Twelve-year-old Gon Freecss catches Whale Island's monster fish, the Master of the Swamp to gain permission from his Aunt Mito Freecss to take the Hunter Exam. Aboard the ship going to the location of the examination, Gon impresses the Captain when he predicts a violent storm approaching and meets Leorio and Kurapika. Written by Sheena Frampton

Gon, Kurapika and Leorio reach Dolle Harbor and told by the captain to head for the cedar tree on the hilltop behind the city. The three are stopped by a group of masked people and an old woman posts a riddle requiring them to choose between 2 possible answers. Written by Sheena Frampton

Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio arrive at Zaban City, the venue of the Hunter Exam, where they meet Tonpa another friendly veteran examiners.

Gon befriends Killua. Leorio nearly gives up, but Gon waits for him until Leorio gains the motivation to catch up. Later, the group shares their own reasons of becoming Hunters.

The marathon through the wetlands starts, with Leorio and Kurapika getting separated from Gon and Killua. In the fog, many applicants try to take down Hisoka.

Gourmet Hunters Menchi and Buhara task the applicants to cook a pork dish with meat from the worlds most dangerous pig for the second phase, to the annoyance of applicants.

Chairman Netero sees and challenges them to a game that involves getting a ball from him, telling them that they will automatically become Hunters if they succeed.

For the third phase, the candidates are abandoned at the top of Trick Tower, wherein long-term criminals are kept. They are given 72 hours to get out alive and pass the exam.

Gon faces off against Sedokan and Majitani faces off against Kurapika who reveals a startling and scary secret.

Leorio has to postpone the start of his match until Kurapika officially ends his. However, his opponent is unconscious and cannot surrender. Leorio eventually begins his match, in which the game is gambling.

Leorio's match continues and he struggles to think of bets he is certain to win. Killua faces a serial killer in a fight to the death.

The group must spend the 50 hours Leorio gambled away in a confined room. Once they are out, they must decide by majority on which path to take: one takes 45 hours and allows all 5 to pass, the other takes is faster but only 3 can pass.

Mito reads a letter from Gon recapping his adventure so far.

After exiting Trick Tower, the contestants are taken to Zevil Island to begin stage 4. Each contestant picks a number out of a box and must hunt the contestant with that number on the island.

Gon is relying on Bloodcrazy Butterflies to find his target, Hisoka, before waiting for the perfect time to use his skill with the fishing rod to snatch Hisoka's tag. Meanwhile, Leorio is tricked by Tonpa and loses his own tag, but Kurapika helps him recover it.

Kurapika and Leorio are being stalked by Hisoka, but they managed to negotiate their way out of a fight. However, the encounter leaves Hisoka aroused, so he leaves in search of a new target. Gon is able to use his fishing rod to snatch Hisoka's tag right when Hisoka attacks his target. However, as Gon tries to escape, he is attacked by another applicant and loses his tag.

Killua grows tired of having Imori shadowing him so he challenges Imori to a fight.

Gon and his friends have been trapped inside a cave by poisonous snakes.

Gon and his friends have advanced to the final phase of the Hunter Exam.

Gon wakes up, and finds himself being congratulated by Satotz for being the first person to pass the Hunter Exam.

After arriving in the Republic of Podokea, Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika board a tour bus to Kukuroo Mountain, where Killua lives.

Gon and his friends have decided to pass through the Testing Gate to see Killua. Zebro takes them to the servants' quarters where they meet Seaquant and rest for the night. They discover that every thing in the house is extremely heavy, so they decide to train so they can be strong enough to open the Testing Gate on their own. Meanwhile, Killua is being tortured by his brother Milluki until he is ready to apologize to his mother. Killua learns from his family that his friends are at the estate to see him. Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika are able to open the gate after completing their training (and Gon's left arm heals), but the apprentice butler Canary stands in their way. Just like with Zebro, Gon's conviction touches Canary's heart. Just as Canary is about to let them pass, Killua's mother attacks her. Killua's mother then gives the group a sad message from Killua that may or may not be true.

We witness a few flashbacks from Killua's earlier childhood, mostly between him and Canary. When the flashbacks end, Kikyo, Killua's mother, tells them that Killua cannot see them as he is in solitary confinement. While speaking with the trio, Kikyo suddenly begins screaming to Father that he not do anything hasty. Killua's grandfather, Zeno, arrives in the dungeon and tells Killua he can go, despite Milluka insisting Killua isn't genuinely sorry yet. Killua is summoned by his father, Silva. With help from Canary, who is concerned about Killua, Gon and his friends are getting closer to the mansion. Meanwhile, Killua is bonding with his father (much to Kikyo's strong displeasure), and Silva asks him if he wants to see his friends. Killua answers truthfully that he does, so Silva grants him his freedom with the promise that Killua should never betray his friends. A short squabble between Kikyo and Silva reveals that he still believes Killua will one day return home as the leader of ...

Kikyo confides in Gotoh, the family butler, how emotionally distraught she is over Killua leaving again. With his father's approval, Killua makes his way to the butler's quarters. He instructs Gotoh to let him know the moment Gon and the other arrive. Gotoh complies, but internal dialogue reveals he has other intentions. Canary guides Gon and his friends to the butler office. There, they meet the butler Gotoh, who challenges them to a coin game so he can determine if they are worthy of being Killua's friends. Leorio and Kurapika are disqualified for guessing the wrong hand, leaving only Gon to play the next round. After winning the game and reuniting with Killua, Gon now looks ahead to his next objective. He refuses to use his Hunter's License until he can return Hisoka's number badge. Kurapika reveals that he knows where to find Hisoka and that Hisoka has information about the Phantom Troupe. Leorio and Kurapika leave the group to pursue their own goals. Gon and Killua decide to ...

