Talent × Agony × Killer Instinct (才能×苦悩×ころしの本能, Sainō × Kunō × Koroshi no Honnō) is the 43rd episode of the original Hunter × Hunter anime. It first aired on October 28th, 2000.
Overview[]
After Gon's match, Killua wants to compete, eager to test his strength. Gido, Sadaso, and Riehlvelt kidnap Zushi to bribe Killua into forfeiting his matches so that they can win easily. Killua threatens Sadaso's life, who withdraws due to fear and warns the others.
Synopsis[]
The referee from Gon and Hisoka's fight defends his decisions and scoring from the match in an interview. Sadaso joins Riehlvelt and Gido in their room, who are watching the interview on their TV. Riehlvelt outlines some of their potential options once the three of them become Floor Masters, and all three seem eager to reach that goal.
Dorado gets killed
Killua faces off against Dorado in a match. While trying to strike Dorado, Killua gets knocked down by Dorado's spear, which slices Killua's shirt in the process. Killua defends and absorbs a full attack from Dorado. When Dorado attempts to strike him again; however, Killua whizzes by him, and Dorado suddenly falls over dead.
After the fight, Zushi congratulates Killua on being so strong, but Killua seems dejected. Gon reflects on his match with Hisoka, and Wing recommends that Gon take the next month off to recuperate and think about how he will develop his Nen ability; Gon agrees. Wing then takes Killua on a walk to talk.
While they are out, Killua confesses to Wing that he hadn't meant to use the Nen he did at the end of his match with Dorado and feels like he doesn't belong in the same training as Gon and Zushi. Wing tells him that his training doesn't exclude people based on their background and upbringing and that Killua can continue to train under him if he wants to. In return, he asks that Killua try to follow his path rather than believe he has to follow in his older brother's footsteps. Killua decides to continue training alongside Gon and Zushi, even though he isn't sure if it's right for him, and Killua appears happy.
Gon, Zushi, and Killua get ice cream together and return to Killua's room to continue practicing their Nen. On the elevator ride up, the boys all sense a presence outside of the elevator, and the doors open to reveal Sadaso, Riehlvelt, and Gido waiting for them. Sadaso tries to convince the boys, particularly Gon, to sign up for a fight with him, but Gon refuses because he promised Wing he wouldn't fight for a month. Sadaso is left unhappy, particularly because his deadline for finding his next match is approaching.
Sadaso knocks out Zushi
After training together in Killua's room until it gets late, Zushi and Gon say goodnight to Killua and leave. Killua seems aware that something is about to happen. Zushi walks back to Wing's place on his own and, while walking through an alley, is suddenly unable to move. Sadaso approaches him from behind, and Zushi falls over unconscious. Before he or his trio can do anything, however, Killua confronts them and offers to sign up for a match with each of them, even offering to let them beat him if they'll let Zushi go and stop bothering them. They go with Killua and sign up for a match right away, and Killua takes the unconscious Zushi home after warning the group not to mess with them again.
However, while this happens, Gido calls Gon and tells him to look outside his door, where Gon finds Zushi's discarded shoe. Gido tells Gon that if he wants to see Zushi again, he must do what he says.
The next morning, Killua arrives at Gon's door and rings the bell, but Gon never answers. While Killua is walking in the city, he hears someone scalping tickets on the streets to Gon and Sadaso's match and buys one. Killua walks away angrily, damaging a giant Heavens Arena stone ad on his way.
Killua arrives at Wing's place, happy that Zushi has recovered. Outside, Gon talks to Killua about how they were both blackmailed into fighting Sadaso and his group, and Killua says he has no intention of actually losing to them. Gon worries about what will happen to Zushi if Killua doesn't throw the match, but Killua seems confident and unfazed.
Killua threatens Sadaso
The three boys continue to spend time together leading up to Killua's fight with Sadaso. On the day of the match, Sadaso happily prepares for his fight by himself, but Killua comes up behind him and threatens to kill him if he does anything. He continues threatening Sadaso, insisting that he never show his face at Heavens Arena again.
In the ring, Killua and the referee await Sadaso's appearance, but he never shows. The announcer claims that Sadaso has even cleared out all of his belongings from his room. Once the time is up, the referee declares Killua the winner by default.
Sadaso leaves town
Riehlvelt and Gido watch this happen on the TV in their room, and Riehlvelt calls Sadaso to question him. Sadaso sounds terrified, warning his two peers about Killua and telling them not to mess with him anymore. Sadaso then hangs up the phone and leaves town. Despite Sadaso's warning, Riehlvelt confidently insists that he will go through with his match anyways, and Killua appears inside their room. Killua threatens them both and leaves ominously, but Riehlvelt still doesn't seem deterred from fighting.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Sadaso
- Gido
- Riehlvelt
- Killua Zoldyck
- Dorado (Debut)
- Cocco
- Gon Freecss
- Wing
- Zushi
Trivia[]
Anime and Manga Differences[]
- In the manga and 2011 adaptation, Killua uses a knife to threaten Sadaso. In the 1999 adaptation, he uses his claws.
- In the manga and 2011 adaptation, Killua threatens Sadaso while wearing his turtleneck and V-neck shirt outfit. In the 1999 adaptation, he wears his baseball cap outfit. In all three versions, he shows up to their fight in these respective outfits.
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