Mission Retrieve Killua

Howdy do Amazing Readers! The gears have been turning this month and the midnight oil is burning! I'm hoping there will be lots more to give as we come towards the end of this year. Be looking forward to it. 

Hope you enjoy this chapter! 

The hotel room enveloped Sakura in hushed tranquility, the air heavy with a sense of quiet healing. The dim lighting cast a soft glow upon the scene, illuminating Sakura as she sat in a chair at the center table. She exuded an air of calm determination, despite the signs of her recent skirmish etched upon her form. Her neck bore the absence of its usual rosy cloak, the vulnerable skin exposed to the cool air. Her disheveled hair, asymmetrical and unkempt, didn't even warrant a moment's concern.

But Sakura's focus was not on her wounds. Her gaze was fixed solely on the slumbering figure of a young boy nestled upon the large single bed near the window. Gon lay there, his body positioned upright, his left arm in a makeshift bandage, a testament to the injury inflicted by Hanzo's blade. Yet, he seemed to find solace in the depths of sleep, undisturbed by the pain that had recently plagued him.

Summoning a deep breath, Sakura rose from her seat and silently approached the bed. She knelt at its edge, her upper body gently resting upon the mattress. With a touch as light as a whisper, she laid her hand upon Gon's forehead, commencing her healing efforts. The wound on his brow disappeared beneath her ministrations, and then her focus shifted to his damaged arm. Taking her time, she mended the broken bones, grateful that they had cleanly snapped, sparing her the burden of fragment removal. A cast wouldn't be necessary either. As Sakura completed her healing, she noticed a subtle shift in Gon's demeanor, as if a weight had been lifted from his slumbering form.

"What a reckless boy you are, Gon," Sakura murmured, brushing her hand tenderly across his forehead once more before withdrawing.

However, her mind was still awash with the memories and emotions stirred by her encounter with Hisoka. In her long history of battles, she had faced countless opponents, but none had evoked the complex feelings that Hisoka had awakened within her. It was not merely a matter of strength or raw power that she measured, but something deeper, an intangible quality that eluded those who had come before.

"If only I knew what that was," she whispered to the air, her voice laced with a mixture of frustration and curiosity.

Sakura's fingers clenched around the fabric of the bed cover, the threads digging into her skin, almost echoing the pain she felt deep within. When she closed her eyes, Hisoka's visage materialized before her, etched into her memory like a scar that defied healing. It wasn't physical pain that she experienced; it was something far more primal—an insatiable thirst for bloodshed.

Bloodlust—such a feeling had never consumed Sakura so intensely before. In her previous battles, that sensation had always been held at bay, like simmering water over a low flame. But Hisoka had been the catalyst, the oil poured onto the fire, causing the water to boil over. The passion with which she had fought against him was unlike anything she had ever known, transcending the fear she usually had to push past.

There was so much she had wanted to achieve in that fight, but Hisoka had decided it was over, concluding his twisted game. Sakura had left an impression on him, but she was nothing more than a new toy in his eyes—a plaything he could discard if he deemed her unworthy. That reality infuriated her to no end.

"Dammit," Sakura muttered, her clenched jaw adding a touch of pain to her already burdened state.

This battle had revealed glaring gaps in her abilities, despite her progress from the point she had started. Hisoka, unable to utilize chakra, had managed to render her in such a state. She yearned to understand how. There had to be other avenues to gain power, and for as long as she remained in this world, she would strive to uncover them.

"Even if it means staying here a little longer," Sakura whispered, her thoughts of returning home dampened by the image of Gon and the flickering memories of Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika that danced within her mind. At that moment, the pangs of homesickness were replaced by a resolute determination.

Resting her head against the mattress, Sakura listened to the rhythmic cadence of Gon's gentle breathing. The weight of extreme battle and physical exhaustion finally caught up with her. Her mind grew heavy, causing her eyelids to flutter closed, while her body succumbed to a lightness that embraced her in a hazy slumber.

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Gon jolted awake, his body drenched in a cold sweat. The remnants of a vivid dream lingered in his mind—a relentless ascent up a towering flight of stairs, chasing after a familiar silhouette. As he drew closer, he recognized the figure to be his father. Desperate to reach him, Gon extended his hand, but the staircase crumbled beneath him, leaving him with nothing but a sinking feeling in his gut. And just like that, the dream dissolved into darkness.

As the mist of sleep dispersed, Gon surveyed his surroundings and his gaze fell upon Sakura, who was perched precariously on the edge of the bed, her head resting against the mattress. Her disheveled hair resembled the aftermath of a tumultuous storm, with one side seemingly untouched while the other bore the marks of a blade's whimsy. Blood stains adorned her top, tracing a short, straight line across her shoulder. In essence, she looked worn and weary.

"Sakura?" Gon called out, his voice carrying a mix of concern and confusion.

In response, he heard the faint sound of a book being closed, and that was when he realized they were not alone. Sitting in a chair at the table in the room's center was Satotz, a calm presence amidst the unfolding scene.

"Ah, Gon-kun, you're finally awake," Satotz greeted him with a warm smile.

