"One successful newcomer every three years… the passing rate for rookies."
Kurapika's voice—along with many other sounds—intertwined and echoed together, continuously disrupting Leorio's thoughts.
"Is it really true that only those who are 'chosen' can become professionals?"
"Is someone ordinary like me only allowed to dream… about dreams?"
Unrelenting self-denial quietly corroded Leorio's once-firm resolve.
Clatter.
A suitcase hit the ground.
Leorio stopped where he was. His legs felt as heavy as lead, as if he could no longer take even a single step.
"Leorio!" Gon shouted and immediately turned back to run toward him. Lu Ou and Kurapika also turned around instinctively, about to follow.
"Hey, are you idiots?" Killua said in confusion. "That guy's already finished."
"That's not true!" Gon shouted back. "He's our friend. I can't just leave him behind."
"Don't worry," Lu Ou said, patting Gon on the shoulder. "Leorio will be fine. He definitely can make it."
Kurapika's tightly furrowed brow loosened slightly upon hearing Lu Ou's words. If Lu Ou said so confidently, then there had to be a way.
"Friend…?" Killua repeated softly, puzzled.
Someone who had been raised knowing only how to kill since birth naturally couldn't understand the concept of friendship. He probably hadn't even heard the word very often.
"Yes. A friend," Gon said firmly.
"Don't joke around!" Leorio yelled, drenched in sweat. "I have to become a Hunter!"
No one knew where the strength came from, but Leorio—who had been crouched on the ground, unable to rise—suddenly forced himself up. Staggering unsteadily, he began running forward again.
"Don't push yourself so hard. Why don't you rest for a bit?"
Tonpa knew his chance had arrived and eagerly moved closer, feigning concern.
"You're so annoying!" Leorio snapped. "If you keep talking, I'll ignore you! Damn it—my legs won't listen to me!"
No matter how hard he tried, once he reached Lu Ou and the others again, he couldn't move another step. He could only squat there, gasping for breath.
"Is it really just for money?" Kurapika asked. He still harbored some resentment toward Leorio's reason for wanting to become a Hunter, even though Lu Ou had explained it before.
Understanding didn't equal agreement. And now seemed like the perfect moment to provoke him—maybe it would even help him recover a bit of strength.
"So annoying. Yes, it's for money. Just money. There's no other reason," Leorio said stubbornly, kneeling on the ground and refusing to back down even now.
"Now isn't the time for that," Gon said. "Lu Ou, do you have any good ideas?"
To Gon, there was nothing Lu Ou couldn't solve. As long as Lu Ou stepped in, everything would work out.
Before Lu Ou could say anything, Tonpa—who believed an opportunity had finally presented itself—jumped in first. He could no longer suppress his urge to stir trouble.
From the very beginning, Tonpa had his eye on Lu Ou's group. As someone who took pride in crushing rookies, there was no way he'd ignore such a conspicuous team.
Crushing ordinary newcomers brought little satisfaction—but breaking promising talents? That was irresistible. Opportunities like that were rare.
The Hunter Exam had always been brutal. While there was no strict age limit, those who survived countless near-death trials and broke through were exceedingly rare.
So seeing Lu Ou's group together made Tonpa's blood almost boil with excitement.
Still, as a veteran, he understood that haste makes waste. He had restrained himself, lying in wait like a seasoned hunter. And now—now was the time to bare his fangs.
"Using that… that scent," Tonpa said cautiously. "The sweet smell coming from the right-hand paths at the forks—it might help restore stamina."
His face was full of concern, as if he were genuinely worried and desperate to help Leorio.
"What?" Leorio took a breath, disbelief written across his face. "There's something like that?"
The idea felt almost impossible. Instinctively, Leorio turned his gaze toward Lu Ou, wanting to see what he thought.
While everyone gathered around Leorio, actively brainstorming ways to help him, changes were also occurring elsewhere in the exam.
It had already been over four hours since the test began. Continuous high-speed running, combined with the psychological pressure of charging forward without a clear goal—even those capable of passing the Hunter Exam were starting to reach their limits.
The first failure appeared.
Thud.
A small computer fell to the ground, followed by Nikru collapsing face-down beside it, limbs sprawled out. He couldn't even move a finger—only barely had the strength left to breathe.
Sweat poured off him in streams, making his bald head shine even more brightly. He had no strength left to stand.
Nikru was eliminated.
Sensing Leorio's gaze, Lu Ou didn't say anything—he simply nodded gently, signaling that there was no need to worry.
Tonpa noticed Leorio's reaction but didn't care. On the contrary, the thought of soon crushing one of them filled him with unprecedented joy.
"As for that troublesome kid," Tonpa thought, "there's no rush. The Hunter Exam is long—very long."
His mind was already overflowing with plans. Unable to wait to harvest his first victory, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing an ill-timed trace of delight.
Lu Ou noticed Tonpa's condition and knew the main act was about to begin. He felt it was his duty to let this so-called "kind" Tonpa understand that in life, things rarely go as planned.
"No wonder the scent felt familiar," Tonpa said suddenly, looking as if he'd just realized something. "So it's a recovery—"
"Are you suggesting using the Mind-Confounding Cedar Trees to help Leorio?"
Lu Ou cut in at the crucial moment, steering the conversation in an entirely different direction.
"Is your intention to help him overcome his inner demons and regain his confidence?"
In the original story, this was precisely where Tonpa claimed that the sweet scent from the earlier forks came from trees that could restore stamina. He even swore that he had seen and used them himself, boasting about their effectiveness.
He then volunteered to personally escort Leorio to the recovery forest so he could regain his strength and continue the exam.
At the time, Gon was just a boy, and Kurapika was barely more than a half-grown youth. Neither of them could really support Leorio physically. Combined with Tonpa's flawless behavior up to that point—and his honest, harmless appearance—they agreed almost without hesitation.
Leorio himself also believed Tonpa was a good person and that his suggestion was well-intentioned.
What they didn't know was that Tonpa had planned from the very beginning to crush them—and Leorio was his first target.
The sweet fragrance released by the sap of the Mind-Confounding Cedar Forest induced the deepest fears hidden within a person's heart.
And it was there that Leorio would see his long-dead friend, Pietro—and hear the questions his friend asked him.