Greed Island

When Naruko woke up that afternoon, she lied about the job, having prepared beforehand to tell the family her lie to Killua because he too, was interested in the Spiders and she wasn't about to let her fiancee go out looking, not when he just started Nen Training and they can even do something as normal as shopping for groceries in the street.

Kurapika informed her that they are leaving York Shin as well, but promised her that he would train for the coming of the right time.

Due to this, the Spider never figured out who killed Uvogin, as his body was found with no sign of what killed him, other than a line-shaped bruise across his nose. But said bruise wasn't obviously the cause of death. Nen was.

Upon retrieving the body from the Mafia, they buried him in a grave in their York Shin base, with an upside-down cross, the symbol of their boss and mourned him...save for one. Hisoka.

He wanted an alliance with Kurapika, but he was allied with the genius blonde girl who he listens to more since she works as his informant. Apparently at Kurapika's state, he could only fight half the members with his ability, but the others who are beyond his ability would have to wait a bit and heeding her advice, he would train to kill all of them.

Seems he would have to wait for his much-desired fight with the boss...

At the hotel...

The ten days passed by...

'Well, we did all we could.' said Gon. 'I hope we make it for the exam.'

'Good luck to you boys.' said Leorio. 'As for me I gotta go back to school.'

'Don't forget to train for I will examine you when we get back from Greed Island.' Naruko reminded him with a glint in her eyes...and Leorio is not about to piss her off, she's scary! 'You can easily train while studying. Training Nen hardly requires movement anyway, unless you want to create your own technique.'

'Right...I'm an Emitter so I should come up with something cool and really me!' Leorio grinned. 'Good luck with Greed Island!' after he bid the kids goodbye, he rode a cab to the nearest train station.

'Well, this is it.' said Naruko. 'We made it in time somehow.'

'Yeah...if it wasn't for you, we'd never make it.' said Gon in relief.

'Well, you still have lots to do and I'm not forgiving in training.' said Naruko with a snort. 'I prepared all we need for at least a year so we should be OK.'

"No kidding there." both boys thought wryly.

In the newspapers a couple days ago, there were massive disappearances of food in groceries. Be it vegetables, meat, canned goods, condiments and grains...Naruko steals food but has to buy clothes and shoes legally since she actually has to try them on for fitting. Those were the only things she actually has to shop for.

When they asked why she steals, she simply said 'Its a habit due to my childhood as a street orphan. Habits are hard to break when you're so used to it as if you're breathing air.'

Being a street orphan means you have nobody and nothing. Gon, who grew up innocent while living with his aunt and grandma had to be told by Killua what it means to be someone in her shoes. Being her means you have to survive no matter the cost. Her world was bleak and dark in contrast to his life where yeah, he's an orphan but he grew up in a light of life full of ideals and with relatives.

xxx

/I apologize for keeping everyone waiting!/ a man spoke thru his microphone on stage while hundreds of people sat in the auditorium. /We will now begin selecting the players. As everyone already knows, you must be able to use Nen for this game. The test will proceed as follows: first we need to make an applicant demonstrate their Nen, then we will make our decision. The judge will be the Pro Hunter, Tsezguerra!/ he declared as a tall beefy man with pointy ears came out on stage.

'Tsezguerra?' Gon blinked owlishly.

'Who's that?' Killua asked Naruko.

'Money Hunter Tsezguerra.' said Naruko. 'Or if you want a politer term, Jackpot Hunter. He finds wealthy clients, does A-Class jobs for that client in return for a large reward. His successes earned him a Single Star in rank that he can be called to supervise a Hunter Exam if the association feels shorthanded. Fat chance of that though, he's been in Greed Island for years.'

'Let us begin the test.' said Tsezguerra. 'Come up one at a time and show me your Ren. A shutter and curtain will block the stage so the other applicants cannot see what is happening. The moment we've chosen thirty-two players, this test will end.' he said as a shutter closed on him, and curtains drawn.

/Now, will everyone please, step this way to take the test./ said the stage guy as everyone stood up and rushed to the line.

'Naruko, what do you think?' Gon asked Naruko who knows the most.

'Hmmm...among this lot, we'll get less than 20. We're included in that number.' Naruko piped up. 'We'll do fine no matter if we get on line early or late.' she stated confidently.

'But its still suspicious.' said Killua, frowning. 'We get little to almost no information and we have no idea what's going on.'