Gon's initial question escaped him in fragments, "Where am I?"

"In a waiting room, next to the arena for the Final Phase," Satotz explained, his gaze shifting momentarily towards Sakura. "She came straight here after her match and fell asleep at your bedside. She was quite insistent on seeing you."

Gon blinked, his gaze shifting between Sakura and his seemingly healed arm. "Right, we were in the middle of the Hunter Exam. But why is my arm..."

Satotz moved his chair closer to Gon's bed, mindful of Sakura's presence. "Your arm, I believe, has something to do with your friend over here. She's quite a mystery. In any case, congratulations on passing the exam."

Gon's confusion persisted as he hesitantly extended his hand, which Satotz clasped in a firm shake. "Satotz-san, I..."

"You can't," Satotz interjected gently, holding Gon's hand firmly. "Just as someone who fails can no longer pass, someone who passed the exam can no longer fail. The rest is up to you. If you feel you are unqualified to be a pro, you are free to destroy or put away your license. You can even sell it. However, as a person who passed the exam, you cannot take it again."

Gon's expression mirrored that of a curious puppy, a mix of passive acceptance and eagerness for more understanding.

"Professional Hunters are treated well, largely due to the efforts of our predecessors," Satotz continued, reaching for one of the files placed beside Gon's bed. "Hence, there are many who harbor ill intentions. If it weren't for them, we would accept every person who applied."

Gon opened the file, revealing a rubbery booklet with a small card nestled within. Adorned with the Hunter Association symbol, the card held a value that surpassed even the worth of one's life, yet could be regarded as nothing more than a worthless scrap of paper.

"The important thing is what you accomplish once you've become a Hunter," Satotz emphasized, offering the card to Gon. "Gon, you can decide for yourself when you're ready to use this card."

A smile finally graced Gon's face, dispelling the confusion that had clouded his features. "A lot of people helped me reach this point. Especially..."

Both Satotz and Gon turned their attention to Sakura, who stirred awake at the side of the bed, the covers drawn around her waist.

"Damn, not a nightmare," Sakura muttered, her voice laced with a tinge of disappointment.

"Sakura!" Gon called out, causing her to startle briefly before realizing who had called her. A smile spread across her face as she recognized Gon.

"Gon, you're awake!"

Gon gasped with excitement, his voice filled with anticipation. "Hey, how did your match go!?"

"She passed," Satotz interjected, admiration evident in his tone. "It was a remarkable display."

Sakura chuckled modestly. "Well, I'm not so sure about that. I wasn't even sure if I could make him surrender."

Gon gasped again, his awe palpable. "You got Hisoka to surrender? That's amazing, Sakura!"

Sakura shrugged, downplaying her achievement. She didn't believe she forced Hisoka to surrender; rather, he had chosen to do so on his own. Moreover, she couldn't help but reflect on the collateral damage she caused to the hotel in the process.

"Not my proudest moment, considering all the damage I did to the hotel rather than my opponent..."

Satotz intervened, holding out the second file to Sakura. "Congratulations on your passing as well, Sakura-san."

Sakura flipped open the book, retrieving the card that now marked her as a licensed Hunter. Though she hadn't initially attributed great significance to it, reaching this milestone filled her with a sense of pride. "Thank you, Satotz-san. By the way, how is everyone else doing?"

"Oh, that's right," Gon chimed in, realizing they had been oblivious to the exam's progress while they slumbered. "Are they still fighting?"

Satotz revealed the truth, punctuating their curiosity. "Actually, the exam is already over. The ones who passed are currently completing a brief orientation. You both will have one as well."

Eager to satisfy their lingering curiosity, Sakura spoke up, her voice carrying a mix of anticipation and concern. "Who failed, then?"

A momentary hesitation swept over Satotz as he carefully chose his words. "It was... Killua."

The revelation caught both Gon and Sakura off guard, an answer they hadn't even considered.

"Why did Killua fail?" Gon questioned, his voice filled with genuine concern.

"How?" Sakura added, her curiosity mirroring that of her companion.

"First, let me fill you in on what transpired..."

And with that Satotz started explaining to Gon and Sakura what had happened while they were unconscious. He started right after Gon had been knocked out and what Hanzo had said regarding him. Then what occurred in the second match with Sakura fighting Hisoka- and surprisingly enough Gon was very quiet while Satotz relayed the match to him- not in any more detail than Sakura would have wanted. The next match was between Hanzo and Pokkle, where Hanzo was able to get Pokkle to surrender by threatening to break his arm as he had to Gon. 

"The next match was between Kurapika and Hisoka." Satotz could practically see how concentrated the two were when hearing about their friend and Hisoka. "They fought for a while, but Hisoka conceded after whispering something to Kurapika."

"What did he say?" asked Gon. 

"I don't know," Satotz admitted. They had been too far at the time to hear anything, but whatever was said had certainly impacted Kurapika. "Then it was Killua and Pokkle who were scheduled to fight, but Killua walked away. Confidently, he declared he wasn't interested in fighting him and seemed very confident he could defeat his next opponent." 

He was certainly confident in his skills. That much was clear to Sakura when she first met Killua. But it wasn't without justice. Killua had been trained for a long time. 

