It was morning of the second day of the Fourth Hunter Exam, Sinbad got off the hard rocky floor and stretched as Pokkle entered the cave. It was time for Pokkle to demonstrate how useful of a tool he is and if he needed to be replaced or not.
Sinbad leaned over and touched his toes as Pokkle reached the end of the cave. "Good morning. I'm happy to see you."
"Yeah, morning," Pokkle replied, a bit unsure of their whole arrangement but one thing he was sure of was that he wanted to live and become a Hunter. Whatever means necessary. "I wasn't able to spot 44 yesterday, however, 405 spent the whole day obliviously swinging his fishing rod trying to capture birds."
He paused so Sinbad could retain the information and have a response but he remained quiet.
So, Pokkle continued. "Toward the end of the day, I spotted 294 following behind the Amori Brothers and that cocky white haired kid, 99."
This piqued Sinbad's interest. "Oh really? Where are they?"
Pokkle answered the question to the best of his ability, trying to anticipate their next location and the strange situation of the bald ninja 294 following them. Pokkle came to his own conclusion that one of the older brothers was one of his targets but didn't want to fight both of them at the same time since they were always together.
Sinbad wasn't at all in the slightest surprised of Pokkle being useful because after all their paths collided and Sinbad sensed the tides of destiny shift in his favor. Due to Pokkle's appearance and weapon of choice, Sinbad didn't question the man's ability in staying alive and providing accurate information.
"Good, thank you," Sinbad responded, picking up his sheathed sword and returning it to his hip. "Here is your reward."
Sinbad handed him Bourbon the Snake Charmer's ID badge.
Pokkle's eyes brightened as he snatched the badge. "What do you want me to do today?"
Sinbad concealed a smile.
"I want you to keep an eye out on 405. Don't let him leave your sight," Sinbad answered as he began walking toward the cave's one way entrance and exit. "In a few hours, you are going to see 294. Don't disturb him and watch his back."
"Okay," Pokkle confirmed but he couldn't restrain his own curiosity. "What are you going to do?"
"Join the Hunt."
…
Hanzo was a ninja. All his eighteen years of life he was taught the fundamental truths and essence of what makes a great ninja. He believed these values to be similar to that of a Hunter. To prioritize the Hunt and complete it while taking the least amount of risks. Secret, discreet, and efficient. That is what it means to be a ninja and Hunter.
That is precisely why he had been tailing the two eldest Amori Brothers in secret for the past seventeen hours. His target number being 197, Amori had constantly been accompanied by Umori and he didn't want to reveal himself and fight both of them at the same time.
'Patience and stealth is all I need.' Hanzo reminded himself as he sat in the confines of a massive bush, his sights never left his target. If he were to wait another day or two, he would risk it and take both brothers on. He didn't doubt his own ability to do so but why take the unnecessary risk when he could do it more efficiently.
He had been patiently waiting for the golden opportunity and soon, he was about to be rewarded. A devious smile stretched on his face as the Amori Brothers surrounded the white haired kid. Once the fight breaks out, he would use his superior speed to swoop in and steal his target's badge.
Hanzo spectated as the white hair kid set down his skateboard and swiftly took one of the brothers hostage. His razor sharp fingernails threatened the middle brother and they quickly listened to his commands. They forfeited two of their badges. Not knowing what to do with the extra two badges, the white hair kid prepared to throw them in different directions.
He studied his target's badge and prepared to chase after it but he noticed at the last second, the white hair kid flipped the badges in his hand, throwing the opposite badge to trick Hanzo. Reacting to this attempt at deception, Hanzo waited for him to throw the correct badge and once he did, he blitzed after it.
'What a crazy arm!' Hanzo admired, forced to sprint through the tree tops to chase after the flying saucer. Finally catching up to it, he pushed off the tree branch and reached out for the badge.
As he was about to grab the ID badge, a purple figure blurred his vision and snatched the badge right out in front of him. Landing on a tree branch, he faced toward the thief. The intruder stood at a similar height, had purple hair, gold colored eyes, a blue ornate sword rested on his hip.
Sinbad.
