Zaban City.....

Gon and his friends have arrived in Zaban City, site of the Hunter Exam, aided by the Kiriko Navigators.

"As Navigators, our job is to identify worthy hunter applicants and guide them to the exam site. In other words, it would be extremely difficult for someone to reach the site without a navigator's help" the Kiriko said to Kurapika and Leorio while they're going to the hunter exam site.

"Hey wanna try one? It's Zaban's famous panda-frog-on-a-stick. A true delicacy!" the vendor said and Gon is infront of him.

"This brooch was excavated from Zaban's underground palace. I bet it's a national treasure" the lady said to Gon and Gon is amazed.

"You know, Zaban city is quite a shady place. Prosperous cities tend to attract all sorts of nasty types" the Kiriko said and Gon is amazed so he go to each vendor and looks to their products.

"What are you doing, Gon? We're going!" Leorio called.

"Yeah!" Gon goes to them. Later they arrive in a big space and there are buildings. Then, they stop.

"I believe... that is the building" the Kiriko said as he looks to the map and points the building. So Gon, Kurapika and Leorio looks up and saw a tall building.

"It's so tall! They have really a nice building!" Gon said amazed.

"So this is the exam site...." Leorio said.

"This is what draws..."

"Hunter applicants across the world" Kurapika said.

"My first shot at the Hunter Exam. Was this how dad felt, when he first arrived?"

"Hey guys!"

"Huh?"

"Over here!" the Kiriko said and he's infront of a restaurant.

"What?"

"Here" the Kiriko is pointing the restaurant. He mean that the restaurant is the exam site.

"Wait, this isn't funny. Isn't this an ordinary restaurant? You can't possibly mean that Hunter applicants around the world are meant to assemble here?" Leorio asked.

"I do" the Kiriko answered.

"Huh?"

"No one would never expect the Hunter Exam, with its million of candidates, to be located here, right?"

"That's true" Leorio agreed and they go in the restaurant.

"Welcome!" the cook said.

"Is the back room open?" the Kiriko asked.

"What will you have?"

"The steak combo that opens your eyes to the light. For three" he Kiriko said.

"Fore three... How would you like them?"

"Grilled over a low flame, until cooked"

"Got it. Make yourself to the back room" so they go to the back room. There are seats for three and a table.

"Wait here" the Kiriko said.

"Wait? Where are the others?" Leorio asked.

"I can't wait for the steak combo" Gon said.

"Gon, that was just a password to get inside" Kurapika said.

"Oh, we don't get to eat?"

"One in every ten thousand...."

"Hmm"

"The number of applicants who make it this far. You've done extremely well for first timers. Well, good luck" the Kiriko said.

"Thanks!" Gon said giving him a hand and the Kiriko gives his hand.

"I would be happy to serve as your navigator next year, as well" the Kiriko said and he left. When he closed the door, the room starts to go down.

"What?"

"It appears this room is an elevator" Kurapika said as he look up and saw a rectangular screen with floor numbers. Leorio sits on the chair.

"Bastard. That meant he expects us to fail this year" Leorio said crossing his arms.

"Once every three years"

"What's that?"

"The frequency with which a rookie passes this exam"

"Huh?"

"It's that unusal?" Gon asked.

"Some can't endure the exam's physical and mental strain. It's also not usual for veterans to break the rookies, who consequently never retake the test" Kurapika said.

"So I guess canditates are willing to risk everything to become hunters" Gon said.

"But of course, my friend! HUNTERS MAKES THE MOST MONEY IN THIS WORLD!" Leorio said.

"No!" Kurapika said in disagreement.

"HUNTERS ARE THE MOST NOBLE IN THIS WORLD!"

"GOODY GOODY!"

"MONEY GRUBBER!" the two started to fight.

"GON! Listen... Every year over fifty hunters make the list of the world's richest people!" Kurapika rotates the rotating tray and Leorio moves away.

"Hunters are associated with hunter qild game and treasure, but they're all second-rate. True hunters work to protect people and natural order" Kurapika said and Leorio goes near to Gon

"Now, look here... Once you become a hunter, most countries will give you a free pass! And no charge to use public facilities. How're those benefits?" Kurapika moves the rotating tray again to move Leorio away from Gon.

"Hunters have many difficult and important responsibilities, such as preserving cultural artifacts and endangered species, as well as capturing wanted criminals and unscrupulous hunters!" Kurapika said and Leorio goes near to Gon again.

"The fame and money... That's why people wish to become hunters!"

"Prfound knowledge, a healthy mind and body, and unyielding conviction. Those are the qualities on which hunters pride themselves!" Kurapika said. Leorio and Kurapika faced each other.

"Gon! What do you think? WHICH KIND OF HUNTER DO YOU HOPE TO BECOME?!" the two asked simultaneously.

"Well, if you put that way...." then they reached B100.