"Following after was, of course, Hisoka versus Bodoro; the match was very one-sided but Bodoro refused to surrender. That was until Hisoka whispered something to him, and he conceded right after." 

Bodor was a martial artist and he had been looking forward to fighting Hisoka, even more so after he witnessed his first match. However, it had proved to be a fatal mistake as he couldn't foresee the massive difference between the two. 

'I nearly did the same,' Sakura shuddered recalling her match. There were moments when she just wanted to get out of Hisoka's line of vision, leave the fight, and then there was another pull that was keeping her on the battlefield. 

"Then it was Killua and Gittarackur who was set to fight; however….." again Satotz stopped wanting the two to take in their "That was when Killua made a fatal mistake." 

Sakura already knew that Gittarackur was hiding his appearance from what she had read previously but she didn't think much of the reason why he would hide it. However, after Satotz's explanation, it made sense. Gittarackur had disguised himself for the sake of keeping one of the applicants from recognizing him. That applicant is Killua. 

"You see, Gittarackur is Killua's older brother, Illumi who was under the alias." 

Sakura frowned, her mouth slightly gaping as she attempted to swallow the information. "Killua's brother?" 

Satotz nodded, "Yes…."

Killua struggled to breathe, he could feel the beads of sweat on his face as he stared up at his brother, watching him with completely blank eyes. Illumi told him that their mother was worried about Killua leaving home and had asked Illumi to check up on him. It turned out to be a great coincidence that Killua decided to take the Hunter's Exam because Illumi wanted to get a license for his next job as well. 

"I had no idea you wanted to become a hunter." 

Killua looked down at his shoes, "I don't want to be a hunter. I just felt like taking the exam," 

"I see, That's a relief. Then let me give you some advice….." 

The air around Killua became almost nonexistent now, as he looked back at his older brother. The presence made Killua feel like his heart had stopped beating as fear seeped through every fiber of his body that it hurt. 

"You're not cut out to be a Hunter." Killua gasped softly at his brother's words, "You were born to be….a killer." 

Sakura covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes starting to burn, while Gon remained passive although his standing on the situation was at the same end as Sakura. 

"Is that really what he said? Killua mentioned his family before, but they sound crazy…." 

"He wasn't finished yet," Satotz said.

Illumi confronted Killua, criticizing his lack of desire and passion for anything other than killing. Killua mustered the courage to express his longing for friendship with Gon and Sakura, but Illumi dismissed his desires. Leorio intervened, assuring Killua that he was already considered a friend by Sakura and Gon. Illumi contemplated the situation before deciding to kill them all after passing the exam. Illumi proposed a fight with Killua, stating that only by defeating him could Killua save his friends. Overwhelmed with fear, Killua surrendered, and Illumi revealed that he had lied about his intentions to test Killua's resolve. Illumi asserted that Killua had no right to make friends and should adhere to their family's principles.

"After that, he was reduced to a shell of himself," Satotz said, returning to the present after reviewing the memory of Gon and Sakura. "Leorio and Kurapika tried to help but nothing they could say would sway him. After that Leorio and Bodoro's match started but Killua stepped in and killed Bodoro. The committee disqualified him and he left right after without a word." 

As Satotz finished his explanation, he saw Sakura was shaking in anger, her jaw clenching so tightly he could hear her teeth grinding against each other; he could even make out the distinction of a vein on her forehead, but her eyes were glossy with unshed tears and as for Gon….?

"Gon-kun?" 

Gon removed the covers from himself and jumped out of bed, heading for the door, "Where is everyone?" 

"You need to rest more." Satotz insisted. 

But Gon had already thrown the doors open and was heading out; Sakura followed shortly after him but not before she looked back at Sakura. The tears were visible on her face, but no more would run from her eyes. 

"How can anyone rest when you're in danger of losing a friend?"

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Kurapika, Leorio, Hanzo, Hisoka, and Pokkle turned their heads as the heavy doors swung open, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Gon and Sakura made their way down the stairs, their eyes fixed on the person seated at the front. It was Killua's older brother, Illumi, with his sleek black hair and cold, featureless face. Kurapika and Leorio tried to call out to them, but it was clear that Gon and Sakura had only one thing on their minds.

Without any hesitation, Gon spoke up, demanding an apology from Illumi. The examiners watched quietly as Killua and Sakura patiently awaited Illumi's response, which came swiftly.

"Apologize? For what?" Illumi replied, his words laced with indifference.

Gon's frown deepened, his fist clenched tightly. "You don't know what you did wrong?"

"No," Illumi responded honestly, further fueling the anger of Gon and Sakura. While Gon wore his emotions on his sleeve, Sakura held back, waiting for the right moment to unleash her thoughts. She could understand why Killua distanced himself from his family if they were anything like Illumi. She didn't judge him for being an assassin, but she hadn't formed many assumptions about his family either.

As a ninja, Sakura had become accustomed to the idea that her role in life was reduced to that of a tool. It didn't bother her because it was part of her daily reality. Assassination was a normal part of Killua's life, but that didn't mean she didn't question the morality of it in different contexts.

