Chapter 13- Hide-and-seek

Sachiko activated shroud as she walked around the island to find Killua. Soon, she overheard some voices.

"Alright kid, how about you hand it over now? Do as I say and you won't get hurt."

Then, she heard Killua's annoyed voice. "Idiot."

A thud sound came as Killua got kicked and fell onto the ground. At that point, Sachiko had already made it to the scene but she didn't reveal herself. She wanted to know if Killua would notice her.

Killua stood back up effortlessly and pulled out a badge from his pocket.

"You're number 198, huh? I'm guessing 199 is one of you." He said,annoyed.

Number 199 started to look for the badge in his pocket but when he didn't see any, he started to get scared.

"Let's get into the formation."

The group quickly got into formation to attack Killa but they could only see a shadow and then Killua was behind one of them putting his nails near his throat.

"197? Man, I'm bad at guessing these things. Give me 199 or I will kill him. My finger nails are sharper than any knife." He put his nail on his throat a little bit, just enough to draw blood but the brothers were already scared to death.

'How cool.' Sachiko thought as she watched from the sidelines.

She walked a bit closer to Killua and stopped when she was almost half a meter away from him.

Killua didn't seem to notice, of course, not until Sachiko waved to him.

"Huh? Eyepatch lady?" Killua was a bit taken aback to see her. Was he getting too caught up with these idiots? But he was assassin, trained to hide his presence or be alert at all times. How did she manage to sneak up on him?

"Now, don't be so sad because you didn't notice your sister." Sachiko teased him.

"Huh? his sister ?" The three brother who had just been defeated blinked in confusion. Are they delusional to think the mood here changed?

"Hey, eyepatch lady, if you came here for badges, I can't give them to you. Even if I don't need two of these." Killua said eventually.

"Me? Need badges? How could it be?" Sachiko said with a laugh. "I just thought I should check on you. I also have something to tell you, I guess."

"Is that so? Then, I'll deal with this first." Killua threw the two badges he didn't need in opposite directions before turning to her. "So what did you want to tell me?"

"Well, let's go to a quiet place first." Sachiko said.

"Fine."

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"Oh, your footsteps are quiet?" Killua said.

"Yeah? I thought I would train this too. It can be a useful skill." Sachiko replied.

"I thought you wanted to be a hunter. Why are you learning assassin's way? Earlier, you concealed your presence as well. Like a trained assassin."

"That doesn't matter, does it? Assassin's way or not, it depends on how I use them. If they are useful, they are useful." Sachiko replied to confused Killua.

Killua let out an amused laugh,

"You're the first person to say that. People usually think assassin's ways are inferior or something like that. They would never learn them at all."

"Like Netero? I heard he said Gon shouldn't try to learn rhythm echo because only people who engage in illegal acts learn them." She casually asked.

"How do you know that?" Killua was surprised, she wasn't there when he and Gon fought with Netero.

"I just know." She replied, 'It's because I watched Hunter x Hunter, obviously.'

"I see. Anyway, what's about the thing you want to tell me?" He asked.

"Well, that's part of a deal I want to make with you."

"How so?"

"I have a crucial information for you. And in exchange for that, teach me silent gaits and especially rhythm echo."

"Rhythm echo?" Killua asked, "You really want to learn it?"

Sachiko nodded in reply.

"Okay, what is the information? If it is really as useful as you say, I will teach you. It shouldn't be difficult for you anyway."

"Alright then, Listen, Killua." Sachiko started, "It's about your brother, Illumi."

Killua's eyes widened at that, "Illumi?!"

"Yes, and he's here, disguising himself as an applicant."

Killua became pale.

"How do you even know that?"

"I know because he happens to be my target. I watched him pull the needles out and changed back to his usual appearance." Sachiko lied. She had not met Illumi since she got off the ship but Killua didn't have to know that.

"You have his badge?"

"No, not yet. But I will try to get it just before the time's up. I don't want him to have six points when the time is up. Do you get what I'm saying?" She asked.

"I do, but don't tell me you want to use rhythm echo to achieve that."

