Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, who can't stop his heart pounding with excitement over Chairman Netero and unseen strong fighters. I want to fight soon.
Though Netero welcomed Gon's group, the others couldn't just nod and accept it.
While they greatly welcomed an increase in sparring partners, it would leave too bad a taste if they broke early and caused problems for their future lives.
This was the warriors' sincere feelings—having endured sparring with Netero for a long time, they couldn't compromise even if they could tell from aura and atmosphere that these were undoubtedly strong fighters.
"So then, while Biscuit is no problem, Gon, Killua, and Hisoka must first spar with someone other than me. They made it so you can't accept the request unless recognized this way."
"It's too obvious a measure, Chairman. Neither Sanbica nor I specialize in treating the heart—weaklings."
[It would trouble us if you came crying (sweat)]
Answering Netero's complaint were a woman with a dog-like face wearing glasses in a green dress, and a woman in a white coat with extreme minimal exposure except around the eyes who communicated through writing.
The sole and greatest healing presence for Netero's request—Triple-Star Hunter Cheadle and Single-Star Hunter Sanbica.
"Perfect timing with both of you here. Sunglasses is Leorio, the threatening one is Kurapika. Leorio has a medical-specialized Hatsu and can handle mental care reasonably well, while Kurapika can boost healing acts, so both will be useful."
Leorio and Kurapika, introduced to Cheadle and Sanbica by Biscuit, were surprised since they hadn't expected young women to appear. Leorio nervously and Kurapika with a wary expression each exchanged greetings.
"I'll judge if they're useful after seeing them in action—Biscuit. If I judge them lacking, I'll have them quit immediately, so be prepared—Leorio, Kurapika."
[I'm grateful since I've had few breaks recently. Kurapika, let's have a tea party with Cheadle and me later.]
While the support team deepened their acquaintance, the sparring team was arguing intensely over who would evaluate Gon and Killua.
The two, who were clearly young teens, were split cleanly between the "senior disciples should spar first" faction and the "instructors should spar immediately" faction, despite their impressive aura and bearing.
"I don't care either way, but is there anyone stronger than the guy who was just sparring with the old man? Honestly, I don't think anyone at that level would even be worth discussing."
Killua's attitude—bored and even yawning at the undecided policy—successfully earned frowns even in this place filled with mostly decent people.
One of the senior disciples who had initially spoken to them reacted most strongly to the rude attitude, and worked himself up to do it seriously rather than just test him, inviting Killua to the training ground.
"Yeah, yeah, have the next person ready too. If it ends too quickly, there won't be anything to test."
"This brat—I tried to be nice and he gets cocky! I'll make you cry!!"
Biscuit, who sighed at the man whose blood had clearly rushed to his head, volunteered as referee and immediately signaled the start without any fanfare.
Though lacking composure, as a Shingen-Ryu senior disciple present here, the man's ability was no joke.
With speed and depth of advance that proved his words of seriousness weren't lies, the man reached Killua's presence in an instant and released a sharp straight punch.
While many were disappointed that Killua hadn't even assumed a stance at this stage, the released fist and the man's body passed through Killua and dove into the ground.
As everyone's reactions delayed at Biscuit's declaration of match over, the collapsed man vigorously stood up, then tilted and rolled again, making his surprise obvious.
"Seriously!? When did he get hit!?"
"While dodging your straight punch, two strikes to the jaw in a slapping motion. Stay down for a while."
As most stood speechless and unable to move at the too-quick conclusion, a man with stubble among those in training clothes stepped forward.
"I apologize for underestimating you. Sorry, but please have another match with me."
Though his physique was trained, Biscuit's eyes widened at the man who was slender among those in training clothes.
"It's been a while. It's rare for you to come forward yourself. If I can see your serious side, it'll be the first time in years?"
"Give me a break, Ms. Biscuit. I won't go that far in sparring. I'll go all out without Hatsu—there are many muscle-heads here, so that'll convince them better."
"Okay, don't start crying like that last guy."
"That depends on your skill."
Killua, confirming the man's stance, prepared by lowering his center of gravity slightly while maintaining a natural posture.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Izunavi, and I'm entrusted with being an assistant instructor here."
"I'm Killua. Looking forward to working with you."
