Chapter 7 : Whale Island X Storm X Friends

Five days later.

The Kaijinmaru advanced at full speed toward its next stop, Whale Island.

During this period, Shinji and Leorio's friendship becomes more solid, especially when both of them find that they both share a lot of similarities and thoughts. For example, the love of money(soul points)

These things made their time on the ship at least less boring.

"Brother Leorio, it seems we have reached whale island!" Shinji, who was fishing, saw the silhouette of an island shaped like a whale.

Without a doubt, this is the whale island where the protagonist, Gon Freecss, resides.

Leorio was lying beside him, yawning from time to time. Although the existence of Shinji relieved his boredom, the atmosphere of the sea and the never changing blue color made him sleepy.

"Oh, it's good."

"After Whale Island, we should reach Dolle Harbor and finally escape from this boring hell." he replied lazily.

Truth to be said, Shinji also starts losing his patience. The calm atmosphere of the sea doesn't suit him at all. He is a restless person who likes to move around. Confining him in this limited ship almost made him go crazy, so he starts fishing to distract his mind.

'The protagonist, Gon Freecss, should ride this ship and start his journey to find his dad now. I wonder how he looked in real life.

Shinji was full of expectations to see the protagonist. Gon was one of his favorite characters, he admires Gon's loyalty to his friends and his willpower to sacrifice everything for his goal.

Shinji will never forget the scene in the chimera ant arc, where Gon sacrificed all of his Nen to defeat one of the ant king's guards, Neferpitou.

The Kaijinmaru finally docked in the port of Whale Island. The crew went to replenish the supplies of food and water.

A few moments later.

"You are finally here, Gon Freecss!"

Shinji observed the port below him. He noticed a crowd of people slowly getting near them.

The crowd seemed to follow a young boy with long spiky black green tipped hair, wearing a green jacket with reddish edges, green short shorts, and green laced boots. He held a fishing rod in his hand.

After they reached the port, the young boy, who was obviously Gon Freecss, climbed the ship and gave the Captain the fare.

"Gon, Good Luck"

"Gon, knock them dead!"

The crowd below, men and women, young or old, bid farewell to Gon and wished him good luck.

Gon stood in the back of the ship and looked at his fellow villagers.

He waved at them and said loudly.

"I AM GOING TO BECOME THE BEST HUNTER IN THE WORLD!"

"Once I'm the best hunter in the world, I'll come back!"

Shinji looked at this familiar scene and felt nostalgic.

Some hunter exam applicants looked at Gon with mocking expressions on their faces.

"The best hunter in the world, huh? This kid doesn't respect us at all! "

A bald man with a scar running across his right eye looked at Gon with disdain.

"Every year, there are millions of skilled applicants for the hunter exam."

"But..only a handful are selected!"

"Don't say stuff that you can't back up, Boy."

A man beside him also added, and other applicants started laughing after hearing his words.

Gon ignored their words and calmly walked in.

Shinji had to admire Gon's calmness. Obviously, he had the strength to beat them but chose not to do it.

If it was him, he would beat them until no teeth remained in their mouths.

"Leorio, we had to enter inside. A big storm will come."

Shinji, who knows the plot, obviously can't forget the big storm that they will experience in the next few hours. which is also the mean used by the captain to test the applicants and see who is worthy to take the hunter exam.

So he informed his buddy beforehand, in order to occupy a good spot inside.

"What did you say, Storm? Shinji, did your head get dizzy or what? Don't you see such a calm and clear sky? Where is the storm you are talking about?"

"FOOL! Why are you always yelling? " Shinji Saw everybody looking at them because of the loud voice of Leorio. He almost can't help but summon the black ghost to slap Leorio's face.

Leorio screamed and stood up from his place. He pointed at Shinji and said.

"Who do you call a fool?"

Shinji looked at him innocently. He pointed his finger at him and said.

"Who else besides you, Baka!"

"Ahh, Bastard Shinji. I will beat you!"

He rushed with a scream toward Shinji, but the latter easily avoided him and slipped to the inside of the ship.

"These two perverts, are they here to take the hunter exam or to play?"

"Don't care about them. With their character, they won't even make it to the exam location."

The applicants were dissatisfied with Shinji and Leorio's playful behavior.

Kurapika on the side Shook his head at the childish behavior of Leorio and Shinji.

Kurapika was also annoyed by the vulgar talk of Leorio and Shinji. Throughout the whole journey, their topics only revolved around women. This was simply torturing a virgin like him!

