Hunter × Hunter chapter 203: Chapter 203 — what is in it
Ngl arc · 15 pages · 8 characters
Key facts in this chapter
Chapter number 203 is printed at the bottom of the page. The page shows a direct confrontation between two boys and a large hostile figure. Killua is visibly affected by the opponent's aura or presence.
Knuckle and Palm appear together in close-up. The page follows directly after the confrontation scene.
Killua and Knuckle are shown in direct face-to-face confrontation Killua displays visible sweat and emotional reaction in multiple panels Knuckle accuses Killua of crying during their standoff
Knuckle challenges the boys to hit him without moving from his spot Knuckle explicitly forbids anyone from mentioning his crying Gon and Killua are present as the recipients of Knuckle's challenge
Gon is visibly angry and shouting at Knuckle Gon acknowledges he and his allies are currently weaker than Knuckle A defeated figure appears in a reality-check panel Knuckle stands with arms crossed while Gon cannot reply
Gon refuses to agree and attacks Knuckle Knuckle restrains Gon while threatening continued punches Knuckle lands a heavy blow sending Gon flying The exchange occurs during a training confrontation
Gon initiates an aggressive physical attack Opponent perceives an overwhelming aura from Gon Opponent considers using Kou for defense A body lies motionless on the ground nearby
Gon shouts two short commands or sounds Scene transitions to nighttime in an open field Killua and Gon are both present and alert A large wrapped object lies on the ground
A massive impact shakes the ground as a towering figure looms over two small fighters. The creature's distorted head and enormous limbs radiate overwhelming pressure. Gon and Killua stand their ground, backs to the viewer, staring up at the beast. Speech bubbles erupt from the top of the page: "HAS MY POWER BEEN UNDERESTIMATED THIS MUCH?!" and "TO THINK THAT I'VE BEEN COMPARED TO THESE LITTLE KIDS..." In the lower panels the tall man with glasses, identified as Knuckle, bends forward and unleashes a torrent of angry dialogue: "SO WHAT DO I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME? YOU ARE ABOUT TO PASS OUT FROM EXHAUSTION! ON YOUR WAY HOME FROM SWIMMING PRACTICE? HUH?" "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA? OR ARE YOU PUNKS REALLY JUST MESSING WITH ME?!" He continues, "WHEN YOU FIGHT, IT IS BEST TO HAVE A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP THEN START FIVE HOURS LATER, OKAY!?" and "A DUEL ISN'T A LITTLE-TITLE GAME! IT'S A SCRAMBLE OVER WHO TAKES WHO'S LIFE, YOU PUNKS!" Killua's face fills the final panel, eyes wide with sweat drops, thinking "EVEN IF I WANT TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE, I CAN'T MOVE...! WHAT INTIMIDATING PRESSURE...!"
GonKilluaKnuckle
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In a stark close-up, Knuckle leans in with a fierce glare behind his round glasses, his mouth open as he asks, "When will it be our turn?" Beside him stands a girl with long straight hair and a school uniform, her large dark eyes fixed forward in a calm yet serious expression, lips pressed into a thin line.
KnucklePalm
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Killua and Knuckle glare at each other in close confrontation, faces inches apart under dramatic lighting. Knuckle, with his distinctive curled pompadour, speaks with intensity: "YOU CAN NEVER DEFEAT ME. NOT IN THIS LIFETIME." Killua, sweat dripping, maintains a tense stare. Below, four small reaction panels show Killua's shifting expressions: eyes downcast and neutral, then a surprised exclamation mark, followed by a worried glance, and finally a determined glare. In the bottom panel, a tight close-up reveals Knuckle's furious face with bulging veins and narrowed eyes as he demands, "ARE YOU... CRYING?"
KilluaKnuckle Bine
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Knuckle stands with arms crossed, back turned, as Killua and Gon watch from behind. He yells "THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE!! YOU KNOW, THAT THING...LIKE WHEN YOU LAUGH TOO HARD WHEN YOU CRY, THAT'S WHAT IT IS!!" and "SHU... SHUT UP, YOU IDIOT! I WOULD NEVER CRY BECAUSE I'M FEELING MORTIFIED, NO WAY!" A close-up shows Knuckle's enraged face shouting "HIT ME!!" and "DON'T YOU DARE TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS OR I'M GOING TO KILL YOU PUNKS!!" Killua and Gon react with surprise. Knuckle continues, "IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR PUNCH IS SO WEAK I HAVE NO REASON TO DODGE." and "I'LL SHOW YOU THAT WE ARE NOT EVEN IN THE SAME CLASS." He threatens, "SUCH RUNTS LIKE YOU ARE 100 YEARS TOO EARLY TO EVEN DARE TO CHALLENGE ME!!" and "THIS DEAL IS MORE THAN YOU COULD ASK FOR, YOU PUNKS!" while warning "IF I DON'T MOVE ONE STEP FROM THIS SPOT, LEAVE YOUR PLATES AND SCRAM!!" and "SO I WILL LET YOU HIT ME UNTIL YOU'RE SATISFIED... BUT IN EXCHANGE..." Gon and Killua look shocked as Knuckle stands firm with crossed arms.