'Well, our 'Ren' is being tested.' said Naruko. 'That also means our chances of survival and winning lies in that Ren. But of course, we can't rely on just that. We need our smarts too since power isn't always the answer to everything.' she said. 'And nobody's coming out either so maybe to avoid being questioned by others, there's a different exit for those who flunked so they won't know what to expect.'

'That's true...'

'Well, let's get in line too.' said Naruko. 'Or we'll be here for hours.'

'Ou!' and with bursts of speed, they got on line faster than running people did.

A trick they learned from her.

And so...

'Show me your Ren.' said Tsezguerra to Naruko who got first out of the three.

Naruko looked around with Gyo to see something in the room.

'Hmm! Nen Letters...so nobody outside can feel or see with Gyo eh? Convenient for me.' Naruko grinned. 'Can it withstand me though...?'

Next thing Tsezguerra knew, he felt like he was smothered in a horrifying presence because really, can a tiny little girl possess so much power...?

'Show me your Ren.' Tsezguerra told Killua while recovering from shock. After seeing two horrifying young girls, he is now wary of children.

'Hey, can I use Hatsu?' Killua asked him.

'That's fine. You're free to show me the level of your strength.' said Tsezguerra.

'Then, I'll start.' Killua gathered his hands to charge up electricity that shocked him.

Powerful charges at that.

"A Transmuter...he changed his aura into electricity!" he choked in shock. "In theory, it's certainly possible...but its impossible for him to get to this level in his years!"

'Need to see more?' Killua asked cockily as he flared more.

'No...that's enough.' said Tsezguerra softly.

'Alright!' and Killua turned to leave.

'However, this technique isn't something children can easily master...you'd need years of torturous training to do so.' said Tsezguerra. 'I'd estimate at least a minimum of five years.'

'Five years? Try eleven.' Killua snorted. 'Since birth, I've been in Electric Shock Training...due to family reasons.'

Tsezguerra decided he really doesn't want to know.

Lastly...

'Show me your Ren.' Tsezguerra instructed Gon, twitching. He could honestly say he is unable to fathom how can CHILDREN succeed in where dozens of adults before them FAILED. It was incomprehensible there's only six adults so far who passed!

In the 'passed' room, one Biscuit Krueger felt happy for some reason.

'Yeah!' Gon chimed confidently as he charged up a Kou punch, and created a twenty feet deep hole.

"Really, what are they feeding kids these days?" Tsezguerra thought weakly, and in utter disbelief and dismay out of sheer disappointment in those older than them. "Its impossible for kids his age NORMALLY to create a hole that size in concrete with their Nen yet this kid managed! Either they got a competent teacher or just born lucky."

xxx

'In the end, 24 total guys.' Killua mused as after the last guy sometime later, Tsezguerra went inside himself.

'Yeah. And to think there were almost a hundred in the room earlier...' Gon mused thoughtfully.

'I have an idea but we'll talk later.' Naruko told them as they got quiet as Tsezguerra began to hand out papers and after that, start to speak.

'Well, allow me to congratulate you.' he said. 'The twenty-four people here have earned the right to play Greed Island. Upon clearing the game, you will earn 50 billion jenny. So read the details and sign the contract, before we depart at 5 pm.'

And so...in a restaurant...

'So that time we were given is time for us to bring what we need for our time in Greed Island.' said Naruko as they ate a lot of food.

'But we're ready a long time ago.' said Gon. 'You practically have...everything.' he said weakly as he and Killua sweatdropped.

'Being over-prepared is better than under-prepared considering how long we'll be stuck in that game.' said Naruko. 'We'll do fine in that regard. Overconfidence is bad after all.'

Its not just them...

In the Spider Base...

They pulled a Naruko and stole a copy of Greed Island out of curiosity.

Little did Naruko know that she'll be meeting some of them soon enough.

xxx

Greed Island...

Naruko was in deep thought as they raced straight for the nearest town.

The plan was to touch as many cards as possible to sell for money in order to pay for information after asking around. After amassing a lot of 'junk cards', they came up with at least, 10000 jenny.

'10000...' Gon whimpered in dismay.

'It can't be helped, they're junk cards for a reason.' said Killua. 'But this should be enough for information.'

For ten thousand, they learned about cards. For another 10000, a map of Greed Island. For 30000, information about the towns and cities.

That was sufficient.

They found an ideal training ground. For her its ideal at least.

Their card-hunting can wait.

Training is top priority.

xxx

For about three months, Naruko's standards are ridiculous to say the least...and she was reporting every month.

'But it was the standards Kalluto and I did back home.' Naruko huffed. 'If we can do it, so can you! Don't complain to me, complain to grandpa!'