"You don't have the right to be his brother!" Sakura finally spoke up, her voice filled with conviction.

"Must I earn the right to be his brother?" Illumi retorted calmly, provoking Gon even further. In a swift motion, Gon grabbed Illumi's arm, hoisting him into the air. But Illumi effortlessly landed on the opposite side of Gon and Sakura, unfazed.

"He doesn't need to earn the right to be my friend either!" Gon exclaimed, gripping Illumi's wrist tightly. Veins bulged on his pale skin as the bone snapped, eliciting a momentary change in Illumi's expression. However, it quickly vanished.

"Don't bother apologizing, just take me to see Killua," Gon demanded.

"What will you do then?" Illumi inquired.

"We're going to bring him back with us," Sakura stated firmly. Although she and Gon hadn't exchanged a word since learning about Killua's situation, they were united in their determination.

"You make it sound as if I kidnapped him," commented Illumi. "He left on his own."

"But it wasn't by choice!" Gon retorted. "He was being manipulated by you. It's the same as kidnapping."

Silence fell over the room, tensions mounting. Sensing the need to intervene, Chairman Netero stepped forward to address the applicants.

"We have been discussing the matter," Netero informed them. "Leorio and Kurapika have raised concerns." He proceeded to explain that the committee had debated the fairness of Killua's disqualification. Kurapika argued that Killua's psychological state had changed after his match with Illumi, suggesting he may have been hypnotized into committing murder. Though a tenuous claim, considering the impossibility of hypnotizing someone to kill, Kurapika highlighted the lack of ethical restraint within Killua's family, where murder was a regular occurrence.

Leorio, on the other hand, pointed out that Killua had killed Bodoro during his match with Leorio. According to Leorio, this should have resulted in his disqualification, given the prior warning he received for intervening in Gon and Hanzo's match.

"Killua was not in control of his actions, so he should not be disqualified," Kurapika argued vehemently.

"But it doesn't matter because it all just sounds like speculation," Sakura interjected, her tone calm but cold as she faced the committee. "Doesn't it?"

Netero concurred, stating, "There were no clear signs of manipulation. I would question the claim that he was hypnotized. Moreover, the incident occurred after the battle between Leorio and Bodoro began. At that point, both opponents were evenly matched. While Bodoro had more experience, Leorio possessed greater raw combat ability. There was no need for Killua to interfere."

Sakura had already reached the same conclusion, prompting her to press for closure on the matter. "From what we were told, there were other irregularities throughout the matches in this phase. The entire phase was peculiar, resulting in unconventional victories and losses. But at this point, it doesn't matter. That includes arguing against Killua's disqualification."

Leorio exclaimed, "Sakura, what are you saying? Killua is your friend!"

"Of course he is," Sakura affirmed, her gaze unwavering despite all eyes now fixed on her. "But right now, he is irrelevant to the matters concerning this exam. It's over. He failed, and we passed. It's as simple as that. If anything..." Sakura's eyes flashed with determination, "Our focus should be on concluding this orientation and moving forward to do what needs to be done. For Gon and me... that means bringing Killua back. As for the rest of you, you can decide for yourselves what you want to do. We are no longer mere applicants."

"That's right," Gon added, his gaze averted from the others. "There's no point in arguing over whether someone should have passed. If you're not satisfied with the results, keep working until you are. If Killua takes the exam next year, he will pass. Unfortunately, he failed this time, but it is what it is."

Gon tightened his grip on Illumi's wrist, feeling the broken bone beneath the skin. "What does matter is that you've been forcing Killua to kill against his will all this time," Gon glared at Illumi. "I'll make you pay!"

Illumi stared blankly at Gon. "Make me pay? What exactly will you do?"

"Nothing," Gon surprisingly replied, before clarifying his intent. "Once we rescue Killua, we'll make sure you never see him again!"

As if a doll had come to life, Illumi reached his free hand towards Gon, but before he could make contact, Sakura stepped between them. With swift precision, she slapped Illumi's hand aside, the sound echoing softly through the room. Illumi and Sakura exchanged silent stares, their unspoken confrontation hanging in the air.

Netero cleared his throat, breaking the silence once more. Illumi, Gon, and Sakura separated, attentively listening to his words. "Are we done here? Gon and Sakura are correct. You must decide for yourselves if you are worthy of passing. Feel free to voice your complaints, but we will not be changing our minds. Killua has been disqualified, and the rest of you have passed the exam."

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The orientation had been brief, but it left a lasting impression on Sakura. Bean explained the significance of the Hunter licenses they had all earned. The little card in her hand felt like a key to the world she found herself in—a world where 90% of countries with immigration restrictions were accessible, along with 75% of restricted areas. They also had free access to 95% of public facilities and a line of credit that rivaled most establishments. The importance of protecting their licenses was emphasized since they couldn't be replaced. Their first challenge would be to safeguard their cards.

As everyone prepared to leave the orientation, Gon and Sakura had their sights set on Illumi. With determination, they followed him closely, with Gon taking the lead. He wasted no time in demanding answers.

"Tell us where Killua is," Gon asserted, his impatience palpable.