At Killua's reliability, not considering failure for even a moment, Izunavi smiled briefly but immediately reassumed a serious expression and stance.
Killua also renewed his focus hearing he was an assistant instructor like Wing, one of his teachers. As Biscuit confirmed both their concentration and aura had risen, she called out.
"Begin!"
This single match would break the shell Killua thought he'd already broken once again.
Shingen-Ryu assistant instructor and skilled practitioner who was Wing's contemporary, Izunavi.
While Wing was particularly excellent as an instructor, Izunavi held the assistant instructor position because his own ability was even higher than his teaching skill.
Yet this Izunavi couldn't touch Killua despite prioritizing speed and combinations over power.
(Despite being small and sharp, what reaction speed. I don't remember being dodged this much.)
At the current situation where attacks that should deal sufficient damage even with reduced power to the still-child Killua couldn't reach, Izunavi held complex emotions—both looking forward to the future and feeling eerily afraid.
Though Hatsu was prohibited and they were still in the warm-up stage, Izunavi already felt nothing but welcoming toward him as a sparring partner.
(Should I raise the gear a level here? I'm curious how far he can go.)
It wasn't that he'd been holding back, but the moment he tried to shift to more practical combat thinking—
As if mocking his weakened defensive awareness, Killua's spear hand was just about to pierce his eyeball.
(—!?)
An undeniable full-power evasion and a checking kick to create distance—blood dripped from Izunavi's torn right cheek while Killua remained unharmed at a distance.
"Awake now? Sorry, but this isn't a game for us either. I'm going with intent to kill."
Facing Killua whose killing intent leaked from fixed eyes, Izunavi painfully realized he'd still been underestimating him.
"Sorry on my end too. I've only just now caught up."
From Izunavi, who broke into a fearless smile, refined aura burst forth, and in response, Killua's aura sharpened coldly.
Martial artist and assassin—the battle between two with different roots accelerated beyond the bounds of sparring.
Killua handled and evaded Izunavi's attacks that pressed in like a raging wave, occasionally releasing strikes at vital points while watching for opportunities like a tiger.
(Excluding Chairman Netero, Biscuit, and Razor, this is the strongest opponent I've faced. He's strong, but honestly speaking, an inferior version of Biscuit.)
Izunavi, who had mastered Shingen-Ryu too properly, couldn't deny being called an inferior version since he fell far short of Biscuit in physical ability.
If he used Hatsu, he'd be differentiated by his ability, but since this was pure hand-to-hand combat, only Izunavi as a Shingen-Ryu assistant instructor could emerge.
Still, Izunavi was undoubtedly a strong fighter.
His physical ability surpassed fellow assistant instructor Wing, and he had improvisational ability to not just use Shingen-Ryu techniques as-is but arrange them to suit his own use or the battle situation.
Both offense and defense were high-level, but he particularly excelled at attacks that didn't let opponents attack, a fighting style that forced opponents to defend.
Yet this Izunavi couldn't fully capture Killua.
Not only no clean hits, but the match progressed without even properly making him defend.
Those who knew Izunavi were more surprised, and even Biscuit, who had watched Killua's training, was shocked he could move this much without using Godspeed.
(How should I put it—yeah, it's that, right? It's because I assisted with Gon's ball.)
The assistance in transmitting Gon's full power to the ball during the Razor battle couldn't be avoided due to the necessity of aiming so as not to miss.
Despite it being a strike that would definitely pulverize him, since it went through the ball, he had to dodge after it hit.
As a result, though all his fingers were broken, he succeeded in suppressing to that degree the impact that even the ball with indestructible properties couldn't withstand.
(Compared to that, this is nothing—like a BB gun. There's not even a hint of anything to fear.)
Of course, if it hit, major damage was certain and he'd likely be overwhelmed in this match.
But if it didn't hit, it was nothing to worry about.
Eventually, the harshness left Killua's expression, and attacks he'd been avoiding with margin gradually came closer.
Several centimeters became several millimeters, several millimeters became microns, and then he entered evasion that couldn't even be called evasion—letting only the thinnest layer of skin touch.
(What is this? I'm giving my all, yet a single layer of skin feels as distant as the far horizon!?)
Killua's figure, continuing to dodge with less than minimal movement, seemed like an untouchable presence like a ghost despite being right there.