Gon, who heard Shinji's words, looked up and saw seagulls screaming.

"That's big brother is right, a storm is coming."

The captain next to him drinking his beer was surprised by his words, he curiously asked Gon.

"How can you tell, boy."

Gon pointed at the seagulls and said, With a confident tone.

"That's what the seagulls are saying."

"What?" The captain didn't expect this answer.

"Besides..." Gon took a deep breath from his nose, as if trying to smell something. Then, like a monkey, he climbed to the top of the ship and smelled the air again.

He hurriedly told the captain of his discovery.

"It's a huge storm that's coming!"

"Huh?" The captain was shocked by this series of operations the young boy performed in front of him.

"It's True! I can tell by the smell. "as if feeling the captain didn't trust him, Gon Yelled

"That boy!…those eyes!..could he be" The captain looked at the face of the young boy and the face of the young boy a few years ago he took from Whale Island overlapped with the face of Gon.

A few hours later. as if someone had turned off the switch. The sky became extremely dark. Bolts of lightning kept falling. Huge waves kept slamming into the ship.

"Ahhhh," the applicant inside the ship screamed, as if someone had put them inside a mixer, their bodies flowing from left to right, top to bottom.

"Which senior is breaking through?" Shinji almost thought that someone was experiencing Heavenly tribulation. This sudden change of whether he never experienced it in his life.

If it wasn't for the black ghost that held him tightly, then he may have experienced the same fate as other applicants.

"What did you say?" Leorio shamelessly held the body of Shinji in order to not fly away.

"Nothing, I'm just mourning my bad luck."

"Huh? Bad luck? Why? " Leorio was puzzled.

"Being held tightly by an uncle like you instead of a beautiful woman, what kind of sin did I commit to deserve such a fate?" If this isn't bad luck, then what? "

"Nani!!! I will kill you, bastard Shinji! " He held Shinji's neck tightly.

"Damn! "You are going to kill me, bastard Lerorio." Shinji tried to unlock Leorio's hands from his neck, but the latter's physical strength was greater than Shinji's, so he naturally failed.

"If you don't remove your hands, don't blame me for dying together!" Shinji threatened.

"Ha ha, you can't do anything!" Leorio smiled smugly.

"Is it?" Shinji smirked evilly.

When Leorio saw his smile, he had a bad feeling.

"Shinji, I'm just joking. Don't do anything dangerous!"

"Too late! Let us perish together!"

'Black Ghost, release me! '

Without the help of the black ghost, both Shinji and Leorio joined other applicants for free flying experience.

"Damn!"

"Bastard Shinji!" Leorio's angry scream spread through the ship.

…

A few minutes later, the storm slowly calmed down. Although the dark clouds still covered the sky, at least the waves stopped.

"Damn, this is one lousy crew."

The captain walked out of the cockpit while cursing.

He opened the door and found all the applicants either unconscious or vomiting here and there.

"Not a one of them can stand!"

"Pathetic"

"And they are supposed to be taking the hunter examination? Huh..what a laugh!" he said.

"Here are some herbs, if you chew them you will feel a little better."

The captain was attracted by the sound. He saw Gon helping other applicants.

"That boy..." The captain was shocked, this young boy, who seemed only 12 years old, could withstand such a storm without getting dizzy at all! Heck, he even spared time to help others. Such a talent made the captain extremely surprised.

*crack* * crack*

The captain lifted his head and saw another young boy, who was Kurapika, reading a book casually, completely worlds apart from the other contestants.

"Ouch! You are taking revenge, right! Leorio!" Shinji stroked his bulging head as Leorio applied medication to the injured area.

"If it weren't for your recklessness, we wouldn't end up like this, Bandages bastard!" Leorio won't lose in a verbal fight to Shinji.

"Obviously it was your fault, you were the first to provoke me!"

"Wrong, it was you who called me a fool first. So it's your fault."

"Sigh speaking to fools will only lower my IQ"

"Yes, you are right, speaking to a mummy will only make me sick!"

"Who do you call a mummy!"

"And who do you call a fool?"

…

the captain Looked at the two troublemakers with interest, then he said to himself.

'Interesting, This year there are a few though nuts on board!"

He yelled at the four of them.

"The four of you come with me!"

"Huh?" Shinji and Leorio stopped their 'fight'

Kurapika closed his book.

Gon followed the captain after taking care of the sick applicant.

Then the three of them also followed the captain to his cockpit.

"The four of you, first tell me your names?"

The captain stood in front of the four and asked.