"I think we've arrived" Kurapika said.

"We'll continue this later" Leorio said and Gon sighed. They opened the door and saw hundreds of applicants.

"Strange atmosphere down here" Leorio said.

"They're clearly differ from the Hunter applicants we saw at the ort and in the city" Kurapika said.

"Each is the master, in their own right..."

"Excuse me..." they all look away to them.

"Everyone's really tense" Gon said,

"Hello, please take a number" a small green bean-headed person said giving Leorio a badge with 403 on it.

"Here you go" he gave another badge with 404 to Kurapika.

"Here" he gave another badge with 405 to Gon.

"Be sure to wear this on your chest at all times. Be careful not to lose it" he said.

"Haven't seen you guys around before" a fat man with box shaped nose, with number 16 one his badge sitting, on a pipe.

"Yo"

"You can tell we're new?" Gon asked.

"More or less" he said and comes down then approaches them.

"After all, thisnwill be my thirty-fifth attempt"

"THIRTY-FIVE TIMES?!" Gon and Leorio are suprised.

"Well, you can say I'm an exam veteran" he said proudly

"That's not something to brag about" Leorio said.

"Indeed" Kurapika agrees.

"If you have questions, feel free to ask me" he said.

"Thanks" Gon thanked him.

"My name is Tonpa" he said introducing himself.

"I'm Gon" they shaked each other's hands.

"These are Kurapika and Leorio" the two nod their heads.

"Hey, are there others have taken the exam a bunch of times like you?" Gon asked.

"Well, I have the most experienced here, but there are a few others. For instance there's him...." Tonpa points a person.

"Number 255. Todo, the wrestler. He's unmatched in strength. He's smarter than he looks. On the other side, we have number 103. Bourbon, the snake charmer. He tends to hold grudges, so you don't want to end up on his bad side. Then, number 191, Bodoro, the Kung Fu master. He's getting old, but there still isn't a better martial artist around here. Then you have the three brothers, Amori, Imori, Umori. They perform consistently well, thanks to their excellent temawork. And number 384, Gerreta, the Huntsman. He specializes in killing all manners, by blow dart and club. There are many more, but they have taken the test the most time"

"Ah..." then a man pass by and he bumped to someone. Then the man is turning to shreds and he screamed.

"Oh. How peculiar... His arms seem have become flower petals. No smokes mirrors here" a man with a star and a tear on his cheeks said.

"Do take care. When you bumped to someone, you really should apologize"

"That psychopath is back again" Tonpa said.

"Again?"

"Does that mean he took the last year's exam?" Kurapika asked.

"Number 44. Hisoka, the magician. Last year, he was the virtual lock to pass the test, until he all but killed the examiner he didn't like"

"A-and they're still allowing him to retake the exam this year?!" Leorio asked with a little shock.

"Of course. Every year, the examiners and test content change and the examiners are the ones who choose the new content. The devil himself could pass if that were examiners' determination. That's just how the Hunter Exam works" Tonpa explained.

"Anyway, no one likes him. You should stay away too" he warned the three.

"He looks dangerous. That much is for sure" Leorio said.

Hisoka pass by a girl with a number 96 on her badge and he was suprised.

"Oh. It's you. You lost your hunter license, did you?" the girl glare at her.

"Goodluck" he said and walks away.

"Oh, right... A little something to mark our acquaintance. How about it?" Tonpa gets some canned juices.

"Oh, appreciated" Leorio said happy.

"As it happened, I was thirsty...."

"Thank you" Gon thanked Tonpa. Then there are men who're whispering.

"There he goes..."

"He always plays the nice guy, despite being nastier than anyone else here"

"Tonpa, the rookie crusher..."

"Best of luck to all of us" they cheers and opens the can juice except Tonpa. Tonpa smirks.

"Hihihi... The juice I gave contains extremely strong laxative. One sip and for three days, your guts will be a non-stop roller coaster. You'll need diapers to take the exam" Tonpa said to himself. When Gon takes a sip, he throw up the juice.

"Tonpa-san this juice must have expired. It tastes funny" Gon said and Leorio spits out the juice like all aof the water he drink comes out.

"Seriously? That was close!"

"H-huh? That's strange..." Tonpa said with a fake smile and Kurapika didn't drink it. He discards the juice from the can.

"Impossible... That laxative should have practically no taste nor scent"

"I'm very sorry! I didn't realize the juice had gone bad!" Tonpa said knealing with his hands togethers.

"It's ok. You don't have to apologize. Is your stomach fine?" Gon asked.

"Y-yes. I'm fine" Tonpa answered.

"I've sampled all kinds of mountajn grasses and plants. So I can usually taste when something's bad" Gon explained.

"R-really? That's amazing.." Tonpa said sweatdropping.

"Damn.. I've had to run into this wild mountain kid" Tonpa stands up.