"Oh, I sure do. I have other tricks up my sleeve but I figured it's not time yet. So, yeah, you're gonna have to teach rhythm echo. And you need to get more badges and hide them somewhere he can't find. We don't want him to pass this phase at all." She said.

Killua thought for a while, "I don't have to fight him, right?"

"No, not yet." Sachiko told him. "Don't worry, if it comes to that, I will fight him."

"But why?"

Sachiko laughed, "Because I adopted you as my brother."

Killua blinked, "You're still joking?"

"Oh, it wasn't a joke."

---------------

So, the plan started with a bit of chaos. Sachiko didn't really have a plan to make Illumi lose this phase. It was more of an impulsive decision she made as she tried to warn Killua of his brother. Anyway, she had now decided to do this so she had to finish it.

Sachiko learnt rhythm echo from Killua in a day. She still had to practice to actually use it in a battle but Killua said she was doing well before he departed to find more applicants to get their badges. A plan to make sure Gittarackur cannot get the three points he would need after his badge getting stolen.

She constantly kept training shroud and rhythm echo for two days before she checked her stats window. It's day 6 so she will need to steal the badge from Illumi soon.

'Name : Nakamura Sachiko

Alias : None.

Age : 19

Relationships : Gon Freecs (Close Friend), Killua Zoldyck (Adopted brother), Kurapika (Friend), Leorio Paradinight (Friend), Hisoka (Rivals), Illumi Zoldyck (Enemy)

Assets : One and a half billion yen (One billion jenny)

Hunter level : Not accessible yet.

Jujutsu sorcerer level : Not accessible yet.

Cursed technique : Cursed energy manipulation (Competent), Time Manipulation Eyes (Advanced beginner)

Cursed energy : 4080/5000

Cursed energy reserves rank : D

Curse points : 1850

Hunter points : 150

Cursed tools : None.

Skills : Intermediate Sword Skill (Advanced beginner), Assassins Art: Shroud (Competent), Assassins Art : Silent gaits, Rhythm Echo (Competent).'

Sachiko nodded in satisfaction, she hardly slept or rested in the past few days. If not for constantly strengthening herself with cursed energy, her body probably wouldn't be able to take the strain. That said, she was still tired.

'I should take a nap for a while. When I wake up, I will go and find Illumi.' She thought as she drifted off to sleep.

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"Hmm, I can't find her." Hisoka muttered. He had been trying to find Sachiko for a few days now but he couldn't find her.

"Ahhh...this is getting me all riled up now!" Hisoka said as he licked his lips.

Gon who was following Hisoka around thought, 'Is Nakamura san going to be okay? Seems like Hisoka has lost it. Also, that look on his face is really creepy.'

Hisoka continued looking for Sachiko who was well-hidden and felt like he was playing hide-and-seek. Needless to say, it just made him more excited.

On the other hand, Illumi had gone to sleep after getting a warning from Hisoka. He would kill her later. For now, he would pass the exam first.

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Just like that, the time was almost up. Illumi woke up to return to starting point. Unbeknownst to him, Sachiko was waiting for him on the way.

Illumi felt a presence trying to ambush him. He pulled out a pin to throw at the target as it showed up. But, Sachiko appeared within a feet distance. He shot the pin towards her just as she showed up but there were a bunch of Sachikos circling him.

'Rhythm echo?' Illumi used gyo to see the real her but Sachiko had already made a move to steal the badge. She even stabbed him in the ribs but Illumi dodged just enough not to hit any vitals.

He then threw pins towards her. At this point, he had already decided to kill. Sachiko used time manipulation eye to slow down the time to dodge all the pins and get away from him.

When she got to a relatively safe distance,she smiled and said, "Bye, Illumi." She fixed the eyepatch into place and then walked away.

Illumi stood there, dumbfounded , 'How did she know who I am?'

---------------

Sachiko was about to make it to the starting point when she ran into a certain clown.

"I see you've hidden so well from me, Sachiko." Hisoka laughed creepily. "Ahh..this excites me so much. You're so full of surprises. It's like a fruit getting sweeter day by day. This is so exciting.." He licked his lips.

