Chapter 11: Nen
This was the "hard" application of Nen. But focusing all your Aura into a single point didn't just take time—it also meant leaving the rest of your body completely defenseless.
That failure gave Gon a clear goal. He started practicing relentlessly. He was still at it after they got off the train and even on the boat to Whale Island.
Killua and Kyle watched his obsessive training, shared a look, and just had to sigh.
He didn't stop until the moment they set foot on Whale Island. He finally relaxed, a grin spreading across his face. "Killua, I've almost figured out my Hatsu!"
Killua smirked. "Oh yeah? Let's make a bet, then. First one to perfect their Hatsu wins. The loser has to wait on the winner, hand and foot, for a whole day. Deal?"
"Deal!" Gon said, completely serious. "But it has to be a real Hatsu. We'll let Kyle be the judge, okay?" His eyes were burning with a look that said he'd already won.
"OK," Killua agreed instantly, his own smile just as confident.
Kyle was happy to see it. This was the kind of rivalry that would push them both to get even stronger.
Gon, certain he was about to master his Hatsu, turned to Kyle. "Kyle, have you thought about developing your own combat Hatsu?"
Kyle understood what Gon was asking. His ability was powerful, but only in the other world. Until his contractors got stronger, Kyle himself was a support-type. In a real fight, that put him in a vulnerable position.
"Gon, Nen abilities aren't static," Kyle explained seriously. "Look at Hisoka. He uses other categories to add new functions. My ability is the same. This is just its initial form. Through training and innovation, I can make it stronger and add more functions."
"It's not about having more abilities, it's about mastering the one you have."
Gon nodded, understanding the principle. He was about to say something else when a young woman's voice called out.
"Gon! Gon!"
Gon's head snapped up. He recognized the voice instantly. "Aunt Mito!" He saw her waving and immediately ran over, motioning for Kyle and Killua to follow.
"Aunt Mito!" he yelled excitedly, pointing to his friends as they walked up. "These are my best friends, Kyle and Killua!"
Kyle felt his face flush, hearing Gon say that so easily. Even Killua, though clearly happy to be included, looked away, finding the declaration incredibly cheesy.
Mito looked at Killua and Kyle with a sweet, genuine smile. "Killua, Kyle, welcome to Whale Island."
They both saw how kind she was, glanced at each other, and said in unison, "It's nice to meet you, Aunt Mito!"
Mito's smile widened at their politeness, and she quickly ushered them toward her house.
Back at the house, an entire feast was spread out on the table. The three boys looked at the amazing-smelling food and swallowed hard.
Mito saw their hungry expressions and laughed. "Go ahead, eat. Don't be polite."
As if a starting gun had gone off, the three of them dug in like a pack of wolves, barely remembering to mumble "This is delicious!" between bites. Mito just watched them with a happy, maternal smile.
After they were full, they said thanks to Aunt Mito and went upstairs to take a bath.
"Gon, Aunt Mito is so nice," Killua said, his voice almost envious. He thought of her warm smile, and then of his own mother... they were polar opposites.
"Yeah," Gon said seriously. "Aunt Mito raised me since I was little. She's always been my mom."
Kyle didn't doubt it for a second. That's why he hung up on Ging when he tried to talk about his 'real' mother, he thought.
"Gon, you still want to find Ging, right?"
"I do," Gon said. "I used to want to know what he was chasing, why he would just leave me with Aunt Mito and not care... but I think I get it now. He had his own dream, and that dream was more important to him than I was."
Kyle was floored by Gon's logic. He wasn't wrong about Ging, but it didn't change the fact that he was an irresponsible father. Still, you had to admit, Ging was a force of nature, living only for his own dreams.
"I'm definitely going to find him," Gon said, his resolve hardening. "When I do, I just want to talk to him. I have so much I want to tell him. I'm going to tell him all about my adventures... I'm going to introduce him to you, Kyle..."
Downstairs, Mito looked at the box Ging had left, and after a moment's thought, she picked it up.
The three boys had just finished their bath and changed. Mito walked into their room, holding the box.
"Gon, this is something Ging left for you. He told me to give it to you once you passed the Hunter Exam."
"Ging... left this?" Gon said, his voice full of excitement as he took the box.
"Mhm. Take a look. And don't stay up too late, okay? Get some rest."
"We will, Aunt Mito!"
As soon as she went downstairs, Killua crowded in. "Well, what is it? Open it!"
Kyle looked at the box. He knew what was inside: a cassette tape and a Greed Island ring.
He stroked his chin, thinking. Should we go to Greed Island? Or should we just skip it and go straight for the Chimera Ant Queen? If we find her now, we could prevent the Ant King from ever being born... We could save countless lives.
But... based on the timeline, the Queen doesn't show up until after Gon and Killua leave Greed Island anyway. And we have to meet Kurapika and Leorio in Yorknew on September 1st. That's just over a month away. We're definitely going to run into the Phantom Troupe. We're not strong enough to protect ourselves... not yet. The time's too short.
If only my ability could manipulate time...
Kyle was lost in thought when Killua's voice snapped him out of it.
"Kyle, this black metal box won't open." Killua was turning it over and over. There was no latch. He tried to pry it open with his claws, but it didn't budge.
Kyle smiled at Killua's brute-force attempt. "You forgot what Aunt Mito said. He was supposed to give it to Gon after he passed the Hunter Exam. What did Gon learn after he passed?"
Gon's eyes lit up. He fumbled in his pocket for his Hunter License, about to shove it into a non-existent slot, but Killua bopped him on the head.
"Idiot. It's Nen. We learned Nen."