Killua couldn't say anything about that.

Unknown to even him, Naruko TRIPLED everything actually...from the standards of Four Fundamentals to Applications Training in a set schedule...all the while fighting her clones...and physical training. Enough to enable both to open the bigger gates at home. Killua is already capable of opening the fifth gate with trouble before leaving home, now he can open it with ease. As for Gon, he had the training capable of opening the fourth gate...with both hands and feet. Her standards are Maito Gai-class ridiculous as in a twisted way, she somehow has great respect for him even if she's now way stronger than he. She even put them through flexibility training to gain nimbleness while training herself as well. Six months with the family enabled her to open the fifth gate as well in a short time after all.

For Gon, it was Reinforcement Training. Reinforcing his body, his senses, his healing factor, near-ease control of aura, and how to use Reinforcement to augment his speed, strength, endurance/resilience, force of attack, and even using Reinforcement in mundane things like cooking and using mundane objects as improvised tools! This was to teach him endless possibilities in creating a hatsu unique to him. If there's anything Gon lacked in, its creativity and common sense. But he has Concentration and Focus.

For Killua, it was strengthening his electricity to the highest levels possible, and using maximum amount of power without tiring too quick, and projecting his electricity, increasing his range and speed of attack, and effects of electricity and lightning over the human body. Her demanded range of attack? 15 meters. His analytical skills and strength are high-level which was why Gon has to be trained more.

By tripling their menu...they were able to catch up to her in Nen Proficiency at least and made improvements in their fighting abilities, with Naruko's clone having to verbally teach Gon the Strong Fist of Konoha while Naruko personally fought with Killua using Zoldyck Techniques...with Nen, revealing she too, is Reinforcement, but focuses solely on Healing, exploiting her lineage to the maximum to ensure she and her family live long.

By the near end of December...they met a man with a ticking bomb on his shoulder named Abengane. He knew the identity of the Bomber and how everything happened and ended.

'...good thing we didn't join that group.' Gon gulped.

'Good thing indeed...but this information is very valuable since before this, we couldn't trust anyone much less let anyone touch us unless they weren't Specialists or Materializers; two categories that can possibly be the Bomber.' said Naruko.

'No kidding, they grilled me real good before letting me join!' Biscuit huffed, crossing her arms.

'Well, we can pay you for your trouble at least.' said Naruko as she materialized...an adult version of herself dressed like a very cute handyman with a wide variety of tools with her hair in two high ponytails. But the nen-girl's eyes are empty despite it smiling. 'I am an Exorcist. I have two Hatsus as an Exorcist...for mechanical-based curses like a bomb, and an illness-based curse. This one is Lovely Handygirl. This is for mechanical-type curses while for illness-types, I have Lovely Doctor. But only one can manifest at a time.'

'R-really?!' the whole forest shook from shock.

'Of course, requirement requires that I'm stronger than the curses so I am in constant training...otherwise I'm useless when needed.' said Naruko as her Nen approached with her tools. She took out wires from her huge bag and a laptop and began typing like crazy...

'Er, what's it doing?' Abengane asked Naruko curiously.

'Calculating how strong the bomb is and my current strength.' Naruko said. 'I have to be stronger than the curses is primary requirement. Then the nen will do the rest based on the findings.'

Indeed so...the Handygirl disarmed the bomb by extracting the bomb from Abengane's shoulder by prying it out with a crowbar, taking its nen from his body with it...and kicked it sky high where it exploded.

'Operation successful.' Naruko chimed.

'I can't thank you enough for this!' Abengane gasped out in dogeza.

'Well, you can thank me by NOT telling anyone I'm an Exorcist because if word reaches his ears, he will surely gun for us.' said Naruko. 'As long as he doesn't explain, the bombs don't appear, right? So everyone he's touched but didn't hear him explain are still safe. Moreover we know his face so we know full well to never have anything to do with him.'

'I can do that.' said Abengane, accepting her terms and left.

'But Naruko, you're a Reinforcer like me, how on earth can you be an Exorcist?' Gon asked her, bamboozled.

'Its due to the fact that I possess two powers...Chakra of my home world, and Nen of this world.' said Naruko. 'Chakra is very versatile to use, but weaker compared to Nen in power, and can never break the rules of nature unless you're willing to make sacrifices. Nen is a power based on our potential and it can surpass laws of nature, even giving us access to fantasy-like abilities impossible to people in my world. Imagination is one's limit in regards to Nen.' she said. 'By combining two powers in precisely equal proportions, I become a Specialist temporarily.' she explained. 'And due to my lineage as an Uzumaki, I am more attuned to healing and curing, thus this power was born.' she admitted. 'The only ones who know this, are the family, Gon, and Kurapika.'