Illumi glanced back at the two, a hint of skepticism in his expression. "Are you going to take him away?"

"That's what we said," Sakura replied firmly, her resolve matching Gon's.

"I think it's a bad idea," Illumi countered.

"I don't care what you think!" Gon declared boldly. "Killua is our friend, and we're taking him with us."

Leorio and Kurapika, who had been present but unnoticed until now, stepped forward. Illumi turned his attention to them, questioning their stance on the matter. Leorio wasted no time in expressing his support. Though Kurapika remained silent, he nodded in affirmation, conveying his agreement.

Illumi deliberated for a moment, contemplating his next move. He knew that if Gon and Sakura came for Killua, his brother would likely return with them. However, the challenge for them would be reaching Killua, which seemed near impossible. Illumi's gaze shifted to Sakura, recalling her strength and the power she displayed during her fight. He wanted to demonstrate to Gon the vast difference between him and Killua, but he hesitated, sensing something intriguing about Sakura. There was a mystery surrounding her origin, and it was evident that she didn't belong to the same world as them, at least not in the same sense.

"Fine," Illumi finally relented after a few moments of contemplation. "Killua went home. To Kukuroo Mountain. Our family lives at the very top."

"Kukuroo Mountain," Gon repeated, committing the information to memory. "Got it, thanks."

As Sakura, Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio turned to leave, Illumi called out to Sakura, halting her in her tracks.

"Sakura," Illumi spoke her name, and she glanced back at him. "If you truly want to be with Killua, you should just kill someone."

The statement caught Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika off guard, ready to retaliate. But Sakura raised her hand, signaling them to hold back.

"Why do you say that?" Sakura asked, her voice eerily calm.

"Because there is a darkness inside of you as well. I saw a glimpse during your fight," Illumi explained, extending his hand. "One day, it'll swallow you whole, and then you'll only be able to stand by Kil's side."

Sakura narrowed her eyes, a faint hint of bloodlust creeping into her demeanor. She barely lifted her feet from the ground, but the others could feel a light breeze as Sakura vanished from their sight, reappearing in front of Illumi. He was taken aback by her speed, unable to follow her movements.

Gripping Illumi's clothing, Sakura spoke in a deadly calm tone, her words dripping with intensity. "You know, hearing you talk like this makes me realize what Killua must have endured his whole life. It makes sense why he would want to leave."

Tightening her grip, Sakura brought Illumi down to her eye level, rendering him immobile. "I'll be with Killua on my terms. And understand this right now..." A sliver of bloodlust slipped through her demeanor, causing Illumi's eyes to widen slightly.

"Then maybe I can't approve of your relationship with Kil."

"I don't care! I don't need your approval. I'm not going to let someone I care about be taken from me, even if the person taking them is as close as blood!"

With that, Sakura released her hold on Illumi, pushing him back, and stormed back to her friends. Even as Illumi spoke, she didn't turn to look at him.

"You know, one day you might try to kill Killua."

Sakura halted once again, but she didn't face Illumi this time. Her voice carried an air of determination. "I'd rather let him betray me before that day comes."

Leorio and Kurapika exchanged wary glances, their lips curled inward as they refrained from telling Sakura that they had picked up on the subtle hints she and Gon had missed during the conversation with Illumi. Their overwhelming anger towards Illumi may have clouded their ability to fully comprehend the implications.

"Do you think he meant...?" Leorio's voice trailed off softly.

"I'd rather not guess," Kurapika responded, his tone cautious.

As the four friends left, Illumi watched their retreating figures. He felt a strong urge to kill Gon and prevent him from taking Killua away, but he knew that Hisoka wouldn't allow it since Gon was declared his prey. As for Sakura...

"I better send a message back home," Illumi muttered, recognizing the need to inform the Zoldyck family about the developing situation.

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"I swear Sakura you're insane. First Hisoka, now that guy," Leorio whistled. "What are you, just suicidal by instinct?" 

Sakura scoffed softly, flexing her fingers, She was getting better at handling those types even when she was terrified of them. Illumi was no exception, but her rage had kept her stable, as well as reckless. 

"So," Sakura trailed, looking back and forth between the three males as they gathered at a bench in the gardens of the hotel. "Does anyone know where Kukuroo Mountain is?"

"Never heard of it before," Gon shook his head, 

"Do you know where it is Kurapika?" Sakura asked, but when she looked back at the Kurta, he seemed to be present but not all there.

"Kurapika?" Leorio called.

The boy finally looked up, "Huh? What is it?" 

"The mountain, do you know where it is?" Leorio asked. 

"No, I don't, We can look it up online." 

Sakura tilted her head slightly; "Kurapika, are you alright?" 

Kurapika didn't respond and Sakura couldn't press for an answer, because Hanzo had spotted the group and was coming up to them. Gon and Sakura greeted Hanzo in a welcoming manner.

"Hey," 

"Hanzo-san!" Gon called. 

"It was a short, yet seemingly long acquaintance but I had fun." 

"Yeah fun," Sakura mumbled doubtfully. 

"So did I," Gon said; although none of his friends were understanding what was so fun about being tortured for three hours straight. 

