Chapter 12- Assassin's Art : Shroud

'Assassins art?' Sachiko was surprised.

'Aren't you Jujutsu Kaisen system? Why do you give me that?'

'They are random rewards, host. Since you're now in hunter x hunter, some rewards may be related to the world itself.'

'Okay? I still think this is peculiar.'

Sachiko took a quick glance at Killua, 'Could it be because of staying close to Killua? Or adopting him as my brother?'

Well, she didn't officially adopted him yet but those are just formalities. Right?

Okay, she was getting sidetracked. Sachiko patted her cheeks to push her out of the spiral of random thoughts.

'System, how does shroud work?'

'It is a skill you can use to conceal your presence and hide in the plain sight.'

'It sounds really cool.' Sachiko thought. 'No, it can be very advantageous in fights or even information gathering.'

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Sachiko stepped out of the tower and felt the nice breeze of air on her skin for the first time in 72 hours.

"How nice!"

"Congratulations for passing the third phase of hunter's exam. Now all that's left are the fourth phase and final phase. The fourth phase will take place right over there on Zevil Island. Now, let's proceed."

As the examiner said, a trolley with a box on top of it stopped in front of the applicants.

'Wait, this...' Sachiko thought. 'Are we going to draw lots? Now that I think about it, applicants had to draw lots and the number on the card becomes their target?'

She started to look at the other applicants' badges to memorize the numbers but she wasn't really sure if she could remember it all.

"To begin with, I will need everyone of you to draw lots now." The examiner started.

"In this box are exactly 24 numbered cards. Which means one of those cards will be the number of your badge. Now each of you will draw a card in the order you exit the tower." Examiner explained.

"Now, which one of you is next?"

At the examiner's question , Hisoka walked up to the front and grab a card from the box. Sachiko was next. One after another, applicants drew a card each.

After that, the examiner explained that the number on the card was the badge number of their target.

Sachiko got rid of the sticker and looked at the number written on the card. It was 301.

"Was that the ninja guy or the needle guy?" Sachiko took a quick glance at the applicants but everyone had taken the badges off. There was no way she could know who 301 was for sure. Right?

But, then there was the needles guy with the badge on his chest. The number on it was 301.

'Wait...the needle guy? Illumi?' Sachiko froze.

'Ah..I jinxed myself.' Sachiko sighed. She probably would have to guess or take three badges to be safe. Or take Illumi's badge.

"The box has recorded the number of card you drew. So, even if you dispose the cards or no matter what you do, there's no difference at this point. The objective is to steal your target's badge. You can use any means you like."

The examiner also explained that the badge of their target is worth three points and their own bade worth three points. Other badges are worth one point. To pass the fourth phase, they need six points. The time limit is 7 days.

Then, all the applicants got onto a ship to be taken to Zevil Island.

On the ship, Sachiko sat down quietly and thought how she should take Illumi's badge. While she thinks she got stronger, she wasn't confident that she could win against Illumi now. Sure, she could slow time now but then what? Throw daggers and sloppily slash him with swords? Wait, that sounds like a great idea.

'I got assassin's art: shroud to help me conceal my presence but Illumi's a trained, experienced assassin. There's no way I can beat him in his game. At least, not now. Unless I learn a new skill.' She thought.

'Well, I can always take another 3 badges to pass the exam.' Sachiko became much more relaxed after this.

'That said, shroud seems pretty handy. I've got to practice that too.' She sighed, she simply didn't have enough time to do those trainings all at once.

After two hours, they arrived at Zevil Island.

"Thanks for being patient, everyone." Khara said. "We've arrived at Zevil Island. Now, you will be disembarking in the order you completed the third phase."

"You go ashore one at a time with the interval of two minutes separating each applicants, okay?"

"First place applicant get ready to disembark now!" Khara announced in a cheerful tone as she held the timer up.

Hisoka walked onto the island with unhurried steps, badge still on his chest.

"First one to go ashore has advantage. They can hide and watch everyone's movements." Kurapika said.

"I agree, it's a good thing we are one of the first ones to go." Sachiko agreed.

"Yeah, I get that you got second and all." Leorio said with an eye roll. "By the way, aren't you taking your badge off?"

"I think it's fine. I've calculated." Sachiko says with a smile. 'Only Hisoka and Gittarackur are the ones I should be looking out for.'

"Two minute's up. Second place can go."

"Bye then, let's meet seven days later or we'll probably run into each other on the island." Sachiko said with a wave. "Oh, right, skateboard kiddo, don't miss your sister too much, okay?"

"I told you I'm not calling you sister !" Killua yelled.

"Too bad, I've already adopted you as my little brother. Bye, anyway !" Sachiko said.

Unbeknownst to them, Gittarackur's glare landed on Sachiko's figure. It was as if he decided to kill her. Like how dare she try to steal his brother, Kil?!

