In Nen battles, keeping one's trump cards hidden is crucial.
But for Kaizen, there were really only two abilities worth concealing.
One was Killer Queen.
The other was Chitong.
However, the former had already been revealed during his journeys in the Taris Kingdom and Fiora Kingdom, so there was little need to hide it anymore.
That said, against Netero, there was no reason to use it.
After all, Killer Queen wasn't meant for friendly sparring—it was meant to kill.
Chitong agreed.
...
Netero observed Kaizen's four Nen Beasts with interest.
His gaze first landed on Raiken.
"An Enhancer-type Nen Beast."
"It has a strong warrior's aura. If I had to guess, its design was inspired by Heavens Arena fighters."
Next, he examined Sasuke Uchiha.
"This aura is unusual."
"It's somewhat similar to that young ninja, Hanzo—but with significant differences."
"I'll understand more after it makes a move."
Then, he turned his attention to Lantern Ghost.
"This one is likely a support-type Nen Beast."
Finally, Netero's gaze settled on Natsu.
Of the four, Natsu's aura was undoubtedly the strongest.
"It has a feel similar to the Nen techniques used in Fiora Kingdom."
Netero looked at Kaizen. "Alright, let's begin."
"Alright."
Kaizen gave the command.
In an instant, Natsu lunged at Netero.
Flames erupted around Natsu's fist, amplifying his punch's power.
Netero sidestepped, dodging the fiery strike.
But Natsu didn't let up, relentlessly pursuing him.
At that moment, Sasuke Uchiha made his move.
Lightning crackled around Sasuke's body, enhancing his speed and reaction time significantly.
"Chidori!"
A high-pitched chirping sound filled the air—like a thousand birds crying out.
For most people, hearing such a noise so suddenly would cause instant disorientation.
"Quite an attack."
Netero's eyes narrowed slightly.
"A Nen Beast capable of this level of offense?"
"Then it must have a corresponding weakness."
"Is it defense?"
A flurry of thoughts raced through Netero's mind as he analyzed the situation.
But before he could act, Natsu struck again.
Netero countered with swift movements, but Natsu's durability and recovery rate were abnormally high. Since Netero had suppressed his strength for this spar, he wasn't able to deal any lasting damage.
"I see."
Though he hadn't fully tested it, Netero had already formed an impression.
"This Nen Beast is the most balanced of the four."
"Top-tier offense and defense."
"It's like a fusion of a flame-based techniques and an Enhancer's raw physical power."
"Strong in both solo combat and team fights."
"But it likely has some weaknesses in defense against certain types of attacks."
"In team battles, however, that flaw could be covered."
As he thought this, Netero suddenly took notice of Sasuke Uchiha's eyes.
"Red eyes?"
"No… they're different."
"They have a distinct tomoe pattern, unlike the scarlet eyes of the Kurta Clan."
"Still, Kaizen must've drawn inspiration from the Kurta when creating this Nen Beast."
"I can sense heavy restrictions and a powerful oath at work here."
...
A dense mist spread across the training room, reducing visibility.
"A large-scale environmental manipulation ability—this can also disrupt perception. In some ways, it reminds me of Morel's ability. As expected, this one is a support-type Nen Beast."
Meanwhile, Natsu continued attacking, while Sasuke Uchiha lurked in the shadows, waiting for an opening.
Their coordination was nearly flawless.
"These three Nen Beasts are all impressive."
"Kaizen is only sixteen, yet he's already this strong. No wonder Zeno boasts about him."
"Even within the Hunter Association, very few young talents reach this level."
"Well… aside from Ging."
Ging Freecss had the highest natural talent Netero had ever seen.
If Netero had to pick one person who might surpass his own peak power someday, Ging was the most likely candidate.
"I wonder if Kaizen can reach that level."
Ging's talent was obvious. By his early twenties, he had already become an S-rank Hunter, carving his own path in Nen.
Something that took most Nen users decades.
His foundation was already incredibly deep.
"Gon and Killua show promise too."
"But they're still too young."
"They have major obstacles ahead."
"For Gon, that obstacle is Ging."
"For Killua, it's Kaizen."
"Surpassing those two won't be easy."
A smile formed on Netero's lips at the thought.
...
Natsu's entire body became engulfed in flames as he charged at Netero.
At the same time, Sasuke Uchiha attacked from behind.
"Chidori!"
Lightning surged.
Meanwhile, Raiken emerged.
Netero snapped back to reality, suddenly sensing something off.
This feeling of discord didn't come from Kaizen's abilities themselves—it came from Raiken, Natsu, and Sasuke Uchiha.
Their synergy wasn't quite right.
Not due to a lack of teamwork.
As Kaizen's Nen Beasts, they followed his will perfectly.
But Raiken was struggling to keep up.
His current form simply wasn't strong enough.
Against average opponents, this flaw might not be noticeable.
But Netero wasn't an average opponent.
He was a legendary Hunter, once the strongest Nen user in the world.
Kaizen could theoretically force Raiken's evolution through sheer willpower.
But he didn't.
Because the cost-to-benefit ratio wasn't worth it.
He'd rather invest that extra energy into Natsu or Sasuke Uchiha, where it would yield greater results.
"So… how will Kaizen address this issue?"
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