Chapter 17

Disparate Choice (不自由な2択, Fujiyū na Nitaku) is the 17th chapter of the Hunter × Hunter manga, written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi.

Synopsis
Leorio confronts Tonpa after he gave up his match against Bendot. Tonpa explains that he never wished to become a Hunter in the first place. All he wants to see are people with dreams giving up. He tells the group that from this point on, they will fail.

The prisoners are watching them, very amused. Every hour the group wastes will shorten their life sentences by a year. They assure themselves that they will win the next 2 matches. Kurapika tells the group about the prisoners' life sentences. Killua frightens Tonpa by telling him that Bendot would have ripped out his throat, and tortured him until their time is up.

The next prisoner is Sedokan, a serial bomber. Gon volunteers to fight next, to which nobody complains. The prisoner assures Gon that he is not a fighter, physical attacks are not his kind of thing. Gon tells otherwise, saying that he prefers attacks rather than using his brain. Sedokan prepared a game that they will both enjoy. They will light a candle, and the one whose candle goes off first, loses. However, Gon has to choose whether he will take the long or short candle. He asks the group, which instead opts to rely on his instinct. Without further ado, Gon chooses the longer one.

After lighting up their candles at the same time, the match begins. Kurapika deduces that the candle will take 5 or 6 hours to burn. All of a sudden, the fire on Gon's candle becomes more intense. Leorio deducts that there must be gunpowder hidden within it. As a result, the candle will burn in less than 2 minutes. Gon places his candle on the floor, saying that a little breeze won't put out such a strong fire. Thereafter he rushes over to Sedokan and blows on his candle, making Gon the winner.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Tonpa
 * Leorio
 * Killua
 * Kurapika
 * Gon
 * Bendot
 * Lippo
 * Sedokan