The year was 1999. On Whale Island the ocean stretched endlessly, waves glittering in the sunlight as if they were welcoming the arrival of something grand. For Gon, it was the start of his journey. For Renzo, it was the continuation of a vow he had carried since waking up on these shores seven years ago.
Renzo was fifteen now. He had grown lean and strong from years of training, his body hardened by mornings spent in the forest and evenings on the docks with his adoptive father. His aura training under Jack had deepened. Though still forbidden to attempt Hatsu, his Ten and Zetsu were sharp enough to give him an edge most boys his age would never imagine.
Gon was twelve, bright-eyed, and carrying the same boundless energy that made him run barefoot through the forest as if the world itself were a playground. He had grown taller in the years Renzo had known him, but his smile remained the same.
The day began like many others. Renzo stood at the cliffside that overlooked the sea, practicing slow strikes, his fists cutting the air in steady rhythm. Every motion carried the precision Jack had drilled into him. He paused only when he heard the familiar voice calling his name.
"Renzo! Renzo!" Gon's voice carried through the trees, full of excitement. He broke through the brush, fishing rod slung across his back and sweat dripping down his forehead. "I did it!"
Renzo lowered his stance and turned to face him. "Did what?"
"The test! Mito gave me the test, and I passed!" Gon's eyes sparkled, and he threw both hands into the air. "I caught the Lord of the Lake with my fishing rod. She said I can finally go take the Hunter Exam."
Renzo smirked, shaking his head. "So you finally managed to out-stubborn a fish. Congratulations."
"It wasn't just stubbornness!" Gon puffed his cheeks, then laughed. "Okay, maybe it was a little. But I did it! Renzo, we can go together!"
Renzo wiped sweat from his brow and sat down on a nearby rock. "Slow down. You know the exam won't be easy, right?"
"I know," Gon said quickly, sitting down across from him. "But that's why I've been practicing all this time. I wanted to prove to Mito, and to myself, that I can do it."
Renzo studied him for a moment. Gon's determination hadn't changed since the day they first met, when he found him watching his training in the forest. He had been curious back then, nothing more, but over the years Gon's curiosity had turned into genuine respect. Renzo couldn't deny it. Gon had spirit.
The sound of footsteps behind them made Renzo glance back. Jack emerged from the forest, his wooden staff balanced casually over his shoulder. His dark hair had streaks of gray now, and his lined face carried the calm presence of someone who had seen more battles than he could count. His height was imposing, yet his movements were quiet, almost gentle.
"So it is true," Jack said, his deep voice steady. "You passed your guardian's trial, Gon?"
"Yes!" Gon shot to his feet. "She said I can go to the Hunter Exam now!"
Jack gave a small nod. "Good. Then the two of you will leave soon." He turned his gaze to Renzo, his expression sharpening. "And you. Are you ready?"
Renzo stood, his fists tightening unconsciously at his sides. "I have been training for this since the day you took me as a student. I will not waste what you taught me."
Jack's eyes softened for only a moment. "Remember what I told you. The Hunter Exam is not just about strength. It is about resolve. You may be tested in ways you cannot predict."
"I understand," Renzo replied.
Jack tapped his staff against the ground. "Then I will say this one last time. If you pass, I will find you again. If you fail, then this is where we part ways."
The weight of the words hung in the air. Gon shifted uncomfortably, looking between the two of them.
"Wait, Jack," Gon said, his voice hesitant. "Why would you not find him if he failed? He could always try again."
Jack shook his head slowly. "A true student of Shingen-ryu cannot afford to waste years wandering in circles. Failure is not something to be carried lightly. If Renzo cannot stand on his own during the exam, then he is not yet ready to walk the path I teach."
Renzo's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "I accept your condition."
Jack gave a small smile, faint and fleeting. "Good. Then go with no regrets." He turned his gaze to Gon. "And you, boy. Do not let your optimism blind you. The world outside this island is far crueler than the forest you know."
Gon simply grinned. "I'll be fine. I have Renzo with me."
Renzo sighed, though there was a trace of a smile tugging at his lips.
That evening the three of them returned to the small home Renzo shared with his adoptive father, the fisherman who had taken him in years ago. The man had aged as well, his once broad shoulders stooped slightly from years of hauling nets. His face was weathered from sun and salt, but his eyes carried the steady kindness that had welcomed a stranger boy without question.
He placed bowls of steaming stew on the table and sat down across from Renzo and Gon. "So it's true then. You're both leaving."
"Yes," Renzo said quietly. "The ship leaves tomorrow."
The man stirred his stew, then set the spoon down. "When I found you on the shore, I did not know what kind of life you would make here. I thought maybe you would stay, maybe become a fisherman like me. But I see now that the sea only brought you here to rest for a while. Your path was always going to lead you away."
Renzo bowed his head slightly. "Thank you. For everything. If not for you, I wouldn't have survived."
The man waved a hand dismissively, though his eyes glistened. "Bah. Do not speak like I am the one who gave you life. You did that yourself. Just promise me one thing, Renzo."
"What is it?"
"Do not come back empty. Bring something of worth, not in gold or jewels, but in the kind of man you become."
Renzo swallowed hard, nodding. "I will."
Gon leaned forward, smiling. "We'll both make you proud! Right, Renzo?"
Renzo chuckled. "Yeah. We will."
That night Renzo lay awake, staring at the wooden ceiling above him. The ocean breeze slipped through the small window, carrying the sound of waves. His mind wandered to the years that had passed since he first woke up on this island, disoriented and weak. He remembered the confusion of realizing where he was, the long hours of training under Jack, and the bond he had built with Gon.
Now the moment had come. Tomorrow, they would leave Whale Island. Tomorrow, the Hunter Exam would begin.
As sleep slowly pulled at his eyes, Renzo whispered to himself. "I will not fail."
The next morning dawned with a sky painted in shades of orange and gold. On the docks, Mito stood with her arms crossed, trying to look stern though her eyes were watery. Gon hugged her tightly, promising he would return.
Renzo adjusted the strap of his small travel pack, glancing back one last time at the home that had been his for seven years. Jack stood a little apart from the others, his staff planted firmly in the wooden boards of the dock.
Renzo approached him. "This is goodbye then."
Jack's eyes narrowed. "For now." He placed a hand on Renzo's shoulder, grip firm. "Remember the flame. Guard it, feed it, but do not let it consume you."
"I will," Renzo said, meeting his gaze.
Gon waved from the gangplank. "Renzo, come on!"
Renzo turned, taking a deep breath. The sea stretched before them, vast and unknown. Without another word he stepped onto the ship beside Gon, leaving Whale Island behind.
The ship's horn bellowed, and the vessel began to move. Mito raised a hand in farewell. The fisherman lifted his cap. Jack stood silently, his figure growing smaller in the distance.
Renzo gripped the railing, the salt spray hitting his face. Gon leaned over the edge, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Renzo," Gon said, grinning ear to ear. "This is it. Our adventure starts now."
Renzo allowed himself a small smile. "Yeah. Let's see where it takes us."
The waves carried them forward, away from the island that had been their world and toward the trials that would decide their future.