"What does the Hunter Chairman want with a mere examinee like me?"
Hyūga Akira asked flatly as he looked at Netero.
"Ho ho, no need to be so stiff. I just want to ask you a few questions," Netero said with a genial smile. "Won't you invite me in for a seat?"
With no real way to refuse, Akira stepped aside and let him in.
Watching Netero stroll in as if this were his own home, Akira asked helplessly,
"Chairman, I haven't violated any exam rules, have I?"
It really did feel like the old man was back in his own living room.
Netero sat down on the sofa, still smiling.
"No, nothing like that. I'm simply curious—what exactly is your power?"
Akira crossed his arms, surprised by how direct the question was.
"That's my personal secret. I don't think it's something the Chairman needs to concern himself with."
Netero's expression didn't change, but an overwhelming pressure suddenly surged from his body, crashing down on Akira.
"You know about Nen, right?" Netero said calmly. "I have to confirm whether or not you're connected to the Dark Continent."
The Dark Continent was an unavoidable topic in this world.
The so-called human world was little more than a tiny island by comparison—while the Dark Continent held existences capable of wiping out all of humanity.
That was why the Hunter Association had forbidden exploration… at least until Netero's death in the future.
Malicious Nen pressed down on Akira, making him feel as though he were wearing nothing but thin clothes in the dead of winter.
Those "clothes" were his chakra.
"So this is what fear feels like," Akira thought calmly.
But that was all it was—cold.
Shinobi endured far harsher conditions during training. This level of pressure couldn't break him.
"I can't prove that I'm not from the Dark Continent," Akira said evenly,
"but my only goal is to pass the Hunter Exam. Once that's done, I'll leave."
There really wasn't a better explanation.
His power was fundamentally different from Nen—Dark Continent speculation was inevitable.
Telling Netero he'd transmigrated from another world?
That would just make him look insane.
After a brief pause, Akira added,
"You can monitor me at any time during the exam. Even after it's over, you're free to detain me if you wish."
Once the exam ended, he'd be sent back to the Naruto world anyway.
By then, he'd already be long gone—whatever they planned wouldn't matter.
"Ho ho, that's quite a proposal," Netero said, smiling wider.
"Then how about this? I give you a Hunter License right now and declare you passed."
Akira's heart sank.
He had no idea whether that would count as completing his job-change requirement.
But if it didn't—and he was barred from continuing the exam—his entire plan would collapse.
He hadn't expected this move.
Activating Brain Enkephalin, Akira forced his emotions into check and broke into a bright smile.
"If that were the case, I'd be honored. Still, I'd like to experience the Hunter Exam properly."
Netero studied his expression for a moment, unable to read his true thoughts.
"Very well," he said at last. "Then we'll proceed as planned."
Old fox, Akira cursed inwardly.
This man was testing him at every turn.
"I won't disturb you any longer," Netero said, rising to his feet and leaving the room.
Only then did Akira let out a slow breath.
"Please… no more surprises."
First Hisoka, now Netero himself—everyone was taking an interest in him.
All he wanted was to quietly finish the Hunter Exam.
Trap Tower
The next day, the airship landed atop a massive cylindrical tower, releasing all remaining examinees before departing.
Akira looked at the countless marks carved into the tower's summit.
"Trap Tower."
In the distance, he spotted the protagonist group—someone was already trying to climb down.
He had no intention of following them.
Their route was far too tight on time. Without plot armor, they would've failed.
This time there was no Tonpa, but who knew what other nonsense might pop up.
"Byakugan."
With a quick scan, Akira found an entrance mechanism that required the fewest participants and jumped in without hesitation.
Inside an empty room, a small platform held three wristwatches.
This was the minimum-requirement room.
Some rooms needed five people. Some three.
The protagonist group had, of course, chosen the hardest possible option.
Classic main characters—normal difficulty is never an option.
"Two more people," Akira muttered, strapping on a watch.
Two figures dropped in from above.
Akira's mouth twitched.
"Fancy meeting you here," Hisoka said, eyes curved into a crescent smile.
Beside him, Illumi nodded stiffly, like a machine.
Yeah right. 'Fancy.' You did this on purpose.
Click.
Illumi put on his watch.
Hisoka followed suit.
"Looks like we're cooperating this time," Hisoka said cheerfully.
Akira ignored him and turned toward the door. Two options appeared:
Open the door
Do not open the door
"Majority rules," Akira said calmly. "You don't want to fail here, do you?"
"Of course not," Hisoka shrugged. Plenty of delicious apples remained—no reason to leave yet.
Illumi nodded as well. He needed a Hunter License for his own reasons.
All three chose to open the door.
Two deep passageways appeared.
They unanimously chose the right one—but at the end, three new tunnels awaited them.
This time, no prompts.
One person per path.
"Seems we part ways here," Hisoka said with interest.
Akira didn't hesitate and took the middle path.
Hisoka chose the left.
Illumi went right.
Behind them, the entrance sealed shut, the mechanisms resetting.
This tower was clearly being controlled manually.
"So this is aimed at Hisoka," Akira thought. "Examiner favoritism."
As long as it wasn't aimed at him, he didn't care.
He walked forward.
Torches ignited along the walls, lighting the way.
Soon, he reached a spiral staircase and descended slowly.
Then—
"Hisoka… you've finally arrived."
A deep voice echoed through the darkness.
As the flames spread, a scar-faced man was revealed, seated calmly ahead.
Akira froze.
"...?"
The man looked up and spotted Akira.
"Who the hell are you?!"
Akira blinked.
Yeah. I'd like to know that too.
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