Young Gon Freecss has lived his whole life on tiny Whale Island, believing he was an orphan with no one in the world to take care of him but his aunt Mito. However, one fateful day he meets a mysterious man named Kite who tells him he knows Gon’s father, the renowned Hunter Ging Freecss! Upon hearing this, Gon feels inspired and begins training for three years to take the Hunter Exam—a harsh test of stamina, strength, and endurance that few qualify for and even fewer pass!

On the ship that will take him to the exam site, Gon meets two kindred spirits in the brash Leorio Paladiknight and the cool-headed Kurapika. But the biggest bond he forms is with a boy his age, Killua Zoldyk.

As they gradually get to know each other during the rough trials of the Hunter Exam, Gon learns a shocking secret about Killua—he comes from a world-famous family of assassins, the Zoldyks! Killua reveals that he attacked his warped parents and ran away from home to blaze his own trail, but this information barely fazes Gon! After all the two have been through, who Killua was doesn’t interest Gon. What matters is that Killua’s a friend he’s made during one of the most important times in his life.

The final leg of the Hunter exam is a series of one-on-one fights that end when your opponent admits defeat—if you kill them you’re disqualified. Gon wins his match by forcing his opponent to give up, but is knocked unconscious in the process. He awakens the next morning to find out that Killua has left to confront his twisted family!

Gon sets out with Leorio and Kurapika to help his friend, but will he be able to get him back? Find out in Hunter x Hunter!

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Hunter x Hunter
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by Stephan Massih