It was clear that Hanzo had come with a purpose, as he handed them cards with the location of his home country. "If you ever visit my country let me know. I'll show you the best tourist spots." 

Sakura raised her eyebrow, taking the card, "Thanks." 

"And Sakura," Hanzo straightened himself before bowing to the pink-haired girl "As a fellow ninja, I hope to see you again in the future." 

Sakura stilled, glancing at Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika who were giving her the same curiously odd expressions before their eyes widened in realization. They gasped, pointing to her. 

"You're a ninja!?" 

Sakura just laughed pathetically, "Surprise?" 

It would have probably been more of a dramatic discovery if it hadn't been for the battle they witnessed against Hisoka, as well as the slow revelation of Sakura's abilities. Although they were offended, it wasn't so much the fact that Sakura had kept the fact from them as much as that she told Hanzo she was a ninja but continued to play an enigma with them. 

"You didn't tell your friends?" Hanzo asked, 

"Well….." 

"No, she didn't," The three males grumbled. 

Hanzo waved deciding to take his leave quickly, "Well, I wish you four the best of luck and hope to see you again," 

Leorio, Gon, and Kurapika all turned their heads to the Sakura after Hanzo left, but they weren't able to bring up their gathered thoughts because Pokkle made an appearance almost immediately after Hanzo. 

"Hey guys," Pokkle waved, "Are you all getting ready to take off?" 

"Yeah," Gon replied.

"I just wanted to wish you guys good luck from here." 

"Thanks," Gon then looked at the device Pokkle was clutching, "Ne, what's that?" 

"Oh, this?" Pokkle held up the tablet, "You can use it to obtain all kinds of information. Is there anything you'd like to know? I can look it up, on the spot." 

 Gon held his chin in thought, "Can you look up a Hunter named Ging Freecs?" 

"Sure," 

Pokkel opened the plastic covering and Sakura saw a flat screen light up with icons she couldn't place. She had already deduced that this world's technology was a lot more advanced than back in her world. 

"Who is this Ging guy?" Pokkle asked, frowning at the screen as he stopped tapping his fingers on the screen, "All information relating to him is behind a tight security system that requires a bunch of different accesses." 

"In other words, that information isn't attainable?" Sakura asked. 

"Not easily at least. This person has some serious influence even on a national level."

Gon seemed taken aback, "Huh really? Forget it then,"

All that was made clear to the group then was that Gon's father must have certainly been someone special, though Gon didn't seem all that interested in the fact. Pokkle then gave them his e-mail address so that they could stay in touch with each other before leaving after a brief greeting. 

It was amazing how energetic everyone had become after finally passing this exam. As if a weight had been lifted off their shoulders. Meanwhile, Sakura was still carrying hers and only adding more to it. 

Leorio then slumped, realizing that they should have asked Pokkle to look up Kukuroo Mountain's location while they were at it but Kurapika assured him that they could do that themselves since they were all Hunter's now, they had access to all kinds of information. 

"Hey while we're looking that up," Leorio turned to Sakura, "Sakura, do you think you could tell us what was going on with-

"Gon-kun, Sakura-san" 

Satotz stood on the stone path in the gardens near the four. He was holding the binders with Sakura and Gon's licenses. 

"You forget these." 

"Oh," Sakura and Gon went up to Satotz, accepting the binders and thanking him. Satotz then looked to Gon. 

"Gon, do you have a moment?" 

Gon looked back and forth between Leorio, Sakura, and Kurapika all three nodding at him to go on ahead. It was obvious that Satotz had something important to discuss and no one minded being excluded.

..

..

…

"So you're a ninja-like Hanzo, Sakura?" Leorio said, rolling up his sleeves.

Sakura nodded hesitantly. "Yeah... I guess."

Leorio continued a hint of admiration in his voice. "Well, now that your crazy power makes sense. I mean, that Hanzo guy had to endure some serious training. I'm guessing the same goes for you, huh?"

Squirming in her chair, Sakura adjusted the towel tucked around her neck, stealing glances at Leorio, who held a sharp pair of scissors in his hands. When they had left Gon to talk to Satotz, Leorio had casually pointed out that her hair looked terrible, as if she had lost a fight to a pair of safety scissors. Leorio had then rummaged through the waiting room and found a pair of scissors to cut her hair.

"Oh, will you just relax!? There's no way I can make it look any worse than it is right now," Leorio reassured her, attempting to make small talk to distract her.

Sakura swallowed, feeling the comb brush through her hair, and listened as Leorio commented on how uneven it already was. Without a mirror in front of her, she couldn't see what he was doing.

Meanwhile, Kurapika sat at the table with them, holding back laughter every time Sakura mouthed 'help' while Leorio prepared to cut her hair. The current state of her hair was already terrible, with uneven sections and a disheveled appearance.

"You don't cut your hair do you?" Sakura asked just as the scissors grew closer to her hair.

"What's wrong with my hair?!" Leorio retorted defensively.

Sakura leaned forward in the chair. "Nothing—nothing at all! It looks great on you, and I don't care how my hair turns out. I just don't think I can pull off the look you're going for."