Knuckle BineKilluaGon
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Gon leans forward with a furious glare, mouth wide open as he yells at the top of his lungs. "DON'T TREAT US LIKE IDIOTS!!" In the next panels his thoughts race: "I DON'T HAVE ANY GROUNDS TO SPEAK UP AGAINST HIM!!" and "BUT IT'S TRUE... RIGHT NOW WE ARE BELOW THE LEVEL OF KNUCKLE...." A small thought bubble shows his doubt: "IS WHAT I WANT RIGHT NOW....!!" while sweat drops fly. A flashback panel depicts a long-haired figure sprawled on the ground with the caption "THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN'T BE OVERCOME WITH DETERMINATION ALONE... IN REALITY...!" Gon stands with his back to the viewer, fists clenched. The scene shifts to Knuckle standing with arms crossed, facing Gon. Sharp impact lines and motion effects fill the panel as Gon stares up at him, thinking "I CAN'T MAKE A RETORT!!"
GonKnuckle
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Gon lunges forward with a powerful punch, shouting "I DO NOT AGREE!!" as bold impact effects and the word "BLIT" explode around him. Knuckle's stern face appears in close-up, sweat visible, saying "HURRY UP AND DO IT ALREADY" and "I DON'T NEED TO HEAR YOUR BIG TALK." In the next panel Knuckle restrains Gon from behind, declaring "UNTIL YOU MOVE... I WILL NOT STOP PUNCHING..." A small box reads "FIRST IS..." The bottom spread shows Knuckle with arms crossed as Gon is sent flying backward by a heavy strike marked "ROCK!!" with large impact lines and the sound effect "TATATA."
GonKnuckle
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Gon launches a sudden high kick toward the towering opponent, his body twisted with explosive force. The large man with the pompadour hairstyle recoils in shock, sweat flying as he yells, "HEY HEY HEY" and "WHAT IS THIS UNREAL AURA ALL OF A SUDDEN!?" Gon shouts back, "THIS IS CHEATING YOU PUNK!!" The muscular fighter's torso fills the next panel as he thinks, "BUT WHERE!? IF I GUESS WRONG, THEN I MIGHT REALLY DIE." He resolves, ""GYOU".. NO, IF I DON'T USE "KOU" TO GUARD, THIS WILL BE DANGEROUS." In the bottom panel a limp body lies on the ground while a voice declares, "I BELIEVE IN YOU, PUNK!!" Nearby narration warns, "NORMALLY YOU AIM FOR THE GUT, RIGHT? I MEAN IT CAN ONLY BE THE GUT RIGHT!? OK BUDDY, AIM FOR THE GUT! THE GUT THE GUT THE GUT!"
GonKnuckle Bine
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Gon's face fills the frame in extreme close-up, eyes fierce as he shouts "KEN!!" and "JAN!!" The scene shifts to a starry night sky with a flock of birds flying across the moonlit darkness. Killua stands in a grassy field under the stars, looking surprised, while Gon crouches nearby with a focused, alert expression. At the bottom of the page a large body bag or wrapped figure rests on the ground in the dark field, its shape clearly outlined against the night.
GonKillua
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A man wearing a patterned headband lies back with a satisfied expression, thinking to himself, "YOU DIDN'T LET ME DOWN..." "I BE-LIEVED IN YOU..." Nearby, a fierce, snarling creature-like form appears with jagged motion lines and the sound effect "7u..." Under a starry night sky on a dirt path, Gon and Killua hurry toward a fallen figure. Gon calls out, "ARE YOU OKAY?" while Killua shouts, "KNUCKLE... SAN!?" The prone man weakly responds, "ugh..." In a close panel, Gon stares with half-lidded eyes and remarks, "MUST BE A TOTAL IDIOT." Killua, looking puzzled, replies, "WHAT IS WITH THIS GUY?" The headband-wearing man appears again with a bright glow near his face. The final wide panel shows a large half-timbered building at night with multiple gables and chimneys; several figures stand near the entrance steps.
