Stealing the Ball X Rhythm Echo X Two Straight Losses

Netero led the three boys to an indoor sports court.

Though it was called a sports court, there wasn't a single piece of exercise equipment in the room, leaving it remarkably empty.

Netero took off his robe, revealing an old man's white undershirt, kicked off his wooden sandals, and pulled a ball from behind his back, lazily spinning it on his finger.

Brimming with curiosity, Gon eagerly asked, "So, what new game are we playing?"

"Probably a game of stealing the ball."

Seeing no equipment in the room, Kaya figured that was about the only game they could play, so he offered that guess.

Netero bounced the ball on his head like a seal and said, "Exactly. The game is stealing the ball."

"If any of you can take this ball from me, you win."

What a boring game. I'd rather go to sleep!

Kaya and Gon looked a little disappointed, but since he was the chairman, neither turned him down outright.

"I'm not playing. This game is boring!"

Killua spoke bluntly, showing Netero no deference whatsoever. He turned to leave, but Kaya grabbed him.

"A game needs a winner and a loser, and if there are winners and losers, there should be a prize. Fair enough?"

Kaya looked at Netero.

"Indeed."

Netero chuckled inwardly. This little brat is a clever one. I might as well dangle a carrot in front of them.

"You're absolutely right. In that case, if any one of you three can take this ball from me, I'll give you your Hunter Licenses on the spot."

"And don't worry. I won't attack you. You, on the other hand, are free to attack me."

"What?" all three exclaimed.

Even Kaya was stunned by that offer. He'd only meant to wrangle a little something out of him, not a prize this good.

Gon's goal was clear and unwavering: become a Hunter and find his father. He didn't particularly care how he got there.

When Netero offered this ball-stealing game as a way to earn a Hunter License, he jumped with excitement.

Without a moment's hesitation, he declared, "I'm in!"

"Who knows if you're just stringing us along?"

Killua was much calmer. After all, he'd only entered for fun, and his desire to become a Hunter wasn't nearly as urgent as Kaya's or Gon's.

"Rest assured, I'm the chairman of the Hunter Association. I keep my word." Netero patted the ball. "Besides, do you really think you can take it?"

Faced with a taunt from the strongest man in the world, all three were eager to try.

"Who's going first?" Kaya asked.

Before Gon could speak, Killua stepped forward.

The serious look in Killua's eyes stirred a strange sense of anticipation in Kaya.

This was a perfect chance to test Netero's true strength and find out just how strong Killua was, too.

"Here I come!"

With a low shout, Killua vanished from where he stood.

A second later, he was already at Netero's left side, trying to snatch the ball in one move.

"So fast!" Gon exclaimed. "Kaya, is Killua as fast as you?"

"About the same."

Kaya kept his eyes fixed on the court, giving an absentminded answer for fear of missing a single exciting moment.

Of course, with Illumi's Nen Needle suppressing him, Killua couldn't even draw out fifty percent of his potential. Otherwise, Kaya wouldn't have been so confident in his assessment.

Even so, Killua's speed was astonishing.

But Netero reacted even faster.

Just as Killua was about to succeed, Netero merely shifted to the side, easily evading his attack.

He had the air of a man who could handle anything without changing his approach.

When his first grab missed, Killua spun around and reached again, only to discover that Netero was already dozens of meters away.

"Good speed, but not good enough," Netero's voice drifted over.

After just one exchange, Kaya understood the gap between them. He sighed. "There's no way we can get it."

At his current level, Killua's speed was already at its limit, yet Netero could react instantly and move that far in a flash. Such strength was downright terrifying.

Killua's gaze darkened. That speed is terrifying. He doesn't seem like an old man at all. Just how old is he?

"What's wrong? Is that all you've got? A little disappointing." Netero spun the ball in his hand as he spoke.

"You're looking down on me?"

Killua tossed off his long-sleeved shirt, leaving only his fitted tank top, then lowered his body and rushed toward Netero.

In barely a second, he was right beside him.

Keeping his body low, Killua raised his right leg and swept it viciously at Netero's legs from the side.

Netero smiled faintly, making no attempt to dodge.

Thud! Their shins collided with such force that even Kaya couldn't bear to watch.

Seeing his attack land, Killua flashed a triumphant smile, but his triumph didn't last long.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!"

A moment later, he was clutching his shin and rolling on the floor.

"This old man's legs are like steel!" Killua grimaced in pain.

Netero was highly impressed by Killua's kick. He knew that an ordinary person's leg bones would probably have been shattered.

Frustrated after two failed moves, Killua's eyes darkened. Looks like I'll have to get a little serious!

After rubbing his reddened shin, Killua stood and began walking slowly around the court, moving as leisurely as if he were out for a stroll.

Before long, numerous afterimages appeared around him.

"Are my eyes playing tricks on me? I can see a whole bunch of Killuas!" Gon exclaimed. "Kaya, do you know how he's doing that?"

"How would I know? Maybe they're afterimages from moving really fast."

Kaya carefully studied Killua's footwork, trying to find a pattern in his movements.

Netero marveled inwardly. This boy has already mastered the assassination technique Rhythm Echo at such a young age.

This footwork created illusions through alternating fast and slow movements to confuse an opponent, an advanced application of Silent Step.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Killua suddenly appeared in midair and launched an attack. Netero glided aside, easily dodging him, then quickly leaped up.

As one rose and the other fell, Netero balanced the ball on his head and pressed down lightly with his left hand, leaving Killua flat on the floor.

"Killua, my turn, my turn!" Gon raised his hand and stood on tiptoe, already itching to try.

Killua got up sheepishly, walked over to Gon, and warned him, "This old man's really strong. Be careful."

Gon stretched. "It's fine. Chairman Netero won't hit back anyway."

"Does your leg still hurt?" Kaya patted the floor beside him, motioning for Killua to sit down.

"It's not too bad. That rotten old man's such a bully, pinning me to the floor. Usually, hardly anyone can push me around like that."

Killua pouted and rubbed his pale shin. His words were defiant, but his expression was dejected.

The two fell silent and turned their attention to Gon on the court.

He leaned forward slightly, pushed hard against the floor, and charged straight at Netero.

Netero seemed to have seen through his strategy-which was to have no strategy at all, simply rushing head-on at top speed.

Kaya and Killua thought the same, figuring Gon had a one-track mind.

He was a little slower than Killua, so recklessly attacking head-on gave him no chance of winning.

Just as Netero let his guard down, however, Gon abruptly changed direction in midair and vanished from in front of him.

Thump.

Failing to control the force of his jump, he slammed straight into the ceiling. Gon clutched his head and cried out in pain.

His frontal charge had actually been meant to mislead his opponent, allowing him to change direction midway and attack from above to catch him off guard.

"You idiot! We know you're good at jumping, but you have to consider where you are! We're indoors!" Killua looked utterly exasperated.

Kaya pressed a hand to his forehead. "A surprise move only works once. Fooling Netero again is going to be hard."

The tactic had indeed caught Netero off guard. He hadn't expected this seemingly simple boy to possess such keen combat instincts.

As expected, Gon couldn't get close to Netero again over the next forty minutes. The relentless sprints left him panting and drenched in sweat.