The man flashed the badge and dropped to the soil below, Hanzo settled his nerves and then did the same.
Hanzo noticed the calm and relaxed man in front of him and instantly realized, this wasn't the same man he had been studying over the past few days. The nonchalant, laughing, and flirtatious man was gone.
Hanzo had been a full fledged ninja for a long time now, he was way too familiar with the look of a convicted man ready to lay his life on the line.
Sinbad placed the target badge into his pocket and then took two confident strides toward Hanzo. "What does becoming a Hunter mean to you, number 294?"
"Hanzo," Hanzo replied, then took a second to prepare his answer. "It brings honor to my people, validates my hard training and resolve."
Sinbad began walking to his left, starting to circle around Hanzo. "And what does your people mean to you?"
Hanzo kept his attention on Sinbad's golden eyes. "Everything."
"How would they feel if you returned empty handed?" Sinbad asked as his feet kept moving, completing a circle around Hanzo. Before Hanzo could offer his response, Sinbad spoke again. "How would they feel in a month when they realize Hanzo isn't coming back home? How would they feel deep down in their hearts when it hits them that Hanzo is dead."
Hanzo relied on his experienced training in regulating his emotions as he understood the man's threat and he responded accordingly. He unsheathed the hidden blade hiding underneath his forearm bandages.
"I know my village would still love me in their hearts if I returned without a Hunter License. However, my pride wouldn't be able to look them in the eyes and that means much more to me," Hanzo said, slashing two fallen leaves in front of him. He glared at Sinbad with murderous intent. "I will return home as a Hunter."
Sinbad shook his head and unsheathed his slightly curved blade. "Unfortunately for you, that is up for me to decide."
Hanzo got into a defensive stance, pulling back his blade to anticipate Sinbad's speed.
"Where I come from, a duel must always have a stakes from both parties to keep the fighters honest," Sinbad said as he prepared his blade, twirling it a few times for flare. "A fighter must always be prepared to lose something if he wishes to receive something in return. If I win, you must do whatever I ask of you."
Hanzo gulped. "And if I were to win? What's in it for me?"
Without any deviance in his tone or quiver of his eyes, Sinbad responded. "I will be your slave for life. Everything that I own or in possession of will be yours."
'Is he serious? No, that look. He really means it,' Hanzo thought.
"Whoever submits is the loser," stated Sinbad.
Hanzo nodded, agreeing to the terms.
Hanzo had sharpened his focus in preparation for Sinbad's speed but it still wasn't enough. At the last second, he brought his blade to protect his face from the man's ruthless sword. Their blades clashed for a split second before Sinbad's blade blurred to strike again.
Hanzo's eyes tracked the moving silver weapon but an unexpected kick shot into his stomach. The force of the kick pushed him back a few feet. He coughed, keeping his focus on the oncoming force of nature that was Sinbad as he spun and the last moment flashed his blade from down below, swinging diagonally upward.
Hanzo jumped backward to dodge and put a safe distance between the two. Surprisingly, his back crashed into a tree and Sinbad continued the onslaught. Hanzo studied the opponent's movements, noticed his pace slowing down and lunged forward swiping horizontally.
Sinbad vanished.
'No, he is in my blindspot. He ducked underneath my arm!' Hanzo panicked as Sinbad's sword was coming straight for his neck. Then, it stopped a few centimeters from his flesh.
"Do you surrender?" Sinbad asked.
Hanzo huffed. "Yes."
Calmly, Sinbad sheathed his blade and ripped Hanzo's ID badge off his chest, then stashed it in his pocket.
"What do you want me to do?" Hanzo asked, nervously.
Sinbad flashed all his pearly white teeth as he smiled. "It should be very easy for a ninja like you."
Hanzo waited to receive his punishment for losing their duel, a command he must accomplish. He felt no anger or malice on Sinbad's face as he leaned in, bringing his lips inches away from Hanzo's ears.
"Sorry if I am making you uncomfortable but I don't want anyone eavesdropping on our conversation," Sinbad whispered in Hanzo's left ear. Hanzo was quick to figure out what he meant. "I want you to kill player number 405."
