Volume 9

Shadow Beasts
Volume Information
Release Date	July 4th, 2000
English Release Date	July 5th, 2006
Volume Number	9
Volume Guide
Previous Volume	The Island
Previous Volume	The Island
Next Volume	Fakes, Swindles, and the Old Switcheroo
Next Volume	Fakes, Swindles, and the Old Switcheroo

Shadow Beasts (9月(がつ)()()()()()()()()()1日(か)()()()()()()()()(), Kugatsu Tsuitachi—lit. "September 1^st") is the 9^th volume of the Hunter × Hunter manga series. It was released by Shueisha on July 4^th, 2000 in Japan and by Viz Media on July 5^th, 2006 in English.

Chapters

• 74. September 1^st: Part 3 (9月(がつ)1(つい)日(かち)()()()()()()()③, Kugatsu Tsuitachi (San))
• 75. September 1^st: Part 4 (9月(がつ)1(つい)日(かち)()()()()()()()④, Kugatsu Tsuitachi (Yon))
• 76. September 1^st: Part 5 (9月(がつ)1(つい)日(かち)()()()()()()()⑤, Kugatsu Tsuitachi (Go))
• 77. September 1^st: Part 6 (9月(がつ)1(つい)日(かち)()()()()()()()⑥, Kugatsu Tsuitachi (Roku))
• 78. September 1^st: Part 7 (9月(がつ)1(つい)日(かち)()()()()()()()⑦, Kugatsu Tsuitachi (Nana))
• 79. September 2^nd: Part 1 (9月(がつ)2(ふつ)日(か)()()()()()()()①, Kugatsu Futsuka (Ichi))
• 80. September 2^nd: Part 2 (9月(がつ)2(ふつ)日(か)()()()()()()()②, Kugatsu Futsuka (Ni))
• 81. September 2^nd: Part 3 (9月(がつ)2(ふつ)日(か)()()()()()()()③, Kugatsu Futsuka (San))
• 82. September 2^nd: Part 4 (9月(がつ)2(ふつ)日(か)()()()()()()()④, Kugatsu Futsuka (Yon))
• 83. September 2^nd: Part 5 (9月(がつ)2(ふつ)日(か)()()()()()()()⑤, Kugatsu Futsuka (Go))

Summary

For his first assignment as a bodyguard, Kurapika is stationed outside the Underground Auction building. He becomes aware of the situation inside when security rushes into the Cemetery Building. They discover absolutely nothing—no guests, no bodyguards, no corpses, and no auction items. Noticing a hot-air balloon escaping the building, hundreds of Mafia members follow it to the Gordeau Desert outside the city where they confront seven members of the Phantom Troupe. Uvogin alone greets the Mafia members and starts slaughtering them, with their guns and even rocket launchers completely unable to injure him.

Kurapika and the rest of the Nostrade bodyguards watch the carnage from afar, when four Shadow Beasts, elite Nen-using soldiers under the direct command of the Mafia's Ten Dons, arrive to deal with the Troupe. Once again, Uvogin fights alone, easily killing one with a tremendously powerful punch, but is then paralyzed from the neck down by poison. Even in this condition, he is able to use his teeth, his lungs, and his voice to kill the remaining three. At this moment, Kurapika takes advantage of Uvogin's paralysis and captures him with his Chain Jail ability, quickly driving away from the desert with the other bodyguards. The other Troupe members give chase but are stopped by the arrival of the rest of the Shadow Beasts.

Uvogin is brought to a building indirectly owned by the Nostrade Family where he is questioned, while Kurapika temporarily leaves to meet Hisoka and obtain information about the Troupe. During this time, the other Spiders kill the remaining Shadow Beasts, disguise themselves as Mafia members again, and rescue Uvogin, killing Dalzollene while the others bodyguards escape. Uvogin then swears revenge on the chain user that captured him.

Meanwhile, Gon, Killua, and Leorio have been on the streets, using an arm-wrestling contest as a way of making money. They manage to attract the attention of a Mafia member with their strength, who invites them to a small underground gathering. There, the Mafia announces a 2 billion reward for the capture of any member of the Phantom Troupe. The three eagerly start gathering information on the whereabouts of the Spiders.

As Gon, Killua, and Leorio search for information on foot and through cyberspace, Uvogin has already tracked Kurapika down. Kurapika is just as eager to finally fight a Spider, and both agree to a showdown in the Gordeau Desert. Kurapika's speed initially outmatches Uvogin's strength, which forces the latter to use all his power. Uvogin eventually breaks Kurapika's arm and thinks that he has won, but it's revealed that Kurapika used In to capture Uvogin with his Chain Jail ability. In a flashback with his master, Kurapika is shown to become a Specialist when his eyes turn scarlet. He also makes a vow for his ability that allows it to only work on Troupe members, staking his life on it. With Uvogin unable to break free from the chains, Kurapika reveals that his Specialist ability, Emperor Time, allows him to utilize 100% of all Nen types.

Author's Note

“ Mr. T. (age 34), reported missing, has been found floating in the Tokyo Metropolitan area. There were no noticeable injuries. ” —Yoshihiro Togashi