Amusement flickered in Kurapika's eyes as he imagined Leorio with pink hair. He covered his mouth to stifle a snicker, while Sakura stared at Leorio in disbelief. "At least someone's enjoying this," she thought.

"Seriously, you can take on Hisoka in a fight, but you're scared to have your hair cut?" Leorio exclaimed.

"Well..." Sakura shrugged, stretching her bottom lip. "I don't want to upset you while you have a pair of scissors near my head. But yes, I'm kind of scared, especially considering the length you want to cut."

"Well, it's the only way you're not going to look like you have constant bedhead or lost a fight to a machete!" Leorio stated bluntly.

Sakura's short and choppy hair had resulted from her neglect to maintain it properly. She had only given it the basic attention required for hygiene, disregarding any effort to style or take better care of it.

When she was twelve, she had wanted to grow out her hair as long as possible to impress Sasuke, based on a rumor that he liked girls with long hair. The memory of her childish foolishness brought a wave of embarrassment to Sakura each time she thought about it. Later, she enjoyed having shoulder-length hair as it reminded her of the first time she felt like a true ninja. It symbolized the moment when she had found her courage and strength, fighting against an enemy to protect her friends. Those were the experiences that mattered to her, not the length of her hair.

Leorio's remark about Hisoka's attack brought Sakura back to the present. It reminded her of everything she had gone through in this new world, the friends and allies she had made and the enemies she had faced. She had stood up to Hisoka and protected her friends, feeling a surge of excitement in a battle that she hadn't experienced before. It was a newfound eagerness and strength that she held onto dearly.

Sakura reached behind her, running her fingers along the back of her neck, trailing them down to her throat, a small smile forming on her lips. She had faced death and come out stronger, and that gave her the confidence to face any challenge, even a haircut.

"Alright, Leorio, go ahead," she finally said.

Leorio let out a relieved sigh, running his fingers along Sakura's hair to gather the tresses together. "Here we go."

Sakura didn't flinch as she heard the first snip of the scissors.

Kurapika observed Sakura silently as she endured her haircut. He had been in awe of her display of power during her match with Hisoka, but amidst all the events that followed, he hadn't had the chance to address it with her. He wanted to know what kind of training she had undergone to become so powerful. Despite Hisoka's greater combat experience, Sakura had held her ground, and Kurapika desired that same strength. He believed it would be crucial in facing the Phantom Troupe.

Lost in his thoughts, Kurapika failed to keep track of time as Leorio put down the scissors and removed the towel from Sakura's neck.

"Alright, you're all good, Sakura," Leorio declared.

Sakura huffed, feeling the tips of her hair tickling her forehead. "I told you bangs don't suit me."

"Well, these do. Now, stand up," Leorio instructed.

Sakura grumbled softly but followed his command, shaking off the pink strands that had fallen onto her clothes. She couldn't help but admit that Leorio had cut off more hair than she had anticipated.

"Oi, Kurapika," Leorio called out to the blonde, realizing his friend's distraction.

"Huh? What is it?" Kurapika asked, his thoughts still lingering elsewhere.

Rolling his eyes, Leorio pointed his thumb toward Sakura. Kurapika's gaze followed Leorio's gesture and landed on the bashful pink-haired girl standing in front of them, her hands folded in front of her, squirming.

"What do you think?" Leorio asked a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Kurapika felt a blush creep onto his cheeks as he admired Sakura's new haircut.

..

..

..

..

Satotz knew of Ging. That's what he wanted to talk about with Gon when he asked for some of his time. They sat on the bench under the shade, where Satotz told Gon about his specific work as a hunter, which was the finding and restoration of ancient ruins. In the beginning, all he had focused on was the glory of the discovery but after watching a particular hunter at work, he felt ashamed. Seeing the Hunter discover new ruins, spends his own money to restore and preserve them. Satotz was impressed by his dedication and ability to lead rather than the beauty of the ruins. That was Ging. While Satotz had wanted to learn more about Ging, it turned out that the man was indeed not only elusive to his son. But to most of the world. 

Satotz seemed like he wanted to say something just before he parted ways with Gon but withdrew himself just as quickly

Gon searched the quiet lobby for his friends, but couldn't see them anywhere. He had assumed they would be by the computers, not no one was present. A minute later he heard them calling, as they came down the other hallway into the lobby. Gon smiled widely, running up to them. He looked at Sakura.

"Ne, Sakura what happened to your hair?" 

"Leorio cut it," 

The twelve-year-old smiled widely, "It looks really good on you!"

With a light pink forming on her cheeks, Sakura grinned back bashfully. "Thanks," 

Albeit she had been a bit anxious about letting Leorio cut her hair, the results were satisfactory. What it lacked in length was made up for in style; while it was a bit boyish ending right above her neck, it was charmingly fitting. Though she didn't want to admit that to Leorio who was already taking pride in his task that was supposedly, 'near impossible'. 

"Okay, let's look up Kukuroo Mountain," Kurapika slid into the chair in front of one of the computers. Gon, Sakura, and Leorio stood right behind him as he searched the internet for Kukuroo Mountain. Almost instantaneously getting results. A few images of the mountain with a long list of information appeared, including the location. It was in the Dentora region of the Republic of Pakodea. 