"I'm Gon!" Gon was the first to respond with an excited tone.

"I'm Kurapika." Kurapika's response was slow and calm.

"It's Leorio," Leorio said casually.

"My name is Shinji Kuroda, 16 years old. My habits are to fight, train, watch anime, and read manga and novels, I like blond-haired women with big chests, thin waists, and big asses. I grew up as an orphan…"

"STOP! I JUST ASKED YOUR DAMN NAME, NOT YOUR BIOGRAPHIES! " The captain hurriedly interrupted Shinji.

Leorio looked at Shinji and shook his head.

Gon who saw this scene laughed at the reaction of the captain.

Then the boss continued his question

"Why do you want to become Hunters?"

Leorio who can't stand being questioned for no reason Immediately yelled at the captain, he pointed at him and said

"Hey! If you're not an examiner you can't boss us around!"

"Calm down, Leorio!" Shinji pulled Leorio to his side and then said.

"Leorio considering that you are my friend I don't want you to get face slapped so let me tell you this" he whispered to Leorio, but the others still can hear him

"What do you mean Shinji?" Leorio felt the seriousness in the words of Shinji and listened to him attentively.

"Every year, the number of applicants to the hunter exam can be counted in millions!"

"Then what?"

"But only a few hundred of them can reach the exam location, do you wonder why?"

The three of Gon and Kurapika and Leorio listened to Shinji curiously, while the captain's eyes on Shinji changed.

'Interesting, I didn't expect this boy to be this smart'

"Why?" Leorio asked.

"Because the hunter association hires people like Mr captain to screen who deserve to take the hunter examination!"

" Which means, if Mr captain thought you are not qualified to take the hunter exam then even if you managed to reach the exam location, they will kick you out."

" That's why you should just answer his question or else you would be eliminated before even the main exam starts."

" Is what I said right, captain?" Shinji as if he was possessed with the spirit of Conan. Said with a tone filled with wisdom and intellect.

Kurapika, Gon, and Leorio looked at the captain, and the latter nodded his head.

"Not bad boy, you saved me from wasting my saliva with extra explaining."

'How did he discover this? Sure enough, I shouldn't be fooled by the appearance, It seems he isn't stupid as he looks!' Kurapika changed his view on Shinji after hearing his 'analysis'.

" Just like what he said, the hunter exam had already begun! so the hunter association hires people like us to trim the fat!"

" I have already told the board that everyone else on this ship had to withdraw, if they couldn't handle a little storm, they'd stand no chance in the hunter examination's later stages."

"In other words, you only proceed to the main exam if I pass you."

"So think carefully before you answer my question."

Hearing the captain's words, Gon was the first to say his reason.

He said excitedly: " my dad is a hunter."

"Huh!" the captain exclaimed.

Gon continued: "I left Whale Island because I wanted to know why my dad desired so much to be a hunter!"

'Whale Island!... so this is Ging's son!' The captain finally understood why he felt that Gon's face seemed familiar; he looked exactly like his father, Ging Freecss.

He knew Ging very well. It was him who took Ging to the hunter exam years ago. He had never seen a young man talented and smart like him.

He heard that Ging was the only one who passed the hunter exam that year, and in just a few years he became a 2-stars hunter and one of the twelve zodiacs of the hunter association.

'The day had finally come...

Then it was their turn.

Kurapika seems to have made a decision.

he must pass the hunter exam at any cost, he made up his mind to tell his reason, even if it means exposing his deepest secret, a secret that may lead him to be chased by the world for what he owns.

He could lie, but he chose not to.

"I'm the last survivor of the Kurta clan."

He said calmly, anyone could hear the sadness contained in his words.

"Four years ago, my clan was annihilated by a band of criminals."

The scene of the scattered corps of his clansmen, their bloody eyes which had been cruelly dogged out. The cold bodies of his mother, father, and friend appeared in his mind.

He raised his head and said, With a tone full of hatred and anger.

"I wish to become a hunter and hunt down that band,"

"The phantom troupe!"

The captain listened to Kurapika's story. Although he felt sympathy for this kid to experience such a thing, But in his life, he saw and heard things crueler than this.

After all, in this world, the strong eat the weak. No matter how much society develops, this eternal law will always remain.

Shinji, who knows the story of Kurapika, can't help but feel that he is somehow similar to Kurapika.

His parents in both lives were also killed by criminals and lawless people. If Shini said he didn't hate those criminals, then he would be lying.

