Hunter x Hunter: Unleashed

Auren walks toward his target, approaching the familiar and somewhat iconic group of four examinees sitting in the lounge.

Gon is sitting next to Killua, while Kurapika sits beside Leorio, a table in the middle separating the two pairs, their mood quite positive and light, with only Killua looking a little nervous.

As Auren approaches them, they immediately tense up and stare at him.

“Bad news,” Auren says, before looking directly at the tallest member of the group. “Leorio... you’ve been disqualified from the exam because of the use of illegal substances.”

“What?!” Leorio yells, his eyes widening in shock. “That’s not true!”

“Leorio!” Gon shouts, his face full of worry for his friend.

Only Killua sighs, while Kurapika smiles faintly.

“Enough with the jokes,” Killua says. “Did you finally decide to tell me the truth?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Auren replies, waving his hand dismissively. “Because of you, I had to go through quite a bit of trouble. You owe me.”

“Huh? What about the disqualification?!” Leorio asks, still staring at him.

“Leorio... he was joking,” Kurapika explains, his eyes showing a trace of pity for his naive friend.

“You... that’s not funny!” Leorio yells, angrily pointing at Auren, while Kurapika looks embarrassed on his behalf. Only Gon smiles, quite happy about the reveal.

“So?! What is it?” Killua asks, no longer willing to wait.

“Well... it might be easiest to simply show you, I guess?” Auren says, before slowly stretching out his hand.

He then activates Biting Cold, transmuting his Aura into his unique, freezing force that mimics frost, completely invisible to Non-Nen users, apart from the small amount of fog created by the cold itself, a byproduct of the Aura.

Gently and carefully, so as not to overwhelm the group too much, he sends his Aura forward in only very small quantities.

At once, all four examinees freeze.

In just a single second, they begin to shiver from fear and cold, unable to comprehend what is happening, their eyes full of desperation and confusion.

Only a few seconds pass, yet their bodies become so stiff that it looks like they have spent hours in a frozen wasteland.

Finally, Auren senses movement, and he pulls back his hand, stopping his Hatsu.

Now, only three people are still sitting in front of him.

Killua is far away, crouching in a distant corner of the lounge behind a tall decorative plant.

That’s rather... silly.

Auren shrugs. “That’s it, I’d say. Nice hiding spot.”

Slowly, still wearing a terrified look, Killua returns.

“What... what was that?!” Killua asks, while the other three remain frozen in shock, still not understanding what just happened.

“Well, that’s something you might be able to learn in the future, but for now, it’s a forbidden and hidden secret,” Auren replies. “For legal reasons, I can’t specifically tell you that you might or might not be taught about it after becoming Hunters. But what I can tell you is this: if you talk about what I’ve already told you and I’m telling you now, I’m going to make you regret it. Get it?”

All four solemnly nod, Auren’s intentions more than clear.

Good.

“If I may ask... what did that little... test prove? Was that another joke?” Kurapika asks. “I believe Killua’s reaction was impressive... I didn’t even think about fleeing. I was just confused and completely frozen in fear.”

“No, it was not a prank, a simple example and demonstration, comparing you with each other... in short, it very easily explains your fatal weakness... Killua,” Auren says. “Mentally, you’ve been through hell, and you are easily the strongest among you four. Yet you were the only one who cowered and ran away in fear. Obviously, I wouldn’t seriously attack or harm you; you must know that, don’t you? So why did you still flee?”

“I... I don’t know,” Killua replies, completely beside himself, his face full of frustration. “Am I a coward...?”

“Not quite... it was more... a habit, an instinct, but not a natural one... an artificial one. Anyway, follow me into an empty room. I believe the rest of this conversation is better said in private... unless you want your friends to know as well. They can come along too, if you want. I’ll leave that up to you,” Auren offers.

“Killua...” Gon mutters, his face full of sadness. Still deep in thought, Killua stares back at Gon, and without thinking, he blurts out, “Okay...”

“That’s a little surprising,” Auren admits. “Then follow me.”

Following Auren to the same room he was in earlier, the four enter it together, Killua lagging behind, his hesitation notable.

Since Illumi talked to me here, I figure he made sure there aren’t any microphones or cameras.

“Before we start... let me make something clear,” Auren tells him. “It may be easier to simply do nothing. Your future would follow a set and predictable course, I believe, and you’d be quite safe. Removing... whatever is controlling you comes with risks. By now, you have forgotten how to function normally and how to live without it. There might be a little period where you’ll be a little confused. Do you want to exchange safety for freedom? It’s not as simple as it sounds... because the truth will be quite a shock to you.”