"Where is this exactly?" asked Leorio, 

"Hang on, I'll bring up a map," Kurapika said, typing quickly. Sakura watched a little too fascinated; wanting to know how to use a computer here as quickly as possible since she could use it to look up any information-especially now that she had her Hunter's license.

However when they looked at the map, it was clear they weren't going to be able to walk there, in fact, the republic was located on another continent. Kurapika said it should be fine to enter since it allowed regular tourists.

"That's where we'll find Killua?" asked Gon. 

Kurapika raised an eyebrow, holding his chin in thought. "It'll take about three days to reach by airship," 

"Three days?" Sakura gaped. That place was further than she thought and Killua already had a couple hours head start on them, so he'd already be back at home by the time they got to Pakodea. 

"That's right. When do you leave?" 

Gon immediately chided, frightening Kurapika, "Today, right now!" 

Leorio nodded, "Yeah, no objections from me," 

"That goes triple for me!" Sakura stated determinedly. 

"Alright then!" Kurapika said, hyped. "Let's go," 

..

..

..

Kurapika had ordered the tickets for them online and then after they left the hotel and called a taxi that would take them to an airport. Sakura tried her best not to look at the vehicle as if she hadn't ever seen one before in her life (which she hadn't); transportation in her world was limited to caravans and such. However, she quickly found that this mode of transportation wasn't as reliable as she thought, especially when there were so many on the roads at one time. The cars were lined up as far as the eye could see, the sun had already started to set and it wouldn't be long before their flight was scheduled to leave. 

Sakura shifted a little, being seated between Leorio and Gon. "Are we even moving?" 

"We haven't been moving for over an hour," Leorio stated. 

"This won't do," Kurapika said over the back seat, "We'll miss out flight." 

Gon held his face in thought while Leorio tried asking the driver if they could move any faster, of course, that was impossible. That's when it clicked.

"In that case…..we'll just run!"

Sakura snickered, feeling the wind against her skin as she ran along the side of the road where you could see the ocean immediately to your left; ignoring the expressions of the onlookers in their vehicles Gon, Leorio, Kurapika, and Sakura continued to make their way past them.

"Gon, do you realize how far the airport is?" Leorio called, 

Gon turned around, with a bright smile on his face, "I want to rescue Killua as soon as possible," 

That statement was enough to put an extra jolt in Sakura's steps as she caught up with Gon, "That's right. And besides, doesn't this kinda remind you of the Hunter Exam?" 

Kurapika smiled at the memory that had been a great hurdle they had overcome. "You're right." 

"This is nothing compared to the Hunter exam!"

What was a simple trip to the airport had suddenly become a race. The moment put smiles on the friends ' faces, yet they weren't able to forget the real reason they were running. 

'Don't worry Killua, we're coming!' 

And that's all for now! Don't forget to check out my TUMBLR for more info regarding the latest chapter updates and…WAIT! 

Here's a little SNEAK PEEK into what you have to look forward to: 

CROSSROADS OF FATE CHAPTER 14

"The official name of this gate is the Testing gate. Anyone who cannot open this gate is unworthy of entering the Zoldyck estate." 

"Do you understand now? This is just what's required to get through the door. They live in a completely different world." 

"I don't like this," Gon stated. 

"Neither do I," Sakura said, her eyes fixated on the gate. She began to back away a few steps before stopping, "Everyone, get out of the way."

When everyone looked back, Sakura was standing a bit of a distance from them, but at the center of the gate. 

"Sakura, hold on!" Leorio called, "You can't seriously be thinking about-

Sakura glared at the gate, "You say Killua lives in a different world…..well, guess what…" 

With a powerful spring in her step, Sakura sprinted forward her intense glare might have been fixed on the Testing Gate, but it was enough to make Gon, Kurapika, Leorio, and Zebro step back as she let out a cry before slamming her fist in the middle of the first gate. There was hardly a sound on impact, but in that second a powerful force caused every single door of that two-hundred and fifty-six-ton gate to open with a heavy swing. Opening to a forest in view and further in the distance, the mountain was visible. 

"So do I," 

And that's what you'll be getting in the next update but if you want to get a hold of these latest chapters check out my Tumblr where you can join as a member and see the shoutouts. 

MEMBERS NOW: https://ko-fi.com/katsura369/tiers

-SPECIAL HALLOWEEN CHAPTER: Shinigami amongst Shinobi

-Kunoichi amongst Heroes chapter 53, 54, 55

-Kunoichi amongst Heroes WHAT IF SPIN OFF: Dorms and Exams

-Kunoichi amongst Pirates chapter 19, 20, 21, 22

-Crossroads of Fate chapter 14, 15

-Through the Looking Glass chapter 17, 18. 19, 20

-(SEQUEL) Through the Spyglass chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Public post 30 NOVEMBER

-Kunoichi amongst Heroes chapter 53

-Kuniochi amongst Pirates chapter 20

-Through the Looking Glass chapter 18

SEE YOU SOON!