But he understood his weakness, he understood he isn't ready yet to change the world as he liked. That's why he hid this hatred deeply.

"So you want to become a bounty hunter?"

"The phantom troupe is a class-A bounty. Not even the most grizzled hunters can touch them..you'd be throwing your life away."

He knows very well the phantom troupe, they are the most reckless criminals he had seen in his entire life. There is nothing they don't dare to do.

But Kurapika wasn't intimidated at all.

He replied indifferently: " I don't fear death."

"I fear only that my rage..will fade over time!"

Shinji looked at the eyes of Kurapika, which glowed scarlet for a moment.

'So this is the scarlet eyes of the kurta clan... cooool' He is envious. He wishes to have such special eyes that can glow.

Then it was Leorio's turn, he said.

"Why do I want to be a hunter? I'll make it short..."

"MONEY!"

He becomes existed all of sudden.

"Money can get you everything!"

"True!" Shinji beside him made a thumbs up. Only poor people like him know the value of money.

"A big house!"

"A nice car"

"Good liquor!" Leorio was immersed in his fantasies.

"Don't forget, beautiful women!" Shinji reminds him with a perverted smile on his face.

"Ha ha ha ha!" They looked at each other with a "you know" look.

Kurapkia can't endure their vulgar behaviors anymore. Just when he was about to speak, Shinji started his turn.

"It's my turn. My reason for being a hunter is also simple."

"One word, power!"

"Huh?" The four of them were surprised by this answer.

"Becoming a hunter is only a shortcut to acquiring more strength!"

"You don't need me to tell you the benefits of power, right?"

"If you have power, money can be obtained easily." He looked at Leorio.

"If you have power, everyone will respect you!"

"If you have power, you can protect your loved ones." He looked at Kurapika. But at the same time, he was also telling this to himself.

Shinji's eyes become sharp.

"If you have power, you can do whatever you want!"

"Only power is the truth!"

"All the suffering came from our weakness!"

"Since I came to this world, I decided to not suffer anymore! So, I must become stronger than anyone else in this world. "

"I must be strong enough to control my destiny, protect my friends, and live the life I desire!"

Kurapika, Leorio, and even the captain looked at Shinji with a wide open mouths.

While Gon's eyes shone brightly as if stars would come from them.

'So cool!' Shinji's speech made Gon's blood boil.

'If my clansmen were strong enough, would anybody dare to provoke them?

'All the suffering is the cause of our weakness!'

Kurapika looked at Shinji and kept repeating his words.

'I need strength to retrieve the eyes of my clansmen, and to destroy the phantom troupe!"

'Wait, he said becoming a hunter is only a means to acquire power. What does he mean?' Kurapika, as smart as always, noticed something strange in Shinji's words.

'I must ask him later.'

'This boy kept on surprising me!… He seems to know the existence of Nen!' the captain understood well what Shinji was speaking about.

Because of his contact with hunter examiners over the years, he was also fortunate to know the existence of Nen through the mouth of a certain examiner.

That power is simply a miracle! Those who wield it are basically superhuman, they can easily destroy a huge rock and even withstand bullets.

"Captain!" A crew member who was controlling the helm screamed. He pointed his finger toward the incoming waterspout coming toward them.

"If we get caught by the waterspout, the ship will sink!" Katsuo-san said in horror.

"Lower the sails now!" The captain gave his order.

"Aye!" Katsuo-san replied quickly.

"I'll help."

"Ok, come with me." Then both Gon and Katsuo rushed to the deck.

"Kurapika, Leorio." Let's give them a helping hand. " Shinji also hurried to help. Although he knows nothing is going to happen, he must at least show the captain his excellent qualification and worth.

Kurapika and Leorio followed Shinji.

"I'll take the helm." The captain took over the helm.

"Aye!"

"Full to starboard!" he ordered the crew.

"Hurry!"

"The waterspout is going to catch us."

The crew, one by one, like a group of ants, cooperatively tried to lower the sails.

The waterspout almost reached the ship.

The ropes tying the sails were struck by the strong wind, which made them slip through the hands of the crew.

"Ahhhhhhh" Katsuo-san screamed.

The unlucky Katsuo was still holding the rope tightly until he was sent flying out of the ship.

"Katsuo-san" Gon screamed. He wanted to rush to save him, but he was late.

And because of Shinji, Kurapika and Leorio didn't fight each other like in the plot, so nobody is there to save him except…

"Everything is okay. Why? Because I'm here!" Shinji, who already anticipated this to happen, reacted immediately.

