shouts 'WHAT?!' in shock. Lower panels depict blurred motion streaks with Gon’s internal thoughts: 'I SEE THEIR MOVEMENTS. I FEEL THEM!!!' and 'IS USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO AVOID ATTACKS. ALL I CAN DO NOW…' The arena crowd reacts with 'OOOOOOH!' and excited cries while the announcer exclaims 'EXTRAORDINARY!! IT’S THE FIRST TIME IN THE MATCH THAT GON HAS MANAGED TO AVOID THE ATTACK!! WILL WE ASSIST IN THE BEGINNING OF THE RETALIATION?!'

Gon soars through the air in a powerful mid-leap, body stretched wide with fists clenched and one leg extended. His eyes are shut in fierce determination as he yells, 'I CAN STILL FIGHT!!!' Sharp 'VUU' impact bursts flare around his limbs. He adds, 'IN THIS WAY . . .' The arena crowd erupts in a massive roar, the letters 'OOOOOOOH' stretching across the page. In the lower panels a tightly bandaged fist is shown clenched, a sweat drop visible on Killua's tense profile, and Zushi standing in the doorway pointing excitedly toward the fight. Spectators surge forward with motion lines and starburst effects as the entire hall reacts to Gon's declaration.