"Sorry about that again. I'll see you around" Tonpa said and left.

"Talkative old man...." Leorio said.

"Still there's something wrong with this year's rookies. That number 294, Hanzo, too. He seemed gullible when I approach him"

Flashback

"Don't tell anyone else but I'm actually a ninja" Hanzo whispers to Tonpa.

"Huh? Oh, really?"

"I seek the legendary scroll.... Shh...." Hanzo shushes Tonpa.

"The Ultimate Ninja Scroll. This is why I desire to become a hunter. I've heard it's hidden somewhere inaccessible to ordinary people" Hanzo explained.

"Anyway, it's boring here"

"Yeah, I guess... So, how about it? Let's toast our friendship" Tonpa said giving him the canned juice. Hanzo gives it back.

"As a ninja, I make it a point to never drink anything from someone else who offers. Sorry" Hanzo said seriously with white aura.

"I-I see.... Hahah"

End of Flashback

"I could tell by his eyes, he's no fool. One false step, then I could've been in real danger" Tonpa said and he heard a fast ticking sound. He looked at the back and saw a candidate who has his face full of needles and his head shakes.

"Speaking of danger, there's number 301. That guy just oozes peril. I can't even go near him. Then there's that guy I can't stand. Number 187, Nicolas"

Flashback

"Must've been tough to make it here" Tonpa said.

"Not really. Everthing went as predicted by my data.... I used historical data, from past Hunter Exams, to calculate this year's location. Quite simple. Frankly, I was bored senseless" he said typing on his laptop.

"R-really.... That's amazing. My name is Tonpa. Nice to meet you" Tonpa introduces.

"Tonpa-san, is it?" He asked and types on his laptop.

"Oh, there you are. This is your thirty-fifth attempt, the second highest number by one person. And with thirty, you have the most consecutive appearances. Very impressive"

"Please, it's no big deal. How about it? Let's drink to our new friendship" Tonpa said giving him the canned juice.

"But yet you have to actually pass the exam. I assume that because you're too absorbed to your other objective.

"Eh?"

"Tonpa-san, the rookie crusher"

"What?" Nicolas closes his laptop and stands up.

"Well, I won't share my knowledge with anyone else seeing as you hold the consecutive appearance record. Goodbye"

End of Flashback

"Bastard.... Just you wait. I'll break that snotty nose of yours"

"Hey, Tonpa-san! Can I have more of that juice? Must be my nerves. I'm really thirsty" a boy asked.

"Eh? O-oh sure"

"What the hell? The laxative he drank earlier should've taken effect earlier by now. What's going on?" the boy approaches him and drinks 3 juices.

"It's only a laxative. If he imbibes that much, he could die of dehydration"

"Worried? I'll be fine. I've trained. Poisons won't effect me" the boy said and left.

"Poisons? He knew what was in the juice? But he still drank it. Number 99, Killua. This year's rookies are all insane. Well, it doesn't matter. That just means crushing them will be all more worthwhile"

While the boy walks, he saw the girl just like the same height as him. So he approaches her.

"Hey, what's your name?" he asked.

"Hm?" then later there's something ringing and the wall opened. They saw the examiner standing.

"I apologize for the wait. The entry period for Hunter applicants has ended. THE HUNTER EXAM WILL NOW BEGIN!" the examiner anounced.

"A final caution. If you're short on luck or ability, you could very well end up seriously injured or even dead. Those who accept the risk, please follow me. Otherwise, please exit via the elevator behind you" no one goes to the elevator.

"Very well. All 405 applicants will participate in Phase One" then the examiner walks like a robot with big steps and they all follow him.

"Of course, no one turned around and left. I'd hope a few might withdraw" Leorio said. The examiner is slipping by faster speed his way. Everyone followed him and they run to follow him.

"W-what?"

"The people infront started running" Gon said.

"He's picking up the pace" Kurapika said.

"I neglected to introduce myself. I'm Satotz, the Phase One examiner. I shall lead you to the exam's Secong Phase.

"Second Phase? What about Phase One?" Hanzo asked.

"It has already commenced"

"It's already begun? This is part of the test" everyone's confused.

"You must follow me to Phase Two. This is the exam's first phase"

"Follow you? That's it?"

"Yes. I can't tell you where or when you must arrive. You need to follow me"

"I see how it is" Kurapika said.

"This test is weird" Gon commented.

"I expect it's an endurance test. Fine by me. I'll be right behind you!" Leorio said.

"But there's the mental stress of not knowing how far we'll run. He's also testing our mental fortitude" Kurapika thinks.

The exam's First Phase begins, amidst a mix of warriors and knaves. One candidate is disqualified before it even starts. The total number of applicants is 405.

I hope you enjoy it 😊😊. Don't be a silent reader. Press the star to vote and comment. Bye bye~nya 😸😸