I’m a little unsure... I believe removing the needle by himself... filled and aided his growth. It was a sort of awakening... removing it without any catalyst... but... 

No, it’s fine... I’ll take responsibility!

“I want to!” Killua yells, not even thinking.

That settles it then.

Auren then points towards the small bed.

“Lie down, will you?” Auren asks.

“Why...?” Killua asks. “Tell me everything before you do anything.”

“Nothing but trouble, aren’t you?” Auren replies. “I don’t want to bore you, and I’m not too keen on revealing too much, so I’ll keep it very short.”

“Your brother brainwashed you, causing a significant shift in your behavior and personality. While he’s not fully controlling you remotely, if he’s close by, he more or less has you under his absolute control, and even if he’s gone, you’ll still be prone to taking certain actions. For example, despite knowing the last phase was safe, you avoided a fight with Hanzo and surrendered your tags just like that. So instead of playing around, which is what you told me you wanted to do, you cowered in fear yet again.”

As Auren reveals the truth, everyone goes silent, sweat appearing on Killua’s forehead. “Why... how?!”

“He loves you in a twisted way, I suppose. While you may hate, fear, and loathe your brother, in his own way, even though it’s quite sick and disgusting, he cares a lot about you... and wants what he believes is best for you. That’s why he stalked you all the way to this exam, and I had to make a deal with him before I got permission to tell you. I’m what you’d call a business partner of your brother.”

“My brother... is here?!” Killua asks.

“The guy with the needles in his head,” Auren explains, all four immediately perking up. “It shouldn’t come as a surprise....”

“Gittarackur,” Kurapika says, recalling the person Auren described.

“He really brainwashed me... and he allowed you to remove it?” Killua asks. “Why? He’s selfish... why would he allow you to do that? He must have been controlling me all this time... but why is he okay with me removing it now? Did you... ask him to?!”

Auren sighs. “Yeah... I got to pay a price for it too.”

Though it’s just a little tedious, hehe. Just a little visit. In the end... I’ll do whatever I want, nothing else! The time when someone controlled me is over as well.

“But he’s not quite selfish, on the contrary. Believe it or not, he thinks it’s in your best interest. In his twisted way, he’s doing it for you... not just for himself. He wants you to have no friends or comrades and always flee from danger. A safe, completely controlled existence, focused solely on your profession and family... and himself, of course. In the end... he’s even willing to let you be the family's successor. It’s not personal gain he’s after.”

“That’s still wrong!” Gon yells, his eyes full of rage. “Killua is not a puppet for him to manipulate!”

“I agree... that’s horrible,” Kurapika says, looking a little pale.

“This family is truly crazy,” Leorio notes. “What lunatics.”

“So... what now?!” Killua asks, nervously.

“Well, I convinced him to drop that mindset or... evolve it. As for the price... after this exam, you’re going home to visit your father and family. I’m accompanying you. The rest... you don’t need to know... yet. Let me just tell you... much like you... I wouldn’t hesitate either. It’s the right decision.”

“I got it. Do it!” Killua says, his voice loud, but clearly nervous.

“Let me see...” Auren says, activating Gyo, while also gathering some leftover Aura in his left palm, pressing Killua tightly down onto the bed.

I can see it... from up close, and if you’ve got enough Aura, it’s definitely visible. Since Illumi is controlling him remotely through Nen, of course, some Aura must be involved... and that Aura is visible, especially on someone who barely leaks any Aura himself. It’s clearly distinguishable from the little bit of his own Aura.

“Before we start... is it true what your brother told me earlier? You like wearing your little brother’s dresses while partaking in tea parties?” Auren asks, staring at Killua.

“Huh?! Are you stupi—” Killua tries to reply, but Auren immediately morphs his right hand into a claw, sharpening his fingers to the limit and inserting them just deep enough into Killua’s forehead to pull out the needle in one quick, precise movement.

“!” Only a moment later, Leorio, Kurapika, and Gon react, but Auren has already removed the needle and stepped back.

“Ouch!” Killua yells, grabbing his forehead. “Are you crazy?! That stings.”

“Shut up,” Auren says. “It was easier this way, wasn’t it? Here it is; you may keep it as a souvenir.” He then throws the small needle in his hand at Killua.

Catching it carefully with his right hand, Killua clenches his other hand. “That... bastard... but... I feel so free! It’s like... my mind is finally clear!”

“...”

“...”

After a brief moment of awkward silence, Killua is now smiling for real, the atmosphere immediately turning bright.

“Thank you...”

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