'Heeee...' Killua whistled. 'That's amazing...but what about your natural category?'

'Well, that one's still healing-oriented.' said Naruko. 'But it has an equal exchange aspect to it. If amputation or losing organs occurs, the one I heal, or if those happen to me, we'll regenerate what we lost at the cost of years off our lifespans. The numbers paid will appear once healing is complete. Injuries are cost-free though.'

By March...they were found by a certain woman.

'Ohooo? Training eh?' she mused as she observed them. "Not bad for kids though...I'd have gotten to their level in my twenties..." she thought in excited drooling.

She couldn't help but be drawn to their potential. Two of them were Reinforcers and one Transmuter...and the girl is the strongest.

To her, her aura is HORRIFYING. What child could possess aura like that?! Its too potent and powerful! But still a ways to go to mastery levels, no doubt.

'Hey.' Naruko was behind her instantly. 'You're watching us for a long while now. If you're a player after our cards, forget it. We haven't even begun playing the game yet.'

'Your auras...you can say I'm drawn here.' the girl admitted. 'What are you?'

'Ah, you felt our training huh? Well, we have to because this game literally kills.' Naruko chortled. 'Until standards are met, we won't start our own path to the game.'

'Is that right? Well, I got a few ideas myself since I'm drooling real bad here...'

Needless to say, Biscuit Krueger made herself welcome in their camp...and needless to say, she discovered how crazy the three kids were in training and their basics are so polished and refined. But still struggling in Hatsu Training and their current trainer is a sheer perfectionist for the sake of better survival in fights.

Because Gon is the weakest by far, Biscuit favors him more to...bully and she's her own brand of sadism.

And she knows other training methods that are just as effective and pointed out that they still have flaws.

April...

'So you'll finally start to obtain cards?' Silva asked Naruko over the phone.

'Yes. We'll work our way up father.' said Naruko. 'We got a powerful ally too so four of us are teaming up to play. We'll work our way up but some cards need more teaming up with increasing number of teammates. This game is impossible to finish solo. If Milluki plays this game, he'll have to learn to get along with people. For now, four of us is sufficient but there's a famous player code named 'Bomber' in the game. Nobody knows who he is. Players die left and right by explosion so we don't trust anybody. There's even a huge alliance of over thirty people but we don't like them. They're weak and only one person is decent. And this game requires really strong Nen Users to obtain some cards. We also need to trade.'

'I see...that's another way as well.' Silva said approvingly. 'I'm glad to see he hasn't lost his touch while he was playing around. And what of that girl?' he wondered if she's a threat to Killua's arranged marriage.

'Er...she's 51 years old who hates her real form...' said Naruko awkwardly. Silva blinked. Maybe no threat at all then. 'She's a Transmuter whose Nen Abilities are solely made for training pupils and ahem, for her youthful vanity. She showed me her true form I'm sure even you'll be surprised. Let's just say its a result of overtraining and too much focus and dedication that appearance-wise, she regrets it as she unknowingly followed men's training in her teens.' at home, Silva raised an eyebrow. 'Her ability is literally a Spa Masseuse with lotions. But convenient for faster training progress for sore muscles and joints and fast recovery. We found a useful one.'

'Make full potential of that one for your growth.'

'Yes.'

And so...

Card-hunting begins for them by making use of Guidepost and Accompany.

They had to deal with a Panda Maid, a panda that loves being a housewife and nanny...and all of them are kids...so while they had to put up with its affections, while figuring out how to capture it, it became a card by itself.

'What the hell?!' Killua squawked as the panda went POOF to become Card no.99.

''Panda Maid: An endangered species. Very neat and loves to cook, and each has a hobby such as sewing or gardening. They are excellent at taking care of human children.' Gon read aloud. 'And the panda that took care of us likes to sew. What could the condition be?'

'Maybe letting it take care of us was the cause?' Biscuit pointed out.

'That could be...but its one smothering nanny its annoying.' Naruko grumbled. 'Next!'

Next was the Silver Dog. To win it over, they had to convince a greedy old man to willingly give it up with a bribe...so they made convincingly-fake gold coins using Henge on leaves and they got the dog!

They had to run fast before the jig is up.

'Really, feeding a dog with a small amount of gold mixed in its food to make it poo silver? Isn't gold more valuable?!' Biscuit fumed.

'Next is 3D Camera...'