KnuckleGonKillua
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Knuckle sits up in bed wearing a robe, holding a small rectangular plate between his fingers. He tells Gon and Killua, "I MAY HAVE UNDER-ESTIMATED YOU A LITTLE..." and "HEY, YOU'RE NOT AS WEAK AS I THOUGHT..." Gon, standing near the bed, reacts with surprise, "HUH?" and asks, "WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE IT?" Knuckle continues, "YOU COULD HAVE JUST TAKEN IT FROM ME AND LEFT YOU KNOW," while displaying the plate and declaring, "THE PLATE." In profile, Knuckle states, "WE WANT TO BECOME CAPABLE OF BEATING YOU IN A STRAIGHT-ON BATTLE, KNUCKLE-SAN." He adds, "RETRIEVING THE PLATES IS NOT OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE." Gon asks, "MIND IF I ASK YOU ONE THING?" and Knuckle replies, "GO AHEAD, ASK ME ANYTHING, PUNK."
KnuckleGonKillua
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Gon and Knuckle sit facing each other in a quiet room. Knuckle looks away with a serious expression. "ONE THAT I'D RATHER NOT REMEMBER," he says. "THAT'S A LONG STORY." Gon turns toward him and asks, "WHY DID YOU BECOME A BEAST HUNTER?" Knuckle meets Gon's gaze and replies, "THEN WHY DID YOU ENLIST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUPPRESSION TEAM?" Gon answers, "ALTHOUGH MY TEACHER TELLS ME I'M BEING TOO OPTIMISTIC. I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF DESTROYING THINGS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND YET..." Knuckle closes his eyes, arms crossed, and explains, "BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO 'SUPPRESS.' SIMPLY PUT..." Gon leans in with determination. A close-up shows Knuckle's clenched fist as he declares, "FIRST, I GOTTA EXPERIENCE THEM FIRST HAND WITH MY OWN FISTS." Another voice adds, "BUT YOU CAN'T TRULY JUDGE SOMEONE YOU HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN WITH YOUR OWN EYES, RIGHT?"
GonKnuckle
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Knuckle continues speaking to Gon from the bed. "WHEN YOU FIGHT SOMEONE, YOU LEARN ABOUT THEIR CHARACTER," he says. "YOU'RE A GOOD KID." Gon smiles slightly. Knuckle warns, "YOU WILL ALREADY BE DEAD BY THEN." A small dog with a tag labeled "KNUCKLE" lies on the bed. Knuckle pets it while saying, "YOU'RE A GOOD PERSON TOO, KNUCKLE-SAN." The dog wags its tail. Narration states, "THEY SAY GOOD HUNTERS ARE LOVED BY ANIMALS." "HE NEVER LEFT YOUR SIDE THE ENTIRE TIME." The scene shifts to a starry night sky. Knuckle's voice declares, "DON'T DARE TELL ANYONE. I'LL KILL YOU, STUPID PUNKS!" Gon replies, "DON'T BE STUPID, I'M NOT CRYING!"
GonKnuckleKnuckle's dog
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In a bustling restaurant, a man with a stern face leans forward and tells the two boys, "YOU CAN COME WHENEVER YOU LIKE." Gon and Killua sit across from him, chopsticks in hand, watching intently. The man, still chewing a piece of food, continues with fierce determination, "SINCE THERE IS NO WAY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO BEAT ME IN LESS THAN 20 DAYS. I WILL FIGHT AS MANY TIMES AS YOU NEED ME TO." Gon and Killua exchange small smiles, their expressions softening. The scene shifts to the street outside the restaurant labeled "BODENAM T," where pedestrians move about their day under the city lights.
Knuckle BineGonKillua
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Narration explains that only one possessed power and determination so great that the Queen's commands had no impact upon him. Out of countless soldiers born, he alone acted on his own will. The shadow don of NGL, whose name as a human was Jairo, walks through the crowded streets. When he was human his name was Jairo. Jairo was in the same town as Gon and company. Filled with countless malicious schemes and evil goals, the hooded figure moves among the townspeople unnoticed.
Jairo
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The page opens with the bold NEXGEAR PRESENTS header above the large stylized HUNTER x HUNTER logo featuring the Japanese text ハンター×ハンター. Website and IRC details appear directly beneath the logo. Staff credits are listed in the center-left: TRANSLATOR THEHYPERION, EDITOR JOOS, PROOFREADER THEHYPERION and HIROSHI HYDE, followed by SPECIAL THANKS to KENNETH, FULLISH, ALBERT, MUSASHI (NG), SHEBES, AND ALL OF OUR HOSTS. On the right side of the page, a full-body illustration shows a tall man with long hair, wearing sunglasses and a loose shirt, carrying an oversized smoking pipe over his shoulder while walking forward with one hand in his pocket.