A letter from Gon arrives at Whale Island for Aunt Mito. A recap of episodes 14 to 25.

Gon and Killua go to the Heaven's Arena, a place where they can train and earn money by fighting other opponents. Gon and Killua quickly advance to the 150th floor, beating their opponents with a single strike.

In Wing's room, Gon, Killua and Zushi are being taught by Wing. He explains the 4 main principles: Ten, Ren, Zetsu and Hatsu. He demonstrates how Ren works, by giving Killua the idea of killing him. Because of the strong pressure, Killua was forced to stay back. Wing advised them to train with Zushi and start mastering Ten but Killua suggests that they should leave. Killua reveals to Gon that Wing was lying all along. Back in Wing's room, he notice Zushi's Ten in unstable. Zushi is troubled because Wing lied to them. Wing only said that for them to know what the other meaning of Nen is. After clearing the 190th floor, Gon and Killua advanced to the 200th floor. They were stopped by a strong aura which made them both wary. An employee appears, stating that they should register before midnight. Hisoka out of nowhere appears in front of the two behind the employee, and warns them that they are not ready yet. Wing appears behind them and offers to teach them the real Nen. Before they left...

Gon and Killua's aura nodes finally open thanks to Wing's help. He teaches them how to pass through Hisoka's barrier of Nen. A few hours before midnight, Gon and Killua come back to the hallway that Hisoka is guarding. They successfully pass through and Gon challenges Hisoka to a fight. Hisoka only replies that if Gon manages to win even one match, Hisoka will accept his challenge. The two successfully register before time runs out. After registering, they are confronted by three fighters from the 200th floor, namely Gido, Sadaso, and Riehlvelt. The two leave and head towards their room. A message saying that Gon's match will be on the next day is seen on the television. The next day, Gido and Gon face off in the arena. Gido launches his spinning tops he called Battle Waltz. Gon is left defenseless in the middle of the ring.

Gon continues his fight with Gido and begins to understand how the Dancing Tops technique works. After he understands the principle behind the technique he is able to evade the attacks. However, he is not able to go on the offensive because of Gido's Tornado Top defense. Gon continues to fight and manages to release some of his hidden talents but eventually loses the fight. After the fight is over Master Wing chastises Gon and forbids him from learning any more about Nen until his injuries heal. Kurapika is denied a job at the Agency and meets a stranger who tests his skills and offers to teach him about Nen.

One month after Gon is seriously injured (and banned to directly practice Nen or be part of any match), the 2-year-lap revenge of the Nen-user Kastro against the magician Hisoka is about to start in the Sky Arena. Castro shows confidence, remembering an old saying, not to fight If you do not have a chance of winning in this game. Facing to the game, he is also filled with a fearless smile secretly.

Kastro and Hisoka face off in Heaven's Arena. Kastro goes on the offensive and appears to have an advantage. Hisoka is unable to dodge because Kastro creates a Nen double that hides behind Kastro's attacks. Despite losing both arms, Hisoka is confident and performs magic tricks, appearing to reattach one arm. He artfully and secretly uses his Hatsu, Bungee Gum, to kill Kastro with the playing cards from one of his tricks. After the fight, Machi, approaches Hisoka and uses Nen to sew both of his arms back on. She has a message from the boss of the Phantom Troupe. After she leaves, Hisoka removes his spider tattoo, revealing that it is a fake.

Gon recovered from his injuries and started training Nen along w/ Killua and Zushi from Wing, Sadaso, Riehvelt, Gido kidnap Zushi, Killua agreed to fight Sadaso to leave Zushi alone, Sadaso broke his promise and played dirty tricks Killua threatened him, by the day of their battle came, Sadaso leaves the Arena and lost by default, giving Killua his first win in the battle of the 200.

Gon and Killua both defeated Riehvelt and Gido, Hisoka being impressed with Gon in his matches appeared in Gon's way and invite him to be his next opponent.

The fight between Gon and Hisoka begins. At the end Gon successfully punches Hisoka in the face.

After punching Hisoka in the face, Gon returns the tag from the Hunter Exam. Hisoka is ecstatic to see Gon's development.

Gon heads home to Whale Island along with Killua. Mito and her grandmother tell Gon about Ging's past. Gon receives a small box from his father. The 2 manages to open the small box and found 3 items and decided to listen to the cassette tape first that contain Ging's voice.

Gon heard his father's message through the cassette tape. Gon and Killua grab some information about the memory card from the item box. Killua gets a lead from his brother about the game which is going to be presented in the auction, which will be held in Yorkshin City. The two leave Whale island and journey to Yorkshin City.

Kurapika learns about Nen and finds his first job as a hunter.

Kurapika and the other job seekers arrive at the home of a human trophy collector and are attacked by an unknown force.

Kurapika have to survive a mansion. Gon and Killua travel to the Greed Island.

The auction is finally about to begin. Gon, Killua and Leorio are working hard to amass enough money to buy Greed Island.

The Phantom Force bursts in the auction.

Kurapika finds himself face to face with Uvogin.

Chrollo uses the information he has on Neon to identify the location of the chain user, Kurapika. Meanwhile, Killua is keeping an eye on the Phantom Troupe base when he is joined by Melody, who helps determine that the Troupe is headed towards Kurapika's hotel. The Troupe is finally closing in on Kurapika. Written by paulp1988

Gon and Killua are captives of the spiders. Kurapika, Melody, and Leorio hatch a plan to capture Chrollo and use him as leverage to force the remaining Spiders to release Gon and Killua.

Kurapika negotiates with Pakunoda to secure the exchange of Gon and Killua. Pakunoda returns to the Troupe's hideout to announce the terms of the exchange to the remaining members.