Hunter x Hunter: The Strongest Gon

Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, enjoying a brief rest before we arrive at the third exam venue.

On the airship heading to Trick Tower, the site of our third exam, Leorio and Kurapika decided to rest early, so Killua and I explored the ship instead. Those psychopathic stares I'd been feeling all day have finally disappeared, and both Gin and I can relax at last.

By the time Gon and Killua had finished exploring the ship, Netero, who had been wandering the corridors, spotted the two of them in the distance and let out a smile.

(Hmm, maybe I'll tease them a bit.)

With a mischievous expression, he sent a slight wave of aura infused with fighting spirit toward them. As expected, they reacted quickly and turned around, but at the same time, he swiftly passed by, making it appear as though he was approaching from the front.

"Ho ho, was there someone behind you?"

Netero's little prank was half successful. Killua, who had figured out his trick, wore a sullen expression, while Gon watched everything with sparkling eyes. Gin, who had been dozing earlier, was also hit by the fighting energy and was now ready to move at a moment's notice.

Seeing such young talent up close, Netero—who was aware that his prime had passed and he had grown more mellow—felt the urge to meddle.

"As expected, the young ones are full of energy. How about it? Will you join me for a bit?"

"Huh? Why us?" "Of course! Killua too!" "...Fine, just a little."

Killua tries to refuse, but gives in to Gon's enthusiasm and agrees to participate for a short while.

Netero smiles at their reaction and heads toward the exercise area to explain the game.

"What we're going to do is a simple ball game. If you can take the ball from me, you win, and as a bonus, I'll let you pass the Hunter Exam."

Surprised yet skeptical, Killua questions Netero, who unexpectedly offers passing the Hunter Exam as a prize.

"Are you serious about letting us pass? Isn't there some other condition?"

"Hmm, that's right. Killua, you may only use your right hand and right foot against me. Additionally, I will not attack you."

"...What?"

"As for Gon over there... 'The use of Nen is limited to the Enhancement level. No other restrictions.'"

Killua begins to emit a murderous aura at the difference in conditions between himself and Gon, while Gon observes the aura Netero has manifested into visible text.

As expected, Gon asks about additional conditions, since the flow differs from the original story.

"Is the challenge one-on-one? Can Gin join too?"

"Challenges are one at a time, and no pets on your side."

While Gon starts stretching, saying "Got it," Killua, feeling disrespected, takes a step toward Netero.

"Then I'll go first. Don't regret it, old man."

"Ho ho ho, come on, little brat."

(I'll make you eat your words.)

The killing intent that had been emanating from Killua suddenly vanished, and he moved with a specialized technique that combined quick and slow movements, as if he had split into multiple copies.

"Huh."

"Wow."

Using the advanced assassination technique known as "limb bending," Killua performed fluid, unpredictable movements, feinted at the ball, and delivered a powerful kick to Netero's standing leg. The collision sounded unusually heavy, and Killua was the one who took damage.

"Ugh!"

Netero casually watches Killua retreat while holding his kicked leg, showing no reaction to the feint. Killua's frantic movements alone give him a slightly comical appearance.

"Damn it! Gon! Switch!"

Having taken damage he couldn't ignore due to his all-out effort, Killua reluctantly requests Gon to take his place.

Gon, excited by the raw physicality of the fight, finished his stretches, took a deep breath, and walked straight toward Netero.

(...What the hell? At his age, he's got some serious skills. It's like peering into the depths of the ocean or looking up at an ancient tree.)

Netero, who had reached this level in his later years, found Gon's combination of youth and skill to be a terrifying contrast.

Gon slowly approached and extended his right hand toward the ball. Understanding his intent, Netero interlocked his left hand with Gon's.

From the moment the two shared a smile, Killua couldn't stop sweating and trembling. At first glance, it looked like they were simply gripping each other with one hand, but even from a distance, Killua could sense the unimaginable force being exerted between their bodies.

What had started as an evenly matched struggle gradually began to tilt in Gon's favor. Netero's body trembled, sweat poured out, and as he was slowly pushed back, he eventually exhaled and shouted.

"I give up! Let's take a break!"

"Ho ho, you've still got a long way to go."

Watching Gon walk toward Killua while loosening his arms, Netero glanced at his own left hand, which was trembling slightly.