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Sachiko decided to use shroud as soon as she got off the ship and then waited as all the other applicants got ashore one by one. After everyone was on the island, she decided to take a scout on the island while activating shroud. She wanted to know the extent she could use it.

When she walked past a grass field, she saw one applicant hiding his presence to target another. She walked up to them as she wanted to see how close she could get to a target without getting noticed.

Sachiko stopped a meter away from the hiding applicant. The applicant didn't look like he noticed her presence at all.

'He still can't see me?' Sachiko thought, a bit taken aback.

She started to walk a bit closer to him. That's when the applicant frowned and started to look around.

She waved her hands in front of his face.

The applicant blinked.

"Ah...you can see me?" Sachiko asked with a smile.

"Ahhh!" The applicant shouted. "When did you get here? What about my..my badge?!"

"You...! You two were sneaking up on me?!" The applicant who was being targeted exclaimed, now that they attracted his attention.

"Of course not!"

Sachiko blinked in confusion , "And you, I haven't stolen it yet, you know. Why are you getting so worked up for? If others hear it, they'll think I'm killing you."

"Aren't you going to?" The applicant asked, starting sweat on his forehead.

"Well.." Sachiko pretended to think, "That depends. But why don't we start by giving me your badge?"

"Here.. take...take it." The applicant handed her his badge. The number printed on it was 53.

"Alright one down. What about you?" Sachiko asked the other applicant.

"Not a chance!" He yelled and charged towards her with his sword.

"Alright, let me have a bit of fun then." Sachiko said as she covered her body with cursed energy. She kicked him in his face and broke his sword with her cursed energy.

"Now, will you give me your badge?" She asked him again.

He tried to get up again so Sachiko decided to knock him out with a ball of cursed energy to his head.

"This should be good." She retrieved the badge from his bag and then said, "This is more fun than I thought."

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Sachiko continued her scout in a good mood after getting the two badges. She wasn't in a good mood not only because she got two badges, but also because she realized how well shroud could currently work.

'He didn't notice until I get closer than one meter. He didn't actually see me until I waved. That means as long as I don't do something to grab his attention, he wouldn't see me or notice my presence at all. That doesn't seem to work if I get any closer than a meter but it's not bad. I can definitely use this to catch my targets off guard or spy on them generally.' She thought.

She then saw Hisoka chilling under a tree. She was supposed to be in ahroud but Hisoka seemed to notice a presence as she saw a light flashed in those yellow eyes of his.

She quickly walked out of the place because she didn't want to face him yet.

"I already have 5 points so I don't even need Illumi's badge now." She muttered to herself. "Alright , one more and I will probably sleep for the next six days."

'Or I can practice using shroud.'

Sachiko also realized that using shroud didn't have much limitations. She could use it whenever she wanted and as it wasn't a cursed technique, she didn't need to use cursed energy at all. If she could use shroud more efficiently and pair it with advanced cursed energy manipulation technique and time manipulation eyes, she would become a lot more powerful.

Maybe she could take some bounty hunts or assassination jobs to earn money. Then, she would buy a house. She would a live in luxury and also fair shares of adventures, of course.

"But to do that, I still need to pass hunter's exam. Ahh..how boring." Sachiko lied down under a tree to take a break.

But, she didn't stop using shroud at all. For the next four days, she used shroud as much as she could as part of her training. And as the fruit of her labor, she successfully levelled up her mastery to advanced beginner.

Sachiko walked up to a target and then knocked him out with the burst of cursed energy. She played with the badge by throwing it into the air and then catching it into her hands, thinking, "He really didn't notice until I was less than a meter away from him."

"Well, now that I have six points, I'll go and find Killua and others." She muttered.

'If I use shroud and sneak up to them , I wonder if Killua can tell?'

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"So, Hisoka, have you got your six points?" Gittarackur asked.

"No, and I haven't got my target yet." Hisoka replied.

"I see, do you even know your target?"

"Hmm, this time, I do. I believe that is number 406, Sachiko." Hisoka replied, his mind thinking back to his encounter with her. He nearly moaned from excitement.

"..." Gittarackur said with a pause , "I see. She happens to be my target too. Not for the badge, of course. She is but my assassination target."

Hisoka's face darkened at that, "Don't...touch..her . Or I will kill you, Illumi. She is becoming more and more interesting. I have to fight her. And kill her with my very own hands." He said with a creepy voice.

"Hmm...that's right, that is making me all tingly and excited. I have to go find her."

Gon who was watching the whole scene unfolded looked disturbed even though he actually didn't realize Hisoka was horny and excited.

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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)

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 : 4980/5000

Cursed energy reserves rank : D

Curse points : 1850

Hunter points : 150

Cursed tools : None.

Skills : Intermediate Sword Skill (Advanced beginner), Assassins Art: Shroud (Advanced beginner).