Morel
End of chapter15 pages
Discussion
Knuckle is shown lying on the ground at night Gon and Killua approach the fallen Knuckle Knuckle wears a distinctive patterned headband A large multi-story half-timbered building appears in the background
Knuckle is recovering in bed while holding his Hunter license plate Gon and Killua are inside the room with Knuckle The plate is explicitly shown and referenced as an object of discussion Knuckle addresses Gon and Killua directly about their strength and goals
Knuckle avoids discussing his past reason for becoming a Hunter. Gon directly questions Knuckle's motivation for joining the suppression team. Knuckle prefers experiencing opponents personally rather than suppressing them.
A small dog remains beside Knuckle throughout the conversation. Knuckle warns that Gon would die before learning an opponent's character. The dog never leaves Knuckle's side during the scene.
The man is eating a large meal with many plates visible. Gon and Killua are seated together facing the man. The restaurant is located on a city street named Bodenam. The man has a scar on his left cheek.
Jairo is referred to as the shadow don of NGL. Jairo was previously human with the name Jairo. Jairo is currently in the same town as Gon and company. The hooded figure is walking on a busy street.
What is said, page by page
Knuckle angrily questions the boys' exhaustion and mocks their swimming practice Knuckle lectures on proper rest before fighting and declares a duel is about life and death Killua internally notes the crushing pressure preventing him from moving first
Knuckle asks when it will be their turn
Knuckle Bine states he cannot be defeated in this lifetime, delivered with confrontational intensity Knuckle Bine questions if Killua is crying, with a mocking and aggressive tone
Knuckle Bine explains his emotional outburst as something like laughing too hard when crying Knuckle Bine angrily demands to be hit and threatens the others Knuckle Bine claims the opponent's punch is too weak to dodge Knuckle Bine declares the challengers are a hundred years too early Knuckle Bine offers to take hits until satisfied in exchange for leaving
Gon shouts "DON'T TREAT US LIKE IDIOTS!!" in anger Gon's inner thoughts admit lack of grounds against Knuckle and that they are below his level Gon's thought questions if what he wants is right now Narration states there are things determination alone cannot overcome Gon internally admits "I CAN'T MAKE A RETORT!!"
Gon yells "I DO NOT AGREE!!" Knuckle tells Gon to hurry up and says he doesn't need to hear big talk Knuckle states he will not stop punching until Gon moves Knuckle shouts "ROCK!!" during the strike
Opponent shouts in alarm at the sudden powerful aura Gon accuses the opponent of cheating with the aura surge Opponent internally debates where to guard with Gyou or Kou Voice encourages Gon to aim for the gut repeatedly
Gon yells "KEN!!" and "JAN!!" with intense focus
Knuckle internally reflects that he believed in the recipient and was not let down Gon asks if the fallen person is okay Killua calls out to Knuckle-san in concern Fallen Knuckle utters a weak "ugh..." Gon calls the situation or person a total idiot Killua questions what is wrong with the guy
Knuckle admits he may have underestimated Gon and Killua a little Knuckle notes they are not as weak as he thought Gon reacts with surprise "HUH?" Gon asks why Knuckle did not take the plate Knuckle says they could have just taken it and left Knuckle declares "THE PLATE" Knuckle states their goal is to beat him in straight battle Knuckle clarifies retrieving the plates is not their main objective Gon asks if he can ask one thing Knuckle tells Gon to go ahead and ask anything
Knuckle states he would rather not remember the reason (somber mood) Gon asks why Knuckle became a Beast Hunter (curious intent) Knuckle questions Gon's decision to join the suppression team (probing) Gon admits his teacher thinks he is too optimistic (reflective) Knuckle explains he does not want to suppress but to experience first-hand (determined) Unseen speaker notes one cannot judge without seeing with own eyes (cautionary)
Knuckle explains fighting reveals character (teaching tone) Knuckle calls Gon a good kid (approving) Knuckle warns Gon would already be dead (serious threat) Knuckle praises the dog as a good person (affectionate) Narration notes good Hunters are loved by animals (lore statement) Knuckle threatens to kill anyone who tells (embarrassed anger) Gon denies crying (defensive)
Man offers that the boys can visit anytime, spoken in a direct tone. Man declares he will fight repeatedly because victory in under twenty days is impossible for the boys. Narration text visible on the street scene panels.
Narration states only one possessed power and determination so great the Queen's commands had no impact. Narration reveals the shadow don of NGL was named Jairo as a human. Narration notes Jairo was in the same town as Gon and company. Narration describes Jairo as filled with malicious schemes and evil goals.