(This is strange. Even though it's not my dominant hand, I shouldn't be struggling this much, both in terms of aura and physical strength.)

Watching the two of them get excited about their strategy, he hurriedly urged them to continue before time ran out.

While fending off Killua, who was trying to exploit his disadvantage of being limited to one hand and one foot by varying his attacks, the aftereffects of the earlier strength contest lingered in Netero's mind.

(This is getting serious. I just meant to play around a bit, but this is becoming intense.)

The game had only just begun, and he smiled even more, wondering what they would show him next.

How much time had passed? Killua was gasping for breath, and Gon could no longer hide his fatigue. In contrast, Netero was sweating but breathing steadily, still showing no signs of exhaustion.

"Enough! Stop! Damn it, if we keep this up, it'll affect tomorrow!"

As expected, Killua was the first to give up. He gathered his jacket and shoes and headed for the exit. Turning back to Gon, who was taking a break, he opened his mouth with a complex expression of regret and sadness.

"It's frustrating, but I got too cocky. Honestly, I didn't think there was such a big difference between me and Gon. But this is just temporary! I'll catch up soon, so wait and see, you bastard! And make that old man eat his words!"

After watching Killua run off screaming, Gon couldn't help but suppress a laugh. Netero also watched the two of them with a smile.

"Ho ho ho, I thought he was harboring darkness, but he's quite a straightforward good kid after all."

"Yeah. I really respect him. If I were in Killua's position, I couldn't have done what he did."

"Well, he has his way of living, and you have yours. Respect him, but don't let it make you feel inferior."

Gon is impressed by Netero, who is unusually serious—to the point that anyone who knows him would be surprised. It's getting late, and if he doesn't hurry, it might affect his performance in the third exam.

"Chairman Netero, Killua said it too, so can I go all out one last time?"

The swelling aura awakens Gin, who was sleeping peacefully in the corner.

Netero, who had come into close contact with Gon, realized that he had underestimated him and adjusted his assessment.

"If you can ensure that tomorrow's exam isn't affected and the ship isn't damaged, then I'll allow it. But there will be no extra points for passing."

"Thank you. I'll give it my all under those conditions!"

As Gon's aura surged, Netero also raised his own aura, and Gon uttered the name of what appeared to be his ability.

"—!"

"Huh!?"

Still stunned in the training area, Netero begins to analyze Gon's psychic abilities based on what he had just witnessed.

(Impossible. What kind of restrictions and oaths would be required to achieve that? There must be another ability separate from the one he activated, but if that's the case, I have no idea what his lineage is.)

Though he had been thoroughly humiliated, Netero felt a surge of energy he hadn't experienced in a long time.

"Interacting with young talent is the secret to staying young," he thought, and with a broad smile, he headed back to his room, telling the control room to fly as slowly as possible.

"That kid might become stronger than me."

Meanwhile, a certain pervert who had been daydreaming and sleeping woke up suddenly, but thinking it was just his imagination, he went back to sleep to continue his dream about Gon.

———

Author's message:

Please note that this is full of convenient plot devices.

Ability Name: Muscle Reserve (Muscle is Power)

System: Focuses on Manipulation with some Specialist traits and Enhancement.

Restrictions and Oaths:

You can store muscle that you currently have or will gain in the future, but your regular muscle mass will decrease. There is almost no risk when returning to your original muscle, but if you enhance it beyond your original level, it will cause a backlash, causing your original muscle to atrophy (officially adopted with permission from Kiyumi O).

Additional Explanation:

Honestly, this is a toned-down version of Gon's adult transformation ability. It doesn't reach the same level of enhancement, but it can be used as a short-term boost without sacrificing everything.

This was the first ability I created for my version of Gon.

As mentioned briefly, my Gon awakened to Nen early, causing his growth rate to become bugged (as mentioned in the comments for Chapter 0.5's note). As a result, his base height is already between that of Kurapika and Leorio.

With muscles to match, his base form is just a smaller version of adult Gon.

However, that wouldn't fool Mito, so I referenced Biscuit to recreate his original appearance.

I imagine this ability as a combination of Manipulation-type muscle control, a Specialist trait that allows muscle storage, and Enhancement-type abilities that can surpass his original muscle mass in critical situations.

***

[Power stones and reviews please]

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