Hanzo's heart jumped in his chest because he was under the assumption of them being close buddies. "Why? I don't understand."
"Why?" Sinbad repeated as if asking himself the same question. His hand held his chin in thought, taking a few steps backward. "I wonder as well. There are multiple reasons."
Hanzo watched in horror as Sinbad turned his back to him, he stared up at the blue sky.
"The biggest reason is because I am fascinated by what happens next," Sinbad answered, spinning on his heels to face Hanzo again. "Usually these things are clear to me but Gon's fate is a tremendous storm. Will it be catastrophe or miracle? Regardless of the result, I want to see it."
'This man is insane,' thought Hanzo, completely terrified.
After Sinbad instructed him on what to do next and where to find Gon, Sinbad jumped into the trees and vanished.
…
Hanzo did what he was told, running meaninglessly around for two hours but slowly approached Gon's supposed location. He dashed on top of trees till he saw the boy walking with a group of red butterflies attached to his finger.
He stopped and watched the innocent and clueless boy stroll through the thick woods.
Hanzo knew what must be done. He wasn't a stranger to taking lives nor would Gon be the youngest life he took. This is the resolve it took to chase after his own desires and find the legendary Hermit's Scroll.
Hanzo fell from the trees, landing twenty feet from Gon. The boy reacted quickly and turned to face him. Hanzo's right hand ran on top of his left bandaged forearm, pulling out his hidden blade.
In distress, he slashed at the air in front of him. "Gon, I don't take any pleasure in what I am about to do."
Gon unwrapped the red butterflies from his index finger and then prepared to fight. An unyielding light refracted from his eyes.
'Don't look at me like that, Gon.' Hanzo whimpered internally as his vision began to blur with thick tears. Water streamed from his eyes.
Taken aback, Gon loosened. "Mr., why are you crying?"
'Because I am weak,' Hanzo answered in his head. "Because, I am going to kill you."
"Don't worry," Gon balled his fists and readied himself for combat. "That is what it means to be a Hunter."
With tears running down his face, Hanzo dashed forward. At the same time, Gon yanked out his fishing rod from his back. Hanzo slashed and Gon swung. Hanzo's blade cut through the metal rod as his right hand shot up and crushed Gon's windpipe. As Gon lurched forward in pain and coughing up clots of blood, Hanzo chopped the back of his neck knocking him face first into the ground.
Before Hanzo could stab the boy, he heard someone moving. He twisted to see behind him, a dark man with a large afro aiming a blow dart at him. In the next moment, an arrow pierced the man's chest, stopping him from releasing the projectile. Hanzo's eyes tracked the trajectory of the arrow and found a young man wearing a purple cloth on his head, yellow scarf, and a red buttoned vest.
"Finish it," the boy said, pointing at the injured Gon.
'What? He is with Sinbad? How long have they known each other?' Hanzo pondered.
He looked down at the helpless suffering boy. He took deep empty breaths, desperately trying to cling onto life. Then the unthinkable happens, Gon lifted up his fist and "punched" Hanzo's foot.
The boy Gon Freeces doesn't give up even in his final moments.
Once again, tears swelled up in Hanzo's eyes. "I will remember your bravery and courage till my last day."
Hanzo's blade pierced through Gon's back and chest, stabbing the dirt beneath. Gon Freeces was dead.
Devastated and defeated, Hanzo collapsed on his knees. He stared at Gon's lifeless eyes as he heard footsteps approaching and then stopped in front of him. His gaze rose to see the archer offering him something, it was two ID badges. On top was badge number 294 and he didn't need confirmation to know which ID number was the other one.
For a split second, Hanzo thought about swatting the badges out of the archer's hands but ultimately decided against it. He believed to be unworthy of them and slowly began to hate himself as he reached out and grabbed the ID badges. Without saying a word, the archer collected the corpses ID badges and then left
.Hanzo stared at his gift to the Final Phase of the Hunter Exam as silent tears rained down his face.
"I am a ninja," he mumbled as he climbed to his feet. "This is what it means to be a Hunter."