Having secured the badge he needed, Hyūga Akira had no intention of continuing to fight.
Most of the people left on the island could only give him a few dozen experience points at best.
Only Illumi and Hisoka were worth a massive amount of experience—but unfortunately, those were two opponents he simply couldn't beat right now.
Moving swiftly through the trees, Akira headed toward the shoreline, planning to wait there until the exam ended.
When he reached the coast, the ship was still docked.
However, examinees were strictly forbidden from boarding.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
Akira was squatting by a campfire, calmly roasting fish.
Hisoka and the disguised Illumi naturally sat down by the fire as well.
Seeing the smile Hisoka was barely suppressing, Akira knew the man had harvested quite a lot this round.
In the distance, Gon—his face wrapped in bandages—was staring blankly ahead. One glance was enough to tell he'd suffered badly.
Still, the absence of Hisoka's badge on his chest made it clear: Gon had taken it.
Hanzo stood a little farther away, eyeing Akira warily. The bruises on his face hadn't faded yet, but the fact that he was here meant he'd successfully cleared the round.
"So far, everyone lines up with the original story," Akira thought as he scanned the group.
There was only one difference—Bodoro hadn't made it here.
Just one person had changed. Everyone else remained the same.
Which made Akira curious: who exactly had that guy run into?
Soon, a staff member stepped off the ship, holding a notebook and pen.
"Alright, we'll now begin confirming badge points."
Hisoka handed over three badges, along with his own—exactly six points.
Illumi had two badges: his own and his target's.
Hanzo also submitted three badges plus his own.
Leorio—despite having his badge taken by Akira earlier—somehow managed to collect three additional badges and his target's badge as well.
Only the protagonist team could pull something like that off.
Akira calmly presented the two badges in his possession.
After the staff finished recording everything, he announced:
"These nine examinees have passed the fourth phase of the Hunter Exam."
The successful examinees boarded the airship once more.
Standing at the railing, Akira looked down at the island below.
He could see the failed participants gazing up at the departing airship.
How are they supposed to leave? he wondered idly.
While Akira was still looking down, Kurapika walked over and asked quietly:
"Why are you so strong?"
Akira turned his head. "Train more, and you'll get stronger too."
Kurapika's expression was serious.
"You have some kind of power that lets people grow stronger, don't you?"
That made Akira look at him properly.
"You noticed?"
"I wasn't sure before," Kurapika nodded. "But now I am."
Akira was simply too conspicuous—summoning a blade out of nowhere, walking horizontally along cliffs, overwhelming strength. It was impossible to ignore.
Kurapika bowed deeply.
"Please tell me what you need. If you're willing to teach me that power, I'll do whatever it takes."
His desire for revenge had left him desperately hungry for strength.
"You're asking the wrong person," Akira said, shaking his head.
"Once you pass the Hunter Exam, the Association will teach you that power."
Not chakra—but Nen, the unique power of this world.
Then Akira suddenly thought of something.
In his hand, a pair of crimson, jewel-like eyes slowly took shape.
Kurapika's pupils shrank—and instantly turned scarlet, matching the eyes in Akira's palm.
"These are something I picked up by accident," Akira said lightly.
"You want them, don't you?"
Kurapika stared at him. "What do you want in return?"
"One favor," Akira replied with a smile. "That's all."
"What kind of favor?" Kurapika asked coldly.
"Not now," Akira shook his head. "I'll tell you when the time comes."
He suspected this wouldn't be his last visit to this world.
Besides the job change, there was also an item he vaguely remembered—Dungeon Quest Scrolls, which could potentially allow cross-world travel.
If he ever returned, he wanted to hunt the Phantom Troupe himself.
Without hesitation, he tossed the Scarlet Eyes to Kurapika.
"We might work together in the future."
If things didn't go as planned, he'd only lose a pair of eyes that were useless to him anyway.
After all, who in the Naruto world would want these?
"Alright," Kurapika said firmly.
Recovering his clan's eyes was worth any alliance.
At that moment, a broadcast echoed through the airship.
"Attention, all examinees. Chairman Netero will now conduct individual interviews."
"When your number is called, please proceed to the second-floor reception room."
"First up—Candidate 44, Hisoka."
One by one, the examinees were called in.
Before long, it was Akira's turn.
He entered the reception room to find Netero holding a pen in one hand and a list in the other, looking troubled.
"Oh, we meet again," Netero greeted cheerfully.
"I'd rather not," Akira muttered.
"This old man is the hardest to deal with."
Always smiling, always casual—yet every word felt like a trap.
"Come now," Netero said lightly. "I'm the Chairman of the Hunter Association. We'll probably meet plenty of times in the future."
Akira ignored that.
"Let's stick to the exam."
Netero chuckled.
"So we won't be meeting much in the future? What is it—do you have a way to leave, or am I about to die?"
This old fox.
Akira ground his teeth.
"Chairman, please don't discuss things unrelated to the exam."
"Alright, alright." Netero set down his pen.
"Why do you want to become a Hunter?"
"There are things I can only do by passing the Hunter Exam."
"Care to elaborate?"
"Sorry. That's confidential."
"What a heartbreaking answer."
Netero continued, unfazed.
"Among the eight finalists, who caught your attention the most?"
Akira thought for a moment.
"Candidate 405."
After all, the protagonist naturally drew attention.
"And who would you most like to fight?"
"Candidate 99."
Among the remaining examinees—excluding the two monsters—that boy would yield the most experience.
"And who would you least like to fight?"
"Candidates 44 and 301," Akira replied honestly.
"I can't beat either of them."
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