Although Hunter x Hunter has sold millions of copies and secured its place in the hall of Shonen Jump legends, storywise, it has a very simple beginning—a boy in search of his father. The boy is Gon, and his father is a Hunter. A Hunter is rare breed of person with incredible skills far above normal man. They track down treasures, magical beasts and venture into restricted areas where few dare to tread. But the most dangerous thing about being a Hunter may very well be becoming one.

To become a Hunter, one has to pass the grueling and deadly Hunter Exam. Thousands take it, but only a tiny fraction succeed. Most give up, get injured, or die. But Gon is no ordinary kid. He’s the son of the famous Hunter, Ging Freecss. Gon has inherited extraordinary strength, endurance and quick reflexes from his father. But his greatest strength is his ability to inspire others with his innocence and optimism. And the friends he makes during the Hunter Exam prove invaluable in his attempt.

Killua is the strongest of Gon’s friends and the closest. Killua is descended from a family of feared assassins. Kurapika, is also a highly-skilled fighter and a level-headed ally. Although, he has a tragic past and a grudge against a mysterious organization called the Phantom Troupe. Leorio, is the loudest of Gon’s friends and the most impulsive. But when the chips are down, he won’t hesitate to go all in to save his friends.

Together they face many deadly challenges in the Hunter Exam. The Exam is broken up into several stages that test applicants both mentally and physically. The test is riddled with tricks and traps to weed out the weak. Applicants have to pass extreme endurance tests, survive attacks by a variety of man-eating animals, solve riddles and puzzles, and even face each other in deadly contests to see who is worthy.

And why do so many risk their lives to become a Hunter? The rewards are incredible. Hunters are able to stay almost anywhere for free, have access to travel the world and go to places that are off limits to the public, get access to secret information through the Hunter’s Only Website and more. Plus, they can sell their Hunter License for unimaginable wealth and live their rest of their lives comfortably.

The rewards are great, but the risk is too! Will Gon and his friends succeed? Find out by reading volumes 1–4, available now!