A Hunter Chronicle – 17

She opened her forest green eyes and glanced around the room as she thrashes about.

The ropes that currently bind her body seemed to be unbreakable and were numerous as it covered her entire body from shoulder to toe.

Everyone else around her was in the same predicament.

How long has it been since she was caught and stashed here?

The back of her head pulsed in pain as it reminded her of the single strike that knocked her out.

She slid her tongue across her lips in between; moisten them as her mouth wasn't gagged like many other.

"Where am I?"

Ponzu asked as she pulled her body upright and leaned against the natural stone wall.

"We're in a cave, where else?"

Bourbon replied as he eyed the snake on his shoulder.

It was also bounded and gagged along with all its brethren that now scattered around him.

Bourbon and Ponzu had teamed up, of sort, to fight against the numerous blonds that engaged them some time ago.

They were doing well at keeping their opponent at bay through the use of their respective techniques and creatures.

Unfortunately, a sharp strike from behind had turned their world complete black, and they awoke up here.

"Oomph!"

The Amori brothers were rolling about as their mouths were gagged along with Tonpa, who wasn't gagged but his whole head was bandaged with only his eyes and big fat nose were visible.

Ponzu watched their struggles for a bit before asking why they were like that.

"They were yelling when they woke up, and the kid decided to shut them up. As for that fat guy over there… he tried to negotiate, and it didn't work out well."

Bourbon replied and sighed a little as the snake on his shoulder rubbed its head against his cheek.

Everyone in the room was no longer unconscious.

A few hours went by before someone finally entered the cave.

"Oh, you guys awake, okay, good."

The newcomer said as he looked around the place with his bright blue eyes.

There were at least two dozen people lying or sitting about.

Most of them were leaning back against the cave's wall while a few still tried to break out of their binding.

The ropes were interlaced with charka making it impossible for them to break out with their current strength.

He didn't tell them that, and found it was amusing to see them try.

There was one man who was not bounded at all, which got the attention of a few others after they stop their struggling.

"Why isn't he tied up?"

Sommy, examinee #188, called out, tilting his head toward a muscular old man with marked chin, mustached with his hair tied up in a ponytail.

Sommy's companion, a monkey, was wrapped with rope into a ball with only its head sticking out.

It was nearby Sommy.

"Hmph."

Bourbon didn't really care much about why the man was not tied up.

They were captives of the boy, and the kid could do whatever he likes to them.

That was the nature of the Hunter exam and they all agreed to it from the start.

Most of the candidates had their mouth gagged so they couldn't say anything, but their eyes were filled with mixture of emotions, mostly uncertainty.

"I also wanted to know why he isn't tied up…"

Ponzu asked, lifting her head up to let her untamed sea-green hair slide back. Her big yellow hat wasn't on her head.

In fact, it wasn't anywhere nearby.

"Where did you put my hat?"

A few other mumblings started in the room before their jailer had enough.

"Shut up!"

He bellowed to return the silence back to the place.

He calmed himself afterward.

"Okay, first off, Bodoro-jiji wasn't bound because he sworn, he would behave, and I trust him based on his personal code of honor. Secondly, Ponzu-chan, your bees are too dangerous, and I don't want to clip their wings since the rope are too thick for them, so I hanged the hat outside instead. I will return it to you when this part of the exam is over. Thirdly, in case you haven't noticed you all failed sooooooo…. train harder and try again next time."

Naruto pointed out with a childish grin as most of them tried to argue through their gag.

Naruto ignored those one.

The rest was more understanding and resided to their fate.

"There are still some candidates missing."

Ponzu asked afterward.

She would try again next time without all these monstrous candidates roaming around.

"Huh? Oh, if they're not here, then they have already passed my little test, so I'm just waiting for the time to run out. You been here for a day now and I'm a bit conflicted at whether to feed you all or not."

Naruto said while rubbing his chin then put both of his hand cross-armed.

"What do you mean? You have to feed us! We will die of hunger!"

One of the ungagged prisoners called out as almost everyone in the cave nodded.

"I doubt that, I could go on without food or waters for months, so you could survive the next six days without any food or water."

Naruto retorted flatly.

A few of them widen their eyes at the statement.

They couldn't believe the boy had said that, and he would let them die a slow and painful death.

While it was true that you could potentially survive a whole month without food, they needed water every couple of days to remain hydrated.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?"

Ponzu shouted with everyone's approval, thinking the same thing.

Naruto eyed her with a questioning look before sighing.

"Okay, if you want to eat, then you would want to do the necessary body's function afterward. Since I can't let you go in the next six days, I assume you want to do those things in here… right in front of them."

Naruto hinted and pointed at all the male in the cavern.

Ponzu dropped her jaw at the implication and turned her head slowly toward their perverted faces.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Ponzu shrieked and fanatically turned her head left and right.