The moment that Katsuo-san was about to fall outside the ship he grabbed his hand.

'Black ghost!' Shinji who was also about to follow Katsuo to the water suddenly was pulled up by an invisible force, the black ghost. which, of course, cannot be seen by others.

Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika hurried to the side of the ship and found that Shinji was holding the already unconscious Katsu from the fright in his right hand, while his left hand was grabbing the edge of the ship.

"Hurry up and pull me up!"

After the black ghost pulled him up, he chose to retrieve it back. He doesn't want to let others discover it for now.

"Shinji, hold on." Leorio hurriedly grabbed Shinji and pulled him up.

Seeing that Leorio was struggling to pull the two of them, Kurapika and Gon pulled Leorio.

With their successful cooperation, the two of them were 'saved'.

The dark clouds slowly dissipated, and rays of the sun penetrated the clouds, illuminating the sea.

on the deck of the ship.

"You idiot! If I didn't pull you up, you'd be shark food by now! " he slapped the head of Shinji fiercely.

"I never do something I'm not sure about, Leorio."

Shinji said arrogantly, the worst-case scenario that may have happened is both he and Katsuo fell into the water and were eaten by sharks. Both of them would die. But this worst scenario is only applicable to Katsuo. For Shinji, who had Ajin's immortality, even if he was eaten by sharks, he would return to life as if nothing happened.

"You arrogant bastard, you don't know how to be grateful!" Leorio becomes even more angry after seeing Shinji's carelessness about his life.

"Stop being reckless, Bastard!"

"You never considered how we would feel if you died!!"

Leorio looked at Shinji and roared. If something happened to his new friend, Leorio was afraid that he may become crazy.

He can't bear to lose another friend again.

He hates himself for being powerless like this.

Shinji looked at Leorio, who was almost crying, besides his brothers Peter and Abraham. Few people cared about him in this world, and now he got a new brother! A brother who cares about his life and death.

Shinji patted Leorio's shoulder and said with a confident smile: "Don't worry, my friend, I will never die!"

He didn't lie; he is basically immortal. The only thing separating him from immortality is his short lifespan.

"Tsk, who do you think yourself, bandages bastard!"

Both Gon and Kurapika looked at the scene of the two best friends fighting and laughed.

Shinji and Leorio looked at the two of them and smiled.

Shinji stretched his hand toward Gon. With a big smile on his face, he said.

"Gon, I would like to thank you for your help."

Gon waved his hand and said

"I didn't do anything. it was Kurapika and Leorio who pulled you up. My help isn't worth of mentioning!"

"No! If you helped me, then you are my little brother. In the future, if somebody dares to bully you, tell me and I will beat his ass! " Shinji patted Gon's shoulder. He had always wanted to make this protagonist his little brother since he came to this world.

The feeling of turning the protagonist that he only saw on the screen into his own brother is simply too satisfying.

Gon looked at Shinji, he was embarrassed by the latter's enthusiasm.

"Ok brother, Shinji!" Gon nodded his head, officially recognizing Shinji as his brother.

"Ha ha ha, say it again. I didn't hear it." Shinji laughed after he saw Gon's embarrassment.

"Shinji-san don't bully Gon." Kurapika said, with a smile on his face.

"What Shinji-san? You are also my brother Kurapika, so call me brother Shinji!"

"Hah!" Kurapika smille froze. ' What the heck is going on!'

Kurapika can't follow the brain circuit of Shinji at all.

Shinji put his hand around Kurapika's neck and said.

"You didn't hesitate to help me, which shows that you are a good person. And I Shinji what I like the most is good people like you. So, Kurapika..become my brother! "

"Ha ha ha ha ha" Leorio and Gon laughed at this scene, especially seeing Kurapika whose cheeks turned red.

"Brother or something isn't enough just to be friends." Kurapika tried to escape, but Shinji held him tightly.

"I won't let you go until you recognize me as your brother."

"YA HA HA HA HA HA HA" a laugh came from behind, everyone turned back and saw the captain leaning on the door holding a beer in his hand. He looked at them and said.

"I like you guys."

"Okay! I'll take the responsibility for bringing the four of you to the port closest to the hunter exam site."

"Really!" Gon exclaimed, with surprise in his voice.

He seemed to remember something and said: " then, what about your test?"

The captain, as he was about to climb the stairs, turned his head and said

"As I said..it's my decision to make."

Then he smiled at them and said: "All four of you pass!"

Shinji held Gon on top of his head and they shouted together.

"HORYAAAA!"