"That's enough! Going further would truly exceed the realm of sparring. No one doubts Killua's ability anymore."
Izunavi, who couldn't land attacks no matter what, and Killua, who couldn't find an opening to attack even without being hit.
At Biscuit's declaration, judging they'd entered a stalemate due to level compatibility, the two who were about to play further cards stopped moving and stared at each other.
"If there are people like you here, training will progress nicely. I won't let you off so easy next time."
"Same here. Killua, was it? I welcome you as a sparring partner."
Among the gallery, not a single person looked down on Killua anymore.
As Izunavi intended, Killua, who had shown wonderful body techniques and aura manipulation, was welcomed with open arms.
Meanwhile, Izunavi and the instructor-class members were thinking:
What level would Killua be at when using Hatsu?
Having shown too-high aura manipulation technique for a young teen, it was clear his Hatsu couldn't possibly be shoddy.
The problem was the degree of improvement when using Hatsu, and depending on how well it meshed with his combat style and how troublesome it would be for opponents, there would be a world of difference in combat power.
Biscuit and Gon's group, who properly understood these points, had witnessed Killua—a massive talent—leap forward by skipping several levels.
Killua had become an existence possessing the foundation to completely evade Izunavi's top-tier offense, plus Godspeed enabling even greater movement, combined with truly lightning-speed attack methods.
Still far from satisfied and reflecting on the match, Killua was greeted by Gon with a beaming smile and raised hand.
Killua strongly high-fived Gon with an expression that was frustrated yet happy—complex but not bad.
Leorio and Kurapika also congratulated Killua, and Gin, who moved from Gon's head to Killua's head, struck him with paw pads as if saying "well done."
Before the excitement from Killua and Izunavi's sparring could cool, Gon, designated by Biscuit, began walking toward the training ground.
What would this child show? The questions of those who didn't know Gon were resolved before the sparring began.
Gon's body as he began walking grew taller, thicker, and tightened like steel with each step.
By the time he stood at the training ground's center beside Biscuit, a monster of muscle and aura easily surpassing Izunavi had been born.
At Biscuit's question of who the opponent would be, no one could answer immediately, and just as Gon was about to be greatly disappointed, one clown volunteered.
"Right here ♥"
A sticky voice with sticky aura—against Gon, who radiated sun-like pressure and brilliance, Hisoka radiated pressure and darkness like deep-sea coal tar.
"There's no problem if I'm the opponent just to confirm ability, right? ♦ Rather, I have no intention of yielding the current Gon to anyone else ♠ I can't help but be excited and thrilled ♥"
Seeing Hisoka walk toward Gon without even waiting for permission, Biscuit confirmed Gon's fierce smile, then turned her gaze to Netero.
"Hoho ♪ Isn't that fine? We can see two people's abilities simultaneously, saving time. However, you both seem likely to overdo it, so if you each seal one Hatsu, you may proceed as is."
Hearing Netero's condition, Gon and Hisoka exchanged glances and declared which Hatsu they wouldn't use.
"If you'll forgive that I've already returned to normal, I won't use Muscle Is Justice, Power Is Everything any further."
"That's fine ♥ Then I won't use Panic Card ♠"
Gon and Hisoka turned their backs to each other, opened several steps' worth of distance, then turned back and released their aura with spirited battle cries.
The aura bursting from both—Gon held superiority in quantity and enhancement rate, while Hisoka took precedence in quality and refinement.
As if ignoring the gallery receiving even greater shock than the Killua versus Izunavi battle before the fight even began, Biscuit, who had resolved to forcibly stop them if necessary, declared loudly:
"Begin!!"
Under the watch of the sacred mountain that nurtured the God of War, Muscle and Clown competed for supremacy to break their even record.
***
Author's Note:
I'll discuss a bit of original setting for Izunavi, Kurapika's teacher in the original work.
Considering that Kurapika seems to be a theorist rather than an intuitive type, and that Izunavi could properly teach the original Kurapika, I theorize Izunavi himself is also a theorist.
In that case, rather than self-taught, he likely possesses systematized knowledge, and from wearing training clothes at his first appearance, I arbitrarily judged he's from Shingen-Ryu.
So then, considering the timeline, I thought he seems like Wing's contemporary, and in my imagination, he's a Manipulator.