A Hunter Chronicle – 05

"So, here we are…"

A disguised Kiriko said, rubbing his blacked eye a bit before looking at Naruto, who just shrugged.

Kurama was sitting on top of Gon's head. The two have become friends in the short span of time. They were standing in front of a rather large, well-constructed building that really shown the wealth of the hunter association.

"Sorry for the inconvenience."

Kurapika apologized as he also looked at Naruto accusingly.

They had wandered through the wood a few days ago and found a house with a family of Kiriko, magical beast that can transform into other people.

Apparently, the Kiriko family's members were examiners. It was only revealed after one of them tried to do a kidnapping ruse, only to be stopped dead in its track by a certain blond-haired boy.

Naruto sent it flying back into the room from the door when it tried to escape with its hostage, effectively knocked out from a single hit.

"What? He was asking for it! It's not my fault."

Naruto defended himself, shaking his head a bit in vexation.

"Yes, I'm sorry too, but I was amazed that Gon-kun could differentiate between us through our appearance as well as your knowledge."

The Kiriko said, stopping the rubbing his bruised eyes. They had spent some time to know each other before heading here.

"Let's go in already!"

Lerio called out, starting to walk toward the building, only for Kiriko to point at another building nearby.

The party of candidates followed where the magical beast's finger; it was a small restaurant.

The Kiriko said it was a disguise as the party entered the building.

Inside, the owner asked the group what they wanted.

"A steak," Kurama said, interrupting whatever Kiriko was about to say.

"How would you like that that cooked?"

"Rare, slowly…"

Kurama said and trailed off while drooling.

The demon fox always liked its meat rare and juicy. The waitress pointed at the back room as Kiriko, the group's guide, sweat dropped.

"That wasn't the password was it?"

Naruto asked while quirking his eyebrow at the magical beast.

"Of course not… hahahaha, how can it be something like that."

Kiriko gulped and averted his eyes from the party. Everyone looked at him accusingly, seemingly not falling for that.

"Where are my meats?"

Kurama roared, jumping on the only table in the room.

Gon, Lerio, Kurapika and Naruto ignored the fox and sat down at the table.

The group started conversing among themselves before Naruto unsealed a ramen bowl from his scroll as Gon, Lerio and Kurapika watched in awe.

"What?"

Naruto asked while thinking there was probably an equivalent ability like that somewhere in this world.

"How did you do that?"

Lerio asked, blinking.

Kurapika wanted to know as well while Gon was playing with Kurama.

"Magic, tada!" Naruto said as the scroll disappeared from his hand back into his pocket space as Lerio and Kurapika sweated at the 'illusion'.

Kurama was devouring whatever food on the table in haste as the group discussed various things.

The room stopped moving downward and finally allowed its occupant out.

"Lots of people here," Naruto muttered as his party looked around, seeing the place was crowded.

"Yes, I wonder how many people are here. They must have passed the preliminary, so they should be expert level."

Kurapika pointed out as Lerio agreed.

Gon was paying more attention to Kurama than what was in the room.

"With you, there are 406…"

A chubby man called out then saw there are two badges on Naruto's chest, 406 and 407, before continuing.

"My bad, there are 407. Why do you have two badges?"

"406 is mine and 407 is that fox over there."

Naruto answered, scratching his cheek with his index finger.

When the chubby man was about to say something to clear his confusion, Naruto added weakly, "don't ask…"

"I'm also a candidate. That's all you need to know. It was already been approved."

Kurama snorted, looking dangerously at the chubby man who had identified himself as Tonpa.

Tonpa decided to make acquaintance with the group and made some introduction of other people around the room on Gon's request.

Naruto wasn't all that interested of anyone in particular until a scream got his attention.

"Oh, how strange? He doesn't have any arms. Just magic, lady and gentlemen."

A man in some sort of clown outfit said as Naruto eyed the victim.

'He's not bleeding at all from that cut.'

Naruto thought and asked Tonpa who that was.

"No. 44, Hisoka, the magician. There are guys here you shouldn't trust. He was disqualified last year for almost killing a judge."

Tonpa frowned and continued explaining several things about the hunter association's judges.

"This sounded a lot like the chuunin exam."

Kurama deadpanned as everyone turned their attention to the fox.

Naruto nodded and waved his hand dismissively, removing the confused looks on several of their faces.

Tonpa offered some drinks for congratulation of arrival here; he gave everyone one except for Kurama, who didn't want it anyway.

Gon drank first but quickly spat it out saying it was had a strange taste. Kurapika and Lerio quickly poured theirs on the ground with accusing looks.

"It's not that bad. Tastes funny a bit… it might have expired already."

Naruto said after he drank his can completely, feeling the oddity on his taste bud, but generally it was okay.

"Do you have another one?"

He asked, wanting more.

"Oi, Tonpa, would you give me another can?"

Another candidate with a number 99 on his shirt called out, waving at the chubby man.

The silver, spiky hair boy with blue eyes grabbed several cans off Tonpa and drank it while Naruto was doing the same, and both quickly having a competition with each other.

"You know it's poisoned right?" the silver-haired boy told Naruto in a low voice.

The Sage shrugged and was unconcerned about poison.

"Poison can't kill me anyway, but what about you?"

Naruto asked, chunking down another can.

The two boys had about the same score.