"Ew, Hisoka. What the f**k?" Sachiko didn't know what else to say. That look on him was so creepy. He looked more like a creepy pervert than a clown.

"Hahahahaha. You don't know what you do to me. Ahhh...I want to pluck this fruit so badly. But then, I won't be able to see how much sweeter you can get.."

"That is disgusting, Hisoka." Sachiko told him. "Why are you even here?"

"Simple, you are my target."

"You don't look like you are here for my badge." Sachiko said, unimpressed.

"It's because I don't actually need it. You see, I got six points exactly." Hisoka said, holding up six badges.

'Seems like Gon succeeded in getting his badge.' Sachiko thought to herself.

"Then, why do you come here?"

"To fight." Hisoka answered.

"Well, we will. But not now." Sachiko replied. "I got some matters to attend to."

"Like getting Illumi out of the game, isn't it?" Hisoka asked.

"Exactly. I guess we both want to kill each other now." Sachiko replied.

"Haha. You sure are interesting, Sachiko. Alright, you can go now." Hisoka said, "But don't forget, I will be looking forward to our fight."

"Likewise, Hisoka."

---------------

Back at the starting point, Gon waved to Killua and Sachiko.

"Killua! Nakamura san! You're here !"

"Yeah, and just call me Sachiko." Sachiko said with a laugh.

"How have you been, Gon? Did you get Hisoka's badge?" Killua asked.

"Yeah, kind of." Gon replied.

"Eh, you don't look happy?!" Killua said.

"It's because Hisoka said I owe him one now. When I refused, he said I can only give it back when I can punch him in the face." Gon explained.

"I see." Killua replied.

"How about Leorio and Kurapika?" Sachiko asked.

"Kurapika got Tonpa's badge pretty early. And I got the badge just yesterday." Leorio answered with a sigh, "I had to rely on Gon and Kurapika to pass this phase."

"You just have to give us a favor later!" Gon said.

"Gon's right," Kurapika agreed.

"Phase Four of Hunter's Exam is officially over. Everyone who made it to the starting point, please show your badges to confirm your points." Khara announced.

Hisoka held up six badges.

Sachiko held up Illumi's bage and her own, while the other two were thrown into the ocean so Illumi couldn't get them.

Killua showed his badge and his target's. Other extra badges he got were already thrown into the ocean as Sachiko told him to.

Kurapika, Leorio and Gon also showed their badges and their targets'.

Meanwhile, Gittarackur failed. He simply couldn't find any more targets. When he killed an applicant at the starting point, he instantly got disqualified.

Other three applicants named Bodoro,Pokkle and Hanzo passed.

Seeing Illumi disqualified, Sachiko and Killua made a high-five.

'Host has passed fourth phase of hunter's exam. Random received.'

'Reward opened. Host received disguise skill.'

'Disguise? Don't tell me I have to use those needles like Illumi. I hate them.'

'No, you don't need to use needles, host. This skill comes with advanced muscle relocation so that you can change your appearance however you like.'

'Much better.' Hearing she didn't need to use needles, Sachiko sighed in relief.

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Sachiko-chan's update stats

Name : Nakamura Sachiko

Alias : None.

Age : 19

Relationships : Gon Freecs (Close Friend), Killua Zoldyck (Adopted brother), Kurapika (Friend), Leorio Paradinight (Friend), Hisoka (Rivals), Illumi (Enemy)

Assets : One and a half billion yen.

Hunter level : Not accessible yet.

Jujutsu sorcerer level : Not accessible yet.

Cursed technique : Cursed energy manipulation (Competent), Time Manipulation Eyes (Advanced beginner)

Cursed energy : 4560/5000

Cursed energy reserves rank : D

Curse points : 1850

Hunter points : 150

Cursed tools : None.

Skills : Intermediate Sword Skill (Advanced beginner), Assassins Art: Shroud (Competent), Assassins Ast: Silent gaits, Rhythm Echo (Competent), Disguise (Novice).